Hospitality management schools prepare students for careers in the restaurant, hotel and travel industry.
Formal training in hospitality management prepares students for executive and supervisory positions in the food service and hospitality industry. Most culinary institutions, private colleges and public universities offer programs in hospitality management, with supplementary study in travel and tourism. Students must also take liberal arts courses in addition to fundamental culinary skills and business management classes.
Programs
In addition to fundamental culinary skills and business management classes, students at most culinary institutions, private colleges and public universities must also take liberal arts courses. Degree programs in culinary hospitality include associate of occupational studies (AOS), executive master of business administration (EMBA), Bachelor of Arts in business hospitality management and associate of arts (AOA) in hospitality, travel and tourism. EMBA programs require students to have a bachelor's degree in hospitality or a related field, as well as an executive position in a hospitality-based occupation, at the time of application. AOS and AOA programs prepare students for entry-level positions in the hospitality sector, while bachelor programs often qualify graduates for supervisory positions in hotels, cruise ships and restaurants.
Curricula
The core curricula of hospitality management programs are centered around business management courses, although students must also complete survey courses in culinary arts. Coursework commonly includes instruction in accounting and budget management, customer service, business planning, restaurant and hotel operations, information technology in the food service industry, organizational behavior and restaurant law. Culinary courses often include basic culinary skills I and II, as well as food safety and sanitation. In addition to hospitality coursework, associate's and bachelor's programs require liberal arts classes consisting of study in humanities, social science and history.
Schools and Cost
Culinary schools commonly offer hospitality programs on the associate-degree level, although some also have bachelor degree programs. Four-year universities and private colleges provide bachelor's degrees, EMBA's and MBA's in hospitality management. As of February, 2011, the cost of a culinary hospitality education ranged from $7,000 to $36,000 at a culinary institution and from $14,000 to $45,000 at a private university.
Duration
AOS and AOA programs in culinary hospitality typically last two years, and bachelor degree programs last four years. However, most schools require students to complete a 12- to 18-week externship at a school-approved hotel, cruise line or restaurant upon completion of the two- or four-year program.
Tags: hospitality management, bachelor degree, business management, culinary hospitality, culinary skills, liberal arts