Bachelor's in Hospitality Business Management

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Washington State University Pullman

Program Overview

The Bachelor’s in Hospitality Business Management at Washington State University combines business principles with practical hospitality training, preparing students to manage hotels, restaurants, resorts, managed-service venues, and tourism destinations. With industry-focused coursework, experienced faculty, and a required internship involving 1,000 hours of industry experience, the program suits students interested in hospitality operations, event planning, revenue management, sales, and service leadership.

Curriculum Structure

The program develops business and hospitality knowledge alongside practical industry experience. The official degree overview highlights the internship requirement and hospitality teaching facilities; a complete year-by-year course sequence was not available in the verified source, so specific course titles and year placements are not assumed.

Year 1: Building Business Foundations

Students begin developing an understanding of business operations and the service industry. This foundation supports later study of hospitality management, customer service, and the business functions involved in hotels, restaurants, and tourism organizations.

Year 2: Developing Hospitality Management Skills

Students progress toward understanding how hospitality businesses coordinate people, services, and daily operations. Their learning prepares them to consider the operational and commercial needs of different hospitality settings.

Year 3: Applying Industry Knowledge

Students build on their business and hospitality preparation while developing professional experience through industry engagement and internship planning. WSU’s hospitality career events and employer connections provide opportunities to explore hospitality career paths.

Year 4: Professional Experience and Career Preparation

Students complete the required industry experience, graduating with 1,000 hours of industry experience. This practical component allows them to apply their learning in professional hospitality environments and prepare for roles in operations, revenue, sales, service, event planning, or consulting.

Focus Areas

Hospitality operations, hotel management, restaurant management, tourism and destination management, managed services, revenue management, sales, customer service, event planning, hospitality consulting.

Learning Outcomes

Students develop knowledge of hospitality business operations, service management, business decision-making, revenue and sales functions, event planning, and the management of hotels, restaurants, managed-service venues, and tourism destinations. The required industry experience supports the application of this knowledge in professional settings.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The program is offered through the Carson College of Business. The official degree page identifies the department and its industry-focused learning opportunities; a separate program-specific professional accreditation was not confirmed in the reviewed source.

Reputation (Employability and Career Outlook)

WSU highlights the Marriott Foundation Hospitality Teaching Center, Hospitality Career Previews, Burtenshaw Hospitality Career Night, and study-abroad opportunities at César Ritz Colleges in Switzerland. The university identifies career areas including operations, revenue, sales, service, event planning, and consulting.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Washington State University, students gain practical hospitality experience through industry placements, professional networking, career events, and specialized teaching facilities. The program’s required internship ensures that students graduate with 1,000 hours of industry experience, helping them connect classroom learning with the demands of hospitality businesses. Students can also explore international hospitality education and interact with employers through dedicated career events.

Students can develop practical skills through the following opportunities:

Marriott Foundation Hospitality Teaching Center: Located on the Pullman campus, this facility includes a teaching and production kitchen, an elegant dining room, and a wine-tasting area for hospitality-related learning.
Required Industry Internship: Students complete a required internship, allowing them to graduate with 1,000 hours of industry experience.
Hospitality Career Previews: These events introduce students to hospitality career pathways and opportunities to connect with industry professionals.
Burtenshaw Hospitality Career Night: A dedicated hospitality career fair where students can connect with potential employers and explore professional opportunities.
International Study Opportunities: Students can study abroad at César Ritz Colleges in Switzerland, with the Brig campus serving as the Carson College Switzerland International Center.
Career and Internship Platform: WSU's Handshake student job board provides access to internships, student employment, and work-study opportunities.
Hospitality Industry Exposure: Students learn about the operational requirements of hotels, restaurants, managed-service venues, and tourist destinations through the program's industry-focused preparation.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Hospitality Business Management program can pursue careers across hotels, restaurants, tourism destinations, managed services, and event-related businesses. The program prepares students for professional opportunities in operations, revenue, sales, service, event planning, and consulting, supported by required industry experience and hospitality-focused career networking.

Potential career roles include:

Hotel Operations Manager
Restaurant Manager
Event Planner
Hospitality Revenue Manager

Students can prepare for these opportunities through the following resources and experiences:

Career Support: WSU's Academic Success and Career Center provides career guidance, while Handshake helps students find internships, jobs, and work-study opportunities.
Industry Networking: Hospitality Career Previews and Burtenshaw Hospitality Career Night connect students with employers and professionals in the hospitality sector.
Practical Industry Experience: The required 1,000-hour internship gives students substantial exposure to professional hospitality environments before graduation.
International Exposure: Study-abroad opportunities at César Ritz Colleges in Switzerland allow students to explore hospitality education in an international setting.
Specialized Learning Facilities: The Marriott Foundation Hospitality Teaching Center provides a teaching kitchen, dining room, and wine-tasting area for hospitality-related learning.
Employment and Salary Information: The official program page identifies career areas but does not provide a verified program-specific graduate employment rate or salary figure.
Professional Accreditation: The reviewed program page does not confirm a separate program-specific professional accreditation. Students should verify any additional accreditation details directly with the Carson College of Business.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates may pursue postgraduate study such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), a graduate degree in hospitality and tourism, or related business management programs. WSU also lists a Master of Business Administration, Executive MBA, and PhD in Business Administration: Hospitality and Tourism among its graduate-level options.