ALINE: Don’t let him fool you, Clive got his associates last year in hotel management.
CLIVE: Can’t get you any free nights, though.
So what is an associate’s degree in hotel management? Education Portal tells what an associate’s degree in hospitality management (which includes hotel management) is, its typical classes, and future career options:
Associate of Applied Science in Hospitality Management
Hospitality management degree programs include the study of theoretical and practical management skills, hospitality business law and food and beverage management. Students also develop skills in marketing, purchasing, budgeting and cost control. A.A.S. degree programs typically require high school diplomas or the equivalent. Although many entry-level management positions in the hospitality industry do not require a degree, post-secondary education is helpful for career advancement.
Program Coursework
A.A.S. degrees in hospitality management typically require 64-66 hours of coursework, although some programs may require as many as 96 credit hours. At most schools, roughly one-third of credit hours are devoted to general education credits.
- Food safety and sanitation
- Hotel management
- Restaurant management
- Hotel and restaurant marketing
- Hospitality accounting
- Food production analysis
- Hotel and restaurant purchasing and cost control
Popular Career Options
Associate degrees in hospitality management typically prepare students for entry-level positions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), lodging management is projected to grow faster than other areas of the hospitality management field between 2006 and 2016.
- Management trainee
- Dining room supervisor
- Assistant food and beverage manager
- Guest services manager
- Banquet sales coordinator
Continuing Education Information
Many hospitality management associate degree programs can act as a stepping-stone to bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in hospitality management. Graduates with B.A.A. or M.S. degrees in hospitality management are highly sought within the field because of their technical familiarity, and many rise to the highest levels of management within hospitality organizations.
Here’s an example of the curriculum of an associate’s degree in hospitality management at a local Boston college.
Splendor at Company One 