The hospitality track provides a grounding in the knowledge and skills of lodging management. The tourism track prepares the student for travel and tourism related fields such as tour planning, travel arranging and site management. The curriculum is designed to prepare individuals for entry or management level employment and for transfer to baccalaureate degree or specialized programs. Courses provide a broad general education cation, general business studies, and a background for working with a variety of people. The focus is on developing analytical, organizational, interpersonal, management, and problem solving skills.
Course work is supplemented by practical experience arranged through internships.
Positions in the travel aspect of the field include travel agent and work with airlines and other transportation agencies. The lodging aspect offers hotel and motel management as well as the related areas of club, resort, inn, bed and breakfast management, and convention and special event coordination. Tourism positions include tour development, promotion, guiding and work with parks, commercial recreation, and other tourism organizations. Tourist sites offer positions in management, research, interpretation, public programming, and conservation. The food service industry offers employment in a variety of commercial and institutional settings such as hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, long term care facilities and catering.