Hospitality Administration Career Option (A.S.)
Associate in Science
Program Advisor: Kevin Bechard, Dean of Business & Outreach
413-236-2109 • kbechard@berkshirecc.edu
The Hospitality Administration program is a field of study with the purpose of preparing people with the expertise, commitment and skills for management and operations positions in the expanding industry that provides food, accommodations, and travel and tourism services. Students majoring in Hospitality Administration may elect a concentration in Culinary Arts Management or Food & Beverage Management, or choose from a blend of professional electives. To draw the links between theories taught in the classroom with practice observed in the field, a cooperative education experience in the hospitality industry is required.
A wide variety of jobs and career opportunities exist within the field. Such opportunities exist in restaurants, lodging establishments, contract food services, hospital and school food service, clubs, fast food franchises, airlines and travel agencies. This option is not designed to transfer to baccalaureate institutions.
Expected Outcomes
Graduates of this program should be able to:
- Apply their knowledge regarding the hospitality industry to any entry-level career track within the food service or lodging industry;
- Demonstrate the unique professional requirements for a successful career in the hospitality industry;
- Apply their understanding of business practice with cost effectiveness and control strategies;
- Demonstrate best practices in the operation of food- service and hospitality organizations to meet customer expectations;
- Communicate effectively using written, oral and nonverbal techniques;
- Make decisions based on integrating knowledge of functional areas for managing foodservice and hospitality organizations;
- Demonstrate leadership and professional behaviors;
- Work in teams and recognize the meaning of mutual responsibility so they are prepared to join the diverse workforce of the hospitality industry; and
- Obtain food protection manager certification (e.g. ServSafe®).
Graduation Requirements
To earn a degree in this program, a student must complete all program and general education credits, plus the following Additional Requirements.
Program Courses
| BUS-111 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| BUS-208 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| CIS-102 | Fundamental Computer Literacy | 4 |
| HSP-101 | Introduction to Hospitality | 3 |
| HSP-105 | Hospitality Law | 3 |
| HSP-125 | Hospitality Management | 3 |
| HSP-237 | Hospitality Seminar | 3 |
| HSP-285 | Cooperative Education I | 3 |
| - | Professional Concentration/Electives (see options below) | 15 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 40 |
General Education Courses
| COM- | Communication | 3 |
| ECO-211 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| ENG- | English Composition/Writing | 6 |
| - | | |
| BUS-105 | Business Mathematics | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| MAT- | Mathematics | 3 |
| - | | |
| - | General Education Electives | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
Additional Requirements
| Core Competencies Portfolio |
4 items |
| FORUM |
4 units |
| Health/Fitness |
30 hours |
Minimum Cumulative Average
| Overall |
2.000 |
| Program requirements |
2.000 |
Professional concentration/electives (see options below)
|
2.000 |
Suggested Pathway to Graduation
The following is a suggestion for completing this program in two years. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student’s individual needs.
First Semester
| HSP-101 | Introduction to Hospitality | 3 |
| HSP-105 | Hospitality Law | 3 |
| - | Professional Elective | 3 |
| ENG- | English Composition/Writing | 3 |
| - | | |
| BUS-105 | Business Mathematics | 3 |
| - | Or | |
| MAT- | Mathematics | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Second Semester
| HSP-125 | Hospitality Management | 3 |
| - | Professional Electives | 6 |
| COM- | Communication | 3 |
| ENG- | English Composition/Writing | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Third Semester
| HSP-285 | Cooperative Education I | 3 |
| - | Professional Elective | 3 |
| BUS-111 | Principles of Accounting I | 3 |
| BUS-208 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| CIS-102 | Fundamental Computer Literacy | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Fourth Semester
| HSP-237 | Hospitality Seminar | 3 |
| - | Professional Elective | 3 |
| ECO-211 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| - | General Education Electives | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Footnotes
- Any MAT course with the “MA” General Education designation.
- General Education Electives to be chosen from two of the following: History, Humanities and Fine Arts; Natural or Physical Science; or Environmental Studies.
Note
HSP-117, Hotel Management, is highly recommended for a professional concentration/elective.