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The "Tourism and Hospitality Management" (THM) major is designed to prepare undergraduate students for management careers in the tourism and hospitality industries. Students will study the core courses required of all students pursuing a Bachelors of Business Administration degree. This core will provide a foundation of business skills critical for all business students in the College of Business and Leadership. Building on this core business foundation, THM students will take 21 required hours in coursework specific to THM including a required internship. Complementing these required courses will be 12 hours of electives taken from upper-division courses in Management and Marketing. Graduates from this major will be well prepared to assume managerial roles in these industries.
The purpose of the THM program is to provide students with the knowledge, skills, values, and strategic perspectives essential to obtaining leadership roles in the hospitality service professions in western Kansas, the region, the domestic market, and throughout the world. Additionally, the THM program would foster research and scholarship that will translate to student excellence in the management of hospitality properties. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management, graduates would be able to pursue career paths in most segments of the THM industry, including:
The THM industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that between 1997 and 2006 there was a 19.28% growth of jobs in this industry. Currently, over 13 million are employed in the THM industry. The BLS estimates that this industry will grow to employ over 15 million workers by 2014, an increase of 17.7%. Approximately 18% to 20% of this workforce is in managerial, professional, or marketing jobs. Internationally, THM provides approximately 10% of the total world employment. And in many countries, it is the number one industry. The World Tourism Organization estimates that global tourism visitation will grow from 770 million in 2006 to 1,561 million by 2020. China alone is expected to create 100 million international tourists by 2020 from less than 15 million currently. This rapid growth and future projection indicates a strong demand for educated and qualified managers in this industry.
This program will meet the needs of both international students as well as domestic students within the state of Kansas. International students desiring an education in THM will have an opportunity to gain an American business degree with this major including practical work experience in an internship. The THM industry has a major presence along the I-70 corridor between the cities of Kansas City and Denver. This major will provide the needed managers in Kansas for this growing industry. The I-70 Association, a trade association of tourism and hospitality management from the I-70 corridor, upon hearing of our proposal has expressed interest in sponsoring a scholarship in support of the major. The THM industry employees a significant number of minority workers. This creates a special opportunity and need for minority managers in the THM industry. This need will align with the goal for FHSU to attract Hispanic students from southwest Kansas.
Tourism ranks among the top three industries in all 50 states, including Kansas. According to the U.S. Travel Data Center in Washington, D.C., tourism generates over $2 billion every year for the state of Kansas. Additionally, the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration states that tourism greatly surpasses all other industries in generating foreign spending in the U.S; estimations are that this field generates over $50 billion in foreign money annually.
Click here to learn more about the BBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management.
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