2023-2024

Interdisciplinary Studies - Hospitality Leadership 90-30, Bachelor

Hotel and Restaurant Management

The W. A. Franke College of Business

Beginning fall 2024, this program will also be offered at the Mesa Workforce Development Center.

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 plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2024

  • 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.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
    • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
    • At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
    • At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
    • A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • 30 units of Hospitality Leadership Specialization Requirements
  • Completion of Communication Skills, Science or Language, and Computer Literacy Requirements
  • Up to 9 units of specialization prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy specialization requirements.
  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units

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

  • Identify, describe, and critique leadership theory and approaches to leadership in hospitality settings.
  • Articulate a leadership philosophy and develop practical approaches to function as agents of change. 
  • Apply leadership principles to manage in a diverse and global business environment.
  • Define, identify, and evaluate ethical issues facing hospitality companies. 
  • Explain and critique corporate finance decisions.
  • Identify and manage key financial risks faced by hospitality companies.
  • Demonstrate proficiency in the analysis of profit and loss statements. 
  • Calculate labor productivity and food and beverage cost ratios and explain how they are used to effectively manage costs.
  • Explain the strategies and tactics required for aligning customer expectations with service performance and for improving customer and employee retention and satisfaction. 
  • Identify and incorporate the appropriate event elements and services (food and beverage, design, entertainment, site selection, etc.) to meet the goals and objectives of an event.
  • Demonstrate the skills required to research, design, plan, coordinate, and evaluate an event.
  • Demonstrate a strong working  knowledge of the meetings, events, and conventions industry. 
  • Describe the components of revenue management and pricing.
  • Apply hospitality industry analytics to optimize revenues and profits. 
  • Describe the key elements in the resort development process and the wide range and high level of services and activities expected by resort guests and offered by today’s resorts.
  • Describe the different types of resorts and how they differ in product offerings, amenities, structure, facilities, and decor. 
  • Demonstrate the ability to integrate the concepts of hospitality management, operations, leadership and ethics, human resources, marketing, finance, and accounting to analyze interdisciplinary case and simulated management situations. 

Liberal Studies Requirement
    • Students with a completed AGEC from Arizona Community Colleges will have met the 35 units of liberal studies requirements.
    • Students with a completed IGETC from a California Community College will have met the 35 units of liberal studies requirements.
    • Up to 9 units of specialization prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy specialization requirements.
Transfer Block
  • Students may transfer up to 90 units of community college and/or university credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education.

Major Requirements
  • 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.

  • This major requires 54 - 55 units distributed as follows:

    • Hospitality Leadership Specialization: 30 units
    • Interdisciplinary Studies Requirement: 24 - 25 units
      • Communication Requirement: 6 units
      • Foreign Lanuage or Science Requirement: 18 - 19 units
Interdisciplinary Studies Requirements
  • Communication Requirements (6 units)
    Select 3 units from each the following two categories (6 units)

    • Performance-based courses, select one from the following (3 units)
      Performance-based courses are defined as having at least 51 percent of the evaluation of the student being based upon oral performance.

       

    • 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 or Science Requirement Option (18 - 19 units)
    • Foreign Language Requirement Option (19 units)

      • Foreign Language Requirement (16 units)
        • You must demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English that is equivalent to four terms of university coursework in the same language. You may satisfy this requirement by taking language courses or by testing out of all or part of it by taking CLEP, or other exams.
      AND
      • Computer Literacy (3 units)
        • This coursework must help you to understand, in general, the technical components of computers and information systems, how to solve problems using information systems technology, word processing, spreadsheet use, database management, graphic information software, website development, graphic design and use of statistical analysis software. Subject to advisor approval.
  • OR
    • Science Requirement Option (18 units)

      • Science Requirement - Select from the following: (12 units)
        • ANT 101, ANT 250
        • GSP 130, GSP 150
        • Or take at least 12 units from courses with Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Mathematics, Nutrition, Physical Science, Physics, or Statistics prefixes. Please note that other courses must be approved by the program director.
      AND
      • Computer Literacy (6 units)
        • This coursework must help you to understand, in general, the technical components of computers and information systems, how to solve problems using information systems technology, word processing, spreadsheet use, database management, graphic information software, website development, graphic design and use of statistical analysis software. Subject to advisor approval.
          • Select one from the following: (3 units)
          • Select one from the following: (3 units)
            • BBA 340
            • Or advisor-approved coursework including the CIS or CS prefix.
General Electives
  • 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.

Additional Information
  • 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.