Program Details
Bachelor of Science, Major in Hospitality Management
Bachelor of ScienceJames Madison University
The Hospitality Management major is designed to develop hospitality management leaders through sound theoretical coursework, innovative learning activities, mentoring opportunities, exposure to premier hospitality organizations and interactions with dynamic industry professionals. Major requirements are met through small classes, team learning experiences, and meaningful personal contacts with faculty and industry professionals. In the major, students will complete a supervisory internship prior to graduation.
The B.S. degree in Hospitality Management (HM) requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of undergraduate course work. All HM majors must complete the general business minor for hospitality management, HM core and HM required courses.
Program Overview & Guidance
| Program Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Considerations for Selecting Degree | Prospective Hospitality Management students must be excited to work with people, have excellent communication skills (verbal and written) and be willing to work long hours and nights and weekends, especially early-on in their career. The Hospitality industry requires it! HM transfers with General Education waivers should consider that they must have 600 hours of industry experience completed by the end of their second semester - therefore they should be working on this before they arrive at JMU. |
| Considerations When Selecting Courses |
Students may transfer in equivalents for ECON 201, COB 241 & COB 242 (should be transferred together), and/or COB 204. However, if you complete all of these courses and if your General Education requirements will be waived, this will reduce the number of degree-required classes you are able to take in your first semester at JMU.
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| Program Requirements Beyond Specific Courses | |
| Doing More With Your Degree | The majors most commonly paired with Hospitality are Communication Studies or one of the eight majors in the College of Business. All Hospitality Management majors are required to complete courses in the College of Business (COB) and graduate with a general Business minor or an Entrepreneurship minor. Additionally, students can take additional courses in order to earn a second minor in Human Resource Development. Experiential learning is a hallmark of the Hart School student experience. We value internship and practicum experiences, conference attendance, site visits, and volunteer experiences in the hospitality industry as a means to expose students to current industry trends, expand their professional network, and learn more about what they do and don’t like about their chosen field. Experimentation is essential when discovering your professional self, and that starts with learning outside the classroom. The Hart School requires HM students to complete 1,000 industry hours before they graduate. These are comprised of 600 hours within the HM 310 course and 400 hours from your HM 402 Internship course. The 600 hours completed for HM 310 gives students the opportunity to experience the variety and scope of opportunities within Hospitality before searching for your HM 402 Internship or a full-time job. For the HM 402 Internship, students will spend a semester (often the summer after their junior year) working in the hospitality organization of their choice, an experience that leads to developing a strong professional network and will often result in full-time job offers. These experiences will set you apart from other recent graduates seeking similar job opportunities but without the invaluable industry experience. |
| Program Successes & Highlights | Our faculty and staff cultivate relationships with industry employers and work to provide industry opportunities and connections for students, including:
97% of Hart School 2019 graduates are employed, continuing their education, or engaged in other career related endeavors 6 months after graduating. |
Program Credit Requirements
If you wish to see how your credits may apply, you can:
- Contact the institution where a staff member can help you map your credits to the requirements for this program.
- View the program requirements listed in the institution's catalog.
Applicable Admissions Agreements
The table below lists admissions agreements between James Madison University and partner institutions that may guarantee admission to this program if you meet the required criteria. Click on the title name of the agreement to view a summary of those criteria.
You can view the full text of these Agreements in the Resource Center
What If I Have An Associate Degree Or Credit For Prior Learning?
| Transfer Guidance Element | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Associate Transfer Degree Completion | Completion of an approved transfer associate degree will guarantee fulfillment of JMU's General Education requirements. https://www.jmu.edu/transfer/VCCStransfer/ASDegrees.shtml |
Completion of Associate Degree Concurrent with High School |
| Credit for Prior Learning | JMU accepts and reviews AP, IB, CIE and CLEP for all students with eligible scores, which may be different than at your prior institution. JMU will complete an independent review of the test score to apply credit to the JMU student record. Credit for prior learning (CLEP) is awarded on a per case basis for Adult Degree (Individualized Studies Majors) and RN-BSN students only and in consultation with the department of expertise, with the exception of military service credit. Credit for learning acquired in military service is awarded by the registrar's office using the ACE guide credit recommendation for study/experience listed on the military transcript and in consultation with the department of expertise. |
| Did You Know That... |
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College Level Information
| College Fit Guidance | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Is This College Right For Me? | JMU is a mid to large size institution that behaves more like a smaller institution. Faculty and staff hold students as the top priority. JMU has a 96% satisfaction rate. 89% of classes have less than 50 students. JMU is the #1 most recommended public University in the US by the Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education; JMU is the #1 Best College for Employment in Virginia according to U.S. Department of Education statistics compiled by Zippia. JMU has the highest post-graduation job levels of all Virginia colleges. |
| Transfer Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. |
| First Year Student Catalog Year | Catalog year determined by first semester of attendance. |
| Applying for Guaranteed Admissions | Transfer applicants applying through the Guaranteed Admissions Agreement must submit a Letter of Intent prior to applying to JMU. Requirements and forms are available at: https://www.jmu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer-GAA.shtml |
Where Can This Degree Transfer
| Institution | Title | Degree | Award Name | Award Level | Delivery Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Averett University | Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Averett University | Bachelor of Science in Business Administration | Bachelor | Bachelor of Science | 4-Year | In-Person, Online |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts - Culinary Arts Specialization | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts - Pastry Arts Specialization | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts - Culinary Management Specialization | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Culinary Arts | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Hospitality Management | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Hospitality Management (Food Service Management) | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Online |
| Tidewater Community College | Associate of Applied Science - Hospitality Management (Event Planning) | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | Online |
| Virginia Western Community College | Associate of Applied Science Degree in Culinary Arts | Associate | Associate of Applied Science | 2-Year | In-Person, Hybrid |
| Richard Bland College | Associate of Science-Business Administration | Associate | Associate of Science | 2-Year | Online, In-Person |
| Bridgewater College | Business Administration Major - BA | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Business - Finance (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Business - Management (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
| Randolph-Macon College | Business - Marketing (BA) | Bachelor | Bachelor of Arts | 4-Year | In-Person |
Careers Where This Degree Applies
| O*Net Code | Name | Description | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11-9072.00 | Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | Plan, direct, or coordinate entertainment and recreational activities and operations of a recreational facility, including cruise ships and parks. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9179.01 | Fitness and Wellness Coordinators | Manage or coordinate fitness and wellness programs and services. Manage and train staff of wellness specialists, health educators, or fitness instructors. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9051.00 | Food Service Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that serves food and beverages. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9081.00 | Lodging Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization or department that provides lodging and other accommodations. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9179.00 | Personal Service Managers, All Other | All personal service managers not listed separately. | Management Occupations |
| 11-9179.02 | Spa Managers | Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of a spa facility. Coordinate programs, schedule and direct staff, and oversee financial activities. | Management Occupations |
Cost To Complete