Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management Program
This specialized business degree prepares you for leadership roles in the dynamic, service-oriented hospitality industry. Traditional business courses in accounting, economics and law are complemented by hospitality marketing, meeting/event management, lodging management, hospitality facilities management, food and beverage management and international tourism.
All of these courses help to give you a solid foundation required for any number of hospitality specialties.
Opportunities
We stress experiential learning in our program. All undergraduates must complete two internships, accumulating more than 500 hours of work experience in two distinct areas of hospitality. These two experiences provide a great opportunity to explore different facets of the industry and to expand your knowledge and discover your ideal career path. Whether on campus or off campus, part time or full time, job or internship, you can choose the work experience that best suits your schedule and interests.
Our goal is for each of our graduates to be qualified for an introductory-level management job (or management training position) upon graduation.
Some of the many areas you can focus your career within hospitality management:
- Bar and beverage management
- Casino management
- Club management
- Cruise management
- Event management
- Hotel management
- Resort management
- Restaurant management
- Tourism management
- Venue management
- Sport coordinator
- Health care hospitality
Mission
The mission of the hospitality, tourism and event management program is to develop visionary leaders and successful professionals in the hospitality, tourism and event industry. The program provides a comprehensive and challenging curriculum that includes courses in general education, business, hospitality, tourism and event management, combined with relevant operational and management experience under the supervision and guidance of industry professionals and program faculty.
Goals
At the conclusion of the program, students will be able to:
- Identify and apply the knowledge and skills necessary for hospitality and tourism operations.
- Develop and integrate a core set of business skills necessary to successfully operate a hospitality and tourism organization.
- Demonstrate competence in the communication skills necessary for hospitality and tourism management.
- Formulate business decisions in hospitality and tourism management.
- Evaluate leadership principles necessary in the global hospitality and tourism industry.
With a Bachelor of Science in hospitality, tourism and event management from South Dakota State University, the hospitality, tourism and event industry is yours to conquer. We are dedicated to making the hospitality, tourism and event management program at SDSU one of the leading professional management-related programs in the Midwest.
Outcome Data
| Program Enrollment | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of students | 29 | 30 | 37 |
| Number of graduates | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Student/faculty ratio | 9.7:1 | 10:1 | 18.5:1 |
| Retention rate % – freshmen to sophomore | 75% | 66.7% | 42.9% |
| % Students employed in the hospitality industry or a related field within 90 days after graduation | 85.71% | 100% | 100% |
| % Students continuing their education within 90 days after graduation | 14.29% | 0% | 0% |
| Total professional placement and continuing education rate | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Throughout the fall and spring, students participate in learning experiences with the Hospitality Management Club and in their courses.
Upcoming events:
A student-run cafe featuring homemade sandwiches, salads, soups and desserts that operates seven to nine weeks each spring semester.
Accreditation
Since winter 2016, the hospitality, tourism and event management program has held professional accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration for its educational quality and for upholding nationally recognized standards in the hospitality profession.
