Hospitality and Tourism Management Degrees

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of South Carolina is recognized as one of the best hospitality and tourism management schools in the country. The school offers tourism degrees and hospitality degrees that are led by world-renowned faculty who provide students with industry knowledge, research insights, mentorship and career experience.

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management's mission is to educate global leaders for the hospitality and tourism industry through innovative and experiential curriculum, research, and community engagement. The University of South Carolina is recognized for its excellence in hospitality and tourism management education.

Hospitality and tourism impact people’s lives every day. From the restaurants where friends dine, to the places people visit, to the vacations and events that mark life’s milestones — this industry is led by moment makers. A hospitality degree or tourism degree is ideal for students who are passionate about creating memories and experiences for people to enjoy.

Degree Programs

Four hospitality and tourism management degrees are available at USC, including two undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees:

B.S. in Hospitality Management: With a strong foundation in business, customer experience and service operations, students gain the tools to manage hotels, restaurants, clubs and event venues. The program offers real-world learning opportunities through internships and industry partnerships. Students may also specialize in areas like meeting and event management, food and beverage management, hotel and resort management, or choose a club management concentration to align with career goals.
B.S. in Tourism Management: This bachelor’s program combines business strategy with cultural awareness and real-world application, preparing graduates to manage experiences in a wide range of travel and tourism sectors. Students can focus their studies on meeting and event planning or dive into tourism-specific topics like destination marketing and eco-tourism.
Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management: This program combines advanced business education with an international lens, preparing students to navigate cultural complexities and global market trends. Students explore strategic management, international service standards and innovation across tourism and hospitality. Ideal for career advancement or industry pivots, this master’s degree opens doors to leadership roles around the world.
Ph.D. in Hospitality Management: Students delve into advanced topics like consumer behavior, organizational theory and service innovation, while contributing original research to the field. With guidance from expert faculty, candidates develop the skills to teach, publish and lead with impact. The program emphasizes both theoretical exploration and practical relevance in hospitality and tourism management.

Specialized Facilities

The School of Hospitality and Tourism Management provides tailored experiential learning opportunities through state-of-the-art facilities such as the McCutchen House restaurant, the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Culinary Laboratory, and the Beverage Education Laboratory. These dynamic spaces enhance hands-on education in event planning, restaurant management, hotel operations, and other key areas of the industry.

Learn More

J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation Culinary Laboratory
Beverage Education Laboratory
McCutchen House restaurant

Career Success

Whether you want to live and work in South Carolina or travel the world, a hospitality management or tourism management degree provides a wide variety of career paths.

Claire Sharpe, '20, B.S. hospitality management, is the recreation expert at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, in Avon, Colorado.
Dashon Murray, '19, B.S. tourism management, is a finance corporate management trainee at the Hyatt in Seattle, Washington.
Tatiana Allgeyer, '19, Master of International Hospitality and Tourism Management, is doing a rotational internship with The Alotian Club in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Zahria Barber, '19, B.S. hospitality management, is food and beverage management associate at MGM Resorts International in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Tayler Metivier, '19, B.S. hospitality management, is assistant operations manager, rooms at the Andaz Maui At Wailea Resort, Wailea, Hawaii.
Nevonne Burrell, '19, B.S. in hospitality management, is a member services captain at The Alotian Club in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Cammie Nguyen, '19, hospitality management, is manager in training with Hotel Equities in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Kennon Beach, '18, hospitality management, works in the events department at Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, Tennessee.
Scotty Atherton, '18, B.S. hospitality management, is operations manager for Aramark in Boston, Massachusetts.
Santiago Vasquez, '18, hospitality management, is sales coordinator at The Sanctuary, Kiawah Golf Resort on Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
Brianna Jones Allen, '17, hospitality management, is operations manager for Courtyard by Marriott in Atlanta, Georgia.
Megan Anderson, '16, B.S. in hospitality management, is lead of campus onboarding for Capital One in Washington, D.C.
Isaac Pressley, '17, hospitality management, works in the food and beverage department for The Ritz Carlton Rancho Mirage in Rancho Mirage, California.
Ally Paragano, '16, B.S. in hospitality management, is character captain at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Dominique Gray, '12, hospitality management, is the director of operations for the Texas Tech Club in Lubbock, Texas.

Below are just a few examples of the rewarding tourism careers and hospitality careers:
Convention and visitors bureau director, cruise ship manager, director of operations, destination marketer, event / conference planner, event technology specialist, festival promoter, food and beverage director, golf or country club, manager, golf tournament planner, guest experience manager, hotel general manager, human resources manager, marketing and events coordinator, property manager, resort operations specialist, restaurant franchise owner, restaurant manager, revenue manager, sales director, travel analyst, training manager, tourism strategist, wedding planner, wine and beverage operations manager.

Explore

Our industries have the power to connect cultures, inspire adventures and strengthen global economies, so student travel opportunities are important. Our faculty lead custom study abroad courses in Italy, Peru, The Galapagos Islands, Aruba, and many more locations around the world.

Learn More

For general information about the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, please contact Georgia Petritsis at 803-777-6665.

Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration

Program Student Profile

Academic Years: 2020-21 • 2021-22 • 2022–23

Undergraduate Enrollment — Major	3 Years Ago 2020-21	2 Years Ago 2021-22	1 Year Ago 2022-23
Number of Students	572	547	537
Number of Graduates	169	158	149
Student / Faculty Ratio	24:1	18:1	18:1
Retention Rate – Freshmen to Sophomore (for all programs)	81%	81%	78%
Students employed in the hospitality industry or a related field i.e. Professional Placement within 90 days after graduation	65%	86%	N/A
Students continuing their education within 90 days after graduation	12%	5%	N/A
Total Professional Placement and Continuing Education Rate	77%	91%	N/A

College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management