Hospitality and Tourism Management (BSBA)

About

Appalachian State University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management (BSBA) degree, housed in the Department of Management, prepares students for management and marketing careers in commercial food service facilities, hotel and lodging properties, attractions, conference and resort centers, convention services, meeting and event planning, destination marketing and country club management. The program emphasizes industry connections and experience, and you’ll learn from respected and engaged faculty members who have worked for Charlotte Convention & Visitors Bureau, Holiday Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, major airlines and other organizations.

Among the program’s strengths is the opportunity to engage in extensive networking, which supports you in selection of internships and jobs. The faculty members maintain professional connections and invite multiple industry leaders to campus each semester to speak with students. These connections are further cultivated when students and faculty attend industry conferences and connect with alumni through social media.

After Graduation

Employment: Most graduates find employment right away. Recent employers include:

Ballantyne Resort
Waldorf-Astoria Orlando, Florida
Biltmore House
Philips Club, New York City
Hilton Hotels in Charlotte and Charleston, South Carolina
Charlotte Convention Center
Weston Hotel, Charlotte
Weston Resort and Spa Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Pinehurst Resort
Marriot International in Miami, Florida
The Umstead Hotel and Spa
Truist

Graduate School: Students who choose to continue to graduate school have often chosen to stay at App State for its MBA program.

Career Exploration website

People

Alumna Profile: Sam Hedrick '22

Sam Hedrick chose to major in hospitality and tourism management after participating in the Disney College Program. Read about her Disney experience and her educational journey at App State.
Alumnus Profile: Parker Henderson ’99
Everything in the corporate world is collaborative and team-focused, and Appalachian prepared him well for this, says the corporate regional director with Hilton’s Embassy Suites.
Faculty Profile: Dana Clark
“Watching my students become successful – that is one of the greatest pleasures in my life,” says Dr. Dana Clark said.

Meet more faculty

Courses

Program of Study
Four Year Guide

Click on the pdf for your major
NCCC Transfer Four Year Guide

Minors

A minor is not required. However, popular choices include Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Sustainable Business and Marketing.

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Engagement Outside the Classroom

Hospitality and Tourism Management Student Association – This organization provides activities for members interested in hospitality and tourism to interact with and learn from guest speakers and to participate in professional activities.
Society for Human Resource Management (SRHM) – The world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. Appalachian’s chapter provides students with opportunities to meet and interact with business professionals about human resource issues.
Sigma Iota Epsilon – An honorary fraternity for management majors
Association of Student Entrepreneurs – Through the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, this association encourages creativity and expertise on how to start and operate a successful company.
Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society – Membership in this group is the highest international recognition a student in business can receive in an undergraduate or master’s program at an AACSB accredited school.

Global Learning

App State is committed to introducing students to different cultures and teaching them how to live and interact in a global society.

All business students fulfill an international requirement, and an increasing number choose to study abroad through a wide variety of exchange programs. The college maintains partnerships with universities across the globe and continues to expand groundbreaking opportunities in emerging markets.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for declaring a major within the Walker College of Business are detailed here.

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Degrees

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Costs and Aid

Why Appalachian?

A full-time internship in a service corporation must be completed during the summer term between the junior and senior years and often leads to job placement.
Professor Dana Clark is the only individual to win all three top tourism honors in North Carolina: the Barentine Special Achievement Award, the Tourism Excellence Award for Public Service, and the Tourism Excellence Award for an Individual.
Because entrepreneurship is a crucial tool for economic development, the Department of Management offers a major and two minors related to entrepreneurship: Management (BSBA) - Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Innovation and Entrepreneurial Studies and Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
The Management department also provides access to the programs and faculty in App State’s Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship in order to help students develop and launch businesses.
The Truist Student Leadership Center offers consultation to all business majors on choosing a career, preparing for interviews and exploring internships and employment.

Location

Boone and Hickory*

*The Hickory Campus location is pending accreditation from SACSCOC for this program. Accreditation is expected in summer 2023.

Careers

Banquet Manager
Cruise Line Director
Director of Food and Beverages
Dining Room Manager
Director of Marketing
Director of Sales
District Manager
Event Planner
Events Manager
Food & Beverage Directors Food Service Manager
Front Office Manager
Guest Relations Manager
Hotel Manager
Personnel Director
Purchasing Director
Reception Manager
Reservation Manager
Restaurant Owner
Regional Manager

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Contacts

Walker College of Business

Department of Management

Dr. Carol Kline
Program Director
klinecs@appstate.edu
919-306-1705

Department of Management
The Department of Management offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs to prepare students for managerial responsibilities in today’s dynamic environment.

Walker College of Business
Accredited and well ranked
- Accredited by AACSB International – the premier global accrediting body for schools of business – since 1976. It is among only one-third of U.S. business schools and 15% of business programs worldwide that hold this accreditation.
- Consistently named one of “The Best Business Schools” by The Princeton Review.
Global Emphasis
- An international requirement of all business majors, which can include study abroad in traditional and emerging markets.
- Opportunities to participate in a variety of short-term international programs in locations throughout the world, which are open to all business majors and designed to develop international business skills and intercultural knowledge — including the Holland Fellows Program for Business Study in Asia, which provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for selected students to gain global business acumen through a semesterlong international sustainable business consulting project, alumni mentorship, career coaching and a uniquely curated business study abroad experience.
- The annual Global Opportunities Conference, which highlights innovative and entrepreneurial ways of addressing global challenges.
Highlighting Sustainability
- Leaders in creating a world where environmental, societal and economic qualities exist in balance to meet the resource needs of today and of future generations.
Outstanding Academics
- Small classes and easy access to faculty, who are focused on teaching and learning and engaged in research.
- An emphasis on practical experience and interaction with professionals through the Boyles Lecture Series, McLeod Entrepreneur Summit, Global Opportunities Conference, Business for Good conference and other annual events.
- Accelerated Admission for select MBA programs
Student Support Services
- Student Support Services that include academic advising, scholarships, the Truist Student Leadership Center, which provides opportunities for business students to build job and life skills through professional and leadership development training, and the Transportation Insight Center for Entrepreneurship, which aims to help students and recent alumni launch successful businesses and enhance Western North Carolina’s economy.