Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Undergraduate Admissions

To apply for the bachelor’s degree program, prepare and submit:

  • Undergraduate application
  • $30 application fee
  • Official college/university transcripts (must be received in a sealed envelope by the issuing institution)

Freshman applicants and transfer applicants with less than 60 transferable credits will also be required to submit official high school transcripts and official SAT/ACT scores (sent directly from the testing agency) to complete an application — unless you have completed at least 30 transferable credits with at least a “C” or better in ENC 1101 and MAT 1033 or equivalents.

For undergraduate application deadlines, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website at admissions.fiu.edu.  Note that undergraduate and transfer students should submit their applications for Fall and be admitted before November 1 in order to be considered for admissions scholarships.

 

Students may apply for financial aid by submitting their FAFSA before the October 1 priority deadline.  See additional details, including the FAFSA link on the financial aid website.

Scholarships are awarded from a number of sources within and outside of FIU. See other FIU funding opportunities as well as scholarships for Chaplin School  students on the Paying for School page.  Please refer to the requirements & deadlines for each, as follows: Students wishing to be considered for the Admissions scholarships awarded each Fall semester should submit their admissions applications by October 1 in order to be admitted by the scholarship qualification deadline of November 1.  Details on the merit scholarships available through Admissions may be accessed on the admissions scholarship page.

Note: Students may be required to meet minimum enrollment and/or GPA requirements to receive their financial aid and/or scholarship funds each semester.

Any student who has completed two years of college (60 transferable semester hours) may apply for admission as a transfer student to the upper-division program. A minimum 2.25 grade point average (GPA) is required for transfer students. Admissions will review official transcripts for transfer credits upon submission of an application. A maximum of 60 lower-division undergraduate semester credits may be transferred from a junior or community college program. More credits may be transferred from a related upper-division program at a four-year institution. Students with less than 60 transfer credits are subject to freshman admission criteria.

Applicants who have earned less than 60 transferable credits are also required to submit the following (unless you have completed at least 30 transferable credits with at least a “C” or better in ENC 1101 and MAT 1033 or equivalents):

-Official High School Transcripts
-Official SAT/ACT Test Scores (sent directly from the testing agency)

Access the Transfer Equivalency Database (TED) for details on established equivalencies from your transfer institution. You may find additional information for transfer students on the Transfer & Transition Services website.

Domestic students may enroll on either a full-time or a part-time basis; International students must enroll full-time (at least 12 credits per semester).

All students are required to meet the University’s Core Curriculum requirements prior to graduation. It is not necessary to have been previously enrolled in a hotel, restaurant, or tourism program. Likewise, previous experience in the hospitality industry is not required to apply for the program.  The curriculum will provide the specialized professional education to equip the student for a career in hospitality and tourism management. Students with training in liberal arts, business, education, or technology, for example, are qualified to enroll in the program.  All applicants will be considered for entry, based strictly on previous academic performance.

A minimum TOEFL score of 550 paper-based, 80 internet-based or 6.5 overall on IELTS is required for international applicants. Visit the International Admissions page for additional information for international applicants.

International students may also be required to submit:

  • Evaluations of official college/university transcripts from a NACES agency
  • Translations of official high school transcripts, if required
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (sent directly from the testing agency; visit the International Admissions website for details and exceptions to this requirement)
  • Financial documents (Declaration of Finances, bank letter, sponsor letter, and F1 Transfer Form, if required)

Graduate Admissions

Graduate admissions requires a four-year bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement will be required to submit official GRE/GMAT scores to complete their applications.
Students may apply for financial aid by submitting their FAFSA before the March 1 priority deadline.  See additional details, including the FAFSA link on the financial aid website.

Scholarships are awarded from a number of sources within and outside of FIU.  Please refer to the requirements & deadlines for each, as follows:

Students wishing to be considered for the Admissions scholarships awarded each Fall semester should submit their admissions applications no later than November 1.  Details on the merit scholarships available through Admissions may be accessed on the admissions scholarship page.

Note:  Students may be required to meet minimum enrollment and/or GPA requirements to receive their financial aid and/or scholarship funds each semester.

To apply for the master’s degree program, prepare and submit:

  • Graduate application
  • $30 application fee
  • Official college/university transcripts (must be received in an unopened envelope, sealed by the issuing institution)

Applicants to the Executive Master of Science degree program must also submit a current resume and employment letter(s) documenting five or more years of management or teaching experience.

Graduate application deadlines are available on the University Graduate School website. Visit gradschool.fiu.edu/deadlines.shtml to learn more.
Applicants with less than 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in 60 credits of upper-division coursework (as calculated by the University Graduate School) will also be required to submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, which will be taken into consideration by the admissions committee in its evaluation of the application.
A maximum of six semester hours of related graduate credits may be transferred from another university or from the graduate programs of this University.
A minimum of 550 paper-based, 80 internet-based on TOEFL or 6.5 overall on IELTS
International students may also be required to submit:

  • Translations of official college/university transcripts, if required
  • Official TOEFL or IELTS scores sent directly from the testing agency, if required
  • Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores may also be required, depending on the applicant’s GPA
  • Financial documents (Declaration of Finances, bank letter, sponsor letter, and F1 Transfer Form, if required)

Industry Experience Requirement

You may register for the internship course as soon as you have completed 1,000 hours of industry experience. The internship course is a capstone course that is designed to help you put into practice many of the skills and concepts you learned at FIU.  See your Hospitality Management Advisor for additional details and permission to register for this course.

It is a good idea to start seeking internships early in your academic career at FIU. You may participate in one or more internships before you begin the Internship class, but the actual class begins the first week of the semester, and includes specific requirements for the types of activities you are to engage in and for logging your progress. If you are in an internship prior to the start of the semester, you may continue that internship, as long as your supervisor agrees to the terms of the internship class. For class purposes, week one of your internship will begin after the first week of class, and is the starting point for your 300 hour requirement over the semester.

Yes, but we prefer your internship be a management-in-training type, paid experience. The best chance of achieving this objective is to start looking for an internship several months before the start of class.

The internship is designed to expose you to the managerial aspects of the industry, to aid in your transition from an hourly employee toward a salaried management career. If you have any questions or concerns, or if you are not sure if an internship you are considering will meet this criteria, please contact your Hospitality Management Advisor.

Study Abroad

For a list of current programs offered through the Chaplin School, please visit the Chaplin School’s Study Abroad website at http://hospitality.fiu.edu/studyabroad/.  The Office of Study Abroad is also a good resource for finding other FIU study abroad and international exchange opportunities.

It depends on the program so check your program’s website for details.

Study Abroad and International Student Exchange (ISE) programs both have courses associated with them.

Our study abroad programs are usually faculty-led (you take a FIU class with a FIU professor during a study abroad program),  while international exchange requires enrollment at a partner university to earn credit. Oftentimes, you must speak the language of the destination country in order to participate in an international exchange program.

Many of the FIU study abroad programs allow all participants to pay in-state tuition rates, while students participating in an international exchange program would pay their regular FIU tuition rate.

Students who want to set up their own study abroad opportunities may do so through Third Party Program Approval Process with the Office of Study Abroad.

To sign up, access the webpage for your specific study abroad program for details about the program including dates, cost, and deadline for submitting required documents.  All Chaplin School study abroad programs are linked on the Study Abroad website for our department.  Other study abroad opportunities are available through FIU’s Office of Study Abroad.  Visit their website for details on how to sign up for non-Chaplin School programs.

International Student Exchange programs are coordinated through FIU’s Office of Study Abroad. Please contact the Study Abroad Office directly for details and deadlines for international student exchange programs.

If you have specific questions about one of the study abroad programs, please contact the Faculty Director listed on the program’s webpage, as linked on the Study Abroad website.

Check the Office of Study Abroad’s Fund Your Study Abroad Program page for possible funding opportunities. You may also find other opportunities online by doing a web search.

FIU and the Chaplin School may have additional study abroad scholarships available.  Visit the FIU scholarship database, AcademicWorks, for details.  (Hint:  Search “study abroad” and check this website often for new opportunities.)

Financial aid may cover the cost of your classes (i.e. tuition and fees), but it will most likely not cover the cost for your study abroad package (travel costs, accommodations, etc.).  Contact the Financial Aid Office directly for details.

Payments for study abroad programs are paid through your Student Account on https://my.fiu.edu/.  Some study abroad programs may require a deposit paid through another system.  Contact the Faculty Director for your study abroad program for details on payments and due dates for your program.

The required documents will be uploaded to the study abroad application system.  You may access StudioAbroad at http://abroad.fiu.edu/ (click login in the top, right corner).

FIU’s Office of Study Abroad is located at the Modesto Maidique Campus (MMC) in SASC 230.  While they do not have an office at BBC, they often conduct information sessions and events at BBC.

The Chaplin School offers a number of study abroad opportunities every year, as listed on our Study Abroad website.  At the Chaplin School, Dawn Fagnan works with the faculty to coordinate and administer the study abroad programs related to hospitality management.  Should you have general study abroad questions, you may contact Dawn at fagnand@fiu.edu, 305.919.4513, or visit her office at BBC in HM 321C.  Questions about a specific study abroad program should be directed to the Faculty Director for the study abroad program, as listed on the program’s website.

Study abroad participants may earn A Hospitality Education Abroad Designation (AHEAD) by completing at least 9 credits during one or more Chaplin School study abroad programs. Students who complete the AHEAD program will receive a printed certificate. For details and to request your AHEAD certificate, visit the Get Ahead page.

The study abroad programs offered through the Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management are not available to be taken free of charge as a Senior Citizen Audit.