At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
The School of Hospitality Management (SHM) prepares our graduates to make a difference in the global world of hospitality through their skills in management and problem-solving, by combining people-skills along with analytical prowess. Our graduates learn in real-world facilities, research labs solving real-world problems, travel for domestic and international learning experiences, and engage as much with people as with novel technologies. The learning and engagement at SHM reflect today's relevant industry landscape providing experiences that prepare students for the many career opportunities offered in the diverse and exciting segments of the global hospitality industry, and will power their success in any complex, people-centric enterprise. Penn State's Hospitality Management program is amongst the oldest program in the nation, and amongst the most prestigious of its kind in the world.
HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT OPTION
Available at the following campuses: University Park
This option prepares students for management positions in any sector of the hospitality industry, including lodging, event planning, food service, food supply chain, gaming, and with a wide range of manufacturing and service businesses that support the hospitality industry. The management focus helps provide students with the analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills necessary to effectively function as hospitality professionals.
HOSPITALITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP OPTION
Available at the following campuses: Berks
This option helps prepare students for careers as owners or managers of small independently-owned hospitality operations or as entrepreneurs within large hospitality corporations or management companies in hospitality segments such as a restaurants, hotels, and non-commercial operations. The entrepreneurship focus helps provide students with creative problem solving, opportunity recognition, and leadership skills necessary to effectively manage small or individual unit's hospitality operations.
What is Hospitality Management?
Hospitality refers to the relationship that exists between a host and a guest. The Hospitality discipline prepares students to create value in this relationship, both from the host and the guest's perspectives. This involves the creation and management of products and services by the hosts for the guests, based on the preferences and behaviors of the guests. The Hospitality Management major is therefore an interdisciplinary field of study that prepares students for a global and diverse, world of management and entrepreneurship opportunities. Hospitality graduates are trained to own and manage hotels, restaurants, resorts, corporate dining, stadiums and arena catering, theme parks, country clubs, cruise ships, casinos, event management, and the vast array of manufacturing and service businesses that support the hospitality industry. From exotic locales to familiar destinations, from international postings to entrepreneurial prospects, from planning events to corporate finance, and from school food service to senior living, the possibilities are endless. This major prepares students for the multi-faceted hospitality industry and for the many career opportunities available to hospitality management graduates.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You enjoy working with people and helping others, have strong interpersonal skills, creativity and a good work ethic.
- You are looking for a creative, fast-paced career, in a diverse and high-energy environment, with opportunities to work in a variety of locations, within the US and internationally.
- You have a strong balance of interpersonal and people-management skills, and operations and business analysis abilities.
Entrance to Major
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:
- attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
- have at least third-semester classification.
READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY
Degree Requirements
For the Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management, a minimum of 120 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 45 |
| Electives | 3-11 |
| Requirements for the Major | 73-84 |
9-12 of the 45 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. For the Hospitality Management option, this includes 12 credits of General Education courses: 6 credits of GQ courses; 3 credits of GS courses; 3 credits of GHW courses. For the Hospitality Entrepreneurship option, this includes 9 credits of General Education courses: 6 credits of GQ courses and 3 credits of GS courses.
Per Senate Policy 83.80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. SHM requires students to complete 24 credits for the major through courses taken at University Park. Courses taken at other Penn State campuses may not be counted toward this 24 credit minimum. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for this major.
Requirements for the Major
To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
Common Requirements for the Major (All Options)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| ECON 102 | Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy  | 3 |
| HM 202 | Colloquium in Hospitality Management | 1 |
| HM 203 | Hospitality Professional Development Seminar | 1 |
| HM 271 | Hospitality Information Technology Fundamentals | 2 |
| HM 330 | Food Production and Operations Management | 3 |
| HM 336 | Hospitality Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| HM 366 | Human Resource Management in the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HM 430 | Applied Leadership in Foodservice Operations Management | 3 |
| HM 490 | Strategic Hospitality Management | 3 |
| HM 492 | Advanced Professional Seminar in Hospitality Management | 1 |
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| HM 101 | Exploring the Global Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HM 230 | Principles of Food Production Management | 3 |
| HM 235 | Hospitality Financial Accounting | 3 |
| HM 242 | Hospitality Marketing | 3 |
| HM 265W | Teams and Leadership in the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HM 272 | Introduction to Worksheet-Based Analysis and Modeling for Managerial Decision Making | 2 |
| HM 280 | Fundamentals of Hotel and Accommodations Management | 3 |
| HM 350 | Hospitality Revenue and Profit Optimization | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| STAT 100 | Statistical Concepts and Reasoning | 3-4 |
| or STAT 200 | Elementary Statistics | |
| Requirements for the Option | ||
| Select an option | 24-34 | |
Requirements for the Option
Hospitality Management Option (34 credits)
Available at the following campuses: University Park
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| HM 355 | Legal Aspects of the Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HM 480 | Applied Hospitality Concepts and Decision Making | 3 |
| NUTR 100 | Nutrition Applications for a Healthy Lifestyle | 3 |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Select 25 credits of HM courses from an approved department list, up to 4 credits of any world language, and other courses in consultation with an adviser | 25 | |
Hospitality Entrepreneurship Option (24-25 credits)
Available at the following campuses: Berks
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| HM 305 | Restaurant Management | 3 |
| HM 319 | Hospitality Facilities Management | 3 |
| HM 435 | Hospitality Corporate Finance | 3 |
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| HM 484 | Hospitality Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 3 |
| MGMT 215 | Entrepreneurial Mindset | 3 |
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 9-10 credits from the following: | 9-10 | |
| Social, Legal, and Ethical Environment of Business | ||
| Small Business Management | ||
| Entrepreneurial Leadership | ||
| New Venture Creation | ||
| Managing an Entrepreneurial Start-Up Company | ||
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
The keystone symbol appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits
Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Integrative Studies
- Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits
Exploration
- GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
- GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits
University Degree Requirements
First Year Engagement
All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.
Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.
First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.
Cultures Requirement
6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements
- United States Cultures: 3 credits
- International Cultures: 3 credits
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Program Learning Objectives
- Critically analyze industry metrics, assess current trends, and effectively communicate organizational and operational performance to stakeholders.
- Adapt to change and develop the ability for complex problem solving and decision-making.
- Develop a strong service orientation and work ethic.
- Cultivate the ability to lead and manage people and processes.
- Acquire the skills to create and innovate as entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs.
- Navigate legal, ethical, and moral landscapes.
- Develop intellectual curiosity for lifelong learning and personal metrics for self assessment.
- Graduate as future leaders and innovators in the diverse, multicultural, and global hospitality industry.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Nada Madrid
Academic Adviser
212 Mateer Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7033
nbm5356@psu.edu
Jeff Heim
Academic Adviser/Assistant Teaching Professor
213 Mateer Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-7990
jvh4@psu.edu
Berks
John Paul Weber, Ph.D.
Associate Teaching Professor in Business
Gaige 240
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6084
BKHospMgt@psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2024-25 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition.
Hospitality Management Option: Hospitality Management, B.S. at University Park Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡ | 3 | ECON 102† | 3 |
| HM 101*† | 3 | HM 271 | 2 |
| HM 202 | 1 | HM 272* | 2 |
| HM 203 | 1 | HM 355 | 3 |
| General Education Course (GN) | 3 | General Education Course (GH) | 3 |
| General Education Course (Exploration) | 3 | General Education Course (Exploration) | 3 |
| First-Year Seminar | 1-2 | ||
| 15-16 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HM 230* | 3 | HM 290W* | 3 |
| HM 235* | 3 | HM 336 | 3 |
| HM Elective | 3 | HM 280* | 3 |
| HM 265W* | 3 | General Education Course (Exploration) | 3 |
| STAT 100 or 200‡† | 3-4 | HM Elective | 3 |
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D (202D is preferred)‡ | 3 | HM 330 | 3 |
| HM 242* | 3 | HM 366 | 3 |
| HM 350*‡† | 3 | NUTR 100† | 3 |
| General Education Course (Integrative Studies: Inter-Domain) | 3 | HM Elective | 3 |
| HM Elective | 3 | General Education Course (GA) | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HM 430 | 3 | HM 490 | 3 |
| CAS 100, CAS 100A, CAS 100B, or CAS 100C‡ | 3 | HM 4921 | 1 |
| HM Elective | 3 | HM Elective | 3 |
| HM 480 | 3 | HM Elective | 4 |
| HM Elective | 3 | General Education Course (Integrative Studies: Inter-Domain) | 3 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Total Credits 120-122 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
- 1
All students must complete the SHM Professional Work Experience Requirement. Completion of this requirement is a prerequisite for enrolling in HM 492. This can be completed during summers or by working part-time during the school year. Please visit the SHM website for further details of this requirement.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.
Additional Notes:
LIMITATIONS ON SOURCE AND TIME FOR CREDIT ACQUISITION Per Senate policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Most majors in Health and Human Development require students to complete up to 24 credits for the major through courses taken at University Park. Courses taken at other Penn State campuses may not be counted toward this 24 credit minimum.
Advising Notes:
Within the 30 credits of required General Education Domain courses, students must take 6 credits of Integrative Studies courses. If you need additional clarification, consult with your academic adviser.
HHD allows up to 6 credits from ROTC study to be counted toward General Education and major requirements. Some programs allow additional ROTC credits to be used for degree requirements.
Hospitality Management Option: Hospitality Management, B.S. at Commonwealth Campuses
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ENGL 15, 30H, or ESL 15‡ | 3 | ECON 102† | 3 |
| MGMT 301 (Recommended substitute for HM 265W)* | 3 | General Education Course (GA) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GH) | 3 | General Education Course (Exploration) | 3 |
| General Education Course (GN) | 3 | General Education Course (Exploration) | 3 |
| General Education Course (Exploration) | 3 | HM Elective | 3 |
| PSU First-Year Seminar (if required at campus) | 0-1 | ||
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CAS 100, CAS 100A, CAS 100B, or CAS 100C† | 3 | ACCTG 211 (Recommended substitute for HM 235)* | 4 |
| MKTG 301 or BA 303 (HM Elective) | 3 | BA 243 (Recommended substitute for HM 355) | 4 |
| STAT 100 or 200‡† | 3-4 | ENGL 202A, 202B, 202C, or 202D (202D preferred)‡ | 3 |
| General Education Course (Integrative Studies: Interdomain) | 3 | NUTR 100† | 3 |
| General Education Course (Integrative Studies: Interdomain) | 3 | Elective (depending on First-Year Seminar) | 0-1 |
| 15-16 | 14-15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HM 101*† | 3 | HM 290W* | 3 |
| HM 202 | 1 | HM 336 | 3 |
| HM 203 | 1 | HM 350*‡† | 3 |
| HM 271 | 2 | HM 280* | 3 |
| HM 272 or MIS 250* | 2-3 | HM Elective | 3 |
| HM 230* | 3 | ||
| HM Elective | 3 | ||
| 15-16 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| HM 330 | 3 | HM 430 | 3 |
| HM Elective | 3 | HM 366 | 3 |
| HM 242* | 3 | HM 490 | 3 |
| HM 480 | 3 | HM 4921 | 1 |
| HM Elective | 3-4 | HM Elective | 3 |
| HM Elective | 3 | ||
| 15-16 | 16 | ||
| Total Credits 120-125 | |||
- *
Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
- ‡
Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
- #
Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
- †
Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
- 1
All students must complete the SHM Professional Work Experience Requirement. Completion of this requirement is a prerequisite for enrolling in HM 492. This can be completed during summers or by working part-time during the school year. Please visit the SHM website for further details of this requirement.
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.
Additional Notes:
LIMITATIONS ON SOURCE AND TIME FOR CREDIT ACQUISITION Per Senate policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Most majors in Health and Human Development require students to complete up to 24 credits for the major through courses taken at University Park. Courses taken at other Penn State campuses may not be counted toward this 24 credit minimum.
Advising Notes:
Within the 30 credits of required General Education Domain courses, students must take 6 credits of Integrative Studies courses. If you need additional clarification, consult with your academic adviser.
Career Paths
Penn State Hospitality Management graduates are placed globally to manage hotels and lodging operations, restaurants, resorts, business dining, college and school food service, casinos, clubs, cruise ships, and senior living communities. They work in positions including meeting and events, revenue management, human resources, sales and marketing, finance and accounting, real estate and asset management, and for the businesses that supply them. Hospitality Management graduates are in demand with the many hospitality employers that visit the School’s in-house Career Placement Center each year. Graduates move quickly to upper management roles, corporate-level positions, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
Students completing the undergraduate program in Hospitality Management are prepared for graduate professional study in hospitality management and for graduate research programs in hospitality and related fields. At Penn State, we offer the Master of Professional Studies, which prepares students for enterprise level and executive positions in the hospitality industry and the Ph.D., which prepares students for advanced academic and research positions at the university level.
MORE ABOUT THE MASTER OF PROFESSIONAL STUDIES IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
MORE ABOUT THE PH.D. PROGRAM IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
Professional Resources
- Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society
- Eta Sigma Delta International Hospitality Management Society
- The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI)
- Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA)
- National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH)
- Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals
Contact
University Park
SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
201 Mateer Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-1853
dlq3@psu.edu
Berks
EBC DIVISION
Gaige Building
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6123
BKHospMgt@psu.edu
https://berks.psu.edu/academics/baccalaureate-degrees/bs-hospitality-management