University of South Alabama

What you'll study

The programme combines hospitality-specific subjects with core business coursework to give a balanced understanding of operations and management. Early study focuses on fundamentals such as principles of hospitality, food service operations, and lodging management, while intermediate and advanced modules emphasise finance, marketing, human resource management, and strategic management as they apply to hospitality organisations.

• Core hospitality subjects: food and beverage management, lodging operations, event and meeting management, beverage management, and service quality.
• Business foundations: financial accounting, managerial accounting, principles of marketing, business law, organisational behaviour and strategic management.
• Operational and analytical skills: revenue management, hospitality finance, cost control, hospitality information systems and data-driven decision making.
• Professional practice: internships or cooperative placements in hotels, restaurants, event firms or tourism organisations, plus a capstone or practicum project that integrates learning from across the programme.
• Electives and special topics: courses in tourism management, sustainable hospitality, culinary basics, gaming and resort management, and entrepreneurship depending on student interest and availability.

Teaching typically uses a mix of lectures, case studies, industry simulations, hands-on labs and supervised workplace placements to develop both technical know-how and leadership skills.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a high school diploma or equivalent with a college-preparatory curriculum. Admissions consider overall academic record, strength of course selection (for example mathematics, English and business-related courses), and any relevant work or volunteer experience in customer service or hospitality.

• First-year applicants are expected to present a competitive secondary-school transcript; specific GPA and test score expectations are set by the university and may vary by year.
• Transfer students should provide official college transcripts; many students transfer in general business credits or hospitality coursework and complete remaining degree requirements at the University of South Alabama.
• International applicants must meet the university’s English language proficiency requirements and provide equivalent academic documentation from their country of education.
• Some applicants include a resume or personal statement describing hospitality-related employment, volunteer work, or extracurricular leadership to strengthen their application.

Career prospects

Graduates typically move into operational and supervisory roles in hotels, restaurants, event management companies, cruise lines, casinos, resorts and tourism organisations. Common entry and mid-level positions include front office manager, food and beverage manager, event coordinator, sales and marketing associate, and revenue management analyst.

With experience and seniority graduates progress to general manager, regional operations manager, director of sales, or director of food and beverage. The degree also supports entrepreneurial pathways for those who want to start independent restaurants, boutique hotels or event businesses, and it provides a foundation for postgraduate study in business, hospitality management or tourism.

Why study at University of South Alabama

The University of South Alabama offers a programme that links business fundamentals with hospitality industry practice and benefits from its location in the Gulf Coast region, which has a vibrant hospitality and tourism economy. Students can access internship opportunities with local hotels, restaurants, event venues and tourism operators, gaining hands-on experience in a busy coastal market.

Students also benefit from business-school resources, faculty with applied industry experience, student hospitality organisations and career services that support placement and employer engagement. The curriculum emphasises practical skills, leadership development and industry networking to prepare graduates for immediate employment or further study in the hospitality field.