Print this page. About the Program
The School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management (HRTM) offers a Bachelor of Science. As a student in the school, you will be prepared for managerial positions in the hospitality industry. You can also obtain a specialization in club management by completing 15 hours of course work including HRTM 285 Club Management, HRTM 585 Advanced Club Management, and HRTM 495 Hospitality Management Internship (to take place in a club setting). HRTM professors bring a broad range of professional experience to the classroom, are active in regional and national professional associations, and serve as consultants and guest lecturers throughout the United States. USC's School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management is the only one of its kind in South Carolina and is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration. The school has a 100 percent placement rate, and its Institute for Tourism Research develops research, education, and service programs for South Carolina's tourism industry.
Career Opportunities
If you are interested in a career in the hospitality industry, many options are available to you. The hospitality industry is one of South Carolina's fastest-growing industries and is also one of the world's largest industries. As a hotel, restaurant, and tourism management professional, you can pursue a variety of career opportunities in:
• restaurant, hotel, or resort management
• conference planning
• marketing sales
The school also hosts an annual career fair to introduce you to hospitality corporations. In addition, dozens of companies recruit HRTM graduates annually, including Marriott Corporation, Hyatt Corporation, and Parkway Management Company. The HRTM School's Career Center provides information to current students seeking career employment through files available on-line and in print. Additional information is available for part-time jobs and internships.
The University Career Center is also available to assist you in choosing a career direction and in increasing your marketability upon graduation. For additional information, call the center at 803-777-7280.
Admission/Progression Requirements
To be admitted to the hotel, restaurant, and tourism management program, you must meet all University and College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management requirements. University requirements include a completed application, nonrefundable application fee, high-school record complete up to the time of application (including record of at least 20 academic units of study earned as required by the University), and entrance examination scores (either SAT or ACT). Details for all applicants can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin. To remain in the program, you must make satisfactory academic progress toward the degree. The College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management has a preprofessional and a professional division of student classification. Your entrance into the preprofessional division is based on the general admission policies of the University, while your entrance into the professional division requires the approval of the department and the successful completion of departmental requirements.
Program of Study
Courses required for this major include: English Composition, English Composition and Literature, Calculus for Business Administration and Social Sciences, Calculus I, plus an additional philosophy, mathematics, computer science, or statistics course. Economics and speech are also required, along with Introduction to the Hospitality Industry, Hotel Management, Quantity Food Production, Tourism, Club Management, and Practicum and Seminar. Students in this program must achieve a minimum grade of "C" in specific retailing and technology support and training management courses. More information on courses can be found at www.hrsm.sc.edu/undergrad/courses/html.
Of Special Interest
You can gain valuable hospitality experience through USC's student chapters of the Carolina Hospitality Society, the Club Managers Association of America, and Eta Sigma Delta (the International Hospitality Management Honor Society). You will also complete an internship with a hospitality-related business or organization as part of your degree program. For many students, it is often the starting point of their career after graduation. Your internship will offer six hours of credit and must be approved by the school and supervised by a faculty member. HRTM students have interned with such companies as Walt Disney World, Grove Park Inn, and Kiawah Island Club.
School of Hotel Restaurant, and Tourism Management Web site