Hospitality Management, B.S.
The Bachelor of Science with a major in Hospitality Management is designed to prepare students for managerial positions in the hospitality industry, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, and private clubs.
The mission of the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM) is to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for challenging careers in the hospitality and tourism industry, conduct applied research that impacts the hospitality and tourism industry on a global level, and to provide professional and community service that promotes the economic development of the state of South Carolina and throughout the world.
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 program 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 HRTM 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 should be able to apply strategic management principles to identify hospitality industry problems and utilize analytical reasoning to formulate solutions.
- Students should be able to interpret, evaluate and explain general and industry-specific financial documents and trends.
- Students should be able to examine and apply current marketing techniques and principles related to the uniqueness of our industry.
- Students should be able to demonstrate effective management practices in an operational food and beverage environment.
- Students should be able to apply effective human resource strategies, inclusive of hiring, training and performance evaluations to service organizations’ cultures.
- Students should be able to evaluate service management strategies used to differentiate hospitality organizations.
Progression Requirements
In order to enroll in the Professional Division of the Hospitality Management program, a student must complete 48 credit hours in the courses indicated as Pre-Professional Division with a minimum grade point average of 2.25. Pre-Professional Division courses include the following:
- Carolina Core Courses within the CMW, ARP, and CMS areas
- Pre-Professional College Required Courses
- Pre-Professional Related Area Courses
- Pre-Professional Major Courses
Admissions
Entrance Requirements
The College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management has a pre-professional and a professional division of student classification. All new students will begin in the pre-professional division. Progression into the professional division requires the approval of the department and the successful completion of the requirements indicated under each departmental heading.
In addition to the academic admission requirements of the University and of the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management for admission to the pre-professional division, an enrollment limit into the professional division may be imposed by various departments. Such a limit would become necessary if enrollment levels exceed available department staffing and facility resources. In the event of an enrollment limit, admission to a department may take into account the applicant’s grade point average and other factors which may include the applicant’s potential for success in that major.
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 2.25 GPA. The Sport and Entertainment Management major requires a higher GPA than the minimum University entrance standards. Transfer applicants for Sport and Entertainment must have a cumulative GPA of a 3.0 on all college-level work attempted.
Students from other USC campuses who wish to enter the College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management must fulfill one of the following requirements:
- 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).
- 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 - 2.25; integrated information technology - 2.25; interdisciplinary studies (2.0 and separate application required); retailing - 2.25; tourism management - 2.25; and sport and entertainment management - 3.0.
Students enrolled in other colleges on the Columbia campus must meet the following GPA requirements on all work taken:hospitality management - 2.25; integrated information technology - 2.25; interdisciplinary studies (2.0 and separate application required); retailing - 2.25; tourism management - 2.25; and sport and entertainment management - 3.0.
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| 1. Carolina Core | 31-43 |
| 2. College Requirements | 21 |
| 3. Program Requirements | 6-17 |
| 4. Major Requirements | 51 |
1. Carolina Core Requirements (31-43 hours)
CMW – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Written (6 hours)
must be passed with a grade of C or higher
ARP – Analytical Reasoning and Problem Solving (6-8 hours)
Option 1
Option 2
Choose 1 from the following:
SCI – Scientific Literacy (7 hours)
- Two approved CC-SCI coursess from the natural sciences including one laboratory selected from Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Marine Science or Physics
GFL – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Foreign Language (0-6 hours)
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 by completing one foreign language course through 110 or 121.
GHS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Historical Thinking (3 hours)
- any CC-GHS course
GSS – Global Citizenship and Multicultural Understanding: Social Sciences (3 hours)
- any CC-GSS course
AIU – Aesthetic and Interpretive Understanding (3 hours)
- any CC-AIU course
CMS – Effective, Engaged, and Persuasive Communication: Spoken Component1 (0-3 hours)
INF – Information Literacy1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-INF course
VSR – Values, Ethics, and Social Responsibility1 (0-3 hours)
- any overlay or stand-alone CC-VSR course
| 1 | 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. |
2. College Requirements (21 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HRSM 301 | HRSM Professional Development Seminar | 3 |
| HRTM 344 | Personnel Organization and Supervision | 3 |
| RETL 242 | HRSM Professional Communications | 3 |
| RETL 261 | Principles of Accounting I (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
| RETL 262 | Principles of Accounting II (must be passed with a grade of C or higher) | 3 |
| SPTE 240 | Business Law | 3 |
| SPTE 274 | Computer Applications in Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 21 | |
3. Program Requirements (6-17 hours)
Supporting Courses (6 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ECON 224 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| MGMT 371 | Principles of Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
Minor (18 hours) optional
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.
Electives (0-11 hours)
The number of approved electives needed for the Hospitality Management Major Curriculum depends upon how students fulfill the Carolina Core Requirements and the optional selection of a minor. Any course in the University can be used to satisfy the elective requirement, including additional electives in the major field area.
4. Major Requirements (51 hours)
A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses
Major Courses (39 hours)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HRTM 110 | Introduction to Hospitality Industry | 3 |
| HRTM 260 | Hotel Management | 3 |
| HRTM 270 | Quantity Food Production | 3 |
| HRTM 280 | Foundations of Tourism | 3 |
| HRTM 285 | Club Management (must be completed in a club setting for the Club Management Concentration) | 3 |
| HRTM 290 | Hospitality and Tourism Practicum | 6 |
| HRTM 370 | Restaurant Food Production Management | 3 |
| HRTM 421 | Hospitality Financial Management | 3 |
| HRTM 450 | Hospitality and Tourism Marketing | 3 |
| HRTM 490 | Hospitality Management Strategies | 3 |
| HRTM 495 | Hospitality and Tourism Internship (must be completed in a club setting for the Club Management Concentration) | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 39 | |
Major Electives (12 hours)
Chosen in consultation with an advisor; at least 6 hours must be from HRTM.
Club Management Concentration (6 hours) optional
Students may obtain a Club Management Concentration by completing HRTM 285 and HRTM 495 in a club setting. The following Club Management courses count toward the 12 hours of Major Electives.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HRTM 473 | Club Cuisine and Service | 3 |
| HRTM 585 | Advanced Club Management | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 6 | |
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.