Hospitality Industry Studies
Consistently ranked in the top ten hospitality programs, the Department of Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Management (HRIM) prepares students for careers in the service industries. The Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Industry Studies consists of a curriculum founded in academic disciplines, which include the liberal arts, business and specialized courses in theoretical managerial components for the hospitality industry. Students gain a foundation in the traditional academic areas to complement state of the art business and hospitality courses.
The Hospitality Industry Studies curriculum places emphasis on quantitative and analytical skills to support decision making in hospitality businesses. The curriculum is designed for students with a strong career interest in analytical and support functions. Students, in active consultation with faculty advisors, will select a combination of courses that will build their knowledgebase towards a key area of focus. The areas of focus include Transaction Advisory Services, Hospitality Sales and Marketing and Hospitality Information Management. An integral part of the curriculum is the hospitality related work experience. Seven hundred hours of documented paid work experience, coupled with 100 hours of community service, must be completed by the senior year. At our annual career fair, students have an opportunity to interview with leading hospitality companies for internships and permanent placement.
The hospitality industry is one of the largest employers; career opportunities are unlimited. The major prepares students for careers in the hospitality industry that require superior analytical and problem-solving skills at the conceptual level, such as transaction advisory services analyst, reservations manager, revenue manager, sales manager, web marketing analyst, e-commerce market analyst, systems implementation specialist just to name a few.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in a 4+1+1 MBA program. With careful planning, academically eligible students can complete both their undergraduate degree in Hospitality Industry Studies and the Master of Business Administration degree in five years of academic study plus a 12 month internship.
