Hospitality and Tourism Management, BS
Turn Your Passion for Food, Travel, and Events into a Career You’ll Love!
Looking for a career that’s fun, flexible, and full of adventure? With a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), you can turn your love for exploring new places, planning unforgettable experiences, and creating transformational vibes into a job you’re genuinely excited about.
Program Overview
Whether you dream of managing luxury hotels, curating culinary experiences, throwing incredible events, weddings, or building global tourism brands, HTM sets you up for fast career advancement in one of the world’s most exciting fields.
In Hospitality and Tourism Management, you’ll gain real-world experience and career-ready skills that travel with you in whatever you do, go wherever you do—like communication, leadership, and conflict management. Whether you’re into travel, events, food, or just love making people’s day, this major sets you up to build a career that’s fun, flexible, and full of opportunities.
From beach resorts to concert venues to five-star hotels—you bring the vibe, we’ll help you make it a career.
Why Study Hospitality and Tourism Management?
A Global, Hands-On Learning Experience
In the HTM program at UTK, you’ll develop the ability to work effectively with people from different cultures and backgrounds—an essential skill in today’s global hospitality and tourism industry. Learning goes beyond the classroom as students gain real-world experience through study abroad programs, industry engagement at events like the Big Ears Festival, and hands-on projects such as the Blissful Wish Wedding and the STR Student Market Study Competition.
Experiential Learning Through Real-World Projects
From behind-the-scenes event operations at Big Ears to planning and executing unforgettable weddings, and analyzing hotel performance on a global scale, students apply their knowledge in authentic professional settings. These experiences build practical skills in event management, operations, analytics, and leadership that set HTM graduates apart.
Industry Connections and Global Career Preparation
Through close collaboration with industry partners and experiential learning opportunities, students build professional networks that open doors to careers across the hospitality and tourism sectors. Graduates leave the program prepared to adapt, lead, and succeed in fast-paced, people-centered environments around the world.
Purpose-Driven Learning Through Community Engagement
The HTM program proudly supports food4vols , a campus-wide initiative focused on reducing food waste and addressing food insecurity. In collaboration with Vol Dining, students help collect surplus food from campus outlets and transform it into nutritious, ready-to-heat meals at the UT Culinary Institute. These meals are distributed through the Big Orange Pantry and several other food access points across the campus to support community members in need. This hands-on experience provides students with practical training in food recovery, meal preparation, and community service—reinforcing UTK’s land-grant mission and the program’s commitment to meaningful impact.
Leading with Purpose: A People-Centered Learning Experience
Our program blends strategic planning, leadership, and customer service skills to set you up for success in a variety of exciting hospitality and tourism careers. Whether you’re managing luxury hotels, planning unforgettable events, or creating top-tier tourism marketing campaigns, you’ll build the expertise needed to lead and innovate in this fast-moving industry.
We don’t just prepare you for a job—we prepare you to lead. With a strong focus on ethical responsibility and adaptability, you’ll learn how to create transformative guest experiences, use comprehensive data-driven insights to make smarter decisions, and drive innovation in an industry that’s always changing.
What Can You Do with a Hospitality & Tourism Management Degree?
Short answer: a lot.
Graduates of UTK’s HTM program go on to build exciting, high-energy careers in industries you might not expect—from luxury hotels and global travel companies to fashion, beauty, events, e-commerce, and entertainment. This degree opens doors wherever people, experiences, and business come together.
Our alumni are out there doing big things—planning red carpet events, managing destination resorts, leading corporate travel teams, and curating guest experiences at theme parks, cruise lines, and boutique hotels.
Career paths you can pursue with an HTM degree:
Event/Wedding Planner or Festival Coordinator
Hotel or Resort Manager
Airline Operations Manager
Flight Attendant
Travel & Tourism Consultant
Guest Experience Director (think Disney or Universal!)
Luxury Brand Manager or Event Coordinator (yes, even in fashion & beauty)
Cruise Line Hospitality Director
Executive Chef
Restaurant or Food & Beverage Manager
Corporate Meeting & Conference Planner
Social Media or Marketing Manager for hospitality brands
And that’s just the beginning. With HTM, your career can take you anywhere.
“What sets our Hospitality and Tourism Management program apart is its strong sense of community. With smaller class sizes, I enjoyed more engaging discussions and a more personalized learning experience, allowing me to build closer relationships with both my peers and professors.”
Rosemary P.
Class of 2024
Featured Courses
HTM 212 – Event Planning and Design
Immerse yourself in the exciting world of event planning! Learn key concepts, master site selection, negotiation, budgeting, and marketing to succeed in the fast-paced event industry.
HTM 312 – Wedding Planning & Design
Discover the art of wedding planning! Explore social, cultural, and logistical aspects through expert insights and comprehensive strategies.
HTM 361 – Issues and Trends in Customer Service
Transform your customer service skills! Develop a unified approach, understand service culture, and learn innovative strategies to attract and retain customers.
HTM 445 – Restaurant and Catering Management and Execution
Step into culinary management! Master menu design, personnel management, cost control, and food production to create memorable dining experiences.
HTM 450 – Hotel Development and Analytics
Unlock hotel industry secrets! Analyze real-world challenges, develop strategic solutions, and dive deep into hotel development and analytics.
HTM 484 – Critical Sustainable Tourism
Explore tourism’s socio-cultural impacts! Understand complex relationships from host and tourist perspectives, focusing on cultural influences and power dynamics in tourism planning.
Complementary Minor
To enhance your major and broaden your academic experience, consider a minor that pairs well with your BS degree. Additional minors may also align with your interests and goals. Explore all available options to find the best fit for your academic and career aspirations.
Our Minors
We offer a variety of minors that will add value to your academic journey including:
- Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Culinary Arts
- Event Planning and Design
- And our cutting-edge Corporate Event Strategy, Promotion and Production — in partnership with the College of Communication and Information
HTM Student Organization
The Future Hospitality Leaders Association (FHLA) is about bringing together Hospitality and Tourism Management majors and minors to learn about different aspects of the hospitality industry. This is achieved through inviting guest speakers, participating in industry field trips, and more. The organization is also about stimulating interest in the field, and allowing students to gain valuable career readiness skills with resume workshops and mock interviews, as well as providing exposure about internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities.
Meet Your Advisor
At RHTM, your success is our top priority. We provide personalized academic guidance, career preparation, and wellness support to help you excel in your studies and future career. Join a supportive community committed to empowering you every step of the way.
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Admissions and aid
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is dedicated to supporting your educational journey with accessible and affordable options. Learn about our tuition costs and explore various financial aid opportunities, including specialized support for veterans and more. We’re here to help you navigate every step as you pursue your academic goals.