The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has approved a new Master of Science program at Slippery Rock University, a spokesman announced Monday.

SRU will begin offering a Master of Science in hospitality and tourism management in the fall, according to PASSHE spokesman Ken Marshall.

The degree program will be offered completely online, according to a news release, and is designed to be completed in two years. The program targets “career changers” — people who have an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field but are interested in pursuing hospitality and tourism management.

System officials say the program comes in response to growing interest in the industry.

Pennsylvania ranks ninth nationally in tourism industry employment, and the industry is growing at nearly twice the rate of all other nonfarm jobs in the state.