2025-2026

Hospitality Business Administration, Bachelor of Professional Studies

School of Hotel and Restaurant Management

The W. A. Franke College of Business

This hospitality business administration program equips students with the skills to meet the demands of Arizona's growing hospitality industry. Combining essential industry knowledge with practical training, students will develop business skills specific to hospitality, focusing on key concepts for success in hotels, restaurants, resorts, and event venues. Graduates will be prepared for managerial positions with opportunities for advancement in one of the world's fastest-growing industries.

This plan is available for students as of Fall 2026

  • To receive a bachelor of professional studies degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 90 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the general studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

    • All of Northern Arizona University's general 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:

  • 90 units of major requirements which includes 35 units of preprofessional coursework.

  • Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy General Studies Requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.

  • Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 90 units.

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 90
Major GPA C
Highest Mathematics Required MAT 114
Some online/blended coursework Required
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A Recommended
AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-B Recommended
Progression Plan Link Not Available

Purpose Statement

The three-year Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Business Administration equips students with the skills required to meet the evolving demands of Arizona's hospitality industry, one of the state's largest and fastest-growing sectors. As the need for skilled professionals grows, this program plays a key role in workforce development in the region.

This reduced-credit degree combines essential industry skills with practical training through internships, ensuring students gain practical exposure. The curriculum emphasizes core hospitality business principles and management strategies, preparing students to apply these concepts effectively in real-world settings.

Graduates will be prepared for managerial positions across a variety of sectors, including hotels, restaurants, resorts, and event venues. They will possess the skills to manage staff, oversee operations, and ensure guest satisfaction, with opportunities to advance into higher-level roles. This program opens doors to diverse career opportunities in one of the world's largest and fastest-growing industries.

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate an understanding of core hospitality business principles, operations, and practices.
    • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of foundational hospitality business principles and terminology, and their application across diverse career opportunities within the industry.
    • Use hands-on experience to understand real-world operations and develop practical skills.
    • Identify key business concepts, operational strategies, and management skills across various areas of hotel and restaurant operations.
    • Integrate sustainable practices into facility management, including housekeeping and maintenance operations, and strategies to enhance environmental and operational efficiency while controlling costs and ensuring guest comfort.
    • Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the foundational principles of kitchen operations that affect operational efficiency and food quality in a professional kitchen environment, including food safety, equipment use, inventory management, kitchen organization, food preparation, and proper storage techniques.
  • Apply hospitality-specific technologies and business analytics tools to organize and communicate information, optimize operations, perform essential tasks, and support data-driven decision-making that improves guest service and business performance.
    • Evaluate financial performance using balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, and the implications of these financial tools on business decision-making.
    • Demonstrate proficiency with industry-specific technology applications for organizing, analyzing, and communicating hospitality information, optimizing operational processes, performing common tasks, and improving guest service.
    • Use cost ratios to assess and improve the efficiency of control tools for managing food, beverage, and labor costs.
    • Identify strategies for implementing tactical rate management and control measures to optimize hospitality revenue.
  • Demonstrate the leadership, human resources, and marketing skills necessary to manage hospitality teams and grow organizations.
    • Demonstrate effective leadership and communication skills to manage hospitality teams, resolve conflicts, uphold ethical standards, and effectively manage operations in diverse hospitality environments
    • Apply key concepts in human resource management and organizational behavior to effectively manage personnel, foster a positive organizational culture, enhance employee performance, and address workplace challenges in diverse hospitality settings.
    • Implement effective strategies for managing customer service while leveraging traditional and digital marketing tools to analyze customer needs, create compelling campaigns, enhance guest experiences, and drive business growth by fostering satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Apply critical thinking skills and ethical reasoning to solve problems and navigate the hospitality business environment.
    • Apply legal and ethical issues in hospitality management to ensure legal compliance and operational effectiveness, including contracts, employee law, and regulations.
    • Apply the knowledge, strategies, and skills gained in the Hospitality Business Administration program to develop a comprehensive business plan or project that showcases expertise in hospitality management while addressing real-world industry challenges and opportunities.

Transfer Pathway
    • In alignment with Northern Arizona University's commitment to workforce readiness and equitable access to high-quality education, this program accepts work/life experience, industry recognized credentials, certifications and/or exams as valid evidence of prior learning.
Major Requirements

  • This major requires 90 units distributed as follows:

    • Preprofessional Coursework: 35 units
    • Professional Coursework: 55 units

     

    Take the following 90 units:

  • Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:

General Electives

  • Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 90 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 General Studies Requirements.

    We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.

Additional Information

  • Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.