Sunday, 20 May 2012

Online Hospitality and Tourism Management Program Info

The field of hospitality and tourism management covers a broad range of careers in travel planning, hotels, restaurant and more. Associate's and bachelor's degree programs are available to students online, as well as short certificates.

Online Certificate Programs in Hospitality and Tourism Management

Certificate program give entry-level and existing hospitality workers targeted skills in managing specific facets of a hotel, convention center or other related concerns. Specific areas of hospitality can range from hotel to tourist resort management.

Program Information and Requirements

Most certificate programs in hospitality management are part of continuing education or pre-undergraduate coursework; however, some are graduate certificates that require a bachelor's degree for enrollment. Since theses program focus primarily on industry knowledge, they are more often geared towards professionals already employed in the tourism or hospitality field. Those without prior experience may fare better in a larger online degree program. Certificate programs generally entail 15-24 credits for completion, though some are offered as a single, semester-long course.

List of Common Hospitality and Tourism Courses

Course lists for hospitality certificates often vary based on the concentration that the student wishes to pursue. Specializations can range from restaurant to lodging management and more, with few courses common among certificate programs.

Hospitality Management Course

This introductory course shows students the unique challenges found in the operation of different types of tourism or hospitality settings. This broad program covers all facets of the industry, including tourism, recreation and leisure.

Organization Leadership in Hospitality Course

Students explore the theory and reality of organizational leadership, through analysis of management case studies.

Career Information for Graduates

There are a variety of careers and specialties available for graduates of this program. Typical careers include banquet director, event planner, tourism director and more. Salaries vary significantly based on a chosen specialty.

Online Associate's Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management

The programs typically go beyond the core skill set for hospitality management and include credits in math, business and the humanities. Programs at this level often combine culinary management skills with traditional tourism and hospitality courses.

Program Information and Requirements

Associate's degree programs entail approximately 70 to 80 credit hours of classes. Entry to these programs generally requires that applicants have a high school diploma or equivalent as well as acceptable placement scores in English and mathematics. Courses are typically delivered through popular educational services, such as Blackboard. All program courses are generally available online, but general education courses may require on-campus completion.

List of Common Hospitality and Tourism Management Courses

Associate's degree programs in hospitality and tourism management entail more courses in general management training than certificate programs.

Introduction to the Hospitality Industry Course

This course introduces students to both the traditional organization of the industry as well as an overview of available career paths. Modern techniques, software and equipment used in hospitality management are also covered.

Hospitality, Restaurant and Tourism Laws Course

Lessons in this course cover the laws that govern various aspects of the hospitality and tourism industries, from labor standards to liability. Students are taught these laws in addition to an analysis of insurances costs and types.

Hospitality Supervision Course

Students delve into both the theoretical and experiential lessons concerning management of different departments in a hospitality business.

Career Information for Graduates

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the associate's degree is only adequate for smaller companies that offer limited services (www.bls.gov). In spite of this, BLS asserts that a degree such as this, plus experience, may be sufficient for employment as a manager.

Online Bachelor's Programs in Tourism and Hospitality Management

Bachelor's degree programs are one of the most common credential for entry into tourism and hospitality management positions. Programs may include a minor in business administration as well as giving students the opportunity to specialize in food service management, event planning, hotel management and more.

Program Information and Requirements

These online programs require the normal 120 credits for graduation; however, some schools demand as many as 27 transferred credits in kitchen laboratories to be completed in an on-campus environment.

List of Common Hospitality and Tourism Management Courses

The curriculum for a bachelor's degree program typically mirrors those of the associate's and certificate levels. The bachelor's program does augment this teaching with a broad liberal arts curriculum. The general education requirements vary somewhat from school to school, but generally include courses in the sciences, mathematics, humanities and English. International hospitality programs may require multiple credits in a foreign language.

Career Information for Graduates

A bachelor's degree is the most common gateway for a career in the field of tourism and hospitality management. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics even suggests that event planners with a hospitality management bachelor's will be given greater responsibility (www.bls.gov). The median annual salary of lodging managers was $46,300, while event planners earned $44,780, according to 2009 data from BLS.

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