Introduction

 Delaware State brings a real-world focus to its Hospitality & Tourism Management degree, providing graduates with a big advantage in the job market. Students complete two internships totaling 600 hours of work experience in the hospitality management industry. While on campus, they have access to state-of-the-art lodging, restaurant, lodging, and event planning and management facilities. And in the classroom, they gain a broad foundation in business fundamentals while developing specialized expertise in hospitality and tourism management.

As an HBCU, Delaware State promotes a multicultural perspective in all programs, including the hospitality and tourism major. This is a highly marketable skill in the hospitality industry, because international travel is an important growth area. Our graduates enter the work force fully prepared for management careers with major hotel and restaurant chains, travel agencies, and tour companies.

Professional Preparation

Graduates from the Hospitality and Tourism Management program are ready to step directly into entry-level hospitality management jobs, with the potential for rapid advancement. The program covers all areas of hospitality and tourism management, including

• quality control
• financial accountability and controls
• personnel evaluation
• leadership and management
• procurement, production, and management of lodging, food, events and services
• oral and written communications
• computer literacy

Students learn to think strategically and make solid decisions. Classroom assignments are project-based and simulate real-world managerial and business problems. In addition, students gain valuable experience via internships and field placements.

Faculty

Professors in the hospitality and tourism management program possess many years of industry experience. All are well known within the industry and have served in the Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE). Their strong professional ties enable them to connect students with good opportunities for internships, summer job placements, and full-time job interviews after graduation.

Faculty are extremely accessible. They take an active interest in their students, providing mentorship, advice, and guidance that can ensure success both inside and outside the classroom.

Research and Experience

The hospitality management program has an outstanding internship program. Students must complete two internships, for a total of 600 working hours. Some placements occur right in Dover, but students frequently travel for their internships to high-profile locations such as Walt Disney World (Florida) or the MGM Grand (Las Vegas), or to one of the many properties in the Marriott, Hyatt, Sodexo, Thompson, or Sheraton chains.