{"id":24916,"date":"2025-07-07T10:42:17","date_gmt":"2025-07-07T10:42:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm-dev\/?page_id=24916"},"modified":"2026-05-04T09:29:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T13:29:05","slug":"graduate-programs-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/graduate-programs-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Programs Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group hero__bann is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull hero-bann__pic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"457\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-25099 size-large\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/HoodingFall2019_29webbannerColor-1024x457.webp\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/HoodingFall2019_29webbannerColor-1024x457.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/HoodingFall2019_29webbannerColor-300x134.webp 300w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/HoodingFall2019_29webbannerColor-768x343.webp 768w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/HoodingFall2019_29webbannerColor-1536x686.webp 1536w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/HoodingFall2019_29webbannerColor.webp 1679w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#3e2937\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns hero-bann__wrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns hero-bann__rw is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column hero-bann__cl is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Graduate Programs<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:clamp(24.526px, 1.533rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 1.287), 41px);\"><em>Empower Your Future in Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><br>The Department of RHTM offers an online Master of Science (MS) degree and a in-person Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management. The Ph.D. program offers two concentration areas: (1) Hospitality and Tourism Management and (2) Retail and Consumer Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons addmisssion__btn is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/gradschool.utk.edu\/future-students\/office-of-graduate-admissions\/applying-to-graduate-school\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Apply Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignfull bann-dots__org has-orange-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Programs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>RHTM graduate programs offer dynamic, interdisciplinary training for students seeking to advance as industry professionals or academic scholars in retail, hospitality, and tourism. Graduate students gain advanced knowledge, applied research experience, and personalized mentorship from world-class faculty.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull explore-sc is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns explore-sc__rw is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column explore-sc__cl cl-lf is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full explore-sc__img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"984\" src=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/11\/grad.webp\" alt=\"Two students at University of Tennessee graduation embrace.\" class=\"wp-image-25597\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/11\/grad.webp 1500w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/11\/grad-300x197.webp 300w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/11\/grad-1024x672.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/11\/grad-768x504.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns explore-sc__cnt is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">MS in RHTM&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Tennessee\u2019s only program of its kind, our fully online, asynchronous MS in RHTM helps professionals move from operations into strategic, data-informed leadership roles. This program builds the analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills needed to grow in a competitive, data-driven industry. Your career has no borders, and now, neither does your education!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons dicount__btn explore-sc__btn is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/graduate-programs-overview\/phd-in-retail-hospitality-and-tourism-management\/\">More Info<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column explore-sc__cl cl-lf is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full explore-sc__img\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2250\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/hero19.webp\" alt=\"students studying in a common area on the university of Tennessee campus\" class=\"wp-image-25101\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/hero19.webp 2250w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/hero19-300x120.webp 300w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/hero19-1024x410.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/hero19-768x307.webp 768w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/hero19-1536x614.webp 1536w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/hero19-2048x819.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns explore-sc__cnt is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ph.D. in RHTM<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ph.D. program in Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management (RHTM) prepares students to become leading scholars in academia and research. Graduates contribute to groundbreaking scholarship and hold faculty positions at top universities around the world. The program offers two concentrations: Hospitality and Tourism Management and Retail and Consumer Sciences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons dicount__btn explore-sc__btn is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/graduate-programs-overview\/phd-in-retail-hospitality-and-tourism-management\/\">More Info<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull bg-para-q_sc is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull bg-para-q_sc is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light has-parallax has-custom-content-position is-position-center-right bg-para__pic\"><div role=\"img\" aria-label=\"A group of University of Tennessee students sign the finish line on a NASCAR track.\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-25594 size-full has-parallax\" style=\"background-position:50% 50%;background-image:url(https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/11\/rhtm-home-2.jpg)\"><\/div><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#979090\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns bg-para__rw is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column bg-para__cl cl-lf has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-smokey-color has-text-color\">Our MS in Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management prepares retail and hospitality industry professionals to advance their careers by developing analytical, problem-solving, and data informed decision-making skills. Through a flexible, industry-connected, and problem-based learning, students build strategic thinking and communication skills applicable across diverse career paths.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/04\/20230221_Hongping_Zhang_3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25745\" style=\"width:150px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/04\/20230221_Hongping_Zhang_3-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/04\/20230221_Hongping_Zhang_3-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/04\/20230221_Hongping_Zhang_3-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/04\/20230221_Hongping_Zhang_3-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2026\/04\/20230221_Hongping_Zhang_3-1-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns bg-para__cnt is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-right has-smokey-color has-text-color\">Hongping Zhang<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-smokey-color has-text-color\">Clinical Assistant Professor &amp; Director of Master\u2019s Program<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull bg-para-q_sc is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light has-parallax bg-para__pic\"><div class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-25103 size-full has-parallax\" style=\"background-position:50% 50%;background-image:url(https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/27\/2025\/07\/graduation.webp)\"><\/div><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#ba9c8d\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns bg-para__rw is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column bg-para__cl cl-lf has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-smokey-color has-text-color\">Our PhD program prepares graduates for successful academic careers. With strong faculty-student mentorship and nationally recognized scholars, students engage in impactful research in Hospitality and Tourism Management or Retail and Consumer Sciences\u2014supported by a dynamic, collaborative environment that fosters academic growth and meaningful contributions to the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns bg-para__cnt is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-smokey-color has-text-color\">Dr. Michelle Childs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-smokey-color has-text-color\">Associate Professor &amp; Director of Graduate Studies<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Programs RHTM graduate programs offer dynamic, interdisciplinary training for students seeking to advance as industry professionals or academic scholars in retail, hospitality, and tourism. Graduate students gain advanced knowledge, applied research experience, and personalized mentorship from world-class faculty. MS in RHTM&nbsp; As Tennessee\u2019s only program of its kind, our fully online, asynchronous MS in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_genesis_hide_title":true,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":true,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-24916","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","5":"entry"},"acf":[],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24916\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cehhs.utk.edu\/rhtm\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}