Hospitality management is a career that many individuals interested in travel and leisure pursue. Teaching about the travel and service industry, hospitality management programs teach students how to become knowledgeable managers in hotels, travel agencies, restaurants, and an array of other businesses. Hospitality management bachelors degree programs discuss the management, business law, and food and beverage skills needed to work in today’s service industry. Classes featured in a bachelor’s degree program often include food safety, hotel and restaurant management, geography (for tourist management), restaurant marketing, food production analysis, and more.
Why a Bachelor’s Degree?
The hospitality industry is constantly hiring new talent, and many of the individuals who enter this fast-growing industry want to begin their careers right away. A bachelor’s degree helps students cultivate an understanding of hospitality management in an efficient manner. Those with a bachelor’s degree can secure mid-level careers in hospitality management. These positions include but are not limited to food service mangers, executive chefs, restaurant managers, catering specialists, guest services managers, food and beverage managers, and more. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, (UBS), on-the-job training is the most common training for these types of positions; however, higher-level degrees such as an associate degree in hospitality management help students advance their careers more quickly.
Getting Into a Bachelor’s Degree Program
Hospitality management degree programs accept a majority of their applicants, as long as they meet the following criteria:
- High school diploma or the equivalent
- Well-written essays or entrance exams
Inside a Bachelor’s Degree Program
A bachelor’s degree in hospitality management takes an average of four years to complete. Some of the most common courses featured in a hospitality management degree program include principles of management, public relations, human relations, hotel operations, event planning, financial accounting, tourism sales, baking and pastry arts, and more. These classes will inevitably vary by schools, however.
An online bachelor’s degree in hospitality management is a unique degree program, in that students can complete their classwork either partially, and sometimes fully, online. Since students can complete their coursework at anytime from anywhere, an online degree is an extremely flexible program. By the end of their online degree program, students will have cultivated the necessary skills to work in the industry.
What’s Next for Hospitality Management Degree Holders?
A bachelor’s degree in hospitality management prepares students for mid-level hotel, restaurant, and tourism careers. One of the most common positions students accept after graduating from this program is as food service mangers. According to the BLS, a food service manger’s salary is determined by their position, experiences, certifications, and location. The average salary of food service managers is $55,010 a year. Since there are less and less dining establishments opening as the years go by, the BLS reports that employment of food service managers is expected to decline 3% over the next few years. Hospitality management graduates sometimes decide to pursue additional degrees and certifications, such as a master’s degree in hospitality management.