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Hospitality Studies Concentration and Minor
- Mailing Address
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University of Missouri-Kansas City
Hospitality Studies
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499
- Faculty Coordinator:
- Dan Hoerz
The hospitality industry is one of the most exciting fields available to people in the 21st century and UMKC's Hospitality Studies Program will prepare students for leadership positions. The industry is comprised of hotels, resorts, restaurants, casinos, convention facilities, theme parks, just to name a few. Hospitality, tourism, and travel has over a $4 trillion impact on the world's economy, ranking it one of the top industries in the world.
The hospitality studies program seeks to promote knowledge of principles and procedures needed to make sound managerial decisions. The objective of the program is education of students in the direction of administrative management rather than skill training. The curriculum is designed for both
those working in the hospitality industry and those needing skills to enter the industry at the management level.
Hospitality Studies Concentration
The hospitality studies concentration provides students with the fundamentals of hospitality administration within a liberal arts program, drawing on social science disciplines. It may be completed in conjunction with the bachelor of liberal arts degree (B.L.A.) and is open to students with consent from the hospitality studies faculty coordinator. Students pursuing the hospitality studies concentration must take 24 hours of approved coursework. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be taken at UMKC, and a minimum of 9 credit hours must be at the 300- or 400-level. Student programs of study must be planned with the faculty coordinator. The courses required for the concentration are:
- Economics 323P: Administration in the Service Industry (4 credit hours)
- Economics 343P: Resource Acquisition & Distribution in the Hospitality Industry (4 credit hours)
- Social Science 375P: Contemporary Issues in the Service Industry (4 credit hours)
- Economics 423P: Legal and Social Issues of the Hospitality Industry (4 credit hours)
- Economics 433P: Commercial Economic Aspects of the Hospitality Industry (4 credit hours)
- Social Science 465P: Human Resources in the Service Industry (4 credit hours)
Hospitality Studies Minor
The Hospitality Studies minor may be completed in conjunction with any undergraduate degree. Students pursuing the hospitality studies minor must take a minimum of 18 credit hours of approved coursework. A minimum of 9 credit hours must be taken at UMKC, and a minimum of 9 credit hours must be at the 300- or 400-level. The courses required for the minor are:
- Economics 323P: Administration in the Service Industry (4 credit hours)
- Social Science 375P: Contemporary Issues in the Service Industry (4 credit hours)
- Economics 423P: Legal and Social Issues of the Hospitality Industry (4 credit hours)
- Social Science 465P: Human Resources in the Service Industry (4 credit hours)
- Electives (to be approved by the Faculty Coordinator) (2 credit hours)
Hospitality Studies Course Descriptions
The following course descriptions are abbreviated. They are presented here as a convenience only. Please see the appropriate departmental section of this catalog for the official course descriptions.
- Economics 323P: Administration in the Service Industry (4 credit hours)
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Course examines the nature of service and the role it plays in hospitality. What is service? How do you define service? What makes up the service management system? How the system can be designed, implemented, and improved in an organization. The role of quality in service. How to control quality.
- Economics 343P: Resource Acquisition & Distribution in the Hospitality Industry (4 credit hours)
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Course examines the purchasing and sales aspects of a hospitality operation.
Students will be given readings and do a project in a hospitality operation of their choice specializing in the purchasing and/or sales/marketing function of the operation. Course focuses on how management uses these functions in the business operation and in conjunction with other resources.
- Communication Studies 344/345P: Communication in Organizational Settings (3 credit hours)
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Course focuses on developing communication ability and theoretical understanding of communication in organizational settings.
- Social Science 359P: Technology Policies in Hospitality (4 credit hours)
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Examines the impact of technology in the industry, especially as it impacts the use of human resources. Consequences of relying too heavily on technology. Field trip to examine and research technology use in a hospitality organization. Looks at where technology came from, where it is going to go, and how to be proactive in using technology. Some emphasis is on the development, growth, and use of information technology in hospitality.
- Social Science 375P: Contemporary Issues in the Service Industry (4 credit hours)
- Independent study that examines the use of service in a hospitality organization. This course is taken concurrently with the Administration course.
- Economics 423P: Legal and Social Issues of the Hospitality Industry (4 credit hours)
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Review of legal consideration of hospitality operators (law of innkeepers, third party liability). Examines how these issues impact business management and the use of resources. Also examines current social issues as they impact hospitality from a legal and economic perspective.
- Economics 433P: Commercial Economic Aspects of the Hospitality Industry (4 credit hours)
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This is a finance and cost control course. It starts with a review of basic cost control. Examines how management uses the information to control and plan for production and service in a business. Prepares different types of budgets (operating, cash, capital, etc.). Examines financial ratios such as return on investment, etc. Learn how to prepare a financial proposal when approaching a money lender.
- Social Science 465P: Human Resources in the Service Industry (4 credit hours)
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Brief review of the HR process. Emphasis will be on use of HR in managing a
business. Examination of the evolving role of HR in meeting organizational goals. Interaction between HR and other organizational resources. Examination of the future of HR in hospitality (particularly in reference to technology).
- Social Science 489P: Internship in Hospitality Studies (4 credit hours)
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Directed management internship with a company selected by the student and
hospitality studies coordinator. Emphasis will be on directed research and projects emphasizing the functions, role, etc. of management in a hospitality operations. Independent study.
- Arts & Sciences 490: Special Topics (1 credit hour)
- Readings in hospitality administration.
Additionally, there are other hospitality studies courses that are listed in the College of Arts and Sciences as "Special Topics" courses. These courses include:
- Destination Management (3 credit hours)
- The course will survey all aspects of managing in the tourism and hospitality field including economic development, investment promotion, planning, protected area management, historic preservation, cultural resources, performing arts, museums, small business development, sports and recreation, and transportation.
- Introduction to Travel and Tourism (3 credit hours)
- This course will examine the development of tourism from its formal origins to the present and will explore the future of tourism in the new millennium. It introduces new concepts and philosophies in tourism and provides students and practioners with a well-grounded explanation of new applications of technology, especially E-commerce, to the travel and tourism industry.
- Tourism Geography of the Western Hemisphere (3 credit hours)
- An indepth study of the workings of tourism geography for students interested in the business of tourism. Emphasis will be placed upon practical business and marketing questions and upon developing a working knowledge of tourism geography. Students will use both traditional and internet sources.
- Summer Field Trip-Jamaica (3 credit hours)
- This course concentrates on the economic, environmental and cultural effects of tourism on a developing country. Students will spend 7 days in Jamaica visiting relevant tourism attractions and resorts, the Jamaican Tourism Board, the United States Embassy and the University of the West Indies.
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