This interdisciplinary program is designed to enable students to discuss, explain, and implement practical business skills and theories applicable to the world of hospitality. Coursework professionally prepares students by focusing on concepts, principles, and practices important to career success in the hospitality industry.
This degree enables students to develop leadership skills and operational capabilities essential for career advancement in a broad array of hospitality enterprises, including but not limited to hotels, restaurants, convention and meeting facilities, country clubs, theme parks, spas, and resorts.
This degree prepares students for a new career, or will update and upgrade skills for those who are already in the hospitality industry. It will also provide students with in-depth knowledge on how to build and sustain a positive and productive workplace culture.
To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Students may transfer up to 90 units of community college and/or university credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education. Contact your advisor for details.
Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
Major GPA | C |
Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 114 |
Foreign Language | Optional |
Some online/blended coursework | Required |
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
This interdisciplinary program is designed to enable students to discuss, explain, and implement practical business skills and theories applicable to the world of hospitality. It focuses on developing leadership skills and operational capabilities essential for career advancement in a broad array of hospitality enterprises, including but not limited to hotels, restaurants, convention and meeting facilities, country clubs, theme parks, spas, and resorts.
Coursework professionally prepares students by focusing on concepts, principles, and practices important to career success in the hospitality industry. Key topics addressed are leadership and ethics, corporate finance, strategic management, profitability and cost control, revenue and event management, business analytics, decision making, global and diverse work environments, hospitality operations, and service management.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students may transfer up to 90 units of community college and/or university credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education.
All coursework in the Specialization Areas must be upper-division and from Northern Arizona University. Substitutions and use of credit from other institutions are not allowed in the Specialization.
Multi-use of coursework is not permitted within the Major Requirements. Major Requirements include Specialization, Communication, Computer Literacy, Language and Science.
This major requires 54 - 55 units distributed as follows:
Hospitality Leadership Specialization (30 units)
Communication Requirements (6 units)
Select 3 units from each the following two categories (6 units)
Please note that you cannot use CLEP or locally prepared exams to satisfy this requirement. Transfer credit used to satisfy this requirement must be approved by the program director.
Foreign Language Requirement Option (19 units)
Science Requirement Option (18 units)
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.