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Hospitality Management

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Contact Information

  • Dr. SoJung Lee, Director of Graduate Education for Hospitality Management
  • 8A MacKay Hall

  • sjlee@iastate.edu
  • 515-294-8990
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Administered by the Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management

The Hospitality Management program offers study for the degree of Bachelor of Science with a major in hospitality management. As the only 4-year hospitality program in the state of Iowa, the program prepares undergraduate students with essential principles of managing a variety of hospitality organizations, such as hotels, restaurants, clubs, and foodservice companies. Students also develop expertise in managing diverse areas, such as: (a) food/beverage management, (b) lodging management, (c) senior living management, and (d) tourism and attractions.  

Students get hands-on experience at the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom and SPARKS. The Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom is a 105-seat learning laboratory where students take responsibility for meal preparation and service. The Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom is the earliest established student run restaurant that is still in operation on a college campus in the United States. SPARKS is the student operated café in the Student Innovation Center, where students have the opportunity to manage all the operations of the facility from menu development, inventory, human resources, and much more.

Our students participate in internships locally, nationally, and internationally with a range of hotels, restaurants, caterers, theme parks, sports facilities, cruise ships convention and visitors' bureaus, independent businesses, and country clubs. Courses provide students with opportunities to develop and apply management techniques in hospitality organizations. The Hospitality Management curriculum provides students with the opportunity to obtain professional certifications in multiple areas.

The Hospitality Management program mission is to create, share, and apply knowledge to provide hospitality consumers with products, services, and experiences to enhance overall well-being. We accomplish our mission with a personalized, nationally ranked program. Our students learn in a nurturing, safe, and inclusive environment, with caring faculty with industry experience. 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon graduation, students should be able to:

1. Identify and apply the knowledge and skills necessary for hospitality and tourism operations

2. Develop and integrate a core set of business skills necessary to successfully operate a hospitality and tourism organization

3. Demonstrate competence in the communication skills necessary for hospitality and tourism management

4. Formulate business decisions in hospitality and tourism management

5. Evaluate leadership principles necessary in the diverse and global hospitality and tourism industry

UNDERGRADUATE STUDY

The program offers a Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality management. Coursework is planned to provide students with a general education plus professional preparation for supervisory and executive positions in hospitality organizations such as clubs, hotels, dining, theme parks, cruise lines, and casinos. Principles of business management are presented, as well as fundamentals of hospitality operations.

Graduates demonstrate leadership characteristics and make decisions based on integrating knowledge of financial, human resources, marketing, and operational principles for managing hospitality operations. They demonstrate best practices in meeting customer expectations and use of technology (e.g., Point-of-Sales systems, property management systems, and revenue management systems) to achieve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Learning experiences are provided in the food and beverage, casino, lodging, senior living, and tourism industries and other approved establishments. Students are required to have a total of at least 800 hours of relevant work experience prior to graduation. Of the 800 hours, 200 hours are required prior to completing one year in the program.

The Bachelor of Science Degree

Total credits required: 123, including a minimum of 18 credits from the AESHM Department at Iowa State University for the degree. 

The program offers a concurrent B.S. and M.S. degree that allows students to obtain a B.S. and M.S. degree in hospitality management in five years. Application for admission to the Graduate College should be made in the junior year.

Minor in Hospitality Management

The Hospitality Management minor (HSPM) requires the completion of at least 15 credits from the Hospitality Management curriculum. The minor must include at least 6 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above taken at ISU. All course pre-requisites must be completed prior to taking the course. All minor courses must be taken for a grade.

Minor in Beverage Management

The Beverage Management minor (BVM) requires the completion of at least 15 credits from the Beverage Management minor curriculum. The minor must include at least 6 credits in HSPM courses and 6 credits in courses numbered 3000 or above taken at ISU. All course pre-requisites must be completed prior to taking the course. All minor courses must be taken for a grade.