BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN TOURISM,
HOSPITALITY & EVENT MANAGEMENT

From planning music festivals to running events for a First Lady, our Event Management Alumni have taken their degree to amazing places. Where will it take you?

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B.S. in Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management

To earn the Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, courses must be completed successfully in general education, the major, and related professional and specialized courses. All students take a common core of classes providing them with foundational knowledge within the discipline. Subsequently, students select one of three specializations: Event Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, or General.   

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, you must successfully complete 120 hours of prescribed coursework. Professional core courses, related option courses and specialization electives are taken during your last two years of work. A posting of the full list courses and brief description are listed in the undergraduate catalog for the University of Florida. 


Specializations

Specializations

Event Management: Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to administer and manage commercial and entrepreneurial event service businesses. This program includes courses in conference and special event planning, event promotion, sponsorship, financial and revenue management, and event production.

Tourism & Hospitality Management: Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to administer and manage destination management organizations, tour operations, public recreation, hospitality enterprises such as hotels, resorts, attractions, and cruises.  This program includes courses in tourism and hospitality marketing, strategic planning and development, lodging operations and revenue management.

General: Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a wide array of sectors related to the tourism, hospitality, and event management. This program provides an opportunity to select courses within the department to develop broad content knowledge in both Event Management and Tourism & Hospitality Management.

Speak with an Advisor Forward Thinking

What our Alumni Say

The connections you make with your peers and professors will help you grow as a professional and provide benefits long into your future career. During my last semester in the event management program, I had the opportunity to intern in Charleston, SC with a catering and design company. Two years later, I started my own business. Now, I have a well known planning and design team and we have the honor of planning events throughout the Southeast.

-Samantha Anderson | Wedding Planner & Designer - Samantha Anderson Events, Charleston, SC

Experiential Learning Opportunities in the Curriculum 

Field Experience

Field Experience (LEI 3921) provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience within the tourism, hospitality, and event management industry. Students apply their skills and knowledge as an agency volunteer in their particular sub-field of choice, by working and successfully fulfilling 80 hours over the course of one semester, ideally the semester prior to completing their full-time internship. Upon the successful completion of this course, all students will have finished their field experience requirement and have the tools necessary to submit a proposal required for their internship (packets will be submitted during the term).

During the course, we will provide resources to assist students to generate and modify their resumes and cover letters, position their credentials more effectively, and refine their site assessment skills. In addition, we will also require them to practice one of the most important success prediction skills - personal interview.

For more information about LEI 3921, see a recent syllabus for the course here.

We encourage students to start looking into potential sites to complete their Field Work for LEI 3921 up to 18 months in advance. International Students should be sure to connect with their advisor in the UF International Center, about how this requirement might impact their visas ahead of time as it may require approval from both the International Center and their departmental advisor.

FYI: Students are able to be paid/compensated for the field work experience and the senior internship however, they are not permitted to use a current job to fulfill the class or internship requirement. Additionally, to receive approval to complete the experience, the site and duties/responsibilities must align with the degree plan the student has selected.

Please click here to request to be registered for LEI 3921.

Internship

In comparison to other majors, THEM students are required to complete a full semester of internship, unless they have full time current/past experience in the industry and subject to approval. This internship requirement must be completed prior to graduation and should be completed during the semester of expected graduation after all other coursework has been successfully completed. Credit hours for the internship requirement are included in the credit hour total required for graduation.

>>Click here for more information about the internship course.

Optional Practicum Opportunities

The optional practicum is designed to provide practical experience for students in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management. Students can earn elective course credit by maintaining a part-time workload in a setting appropriate to their specialization such as corporate and private event and meeting planners, visitors’ bureaus, theme parks and attractions, resorts, hotels and destination management organizations where significant learning possibilities exist. For more information about the practicum option, click here.

Please direct all internship questions to:

Student Experiences

Going Beyond the Classroom

Our goal is to expose students to the future of the industry while exposing businesses to the future leaders of it. From in-class event planning, to hotel management simulation labs, and 600 hours of industry exposure, we ensure our students have the experiences they need to go amazing places with their career. 

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Built for Working Professionals

The B.S./M.S. combined degree program allows qualified students to earn both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management with 9 credit hours of graduate coursework counting towards both degrees. This program allows students to complete both degrees within a five-year time period instead of the usual six years.

Learn More

Academic Option

Students that have current or past full-time industry experience (supervisory or entry level but not seasonal employment) will be able to substitute the internship engagement with a choice of five department course electives taken over the course of several semesters. Only students interested in the academic option will need to submit the following documents for approval beginning of their junior year:

1) Notice of intent form, 2) Current resume, and 3) Statement that outlines personal and professional goals, along with an overview of how past industry experience has prepared for a desired career position. The undergraduate curriculum committee will review and decide on approval.

 

Bachelor's degrees in Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management are also available online. Click HERE to learn more.

Alumni Careers

At Home in Hospitality

Our students have gone amazing places within the tourism, hospitality, and event industries. See how far they've traveled since they graduated.

Alumni Career Spotlights

Built for Working Professionals

Interested in furthering your education? Master's degrees in Tourism and Hospitality Management are also available online.

Learn More

Career Opportunities

Graduates pursue a wide range of exciting career opportunities including hotels, resorts, theme parks, cruise lines, casinos, clubs, restaurants, convention centers, tour operators, corporate, public, and private meetings and events, inclusive of the music, festivals, entertainment, fashion, attractions, weddings, political events, and many other options.

See Our Alumni Career Spotlights Leading Our Industry Forward
Financial Aid

Financial Aid

A variety of types of assistance are available including federal loans, work-study positions, scholarships, full-time and temporary employment and private sources. The Office for Student Financial Affairs at the University of Florida provides information about how to apply for financial aid at UF, deadlines and financial aid programs.

Ready to make a change?

Interested in changing majors, adding a minor, or a certificate?
We've got you covered.

Contact an Advisor

B.S. in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management

Specializations | Career Opportunities Involvement and LeadershipCombination Degree |
Curriculum and Advising | Experiential Learning | Contact Us

The curriculum prepares students to gain competency in industry knowledge, develop intellectual abilities, and foster adaptive and technical leadership skills. In addition, the focus on the growth of individual and group dynamics through critical thinking is emphasized so that students will become leaders, decision- makers, and entrepreneurs and create change in an ever-evolving industry.     

To earn the Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management courses must be completed successfully in general education, the major, and related professional and specialized courses. All students take a common core of classes providing them with foundational knowledge within the discipline. Subsequently, students select one of three specializations: Event Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, or General.

Specializations

Event Management: Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to administer and manage commercial and entrepreneurial event service businesses. This program includes courses in conference and special event planning, promotion, sponsorship, financial and revenue management, and production.

Tourism & Hospitality Management: Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to administer and manage destination management organizations, tour operations, public recreation, hospitality enterprises such as hotels, resorts, attractions, and cruises.  This program includes courses in tourism and hospitality marketing, strategic planning and development, lodging operations and revenue management.

General: Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a wide array of sectors related to the tourism, hospitality, and event management. This program provides an opportunity to select courses within the department to develop broad content knowledge in both Event Management and Tourism & Hospitality Management.

Experiential Option

Prior to the semester before graduation, students are placed in a capstone course (12 credit hours) which is a 13-week senior internship where they learn from experienced professionals, and provide excellent models of practice, quality service delivery and leadership. Most students are offered employment at the end of their internship due to their educational preparation and ability to transfer knowledge gained in an applied context. Read more about the experiential opportunities

Academic Option

Students that have current or past full-time industry experience (supervisory or entry level but not seasonal employment) will be able to substitute the internship engagement with a choice of five department course electives taken over the course of several semesters. Only students interested in the academic option will need to submit the following documents for approval beginning of their junior year:

1) Notice of intent form, 2) Current resume, and 3) Statement that outlines personal and professional goals, along with an overview of how past industry experience has prepared for a desired career position. The undergraduate curriculum committee will review and decide on approval.

Bachelor's degrees in Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management are also available online. Click HERE to learn more.

Career Opportunities

Graduates pursue a wide range of exciting career opportunities including hotels, resorts, theme parks, cruise lines, casinos, clubs, restaurants, convention centers, tour operators, corporate, public, and private meetings and events, inclusive of the music, festivals, entertainment, fashion, attractions, and many other options.

Networking and Industry Outreach: Obtaining employment in tourism, hospitality or event management requires an intentional effort at building relationships (i.e., networking) with industry professionals. Networking opportunities are shared weekly through the Pulse Email Newsletter

For more information about career opportunities in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, please schedule an appointment with your advisor or visit the Career Connections Center

 
Interested in transfering to our program? Click here for more information

Opportunities for Involvement and Leadership

For more information about these and all HHP student organizations, please visit our Student Involvement page.


Combination Degree Program

The B.S./M.S. combination degree program allows qualified students to earn both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management with 9 credit hours of graduate coursework counting towards both degrees. This program allows students to complete both degrees within a five-year time period instead of the usual six years. Click here to learn more.

Interested students should meet with an academic advisor early in their undergraduate career to determine eligibility.


Curriculum and Advising

To earn a Bachelor of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management, you must successfully complete 120 hours of prescribed coursework. Professional core courses, related option courses and specialization electives are taken during your last two years of work. A posting of the full list courses and brief description are listed in the undergraduate catalog for the University of Florida. For information about the required coursework, please schedule an appointment with Academic Advisor Bobbi Cabaret:

Interested in changing your major to Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management? Click here for more information.


Experiential Learning Opportunities in the Curriculum

Field Experience

Field Experience (LEI 3921) provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience within the tourism, hospitality, and event management industry. Students apply their skills and knowledge as an agency volunteer in their particular sub-field of choice, by working and successfully fulfilling 80 hours over the course of one semester, ideally the semester prior to completing their full-time internship. Upon the successful completion of this course, all students will have finished their field experience requirement and have the tools necessary to submit a proposal required for their internship (packets will be submitted during the term).

During the course, we will provide resources to assist students to generate and modify their resumes and cover letters, position their credentials more effectively, and refine their site assessment skills. In addition, we will also require them to practice one of the most important success prediction skills - personal interview.

For more information about LEI 3921, see a recent syllabus for the course here.

We encourage students to start looking into potential sites to complete their Field Work for LEI 3921 up to 18 months in advance. International Students should be sure to connect with their advisor in the UF International Center, about how this requirement might impact their visas ahead of time as it may require approval from both the International Center and their departmental advisor.

FYI: Students are able to be paid/compensated for the field work experience and the senior internship however, they are not permitted to use a current job to fulfill the class or internship requirement. Additionally, to receive approval to complete the experience, the site and duties/responsibilities must align with the degree plan the student has selected.

Please click here to request to be registered for LEI 3921.

Internship

In comparison to other majors, THEM students are required to complete a full semester of internship, unless they have full time current/past experience in the industry and subject to approval. This internship requirement must be completed prior to graduation and should be completed during the semester of expected graduation after all other coursework has been successfully completed. Credit hours for the internship requirement are included in the credit hour total required for graduation.

>>Click here for more information about the internship course.

Optional Practicum Opportunities

The optional practicum is designed to provide practical experience for students in the Department of Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management. Students can earn elective course credit by maintaining a part-time workload in a setting appropriate to their specialization such as corporate and private event and meeting planners, visitors’ bureaus, theme parks and attractions, resorts, hotels and destination management organizations where significant learning possibilities exist. For more information about the practicum option, click here.

Please direct all internship questions to:


Financial Aid

 A variety of types of assistance are available including federal loans, work-study positions, scholarships, full-time and temporary employment and private sources. The Office for Student Financial Affairs at the University of Florida provides information about how to apply for financial aid at UF, deadlines and financial aid programs.