B.S. Hospitality Administration Curriculum
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A degree in Hospitality Administration prepares students to begin their careers in a variety of industry sectors: hotel operations, sales and revenue, marketing, human resources, food and beverage management, real estate development, event management – even entrepreneurial ventures.
Degree Requirements
All students entering as freshmen in Fall 2018 and beyond will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, a general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements are flexible and can be satisfied in many different ways, through coursework in and beyond the major and, in some cases, through co-curricular activities. All BU students are required to take 26 units of Hub credits.
Students majoring in Hospitality Administration will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy some BU Hub requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic and Historical Interpretation; Scientific and Social Inquiry; Quantitative Reasoning; Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship; Communication, and the Intellectual Toolkit. The remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, co-curricular experiences.
A candidate for the degree must earn 128 credits/units in BU Hub, major, and elective courses. In addition, 800 hours of on-the-job experience are required. This experience, monitored and supervised by staff, is divided equally between two separate 400-hour experiences and may be completed at any time during the degree program. An international experience is also required.
The Hospitality Administration major curriculum includes the following requirements:
Requirement
Credits
Foundational Courses
32 cr.
SHA Core Courses
48 cr.
SHA Elective Courses
12 cr.
General Electives (includes 26 Hub Units)
36 cr.
2 Field Experiences
0 cr.
1 International Experience
0 cr.
Total Credits
128 CR.
Sample Schedule
What might your four years at SHA be like? Here’s a sample lineup to give you an idea. But the possibilities don’t end here. Take a look at the different specialization, distribution, and elective courses to imagine all the ways you can mix it up to make an experience all your own.
Freshman Year
FALL SEMESTER
SPRING SEMESTER
SHA HF 100 INTRODUCTION TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
SHA HF 120 FUNDAMENTALS OF FOOD SERVICE (2 CR.)
CAS WR 120 FIRST YEAR WRITING SEMINAR
CAS WR 150 WRITING, RESEARCH & INQUIRY
CAS MA 113/115 STATISTICS
MA 119 APPLIED MATH FOR SOCIAL & MGMT. SCIENCE
Hub Course #1
SHA HF 270 LODGING, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
SHA HF 382 HOSPITALITY COMMUNICATIONS (2 CR.)
SUMMER
SHA HF 140 HOSPITALITY FIELD EXPERIENCE I
Sophomore Year
FALL SEMESTER
SPRING SEMESTER
SHA HF 220 FOOD & BEVERAGE MANAGEMENT
SHA HF 210 FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
SHA HF 260 MARKETING PRINCIPLES
SHA HF 231 HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
CAS EC 101 ECONOMICS
CAS EC 102 MACROECONOMICS
CAS FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
CAS FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT
SUMMER
SHA HF 240 HOSPITALITY FIELD EXPERIENCE II
Junior Year
FALL SEMESTER
SPRING SEMESTER
SHA HF 250 HOSPITALITY LAW (2 CR.)
STUDY ABROAD (16 general/hospitality electives)
SHA HF 310 MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING
SHA HF 370 REVENUE MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY (2 CR.)
Hub Course #2
Hub Course #3
SUMMER
SHA HF 440 INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Year
FALL SEMESTER
SPRING SEMESTER
SHA HF 460 STRATEGIC MARKETING
SHA HF 410 HOSPITALITY FINANCE
Hospitality Elective
SHA HF 432 HOSPITALITY LEADERSHIP
Hub Course #4
Hospitality Elective
Hub Course #5
Hospitality Elective
Foundational Courses
You can’t beat a broad foundation. These courses develop your writing skills, give you an economics foundation, advance your mathematical comprehension, hone your knowledge of another language, and give you a chance to enrich yourself with humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences coursework.
Hospitality Foundational Courses: 32 credits
CAS EC 101 Introductory Microeconomic Analysis
4 credits. Either sem.
The first semester of a standard two-semester sequence for those considering further work in management or economics. Coverage includes economics of households, business firms, and markets; consumer behavior and the demand for commodities; production, costs, and the supply of commodities; price determination; competition and monopoly; efficiency of resource allocation; governmental regulation; income distribution; and poverty. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking. In 2019-20 this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Ethical Reasoning, Critical Thinking.
CAS EC 102 Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis
4 credits. Either sem.
The second semester of a standard two-semester sequence for those considering further work in management or economics. National economic performance; the problems of recession, unemployment, and inflation; money creation, government spending, and taxation; economic policies for full employment and price stability; and international trade and payments. Carries social science divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Social Inquiry I. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
CAS MA 113 Elementary Statistics
4 credits. Either sem.
CAS MA 113 may not be taken for credit by any student who has completed any MA course numbered 300 or higher. Students may receive credit for not more than one of the following courses: CAS MA 113, MA 115, or MA 213. Basic concepts of estimation and tests of hypotheses, ideas from probability; one-, two-, and multiple-sample problems. Applications will be in social sciences and students will be able to understand the basics of using a sample to predict uncertainty. Carries MCS divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Quantitative Reasoning II. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Critical Thinking.
CAS MA 119 Applied Mathematics for Personal Finance
4 credits. Either sem.
Applications of mathematics for personal financial decision-making. Systems of equations, exponential functions, logarithms, probability, descriptive statistics, and numerical simulation, for modeling saving, borrowing, inflation, purchasing power, taxation, government benefits, risk management, insurance, annuities, and investments. Carries MCS divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Social Inquiry I, Quantitative Reasoning I. This course also fulfills the learning outcomes for Life Skills. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning I, Social Inquiry I, Critical Thinking.
Foreign Language: Two semesters of the same modern foreign language. One humanities course as detailed in the “College of Arts & Sciences Divisional Studies” section of the University bulletin
SHA Core Courses
These are the courses that introduce you to the amazing breadth of the hospitality industry. Seminars, discussions, and lectures help you think critically and advance your knowledge base, while the Field Experience components give you a real-world understanding of what it’s like outside the classroom.
SHA Core Courses: 48 credits
SHA HF 100 Introduction to Hospitality
4 credits. Either sem.
BU Hub Learn More Historical Consciousness Digital/Multimedia Expression Teamwork/Collaboration
This introductory course is open to all BU students and is the prerequisite for School of Hospitality courses. Students gain an historical perspective and identify current events and trends in lodging, restaurants and event management. It provides an overview of the global hospitality/tourism industry including the critical elements of managing services. The Boston market, multimedia assignments and team-based projects are integrated into the learning environment. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Digital/Multimedia Expression, Teamwork/Collaboration. 4 cr. Offered in the Fall and Spring.
SHA HF 120 Principles of Food Production Management
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100
HF 120 is a laboratory based practical course. It will provide students with an overview of food service operations as they relate to commercial food production. Emphasis throughout the course is placed on food science, food costing, calculations, food purchasing, and product identification. Students will perform practical culinary skills to produce menu items. Additionally, proper use of tools and equipment will be featured along with testing and evaluation of menu items. Additional $150 for lab supplies. 2 credits, offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 210 Financial Accounting for the Hospitality Industry
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100, CAS MA 119
An introductory course in Accounting designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the language of business. This course examines the basic accounting processes of recording, classifying, and summarizing business transactions. It also provides an opportunity to study elements of financial statements such as assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. 4 credits, offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 220 Food & Beverage Management
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100
This courses focuses on principal operating problems facing managers in the restaurant industry. Topics such as concept development and entrepreneurship, menu analysis, cost control, operational analysis, and customer service processes are addressed. 4 credits, offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 231 Human Resources for the Hospitality Industry
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100
This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of human resource management, especially for consumer services such as hotels, restaurants, tourism and events. Explores contemporary human resource management relative to the hospitality industry, with emphasis on planning, job analysis, recruitment, selection, hiring, placement, and ethnic diversity in the workplace. Specifically, the course examines employee motivation, leadership, training, team building, employee performance and retention. Management philosophies of work compensation, discipline, and labor relations are discussed as they affect current hospitality industry strategies to attract and retain a quality workforce. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy. 4 credits. Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 240 Hospitality Field Experience II
0 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100 and SHA HF 140
400 hours of supervised internship experience. Students are required to have their HF240 activities pre-approved by SHA Career Services prior to completing work/activities 0 credits, Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 250 Hospitality Law
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100
A look at the laws that apply to hotels, food-service establishments, and the travel industry. Consideration of innkeepers' duties to guests. Concepts of liability and negligence, contract and property practices, and miscellaneous statutes applicable to the hospitality industry. 2 credits, offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 260 Hospitality Marketing Principles
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100
This course provides an understanding of the role & function of marketing in the hospitality industry. It offers an overview of generic principles of marketing for any industry (including consumer products & manufacturing) and introduces specialized principles for the hospitality industry. For all topics, it uses examples taken primarily from the hospitality industry. Subjects covered include marketing strategy, marketing research, consumer behavior, segmentation, positioning, product and concept development, pricing, distribution, & marketing communications (including advertising & PR). Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy. 4 cr. Offered Fall and Spring.
SHA HF 270 Lodging Operations and Technology
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100
This course provides an introduction to the operations and technology of the room division within hotel properties. Explores theoretical principles and operational tactics for management of front office, reservations, housekeeping and engineering functions. 4 credits, offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 310 Managerial Accounting for the Hospitality Industry
4 credits. Either sem. CAS MA 119, SHA HF 210 or QST AC 221, SHA HF 220, and SHA HF 270
After a review of financial-accounting principles, this course examines how financial information is assembled and presented according to the Uniform Systems Accounts for hospitality enterprises. The primary emphasis of the course is on analytical and decision-making uses of financial information, including such topics as cost behavior, leverage, cost-volume-profit analysis, contribution-margin pricing, and budgeting. The course concludes with a review of hotel operating forms, including franchising and management contracts and assessing their impact on financial performance and risk. 4 cr. Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 370 Revenue Management and Technology
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 270
This course provides an advanced overview of the revenue management function in hotels. Revenue management is an integrated approach to maximizing revenue that includes capacity analysis, demand forecasting, variable pricing, and distribution technology. 2 cr. Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 382 Hospitality Communications Practicum
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100
This course is intended as a 'practicum' in hospitality communications. This course is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors. The focus is on the development of those communication skills that are critical to being effective managers. There will be readings on communication, but the majority of the course will focus on skills development. Each week students will be required to deliver presentations to the class. These presentations will be videotaped and critiqued. By the end of this course students will be much more comfortable, clear, and confident speakers in any situation. Fail/Pass. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Oral and/or Signed Communication. 2 cr. Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 410 Finance for the Hospitality Industry
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 310 and (CAS MA 113 or CAS MA 115)
Studies the techniques financial managers and external analysts employ to value the firm and its assets. Topics include financial statement analysis, taxation, discounted cash flow, stock and bond valuation, cost of capital, and capital budgeting. The techniques of discounted cash flow and the command of taxation principles developed in the course are applied to commercial real estate analysis, including hospitality properties. 4 cr., Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 432 Hospitality Leadership
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 231, Seniors only
This course will focus on leadership and management for the hospitality industry. Using a leadership continuum as a framework, we will explore several different levels of leadership, from a "traditional" leadership role as the head of a major corporation to the more personal aspect of self- leadership. Several different leadership models will be analyzed and applied to the hospitality industry. Leadership tools will be explored - hands-on, realistic tools that you will be able to use in your personal lives, while in school and in the business world upon graduation. 4 cr. Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 440 International Experience
0 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 140
This requirement is fulfilled by studying and/or working abroad. Students typically enroll in a BU Study Abroad program, another approved study abroad program or attaining an internship abroad. Students are able to satisfy this requirement in other ways but must discuss how with SHA Career Services. All students are required to have their HF440 activities pre-approved by SHA Career Services prior to completing work/activities. 0 cr. Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 460 Advanced Hospitality Strategic Marketing
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100, and (SHA HF 260 or QST MK 323), and (CAS WR 150/151/152 or CGS RH 104); First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120)
This is an advanced course focusing on hospitality marketing strategies for hotels, restaurants, tourist attractions or other related events and experiences. In this course we will build upon and integrate basic marketing principles into complex marketing strategies designed to capture market share. All projects are for real situations with real "clients" to be delivered in real time, enabling us to work with industry professionals. Special attention will be placed on market research, targeted marketing, digital marketing, and presentation skills. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing- Intensive Course, Creativity/Innovation. 4 cr. Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA Elective Courses
Our electives are your chance to explore the industry or dive deeper into an area of interest. Students are required to complete a total of 12 credits of hospitality electives.
Elective Courses Offered in the Fall
SHA HF 295 Private Club Management
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100
Provide students with an introduction to the hospitality management specialization of Club Management. Lecture topics will include: what clubs are, organizational structure of clubs, service in the club environment, profit or non-profit, and professionals in club management. There will also be guest speakers, classroom case studies and field trips. 2 cr. Offered Fall Semester.
SHA HF 307 Hospitality Entrepreneurship
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 220, SHA HF 260, SHA HF 310
This course is intended to be a capstone experience for students seeking to understand hospitality entrepreneurship and innovation as a professional business system. Student teams will create, develop and design a concise Pro Forma Business Plan for a start-up non-profit or profit-driven hospitality enterprise. At the end of the semester teams will make a competitive presentation integrating the principles and skills mastered in previous coursework to a panel of successful hospitality entrepreneurs. 4cr. Offered Fall.
SHA HF 322 Hospitality Design
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 220 and SHA HF 270
This course is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of facility planning, layout and design for hotel, dining, kitchen, public and service areas. At the completion of the course, students will be able to explain the design process common to all hospitality facilities, as well as the activities that occur during each phase of this process. 4 cr. Offered Fall.
SHA HF 329 Intro to Fine Wines
2 credits. Either sem.
This course, open to all BU students, offers a complete, introductory-level overview of the fine wines of the world. The purpose of the course is fourfold: 1. Ensure a thorough knowledge of the world's major wine-producing regions, their noble grape varietals, their classification systems and quality control laws. 2. Build basic understanding of the wine-making process, its variations and its pitfalls, thus aiding in the ability to appreciate a great wine and spot a flawed one. 3. Illustrate techniques of quantified sensorial assessment of wine so that the student may perform the buying function knowledgeably and confidently. 4. Acquire an understanding of how to perform job functions related to wine, such as writing a wine list, in the hospitality industry. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy. 2 cr. Offered Fall semester.
SHA HF 360 Hospitality Sales Management
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 260
A dynamic, interactive and intensive hospitality sales management course which prepares you with fundamental skills on how to create, build and execute an effective sales strategy. This course combines theory with practical application and includes working with source markets and partners, identifying and qualifying prospects, building rapport, overcoming objections for creative proposals and successful closing techniques. 2 cr. Offered Fall Semester.
SHA HF 368 Digital Marketing Strategies for the Hospitality Industry
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 260
This is an advanced course in hospitality marketing focused on the variety of digital marketing tools currently available for hotels and restaurants. The course is designed to follow HSMAI's CHDM (Certified Hospitality Digital Marketing) study guide to meet the industry standard for digital marketing professionals. There will be a review of the most revenue-generating internet marketing techniques and finally booking mechanisms and distribution channels. The course includes concentration on content marketing, social media and developing social campaigns; OTAs and understanding the distribution channels; as well as online reputation management and the technical tools used to monitor results. The class will be structured as a lecture; you must bring your laptops for all in class exercises. 4 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
SHA HF 375 Meetings & Conventions
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 220
This course provides an introduction to the methods and techniques utilized in planning, organizing, promoting and delivering of businesses and social events, and the role events play in generating a tourist and business market. Information will be presented that will allow the student to gain general knowledge of planning events. Specifically, the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sector of the events will be examined in depth from a professional planner's perspective. Information presented will allow the student to gain knowledge of planning events from the role of a meeting professional and assist in preparing for the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) or Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP) exam. 4 cr. Offered Fall & Spring.
SHA HF 405 Service Operations Research
4 credits. 1st sem. SHA HF 310
This course provides students with fundamental techniques and tools for analyzing operational and service initiatives within a hospitality organization. Students will learn how to apply widely-used quantitative techniques and tools for improving operational and service efficiencies of hospitality operations and services. Students will also learn how to effectively leverage service and operational resources by developing capacity measurements along with forecasting expected demand. 4 cr. Offered Fall Semester.
SHA HF 415 Hospitality Asset Management
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 310
This course is designed to introduce the student to a rapidly growing area of the lodging industry, namely, asset management. The course will define what asset management is today and examin the skills required to be a successful asset manager. There will be a special focus on the benefits to the hotel owner of hiring an asset manager and the role of the asset manager in representing the owner in deliberations about annual operating budgets and capital plans with the hotel management company. In order to effectuate this understanding, the course will also concentrate on hotel investment analysis including market analysis, benchmarking and pro forma preparation, and developing an asset management plan. 2 cr. Offered Fall Semester.
SHA HF 416 Franchise, Management, and Independents in Hospitality
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 220 and SHA HF 270
The Franchise, Management, and Independents in Hospitality class emphasizes the benefits and limitations of the franchise and management company relationship for hotels and restaurants. It addresses the key elements and financial implications associated with franchise and management agreements. A broad discussion highlighting the brand selection process will provide insight to the value creation. The course will introduce students to the recent trends in soft branding, and what it means to be a boutique and/or independent hotel or restaurant. Students will learn the competitive advantages and disadvantages of being independent. The course will address the restaurant franchise industry including quick serve (QSR), full service (FSR) and fast casual. Students will gain understanding of the value created by the restaurant franchise's processes and operations. Other topics will include brand and franchise development and outsourcing.
SHA HF 478 Hospitality Analytics
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 260, SHA HF 310, and (CAS MA 113 or CAS MA 115)
This course will provide students with fundamental knowledge of business analytics and information visualization combined with extensive opportunities for developing hands-on skills for applying hospitality business analytics to managerial decision-making. Students will learn fundamental mathematical and statistical concepts as well as statistical modeling techniques to solve operational, financial and marketing issues that hospitality organizations face today. Students will also learn how to leverage widely used Microsoft Excel to build out data-driven insights and craft story telling visualization around the data-driven insights. 4 cr. Offered Fall & Spring.
Elective Courses Offered in the Fall and Spring
SHAHF 313 “Advanced Hospitality Accounting and Finance”
SHA HF 313 Advanced Hospitality Accounting and Finance
2 credits. Either sem. HF210 and HF310
Focus is on the accounting operational duties faced by accountants in the Hospitality industry. This course covers day-to-day duties that typical hotel accountants encounter such as transactional accounting and internal controls including capital expenditure (CapEx) budgeting and property improvement program (PIP) analysis. In addition, the course will cover financial analysis that accountants typically encounter in the Hospitality industry. Other areas covered will include accounting processes, regulatory requirement, and non-accounting duties.
Prereq: HF210 and HF310. Focus is on the accounting operational duties faced by accountants in the Hospitality industry. This course covers day-to-day duties that typical hotel accountants encounter such as transactional accounting and internal controls including capital expenditure (CapEx) budgeting and property improvement program (PIP) analysis. In addition, the course will cover financial analysis that accountants typically encounter in the Hospitality industry. Other areas covered will include accounting processes, regulatory requirement, and non-accounting duties. 2 cr. Either semester.
Elective Courses Offered in Spring
SHA HF 313 Advanced Hospitality Accounting and Finance
2 credits. Either sem. HF210 and HF310
Focus is on the accounting operational duties faced by accountants in the Hospitality industry. This course covers day-to-day duties that typical hotel accountants encounter such as transactional accounting and internal controls including capital expenditure (CapEx) budgeting and property improvement program (PIP) analysis. In addition, the course will cover financial analysis that accountants typically encounter in the Hospitality industry. Other areas covered will include accounting processes, regulatory requirement, and non-accounting duties.
SHA HF 314 Hospitality Market Feasibility and Valuation
2 credits. SHA HF 210, SHA HF 220, SHA HF 260, and SHA HF 270
This course provides an introduction to and detailed instruction regarding the hotel market and feasibility research process including hands-on preparation of a feasibility analysis for a proposed hotel development. The course will consist of a series of lectures and possible guest lectures regarding the fundamental aspects of hotel feasibility analysis. Students will learn about and then put into the practice the analytical techniques presented, building to completion of a full feasibility analysis in a team fashion which will be presented at the end of the semester both in written and oral form. 2 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
SHA HF 315 Fundamentals of a Hotel Real Estate Deal
2 credits. SHA HF 210, SHA HF 220, SHA HF 260, and SHA HF 270
The purpose of this course is to introduce the students to the various aspects of a Hotel Real Estate Deal. The target audience is any student who aspires to have a career involving the ownership, development and/or financing of lodging assets. 2 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
SHA HF 321 Advanced Food and Beverage Management
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 220
This intermediate-level course is designed to complete a student's foundation in food and beverage management. Critical issues in the food service industry are explored in depth. Course content will vary. Analysis of daily operations with a focus on developing viable solutions to problems is emphasized. The course content is grouped into six thematic competency clusters. 4 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
SHA HF 361 Advanced Consumer Behavior in Hospitality
4 credits. SHA HF 260
In order to create and deliver value for customers, marketers must develop a deep understanding of how their consumers make decisions when purchasing and using their services. In this course those consumer behavior theories will be explored that are most applicable to different types of hospitality purchase experiences. 4 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
SHA HF 367 Hospitality Distribution Channel Management
2 credits. SHA HF 260
This course provides an overview for managing marketing distribution strategies. In the hotel business today there is a complex network of legacy, online and mobile channels. Distribution is the intersection of revenue management and marketing strategy. A focus is placed on presenting and analyzing the current distribution channels within the travel/hospitality industry. Various approaches to marketing distribution management are evaluated and tested. Topics include the scope of hospitality marketing distribution; economics of the major hospitality distribution segments/channels; managing hospitality distribution strategies; In the end, this course will provide the framework for how and where a hotel should be distributed to maximize revenue and profit. 2 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
SHA HF 368 Digital Marketing Strategies for the Hospitality Industry
4 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 260
This is an advanced course in hospitality marketing focused on the variety of digital marketing tools currently available for hotels and restaurants. The course is designed to follow HSMAI's CHDM (Certified Hospitality Digital Marketing) study guide to meet the industry standard for digital marketing professionals. There will be a review of the most revenue-generating internet marketing techniques and finally booking mechanisms and distribution channels. The course includes concentration on content marketing, social media and developing social campaigns; OTAs and understanding the distribution channels; as well as online reputation management and the technical tools used to monitor results. The class will be structured as a lecture; you must bring your laptops for all in class exercises. 4 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
SHA HF 376 Special Event Planning and Operations
4 credits. SHA HF 375
This course is designed to provide an introduction to the principles of special event management. The planning, development, and management of corporate and social events, entertainment events and festivals will be the focus of the study. Specific topics will include the foundations of planning an event, including conceptualization, event design, working with vendors/contracts, budgeting, marketing strategy, revenue generation through tickets and sponsorship, and event technology. 4 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
SHA HF 430 Advanced Wine Study
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 100 and SHA HF 329
Students must be 21 to take this course. This course offers a thorough study of wine tasting, wine and food pairing and wine and food event planning. Each class features a blind tasting of selected wines along with discussion on the principles of critical tasting and wine and food pairing. The objectives of the course are to fully prepare those entering the hospitality industry to purchase wines and to recommend them to customers with various types of food. 2 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
SHA HF 470 Advanced Revenue Management
2 credits. Either sem. SHA HF 370
An advanced study of Hotel Revenue Management. To gain more in depth knowledge of revenue management practices, classroom work is combined with a field project. 2 cr. Offered Spring Semester.
BU HUB Curriculum/Electives
General elective courses should be selected by the student to complement and broaden the student’s background. Students are required to complete four academic courses (36 credits) of general electives at any college within the University. Students may fulfill their general elective requirements with hospitality electives (SHA) or communication electives (COM) if so desired. The Physical Education and ROTC courses do not count toward degree credit.
Supervised Field Placement—(0 Credit Hours)
In addition to regular coursework, students complete a field placement requirement: two 400-hour, non-credit internships. The purpose of each internship is to help the students make connections in the field as well as gain the kind of experience that will allow them to obtain meaningful employment after graduation. Note: At least one of these internships must take place, with approval, within the hospitality industry.
International Experience—(0 Credit Hours)
This requirement is generally fulfilled by studying and/or working abroad, or by completing another pre-approved option with an international focus. Students typically enroll in a BU Study Abroad program, another approved study abroad program or attaining an internship abroad. Students are able to satisfy this requirement in alternative ways as well.
Concentrations
The School of Hospitality Administration offers flexibility in the Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Administration program. Students are not required to choose a concentration, however, concentrations allow students to focus their degree on an area of particular interest to them.
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Our Learning Outcomes
The Hospitality Administration curriculum is carefully designed in order to achieve the following learning outcomes:
Describe the segments, history, icons, market leaders, lexicon and service elements of the hospitality industry.
Apply the competencies in the core functional areas (e.g. finance/accounting, operations, human resources, and marketing) of hospitality management.
Synthesize the critical thinking of hospitality systems: financial, operational, human resource and design.
Develop interpersonal skills: communication, team building, leadership and cultural diversity awareness.