Testimonials
“As a 2011 graduate of the PhD program in Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management, I believe that the experiences learned while at UT have prepared me well for a career in higher education or industry. The successes achieved by many former graduates of this program speak well of the investment that the professors make in each individual student. Being fully prepared in the areas of teaching, research, and critical thinking because the Retail faculty has certainly made a difference in my career, and it is clear that the national reputation of the Department has enhanced my future opportunities compared to other potential programs.”
– Jeffrey Campbell, Assistant Professor of Retailing, University of South Carolina
I graduated from the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (HRT) Ph.D. program at the University of Tennessee in 2013. Looking back on my experiences in Knoxville, I would proudly recommend this program to anyone interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in hospitality and tourism. The department’s commitment to academic excellence in both research and teaching prepared me (and my fellow graduate students) for success in the academic community. Individuals seeking a rigorous graduate experience in a supportive, yet challenging, academic environment would do well to consider The University of Tennessee.
Nathan Line, Dedman School of Hospitality, Florida State University
“ I am a 2007 graduate of the UT’s RCS Doctoral program, and extremely proud of it! If you are looking for rigorous academic preparation to conduct research in the retailing discipline, then you should consider coming to RCS at UT. RCS doctoral students are expected to gain a firm grasp on theory and methodology in order to develop into intellectual leaders in higher education. By being intimately involved in every aspect of consumer research, from focus-group interviews to data collection and analysis, I learned what it takes to be a researcher, but more than that, I learned how fulfilling and interesting research can be. Also, other doctoral students I met in this program really enriched my experience. I had the opportunity to interact with so many intelligent colleagues, exchanging and discussing ideas. In this collegial RCS community, we challenged each other, grew together, and enriched the learning process for one another. Also, if you want to take a closer look at innovative teaching, this is the place to do so. The RCS professors are highly respected in retailing education, and very creative in their work. As a graduate teaching assistant, I had the privilege to teach several undergraduate courses. Such invaluable experiences deepened my knowledge and broadened my perspective, which equipped me with the essential tools to secure a faculty position at a major university.”
– Hye-Young Kim, Associate Professor, University of Minnesota