The Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Management provides a foundation of research, critical thinking, and writing skills, along with the practical know-how required for success in global hospitality workplaces. This online degree program is helpful if you want to manage or own a restaurant, or seek entry- to mid-management positions in the event planning, lodging and travel destination, and tourism fields. You’ll be taught by experienced faculty, many who draw on their own experiences in hospitality to share their knowledge of industry best practices used around the world today.
This program has been designed in consultation with industry business leaders and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
- Apply concepts and principles of hospitality service excellence in marketing, law, revenue management and strategic planning, to the unique aspects of hospitality operations.
- Judge current political, economic, and social issues that affect food service, lodging and travel and tourism industries.
- Apply strategic management principles to accomplish goals and objectives of hospitality operations.
- Assess unique hospitality characteristics and principles that are the business of hospitality management.
Degree at a Glance
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 30 | |
| Major Required | 30 | |
| Select one of the following concentrations: | 21 | |
| Final Program Requirements | 3 | |
| Elective Requirements | 36 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120 | |
Degree Program Requirements
General Education Requirements (30 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Humanities (6 semester hours) 1 | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Arabic I | ||
| Arabic II | ||
| Art Appreciation | ||
| Film and Literature | ||
| Image Enhancement using Adobe Photoshop | ||
| French I | ||
| French II | ||
| German I | ||
| German II | ||
| Introduction to Japanese | ||
| Literature of American Encounters, Revolution, and Rebellion | ||
| From Abolition to #MeToo: Literature of the American Civil Rights Movement | ||
| Pivotal Figures in Early British Literature | ||
| British Literature from Wordsworth through the Wasteland | ||
| Leadership in World Literature: Antiquity to the Early Modern Period | ||
| Literature of the Newly Globalized World: The Individual’s Struggle to Adapt | ||
| Music Appreciation | ||
| World Music and Cultures | ||
| Introduction to Philosophy | ||
| Critical Thinking | ||
| Introduction to Ethics | ||
| Philosophy of Science | ||
| Introduction to Brazilian Portuguese | ||
| Introduction to World Religions | ||
| Russian I | ||
| Spanish I | ||
| Spanish II | ||
| Thinking and Acting Ethically | ||
| Civics, Political and Social Sciences (6 semester hours) 1 | ||
| Select 2 courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to Anthropology | ||
| Introduction to Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Human Sexuality | ||
| Social Media and Society | ||
| Intercultural Communication | ||
| Microeconomics | ||
| Macroeconomics | ||
| Microeconomics for Business | ||
| Macroeconomics for Business | ||
| Humane Education: A Global Interdisciplinary Perspective | ||
| Introduction to Geography | ||
| Practical Food Safety and Awareness | ||
| International Relations I | ||
| Forgotten America--Under Represented Cultures in American Literature | ||
| Four Points of the Compass: Culture and Society Around the World | ||
| Introduction to Political Science | ||
| American Government I | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| American Popular Culture | ||
| Exploring Society and Cultures via Science Fiction | ||
| Communication: Writing, Oral, and Multimedia (9 semester hours) | ||
| COMM120 | Information and Digital Literacy | 3 |
| ENGL110 | Making Writing Relevant | 3 |
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Proficiency in Writing | ||
| Argumentation and Rhetoric | ||
| Introduction to Literature | ||
| Technical Writing | ||
| Scientific Writing | ||
| Business Writing | ||
| Human Relations Communication | ||
| Information Literacy and Global Citizenship | ||
| Introduction to Information Technology Writing | ||
| Human Relations | ||
| History (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| American History to 1877 | ||
| American History since 1877 | ||
| World Civilization before 1650 | ||
| World Civilization since 1650 | ||
| Western Civilization before The Thirty Years War | ||
| Western Civilization since The Thirty Years War | ||
| African-American History before 1877 | ||
| African-American History since 1877 | ||
| History of the American Indian | ||
| History of Science | ||
| The History and Context of STEM | ||
| Mathematics and Applied Reasoning (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Accounting for Non Accounting Majors | ||
| Fundamentals of Programming | ||
| College Algebra | ||
| College Trigonometry | ||
| Introduction to Statistics | ||
| Math for Liberal Arts Majors | ||
| Calculus | ||
| Natural Sciences (3 semester hours) | ||
| Select 1 course from the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Biology | ||
| Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Introduction to Chemistry | ||
| Introduction to Meteorology | ||
| Introduction to Geology | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Science | ||
| Introduction to Physics | ||
| Introduction to Physics | ||
| Introduction to Astronomy | ||
| Introduction to STEM Disciplines | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 30 | |
| 1 | All literature courses require successful completion of ENGL101 - Proficiency in Writing or ENGL110 - Making Writing Relevant. |
Major Required (30 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HOSP100 | Introduction to Hospitality Management | 3 |
| HOSP101 | Foodservice Sanitation | 3 |
| HRMT200 | Human Resource Fundamentals | 3 |
| MGMT201 | Organizational Fundamentals | 3 |
| HOSP300 | Managerial Accounting for the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HOSP302 | Hospitality Law | 3 |
| HOSP321 | Marketing and the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HOSP335 | Leadership and Management in Hospitality | 3 |
| HOSP400 | Quality Service Management | 3 |
| MGMT314 | Management Ethics | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 30 | |
Students must choose a concentration for this degree program and may select from the Concentration in Business and Hospitality Financial Analytics, Concentration in Food Service, the Concentration in Lodging, the Concentration in Meeting and Event Planning, or the Concentration in Tourism.
Concentration in Business and Hospitality Financial Analytics (21 semester hours)
This concentration introduces big data analytics for hospitality management professionals in general terms which can be applied to hospitality organizations. Students will analyze, evaluate, and organize data to facilitate problem solving and decision making in areas where data is collected and utilized. Students will focus on the analysis methods used within the hospitality industry in order to make financially sound business decisions to focus on financial outcomes.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Integrate various statistical analysis methods to assist in business decision making.
- Implement Excel-based models to process and analyze statistical data.
- Develop policies and procedures for controlling the purchasing function in the hospitality industry.
- Analyze the value of various financial analyses to test the effectiveness of control systems.
- Evaluate the quality of revenue management decision making as applied to the hospitality industry.
- Construct revenue management strategies to assemble a customer-centric plan that would improve profits, despite varying economic conditions.
Concentration Requirements (21 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HOSP203 | Hotel and Restaurant Purchasing | 3 |
| HOSP207 | Principles of Cost Control in Foodservice Operations | 3 |
| BUSN250 | Analytics I | 3 |
| MATH302 | Statistics | 3 |
| HOSP325 | Revenue Management for the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| BUSN350 | Analytics II | 3 |
| BUSN450 | Advanced Analytics | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 21 | |
Concentration in Food Service (21 semester hours)
Examines current trends, issues, and challenges in the food service industry, such as the layout, design, equipment, and human engineering involved in a food service facility. Topics include cost control, dietary guidelines, table service, and the history and culture of wine.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Plan a food service facility with emphasis on human engineering, layout, design, and equipment selection.
- Comprehend hotel food service operations including concession, restaurant, room service, banquet, snack bar, and other forms of food service.
- Examine and discuss the leading issues associated with food service in the 21st Century including food service trends, issues, and challenges.
Concentration Requirements (21 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 7 courses from the following: | 21 | |
| Food and Beverage Management | ||
| Restaurant Operations Management | ||
| Quantity Food Preparation | ||
| Hotel and Restaurant Purchasing | ||
| Principles of Cost Control in Foodservice Operations | ||
| Nutrition in the Food Service Industry | ||
| History and Culture of Wine | ||
| Foodservice Facilities Design | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 21 | |
Concentration in Lodging (21 semester hours)
Evaluates the scope and diversity of the lodging industry and its contribution to a global society. Looks at marketing concepts, guest liability laws, and various career options in lodging, as well as the necessary partnerships among lodging organizations, convention centers, and convention bureaus.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Describe the make-up and size of the lodging industry and explain its contribution to a global society.
- Explain the necessary partnerships between lodging organizations, convention centers and convention bureaus.
- Summarize career options in the lodging segment, including advantages and disadvantages of working in the industry.
- Describe laws associated with guest liabilities in lodging management.
- Understand marketing concepts that are used by lodging facilities.
Concentration Requirements (21 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HOSP203 | Hotel and Restaurant Purchasing | 3 |
| HOSP207 | Principles of Cost Control in Foodservice Operations | 3 |
| HOSP309 | Convention Sales and Services | 3 |
| HOSP310 | Management of Lodging Operations | 3 |
| HOSP320 | Business and Conference Hospitality Mgmt | 3 |
| HOSP325 | Revenue Management for the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HOSP350 | Managing Technology in the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 21 | |
Concentration in Meeting and Event Planning (21 semester hours)
Provides a thorough overview of the meeting, exposition, and convention industry, including the environmental concerns involved in event management. Courses cover industry organizations, such as convention bureaus, as well as emergency preparedness, liability and insurance, and the use of technology.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Apply the steps involved in planning meetings and special events.
- Evaluate the administration and logistics of a given event scenario.
- Explain the environmental concerns involved in managing an event.
- Analyze elements of a client culture affecting meeting and event planning.
Concentration Requirements (21 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HOSP308 | Meeting and Convention Planning | 3 |
| HOSP309 | Convention Sales and Services | 3 |
| HOSP320 | Business and Conference Hospitality Mgmt | 3 |
| HOSP350 | Managing Technology in the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HOSP410 | Advanced Tourism and Hospitality Management | 3 |
| HOSP413 | Meeting and Event Risk Management | 3 |
| HOSP415 | Destinations and Cultures | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 21 | |
Concentration in Tourism (21 semester hours)
Explores essential tourism topics, including revenue management, forecasting, budgeting, pricing and inventory management, service quality, ethics, and technology. Delves into the operation of hospitality facilities, such as operating costs, building system characteristics, and engineering/maintenance.
Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration, the student will be able to:
- Explain tourism topics including revenue management, forecasting, budgeting, measuring performance, transient versus group displacement, pricing and inventory management, service quality, ethics, and technology.
- Examine the study of the tourism from a global perspective in addition to the public and private organizations that organize, promote, manage, and participate in tourism and travel.
- Analyze and describe the operation of hospitality facilities including facility operating costs, building system characteristics, and the function of the engineering-maintenance department. The renovation needs of hospitality facilities are examined and key managerial aspects of renovations considered.
Concentration Requirements (21 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HOSP205 | Tourism and Travel Industry | 3 |
| HOSP212 | Fundamentals of Tourism Management | 3 |
| HOSP311 | Club Management | 3 |
| HOSP313 | Theory and Concepts of Leisure | 3 |
| HOSP410 | Advanced Tourism and Hospitality Management | 3 |
| HOSP412 | Destinations Management and Marketing | 3 |
| HOSP415 | Destinations and Cultures | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 21 | |
Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HOSP495 | Senior Seminar in Hospitality Management (to be taken as the last course before graduation) 1 | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 3 | |
| 1 | Prerequisite: Senior Standing and completion of all major or concentration courses prior to enrollment. |
Elective Requirements (36 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.