Overview

Modern hotels, resorts, restaurants, and convention centers are huge, intricate, and diverse business entities. We can only imagine the confusion that would ensue if capable professionals weren't running them. A major in Hospitality - which is alternatively called Hospitality Services, Hospitality Management, and Tourism at various colleges and universities - will prepare you for a career managing these kinds of places.

Hospitality programs are very professionally oriented in nature. They integrate management theory with practical business knowledge. If you major in Hospitality, you'll also learn quite a bit about basic nutrition and food theory, marketing, statistics, and even geography. One of the best things about Hospitality programs is that they frequently incorporate one or more internships into their curriculums as well - in fancy restaurants, major hotels, and resorts. In an internship, you'll gain on-the-job experience in real-world work situations in food production, human resources and employee relations, public relations, and management. This kind of experience will serve you well in your first job and - probably more importantly - it will be a great help to you in getting your first job.

SAMPLE CURRICULUM

  • Finance

  • Food Production

  • Food Purchasing and Cost Control

  • Food Service Layout, Design, and Catering

  • Global Tourism Geography

  • Internship

  • Legal Issues in the Hospitality Industry

  • Management Principles

  • Marketing

  • Nutrition

  • Personnel and Organization

  • Principals of Accounting

  • Principles of Economics

  • Resort, Cruise, and Entertainment Operations

  • Statistics


HIGH SCHOOl PREPARATION

A solid college preparatory curriculum will serve you adequately. Math is important (because you'll probably be required to take accounting and statistics) as is anything you can do to improve your organizational skills.