An online doctoral degree in restaurant management may equip students with the skills and training necessary for a career in academia or hospitality research. In these three to five-year programs, students may gain expertise in international hospitality management, tourism marketing strategy, and restaurant finance. Program coursework may include a combination of research-heavy dissertation courses alongside major-specific classes including franchising, current issues in food service management, and advanced topics in wine.

Upon graduation, students may seek employment in their chosen field of restaurant and hospitality management. Doctoral-level graduates may gain employment in post-secondary education, restaurant management, and in the hospitality industry.

Program Overview

• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s Degree at minimum
• Program Length: Three to five years to complete
• Post-Grad Options: Employment
• Projected Employment Growth: -3% (2010-2020)*

Program Coursework

The curriculum for online restaurant management doctoral degree programs may consist of core classes and dissertation research courses. These classes may provide students with the opportunity to conduct research specific to the restaurant industry in order to build on current business trends. Possible restaurant management courses may include the following:

• Advanced Club Management
• Advanced Topics in Wine
• Multi-Cultural Dimensions of the Hospitality Industry
• Security Management of Hotels and Restaurants
• Franchising
• Hospitality Finance Methods
• Current Issues on Food Service Management

Career Options

Doctoral-level graduates may seek career opportunities in research and development, restaurant management, hotels, resorts, and in post-secondary education. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities in food service management are projected to decline by 3% from 2010-2020.*

Possible careers include:

• Restaurant Owner
• Management Faculty Member
• Restaurant General Manager
• Hospitality Researcher
• Wine Specialist

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook