Hospitality Management and Tourism (B.S.)
This program integrates service management principles, marketing techniques and sound financial management into a curriculum focused on managing facilities and operations in a variety of hospitality and tourism settings such as food and beverage, lodging, attractions, convention and meeting planning, nonprofit management and special event coordinating. The hospitality and tourism industries are rapidly growing; as the United States’ second-largest employer, a degree in Hospitality Management and Tourism provides many career opportunities for graduates.
Courses
Students are guided to coursework and internship opportunities that will help them achieve their individual career goals.
Students will take courses designed to match industry requirements and expectations. Our curriculum challenges students to exercise creative thinking in marketing, communication and facility operation settings. Courses are intended to provide students with the knowledge and experience they need to understand current trends and applications in the hospitality and tourism industries. Upon graduation, HMT students will be able to apply their knowledge to business, management and professional development skills.
Students are introduced to and complete hands-on projects focusing on several aspects of hospitality and tourism, such as food and beverage, lodging, attractions, convention and meeting planning, nonprofit management and special event coordinating. Courses such as HMT 308: Principles of Food & Beverage teach students food service and menu planning concepts they later use to complete their own restaurant critiques.
Other industry-focused courses include:
- Hotel Rooms Division Management
- Principles of Travel & Tourism
- Hospitality & Tourism Marketing
- Event Planning & Coordination
- Tourism & Planning Development
- Strategic Management in the Hospitality & Food Service Industry
- Beer, Wine & Spirits Hospitality & Tourism in Kentucky
Program Details
HMT students also have the option to pursue any minor available through the university. Many choose to complete a Business minor as all but one of the Business minor courses are already required by the HMT major. There are many other minor options, and you can do more than one, so talk with you advisor about what you are interested in.
Undergraduate certificates generally involve 12 credit hours with two required courses and two elective courses. Some certificates’ courses are already required or are electives for the HMT program, so you could earn a certificate by only taking two additional courses. Here are some options:
- Clinical Healthcare Management Certificate: Take HHS 241: Health & Medical Care Delivery Systems and CLM 345: Quality, Productivity Improvement and Evaluation; then use MGT 301 and RTM 345 to complete the certificate.
- Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking Certificate: Take COM 381: Communication, Leadership and Entrepreneurial Thinking and EXP 455: Capstone Experience in Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking; then use two from MGT 301, MKT 300, HMT 414 or MAT 514 to complete the certificate.
- Distillation, Wine and Brewing Studies Certificate: Take A&S 306: Spirit Chemistry and PLS 335: Distillation, Wine & Brewing Science; then use HMT 420: Beer, Wine, Spirits and Tourism and PLS 389: Wine Appreciation to complete the certificate. HMT 420 and PLS 389 are HMT Major Selection options.
Some students choose to take their studies a step further and add either a second major or second degree. Popular choices are Management or Marketing, as they are closely related to HMT and many of the same business pre-major courses are required by both degrees, making it possible to complete both degrees within four years.
As you enter college and try to decide which degree matches your interest, always think ahead about career opportunities and positions available.
With a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and Tourism, you will have the opportunity to integrate concepts, philosophies and components that are applicable to various careers such as:
- Event Operations Manager/Event Planner or Coordinator
- Restaurant Manager
- Hotel Operations Director
- Hotel Manager
- Director of Guest Services/Relations
- Group Tour Director
- Corporate Meeting Planner
- Sales Director for a Venue or Property
- Resort Owner
- Banquet & Catering Director
- Tourism-Related Small Business Owner
- Nonprofit Executive Director
- Local Tourism Coordinator
- Festival & Event Director
- Concert & Event Producer
- Farm Tour Administrator
- Winery, Distillery or Microbrewery Tour Manager
- Travel Agent
Average Salaries for Popular HMT Jobs
- Meeting, Convention & Event Planner: 2022 Median Pay - $52,560
- Lodging Manager: 2022 Median Pay - $61,910
- Food and Service Manager: 2022 Median Pay - $61,310
