What do you learn in a bachelor's in hospitality management?

Taking care of people, whether a local or a tourist, will always be an in-demand career. With a bachelor's in hospitality management, you can learn the skills necessary to thrive in this fast-paced industry. Read on to discover what you can learn in a bachelor's in hospitality management program.

What to expect from a hospitality management bachelor's program

A bachelor's in hospitality management is a four-year undergraduate degree that teaches core business skills and industry-specific knowledge about hospitality and tourism. These programs equip students with the knowledge needed to succeed in many different industries, including tourism, hotel management, theme park operations, event management, casino management, and food and beverage services.

You should expect to fulfill some on-the-job training requirements through internships toward the end of your studies. This allows you to gain real-world experience that can equip you to enter the workforce immediately after graduation.

Bachelor's in hospitality management curriculum

You can expect a diverse curriculum designed to prepare you with a well-rounded set of skills. Traditional business courses like marketing, accounting, and economics are at the core of a bachelor's in hospitality management program. In addition to this solid foundation, students can expect to see highly specific courses that pertain to their desired industry.

Here are a few examples:

• Hospitality information systems: Learn about the computer systems and technology that support the hospitality industry infrastructure.
• Theme park and attraction management: Understand how to operate, support, and grow a theme park or attraction.
• Hospitality brand management: Explore how to build and strengthen a company's brand within the hospitality industry.

Specializations and concentrations

One of the most interesting aspects of a degree in hospitality management is the ability to laser-focus on an area of the industry that is most interesting to you. Some of the more popular options you'll find include:

• Hotel and resort management: Learn to manage the operations and logistics of hotels and resorts.
• Hospitality software: Gain expertise with the software most commonly used by hospitality providers.
• Beverage sales and marketing: Discover how beverage sales are conducted and managed both from the distributor and the client side of the business.

Graduation requirements for a hospitality management bachelor's degree

To earn a bachelor's degree in hospitality management, students have a few requirements that must be met. First, students must complete core, elective, and higher-level specialization courses to meet or exceed the credit requirements for graduation. Credit requirements vary from school to school.

In addition, students are generally required to complete several hands-on projects and at least one internship within the hospitality industry.

Working in close proximity to local employers during these projects and internships can help you build relationships that turn into job offers after school. This is not guaranteed, but it is a common practice, especially when schools have existing hospitality partnerships with third-party companies in place.