Gain Valuable, Hands-on Experience in Hospitality with a BS in Hospitality Business
The hospitality and tourism industry is responsible for $1.1 trillion in sales in the United States alone, according to the American Hotel and Lodging Association. In many countries, in fact, hospitality is virtually the only industry and essential to the local economy. That's why Southern New Hampshire University has a program devoted to preparing students for careers in this burgeoning field.
The Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Business major at SNHU prepares you for management careers in the field and equips you with the expertise to become a successful entrepreneur or small business owner. Our unique facilities, diversely experienced faculty and practical curriculum will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to become a hospitality industry leader.
Elect the BS in Hospitality Business alone or choose a concentration in:
- Hotel and convention management: The hotel and convention management concentration prepares students to pursue careers as hotel and convention managers, special event managers, and tradeshow or exhibition managers.
- Restaurant management: The restaurant management concentration within the hospitality business BS program provides a solid background in management practices in restaurants and food service operations.
Degree in Three: Save time and tuition through our innovative Degree in Three program. Earn your bachelor's degree in 3 years - with no weekend, summer or evening courses required - and gain real world experience that employers want to see. You'll also have the option of using your fourth year to pursue a master's or MBA.
See Yourself Succeed in Hospitality
The BS in Hospitality Business prepares you for a host of careers in lodging, food service, club management, and the airline and cruise industries. You'll also graduate with meaningful credentials - academic and professional portfolios and 1,000 hours of solid, hands-on field experience.
As a private, nonprofit university, SNHU has one mission - to help you see yourself succeed. The benefits of earning your undergraduate degree in hospitality business at SNHU include:
- Supportive community. Join the SNHU campus community of students who are closely connected with faculty and staff dedicated to your success
- Affordability. SNHU is one of the most affordable private, nonprofit universities in New Hampshire, and students who qualify could receive up to $20,000 in grants and scholarships. (This scholarship amount is only for students who do not need a visa to study in the U.S.)
- Innovative programs. Save time and tuition with our three-year degree programs or study abroad at little or no extra cost
- Accessible faculty. Learn from highly credentialed faculty who are experts in their fields and interact with you in the classroom, dining hall, fitness center and the stands
- Opportunity. Tap into our nationwide network of alumni and strong connections with employers for internship and career opportunities
- Campus experience. Enjoy more than 50 student clubs, champion Division II athletics and fun events on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, N.H., named a "Best Place to Live" by Money magazine
​Internships & Outcomes
With a degree in hospitality business from SNHU, you'll be qualified to work in a variety of hospitality industries: airlines, arenas, beverage distribution, casinos/gaming, conference centers, cruise lines, event planning, golf resorts, hotels, restaurants, retail, spas, stadiums and wineries.
Industry experiences provide a bridge between the classroom experience and careers. SNHU hospitality business graduates have interned with or been hired by a range of organizations including:
• Boston Park Plaza Hotel
• Cannes Film Festival
• Carlo's Bakery, Hoboken, N.J.
• Fairmont Hotels and Resorts
• Global Vision Hotels
• Hilton Hotels and Resorts
• Omni Hotels & Resorts
• Princess Cruises
• Rutherford Ranch Winery
• Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center
• The Walt Disney Co.
“The hospitality program’s required work experience allowed me to apply skills learned in the classroom to real-world experience. My internship led to a reoccurring summer position throughout college and a full-time job after graduation. I then expanded my skill set and was able to relocate to New York City.”
(Amanda Mayberry, ’10, executive assistant, W. Capital Partners)
Curriculum
The curriculum for the BS in Hospitality Business consists of general education and business core coursework, plus eight electives covering a wide range of subjects from Introduction to Commercial Food Production to Financial Analysis for the Hospitality Industry.
Courses To Prepare You For Your Career
SNHU's bachelor's in hospitality business program includes:
- General education
- Business core
- Degree-specific courses
General Education Program
Our programs are designed to equip you with the skills and insights you need to move forward. In recent years, employers have stressed the need for graduates with higher order skills - the skills that go beyond technical knowledge - such as:
- Writing
- Communication
- Analysis
- Problem solving
All undergraduate students are required to take general education classes. Through foundation, exploration and integration courses, students learn to think critically, creatively and collaboratively, giving you the edge employers are looking for.
Business Core Program
Programs in the School of Business require learners to complete the business core program, which includes a variety of business-specific courses. This program focuses on 10 core competencies to prepare you for success wherever you go.
View Full Curriculum in the Catalog
Courses May Include
HOS
220
Geography of Global Cultures
What is tourism in an age of globalization where culture is increasingly a commodity ? What is the experience of tourists and locals who daily enact rituals of encounter in today's expanding circuits of travel? This course investigates the relationship between culture and tourism and answers these questions. Issues and trends in the management of tangible and intangible assets such as interpretation, globalization, cross cultural values, impacts of development, sustainable tourism, etc. are examined.
HOS
225
Introduction to Commercial Food Production
This is a beginning course in the theory and preparation of haute cuisine. Students will learn how to procure raw ingredients and prepare quantity food dishes for the commercial food service industry. Sanitation principles, safety guidelines, proper use of equipment are practiced. The National Restaurant Association ServSafe exam is administered.
HOS
315
Rooms Division Management
This course takes an operations approach to room management, including front office, revenue management (reservations), uniformed services, housekeeping and engineering. Emphasis is placed upon the management function, coordination and communication within and between departments.
HOS
327
Food and Beverage Operations Management
This course is designed to provide instructions about managing a variety of food and beverage operations. Included are the history and development of restaurants; food production and menus; the size, scope and classification of restaurants; principles of American, French, Russian and English services; principles of menu- making; layout and design of restaurants; marketing and sales promotion; management of personnel and human relations; and food and beverage control procedures. Students will apply management quality theories learned while supervising front- and back-of-the-house areas of the Quill campus restaurant/special events while throughout the semester. A focus on analyzing current industry trends are examined to understand the principles of designing successful future trends for the food service industry. This is a hybrid course that requires in-seat- time one class period (75 minutes) and non-seat-time (on-line) one class period (75 minutes) per week.
HOS
418
Hospitality Facilities Management
This course provides students with an understanding of the fundamental principles of facilities planning, management and maintenance in all segments of the hospitality industry. Decision-making processes regarding planning, using facility management systems and taking cost-cutting measures in operations are studied. The interaction of management, engineering and maintenance also are explored. Offered every semester.
HOS
420
Hospitality Revenue Management
The primary goal of Revenue Management has been succinctly described as "selling the right product to the right customer at the right time for the right price". The purpose of this course is to provide a core understanding of the fundamentals of revenue management, which ties into the larger picture of revenue strategy. Hospitality managers are charged with making strategic and proactive decisions to increase occupancy and total revenue. This course therefore provides a holistic view of the application of revenue management concepts and practices to the hospitality industry allowing for a more proactive approach to decision making.
HOS
492
Experiential Learning
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality are required to complete industry related experiential learning experiences as a requirement for graduation. Students are encouraged to pursue diverse experimental learning opportunities within hospitality businesses. This is a non-credit course. For fall graduates, the documentation portfolio highlighting the development and improvement of student learning via industry work experiences is due on/before December 1. For spring graduates, the documentation portfolio highlighting the development and improvement of student learning via industry work experiences is due on/before March 15. Credit will not be awarded for work experience prior to admission into the Hospitality Program. Students enrolled in the BS four (4) year traditional degree program must complete 1,000 hours of experiential learning in the hospitality and tourism industry with a minimum of 200 hours in guest/customer contact services. Students enrolled in the BS degree in three program complete 750 hours of experiential learning in the hospitality and tourism industry with a minimum of 150 hours in guest/customer contact services. Students transferred from other programs in the sophomore year and enrolled in the BS degree program complete 750 hours of experiential learning in the hospitality and tourism industry with a minimum of 150 hours in guest/customer contact services. Students transferred from other programs in the junior or senior year and enrolled in the BS degree program complete 500 hours of experiential learning in the hospitality and tourism industry with a minimum of 100 hours in guest/customer contact services.
Program Outcomes
- Communication Knowledge and Skills
- Collaboration (team work, interpersonal and social skills)
- Critical & Innovative Thinking
- Global Orientation
- Management Knowledge and Skills for the Hospitality Business & Industry
Our Manchester campus aims to keep tuition and related costs low for our students so that you can pursue your degree and your goals. More than 90% of our students receive some form of financial aid, and students who qualify could receive up to $20,000 in grants and scholarships.
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Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) as well as several other accrediting bodies.
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This program and its concentrations are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on College Navigator.