One of the most dynamic career fields, the hospitality and tourism industry has the largest employment base of any industry in the private sector. With a focus on business education, the Western Carolina University Hospitality and Tourism Management Program prepares students to excel and advance within the industry. Thanks to small class sizes, students receive personalized attention and instruction from accomplished faculty who share a wealth of industry experience. Graduates find career success in hotel and restaurant management, event planning, food and beverage management, tourism planning and development, country club management, casino operations and many other areas.
On successful completion of the program, students receive a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A) in Hospitality Tourism Management. The curriculum includes hospitality and tourism courses and courses from the disciplines of accounting, computer information systems, economics, finance, law, marketing, management, mathematics and quantitative analysis. Hospitality and tourism courses include The Hospitality and Tourism Services Industry, Hospitality Facilities Management, Bar and Beverage Operations, and International Studies in Hospitality and Tourism. All students complete a required internship experience.
The employment outlook is excellent for program graduates. Because ownership of hospitality and tourism businesses has become increasingly dominated by large corporations, the demand for managers with a formal education in the industry has increased. Furthermore, experts predict that career advancement and increased responsibility will occur faster in the hospitality and tourism industry than in other areas of employment. With their business education advantage, WCU graduates can pursue management careers in a variety of hospitality and tourism settings, including hotels and restaurants, event planning companies, resorts, convention centers, airlines, casinos, and cruise ships.