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Degree Options

The department offers degree options in two fields of study. You may choose your specific field of study with many options for majors and minors that can be tailored to your chosen expertise.

Hospitality and Tourism Management

Retail and Merchandising Management

Both of these fields provide industry-related experiences and a variety of internships.

Career Outlook

The career outlook for managerial personnel in the retail and hospitality fields is very bright. Salaries are highly competitive and executive positions in the hospitality and retail industries are forecast to increase twice as fast as in the overall economy. Average starting salaries for our graduates is $55k. In this field graduates can reach high levels of responsibility in just a few years and be paid accordingly. Recent graduates have entered positions or management training programs with a wide range of companies that include: Belk, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Altar’d State, Tractor Supply, TGI Friday’s, Houstons, Hyatt, Hilton, Harrah’s, Marriott, and Opryland.

Experiential Learning

Our degree programs promote experiential learning through industry-related work experience, internships, and study tours. Students are supported and encouraged to gain experience through part-time jobs and internships throughout their degree program. A professional experience is required for all majors that allows students to gain an overview of an organization’s approach to operations management. Additional professional and managerial experiences are optional, but encouraged to build on the required professional internship.

The department regularly schedules international and domestic study tours that combine professional appointments and cultural visits. Recent trips have been taken to Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia.