Hospitality Management

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The Hospitality Management curriculum provides students with the opportunity to study the largest and fastest growing industry in the world. The curriculum includes coursework in the various areas of travel and tourism, which include foodservice operations, lodging facilities, entertainment, attractions, conventions, transportation and tourism services. Focus is placed on successful management and promotion of each entity of the hospitality industry. The program provides students with a technical foundation as well as hands on experience in all aspects of the industry.

Career Opportunities

This program offers an assortment of career choices for the graduate. Opportunities are worldwide and range from simple to very luxurious and elegant operations. Students are required to gain experience through internships, part-time jobs, job shadowing and hands on labs. Graduates of the program should enter the industry as lower level managers. Rapid promotions are common in the industry due to the high demand for managers. Areas of opportunity include, but are not limited to, hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, caterers, resorts, parks, casinos and airlines.

Curriculum and Learning Environment

Several courses in the curriculum have a lab attached to the lecture. This allows students to gain not only a textbook view of the topic but also a “hands on” perspective. The foodservice courses have two labs located in Hamilton Hall on UL’s campus. “The Lunch Club” is the Hospitality program’s own full service fine dining restaurant that allows senior level students to manage in a foodservice operation before graduation.

The lodging courses are held at the Hilton Garden Inn located across from the Cajundome. This allows students to observe a facility in operation while discussing the various mechanics of a property. Students also have the opportunity to shadow various employees of the property, hear testimonials of current managers and tour the facility throughout the courses.

In the student’s last semester, a management level internship is required. Students can choose their internship area of concentration and the location site. The internship allows students to bridge their academic knowledge gained through coursework with their future career in the industry. Many interns continue with the site company after graduation.

Faculty

The Hospitality Management faculty members have at least a master’s degree and extensive experience in the industry. All faculty members are actively involved with professional organizations in the community.

Student Organizations

Students are strongly encouraged to attend local, state and national industry meetings to begin networking for their future. The student organization, Society of Hosteurs, holds fundraisers and assists its members in attending the National Restaurant Association and the International Hotel, Motel and Restaurant Shows each year.