25 Years of HRSM
For 25 years, the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management has been a launchpad for leaders and innovators. Join us as we honor our legacy and power what’s next — on campus, across the state and around the world.
HRSM 25 is really about celebrating the people behind it — our faculty, staff, alumni and partners whose vision and leadership helped build this college from the very beginning.
In 2001, the University of South Carolina’s newly named College of Hospitality, Retail
and Sport Management (HRSM) awarded degrees for the first time under that name. Now,
25 years later, the college is celebrating a legacy of the people, programs and partnerships
that have shaped it into one of the nation’s most respected institutions.
“From the beginning, HRSM has focused on preparing students not just to enter the
industry, but to lead it,” says Dean Michael Sagas. “Through innovative academic programs
and strong industry partnerships, the college produces leaders who power the industries
that shape how people experience the world — from global sporting events and professional
franchises to hotels, retailers and entertainment destinations.”
The HRSM 25 celebration will feature the annual Distinguished Alumni and Friends of
the College Awards, the unveiling of a new display on campus featuring a timeline
of the college’s history, and other opportunities for alumni, students, faculty, staff
and partners to engage, reflect and help shape HRSM’s next chapter.
“The transition to the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management in 2000
aligned our mission with the industries we serve,” says Dean Emerita Pat Moody, who
led the college through the name change. “Today, the impact of that decision is evident,
as students graduate equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to shape the
way people experience the world.”
HRSM now offers nationally recognized degrees including five undergraduate and five
graduate programs across three core fields: Hospitality and Tourism Management, Retailing
and Sport and Entertainment Management.
Top-Ranked
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#5
Retail Management
Best Universities with Retail Management Degrees in America (Niche)
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#7
Sport Management
Best Universities for Sports Management in America (Niche)
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#10
Hospitality Management
Nationwide in Hospitality and Leisure Management (QS World University Rankings by Subject)
The College of HRSM is known for blending academic rigor with hands-on learning —
an approach that mirrors the fast-paced, relationship-driven industries it serves.
Each year, students gain meaningful experience through internships, study abroad programs,
innovation tours, career immersion field studies and on-campus experiential learning
environments.
“Our partnerships with industry leaders are what set HRSM apart,” adds Dean Sagas.
“We give students meaningful, real-world experiences that translate directly into
career readiness.”
HRSM’s commitment to applied learning is reinforced through student-operated facilities
that serve as living laboratories, including McCutchen House, Gamecock iHub and the
Beverage Education Laboratory.
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McCutchen House
McCutchen House, a student-run restaurant located on the historic Horseshoe, managed by faculty and chef instructors from the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
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Gamecock iHub
Gamecock iHub, an Apple Authorized Campus Store serving the USC campus and alumni. It is operated by students under the leadership of Department of Retailing faculty and staff, and is one of only two of its kind in the world.
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Beverage Education Laboratory
The Beverage Education Laboratory advances hands-on education in beverage management, a field that plays a vital role in South Carolina's economy, generating more than 3,300 jobs and contributing $2.24 billion in direct economic impact to the state.
HRSM is home to more than 2,700 students, over 150 faculty and staff, and a global
network of 25,000 alumni. The college's alumni have risen to leadership positions
in the world's top sports leagues, arenas, hotels, resorts, tourism and retail businesses,
such as Nike, Marriott, the NFL and more. Many alumni return to HRSM as mentors, speakers
and partners, creating a strong, ongoing cycle of learning and leadership.
While the current celebration focuses on the last quarter-century, HRSM’s history
dates all the way back to 1962 with its start as the Division of General Studies and
Extension Services, a two-year associate's degree program.
It began offering four-year degrees in 1982 and expanded over the years to include
core disciplines all centered around consumer experience industries. The College of
HRSM has continued to grow in both size and reputation, becoming a cornerstone at
the University of South Carolina.
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Events
Reconnect, celebrate and look ahead. Join HRSM alumni events throughout our 25th anniversary year as we honor shared experiences, lasting friendships and the Gamecock journeys that continue to shape our industries.
View Our Events -
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It is now located in the largest academic building on campus, the Close-Hipp Building, and has expanded its reach through online programs and new satellite campus locations. The college’s Master of Sport and Entertainment Management has grown to be one of the top graduate programs of its kind in the world, and the college’s David and Nicole Tepper Department of Sport and Entertainment Management became the first named department at USC in 2025. In addition, the college has grown its research productivity and impact over the past two and half decades by adding new research centers across its disciplines, expanding graduate-level research and recruiting top-tier scholars to join its faculty.
Perhaps no other college so closely matches South Carolina’s businesses and industries, making HRSM an important asset to the state. The future, as the college continues developing outstanding opportunities for students and making significant accomplishments that impact the university, the state and beyond, could not be brighter.
