Associate in Business Administration: Hospitality & Tourism Management
Majors Overview April 29, 2013Students who want to learn about tourism, convention services, and guest accommodations should enroll in an associate degree program in business administration with a tourism and hospitality management emphasis. These degree programs will prepare graduates to coordinate special events and convention services, operate tour companies, and manage hotels and resorts.
Associate in Business Administration Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Associate degree programs in business administration with an emphasis on hospitality and tourism management could award students with the following degrees: Associate of Applied Business (AAB), Associate of Applied Science (AAS), or Associate of Science (AS). Also, the programs are open to students who hold a general educational development (GED) certificate or a high school diploma. The degree programs will prepare students for the challenges of operating and managing a business by teaching the fundamentals of human resource management, business technology, and finance. Industry-specific courses show students how to direct the activities of dining and catering services, manage guest lodging, plan events or travels, and interact with customers.
Program Coursework
Degree programs in tourism and hospitality management provide a balance of management and business courses, with an emphasis on the skills needed to work with event attendees, vacationers, and business travelers. A typical degree program consists of the following course topics:
•Catering
•Hospitality operations
•Event and conferencing planning
•Marketing
•Business computer applications
•Personnel management
•Business law
•Economics
•Accounting
Career Options
With industry-specific classes and broad business emphasis, degree programs in hospitality and tourism management will give graduates the knowledge to seek management positions in various fields or obtain entry-level careers. Jobs available in tourism and hospitality management include the following:
•Restaurant manager or dining services
•Front office manager
•Meeting or convention planner
•Event coordinator or planner
•Lodging or resort manager
•Convention services manager
Information on Continuing Education
Associate degree program in hospitality and tourism management graduates may transfer their credits to a four-year bachelor degree program or enter the workforce. Management trainees for hotels providing an array of guest services usually hold at minimum a bachelor degree, according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS – www.bls.gov). According to the BLS, Most convention centers, resorts, and hotel chains have extensive corporate-sponsored training programs for aspiring managers.
Students should pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree program with a business administration emphasis or other related industry-specific concentration, if they are interested in advancing their education in the tourism and hospitality management field. Both bachelor and master degree programs provide additional management and business training; courses topics include business policy, managerial communications, and strategic marketing. Students may obtain further insight into tour package sales, restaurant management, travel planning, and other industry topics. The majority of undergraduate and graduate degree programs feature a tourism or hospitality practicum.
