Hospitality and Restaurant Management Degrees

Do you dream of managing or owning your own hotel or restaurant? A degree in hospitality and restaurant management may just be right for you. Depending on what you want from the hospitality and restaurant management degree, you’ll take classes in business, culinary arts, finance, marketing, and more.

Hospitality and restaurant management degrees include:

  • Diploma- Earned between one and two years, the diploma provides the student with basic training in hotel and restaurant management. The diploma prepares the student for a career as a food and beverage director, hotel/restaurant manager or owner, or a bed-and-breakfast innkeeper. You can expect to take courses in food preparation, hospitality law, and business.
  • Associate’s- The associate's degree is earned in about two years and provides the essential training needed to run a hotel, restaurant, casino, resort, or comparable operation. The associate’s instructs a student in how to train and hire employees; plan, stock, and organize for a menu; and learn management principles. The key difference between the associate's degree and the diploma is that an internship is often required of an associate's degree program, which provides crucial hands-on experience for the student. Students with an associate's degree are often ready for entry-level positions.
  • Bachelor’s- Obtained in about four years, the bachelor’s continues onward from the associate’s. You can expect to go further with business classes and learn how to create and follow through with a business plan. While those who complete the bachelor’s program go on to start managing fairly quickly, the program also benefits those looking to start their own operations in the future.