The Bachelor of Science with a major in Hospitality Management is designed to prepare students for managerial and leadership roles in the hospitality industry, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, events and weddings, and private clubs.

The mission of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management is to educate global leaders for the hospitality and tourism industry through innovative and experiential curriculum, research, and community engagement.

The program provides a comprehensive curriculum that includes courses in general education, business, and hospitality and tourism management, combined with relevant operational management experience under the guidance of supervision of industry professionals and program faculty.

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management prepares students for responsible citizenship roles in business and society. It enables them to understand and apply the concepts of problem-solving in general, and in organizational and industry-related issues.

The faculty provide uncompromising individualized attention to meeting the educational needs of our students and assume very active, and influential roles in numerous professional organizations, at all levels.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the Hospitality Management program will be able to:

1. Identify and apply the knowledge and skills necessary for hospitality operations.
2. Develop and integrate a core set of business skills necessary to successfully operate a hospitality organization.
3. Demonstrate competence in the communication skills necessary for hospitality management.
4. Formulate business decisions in hospitality management.
5. Evaluate leadership principles necessary in the diverse and global tourism industry.
6. Demonstrate effective management practices in an operational food and beverage environment.

Admissions

Freshmen Students

In order to be admitted to a program of study in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, freshmen applicants must meet all University admission requirements through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Transfer Students

In order to be admitted to a program of study in the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management, transfer applicants from outside of the USC system must meet all University admission requirements through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and have at least a 2.50 GPA.

Students from other USC campuses who wish to enter the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management must fulfill one of the following requirements:

1. Be in good standing, meet all University admission requirements through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and have the cumulative GPA required for the program (see below).
2. Be in good standing and have completed 30 semester hours with the cumulative GPA required for the program (see below).

Required GPA for Change of Campus: hospitality management - 2.50; tourism management - 2.50

Students enrolled in other colleges on the Columbia campus: must meet the following GPA requirements on all work taken: hospitality management - 2.50; tourism management - 2.50

Degree Requirements (120 hours)

Program of Study

Founding Documents Requirement

All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade in the subject areas of History, Political Science, or African American Studies that covers the founding documents including the United State Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Emancipation Proclamation and one or more documents that are foundational to the African American Freedom struggle, and a minimum of five essays from the Federalist papers.  This course may count as a requirement in any part of the program of study including the Carolina Core, the major, minor or cognate, or as a general elective.  Courses that meet this requirement are listed here.

Requirements (120 hours)

¹

Must be passed with a grade of C or higher.

²

Carolina Core Stand Alone or Overlay Eligible Requirements — Overlay-approved courses offer students the option of meeting two Carolina Core components in a single course. A maximum of two overlays is allowed. The total Carolina Core credit hours must add up to a minimum of 31 hours. Some programs may have a higher number of minimum Carolina Core hours due to specified requirements.

Major Map

A major map is a layout of required courses in a given program of study, including critical courses and suggested course sequences to ensure a clear path to graduation.

Major maps are only a suggested or recommended sequence of courses required in a program of study. Please contact your academic advisor for assistance in the application of specific coursework to a program of study and course selection and planning for upcoming semesters.

Hospitality Management, BS No Concentration

Hospitality Management, BS Club Management Concentration

Hospitality Management, BS Real Estate Development Concentration

Hospitality Management, BS No Concentration

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA. 

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses.  Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study. 

³

College of HRSM students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by achieving a score of 2 or higher on the foreign language placement test, or credit equivalent to USC 109 and 110 courses, or credit equivalent to the USC 121 course. 

⁴

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students. 

⁵

HTMT Electives are chosen in consultation with an advisor who can provide a list of recommended courses by focus area.  At least 6 hours must be from HTMT. 

⁶

The Hospitality Management major curriculum includes 0-11 hours of approved electives, depending on how students fulfill the Carolina Core requirements.  Any course in the University can be used to satisfy the elective requirement including additional electives in the major. 

⁷

Structured industry practical experience in a hospitality or tourism company.  400 hours required.  Students may complete up to an additional 9 credit hours while completing HTMT 495. 

Program Notes:

• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• Minors are optional for Hospitality Management majors and may be in any course of study offered by the College of HRSM as well as any other University program with an approved minor. College of HRSM required courses may not be counted toward a minor.
• The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. 

Hospitality Management, BS Club Management Concentration 

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA. 

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses.  Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study. 

³

College of HRSM students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by achieving a score of 2 or higher on the foreign language placement test, or credit equivalent to USC 109 and 110 courses, or credit equivalent to the USC 121 course. 

⁴

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students. 

⁵

HTMT Electives are chosen in consultation with an advisor who can provide a list of recommended courses by focus area.  At least 6 hours must be from HTMT. 

⁶

The Hospitality Management major curriculum includes 0-11 hours of approved electives, depending on how students fulfill the Carolina Core requirements.  Any course in the University can be used to satisfy the elective requirement including additional electives in the major. 

⁷

Club Management Concentration Courses (6 hours): HTMT 473, 475, 585, 591 

⁸

Structured industry practical experience in Club Management.  400 hours required.  Students may complete up to an additional 9 credit hours while completing HTMT 495. 

Program Notes:

• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• Minors are optional for Hospitality Management majors and may be in any course of study offered by the College of HRSM as well as any other University program with an approved minor. College of HRSM required courses may not be counted toward a minor.
• The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia. 

Hospitality Management, BS Commercial Real Estate Concentration 

¹

Regardless of individual course grades, students must maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA. 

²

Some colleges require a minimum GPA for major courses.  Courses indicated in this column are included in the major GPA for this program of study. 

³

College of HRSM students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by achieving a score of 2 or higher on the foreign language placement test, or credit equivalent to USC 109 and 110 courses, or credit equivalent to the USC 121 course. 

⁴

The Carolina Core provides the common core of knowledge, skill and academic experience for all Carolina undergraduate students. 

⁵

The Tourism Management major curriculum includes 0-14 hours of approved electives, depending on how students fulfill the Carolina Core requirements.  Any course in the University can be used to satisfy the elective requirement including additional electives in the major. 

⁶

Structured industry practical experience in a hospitality or tourism company.  400 hours required.  Students may complete up to an additional 9 credit hours while completing HTMT 495. 

Program Notes:

• All undergraduate students must take a 3-credit course or its equivalent with a passing grade that covers the founding documents. This course may fulfill any requirement in the program of study. Courses that meet this requirement are listed in the academic bulletin.
• Minors are optional for Tourism Management majors and may be in any course of study offered by the College of HRSM as well as any other University program with an approved minor. College of HRSM required courses may not be counted toward a minor.
• The last 30 credit hours toward your degree must be earned in residence at the University of South Carolina-Columbia.