The importance of formal education and training in the hospitality industry cannot be overemphasized. This is because of the diverse workforce present in the hospitality industry.
Although there are several roles in the hospitality industry that do not require you to get a degree or go for a training program, there are many more important roles that require such.
Hotels and other hospitality companies are keen on an education that balances both the theoretical and the practical aspects of the profession. Employers also offer mouth-watering benefits to skilled, educated individuals who will be interested in joining their organizations and quickly go up the career ladder into the middle management & supervisory positions.
In fact, hospitality graduates find themselves widely in demand and often enjoy the privilege to choose from a list of rewarding employers, thus boosting their confidence and chance to succeed in their hospitality career. The right education enables professionals to thrive in this dynamic industry.
In today’s article, we will list out some hospitality education programs and schools that are highly recommended if you want to pursue a career in hospitality.
Hospitality Education Programs and Schools
School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University
Location: Ithaca, New York
Hospitality programs:
Bachelor of Science Hotel Administration degree
Master of Management in Hospitality degree
Master of Science in Hotel Administration degree (research-focused degree)
Ph.D. in Hotel Administration (research-focused degree)
The School of Administration, Cornell University was founded in 1922. It has successfully established itself to offer the world’s best hospitality education programs. Cornell University was the first school to provide the first undergraduate hospitality management degree in the world. Interestingly, Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration boasts of accreditation from AACSB International. It is also known for its high-quality business education.
In Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, you can specialize in a specific area including Accounting & Finance, Real Estate, Service Marketing, Operations Management, and many others.
The School of Hospitality Business, Michigan State University
Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Hospitality programs:
Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Business degree
The Master of Science in Hospitality Business Management degree
The Michael L. Minor Master of Science in Foodservice Business Management degree
The Graduate Specialization in Hospitality Business
MSU’s School of Hospitality Business is known to be one of the oldest hospitality schools in the US. It was founded in 1927 and provides high-quality hospitality education programs in the world.
Students of Michigan State University who are studying Hospitality gain solid experience by participating in Les Gourmets, an annual event where hospitality students are allowed to take care of the management, marketing, sales, finance, purchasing, culinary business, and beverage management. They also have access to internship opportunities across the globe.
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
Hospitality programs:
Bachelor of Science in Business degree with a concentration in Hospitality Management
Master of Science in Business Administration in Hospitality and Tourism Management degree
MBA with a focus in Hospitality and Tourism Management
HTM Business Analytics and Revenue Management graduate certificate
International Hospitality and Tourism Strategy graduate certificate
Entrepreneurship in Hospitality and Tourism Management graduate certificate
Ph.D. in Business with a Hospitality and Tourism Management concentration
Major hospitality corporations in the US including Marriott, Hilton, Sodexo, Darden, and many others seek qualified graduates directly from The Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management. This is due to the nature of the hospitality program offered in this school. The program focuses on the business aspects of the hospitality industry.
Students are usually interviewed by top hospitality representatives for permanent placement and/or internships during the fall and spring semesters.
Hospitality Students in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management also gain solid, valuable experience working in the Hotel Roanoke and at Virginia Tech Inn.
Penn State School of Hospitality Management, Pennsylvania State University
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Hospitality programs:
Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management degree
Master of Science in Hospitality Management degree (mainly designed for students for beginning academic positions at universities or for a career in industry research)
Doctor of Philosophy in Hospitality Management
As one of the oldest Hospitality schools in the US, Penn State School of Hospitality Management has successfully built an unshaken reputation.
Over 70 hospitality companies visit Penn State School of Hospitality Management for the recruitment of their students. In fact, the school provides adequate support for their students to travel to hospitality events and conferences. This is to enable the network and learn from alumni & industry partners.
Students also enjoy internships, mentoring, and employment opportunities at the Nittany Lion Inn and Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.
An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. So if you want to reach the peak of your career in the hospitality industry, you need to take the bold s