Global Hospitality Leadership, DGHL

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Doctorate in Global Hospitality Leadership (DGHL) is a self-financed credit-based online program offered full-time in a flexible study mode. The DGHL program is a 3-year, professional and non-residential program. Students take three courses per semester (spring and fall). In the third year, students will focus on their dissertations. The number of credits required to earn the degree is 54. Candidates in the Doctorate in Global Hospitality Leadership (DGHL) will take courses in cohorts, focusing on real-world research applications and engaging in dissertation requirements. This will be achieved without discontinuing and disrupting their professional careers, as classes in this degree program are 100% online and asynchronous.

The DGHL is separate from the existing Ph.D. in Hospitality Administration in that the students must take classes online. Candidates with at least five years of management experience in the industry or three years of experience in academia (as an educator or administrator) are required. While the existing Ph.D. program explicitly prepares candidates for academic careers in scholarly research and teaching, DGHL focuses on preparing professionals and executives who are interested in expanding their careers in applied research in hospitality businesses, leading to career growth and acquiring opportunities related to teaching, consulting, and senior leadership roles. DGHL also prepares current educators and university administrators (without doctoral degrees) to achieve faculty and leadership positions in departments, colleges, and universities.

The program’s primary focus is to develop research and leadership skills for the candidates to identify existing and potential real-world business problems, develop a sound methodology, analyze the questions using the appropriate data-analytic techniques and apply them to their careers and the community. The whole concept of this learning experience is to be innovative, practical, and unique to further develop career paths by benefiting multiple stakeholders. Typical features of the DGHL program will include students taking cohort classes without discontinuing their professional careers, focusing on real-world research applications, and engaging in dissertation requirements. The curriculum delves into industry trends, research methods and designs, data analytics, teaching, strategic decision making and leadership. The program will culminate with an impactful independent dissertation.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants are required to submit the following materials for admission to the DGHL program:

Online Application-Apply Texas System
Resume
Statement of Intent
Official College Transcripts- Recommended Master’s degree cumulative grade point average (GPA) is 3.0 or higher
Three Letters of Recommendation

International applicants will also be required to submit:

Official TOEFL or IELTS Scores-must comply with the English proficiency requirements set by the University of Houston

After applicants pass the paper review process, the admission committee will interview each candidate for admission decisions.

Degree Requirements

Total hours required for degree: 54

Courses include:

GHL 8353 - Current Trends, Challenges & Opportunities in the Global Hospitality Industry Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8385 - Principles of Research Methods and Design Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8303 - Multivariate Analysis in Hospitality Administration Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8310 - Teaching Methods in Hospitality Administration Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8320 - Guided Research in Hospitality Industry Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8381 - Research Colloquium I Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8306 - Advanced Hospitality Quantitative Analysis Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8304 - Qualitative Design in Hospitality Administration Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8382 - Research Colloquium II Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8369 - Strategic Decision-Making in Hospitality Management Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8379 - Hospitality Project and Program Development, Assessment, and Sustainability Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8383 - Research Colloquium III Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8311 - Teaching Methods II Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8398 - Research Proposal in Hospitality Administration Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8372 - Doctoral Seminar on Global Hospitality Leadership Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8399 - Doctoral Dissertation Research I in Hosp. Admin Credit Hours: 3.0
GHL 8699 - Dissertation II in Hosp. Admin Credit Hours: 6.0

Dissertation:

The program will operate on a mentored dissertation model where each candidate will be guided by one dissertation advisor and two committee members. The formal dissertation process will begin at the start of Year 3 (Fall). With guidance from the dissertation committee, the students will develop their research ideas, complete their dissertation proposal, finalize the dissertation, and successfully defend their dissertations. The students will work with their respective advisors and committee members on three dissertation-related courses (Dissertation Research Proposal (3 credits), Dissertation I (3 credits), and Dissertation II (6 credits). Additionally, the courses will keep “checkpoints” to keep the students on track to complete their dissertation proposals on time. The three research courses (Research colloquium I, II, and III) will contribute to the dissertation and help students develop strong dissertation research proposals.

Academic Policies

The Conrad N. Hilton College is committed to resolving legitimate grievances concerning violation of university, college, and/or department academic policies or procedures in a fair and orderly manner. The Conrad N. Hilton College follows the grievance policy set forth by the University, published in the graduate catalog.

The following university-wide policy and procedure, for graduate, professional, and post-baccalaureate (PB) students, applies to the redress of grievances concerning academic and instructional matters and other issues for which there are no other existing grievance procedures.

Every effort shall be made by the graduate/professional/PB student and the members involved to settle their differences amicably and informally to redress grievance. If appropriate or necessary, the Associate Dean shall participate in this informal effort to resolve the grievance.

In the event that an informal resolution is not possible, the graduate/professional/PB student may petition the Associate Dean by filing a formal written complaint within ten (10) working days after the decision is mutually made that the grievance cannot be settled informally. The letter should provide details regarding the complaint and redress sought. After receipt of the letter, the Associate Dean or Dean must respond in writing within ten (10) working days, and set up a meeting between the student(s) and faculty member(s) involved. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Associate Dean or Dean will then render a decision within ten (10) working days. The response must include an explanation for his/her decision.

In the event that either the grievant or the respondent is unsatisfied with the outcome of the college-level process, that party may file an appeal seeking university-level review by the Graduate and Professional Studies Grievance Committee (GPSGC) which is under the purview of the Associate Vice President of Graduate and Professional Studies. Please see the University of Houston Grievance Policy and Procedure for Graduate, Professional, and Post-baccalaureate Students in the Graduate Catalog for specific instructions regarding this process.