What Is Hospitality & Service Management?

History

• Michigan State University started the School of Hospitality Business in 1927 with 18 enrolled students, and now offers undergraduate and graduate degrees with enrollment reaching 800 students in 2009.
  
  

Career Directions

• Graduates of New York University's undergraduate degree program in Hotel and Tourism Management have found careers with tourism bureaus, airlines, catering businesses, franchise operations, casinos and special event management.
  
  

College Courses

• Colleges that offer majors in hospitality and service management have requisite courses that generally include marketing, business management, human resource management, accounting, food and beverage planning and information technology.
  
  

Time Frame

• An undergraduate degree in hospitality and service management will take approximately four years. Some community colleges, such as Schoolcraft College in Michigan, offer specialized two year associate's degree programs.
  
  

Considerations

• Many people working in the tourism or hospitality and service management industry do not have college educations. In the service industry, promotion from within is a common practice.