Program Information

The Florida state university system’s (SUS) only AACSB-accredited Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree program with Hospitality and Tourism Management as a major. FAU also offers the flexible Bachelor of Arts (BA) with Hospitality and Tourism as a major, increasing one’s variety of choices for a secondary area of supplemental coursework. The BBA is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the premier and most rigorous of accrediting agencies for global business schools.

All hospitality and tourism in the BBA take all core business courses and students in the BA take select business courses. Both pathways provide the full complement of hospitality and tourism coursework. The curriculum in hospitality and tourism is updated on an annual basis to match employer desires in competencies, skills, and abilities, while provided a global, rounded approach to learning.

Students are well prepared to be future managers or executives with many moving onward and upward as entrepreneurs. Both the BBA and the BA paths provide student knowledge in human resources, technology, predictive analytics, revenue management, business leadership skills, across a large selection of tourism segments including destination marketing, hotel and restaurant operations, travel advisor and cruise careers, casino and private club sectors, event production and execution strategies and beyond.

Both programs are superbly flexible depending on the student’s own career goals and aspirations. Further, all students may pursue for-credit or executive certificates while pursuing either degree. These include specialization expertise in private clubs, events, and casino gaming.

For industry professionals with more than a decade of work experience and college coursework during their careers, please inquire about the Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) option which is housed outside the FAU College of Business.

2025 Hospitality Badges

Which Undergraduate Degree and Career Pathway is the One for Me?

The best part of FAU and a proud differentiating item is that we have a degree that should match you and your own personal career goals.

As differentiated above, the BBA offers a more rigorous quantitative, business foundation. It is ideal for those wanting to lead large resorts, individuals who wish to pursue data analysis/revenue optimization or similar quantitative career goals, or even for those whose desire is to own and operate their own travel, event, catering/food service, or hotel type organization. While it features the business-heavy modality, you will still be infused with hospitality- and tourism-specific knowledge.

The BA degree, in contrast, offers a bit less in the quantitative domain and provides students with the opportunity to take numerous upper-division elective courses in areas they desire to learn, grow, and prosper. For example a career in hospitality and tourism journalism supplemented by writing and presenting type courses. Or possibly a career in the design, execution, and creative side of events. Maybe even to supplement with a future degree in law or architecture or interior design. This degree prides itself on flexibility and options.

For those who have numerous years of hospitality and tourism industry experience combined possibly with multiple courses from various colleges or universities – but no final degree – please then connect with the Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Program to learn more about the Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS). This degree, while not housed in the College of Business, offers a final “light” to the end of the tunnel for those with these credentials making it a more straightforward pathway to degree completion.

In essence, we offer a degree for every type of individual. More importantly, all our degrees are designed with the hospitality and tourism workforce front and center. We know that your schedules are varied and, by design, so are our course offerings. You may study fully and completely online in our online degree pathway. Or students can enroll in courses with a hybrid format meeting periodically throughout the semester in person with other coursework online. Our faculty members understand the industry inside and out and will work with you – whenever possible – on matching you to the proper course setting for your desires, industry schedules, and family/life commitments.

When you click on the link below titled MAJOR CURRICULUM, be certain to explore both the BBA and BA degree programs. They are listed separately on the landing page. Again, for those interested in discussing the BPS degree, please directly contact the Program Director, Dr. Peter Ricci at peter.ricci@fau.edu.

In-person BBA of Hospitality and Tourism Management (BBA)

Online BBA of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Both the BBA and BA majors are required to demonstrate completion of a minimum of 1000 hours of industry work experience in a hospitality- or tourism-related position prior to graduation from FAU. Students earn these hours while simultaneously pursuing their BBA or BA degrees from FAU. Many students are admitted to our programs already having earned industry work hours as early on as senior year in high school. Our internship coordinator will work with you directly to make sure we count every hour earned. The more hours you showcase to future employers, the faster your career will grow.

To make it simple for our students in either the BBA or BA pathways, the Program Director has created a global hospitality and tourism jobs list serv. Almost 3,000 employers send us their job postings on a regular basis which is then shared with student who desire to opt on to this list. This is above and beyond what the fantastic FAU Career Center does as well.

Our current and historically enrolled students work in the varied and diverse positions including entry-level, supervisory, and managerial roles. The unique aspect about South Florida compared with other SUS schools is that literally every possible segment of the hospitality and tourism industry is found among our employers. From casinos to attractions…from large resorts to mom & pop entrepreneur-owned boutique accommodations, to bakeries and free-lance catering companies, to event planners from large corporations to individual wedding planners. Airlines, cruise lines, rail travel, auto rental/limo/transportation, restaurants of every size and shape… You name it. It’s all here in this unique portion of the great state of Florida. Moreover, Florida is the most visited US state or territory with a record 143+ million visitors in 2025 alone. To study, work, experience, grow…all in the most uniquely positioned destination in America. That is what our FAU OWLS proudly tell us makes us the best among all choices.

Beyond that, as mentioned at the very top, these world-class industry leaders are the reason our curriculum stands out among peers. It is continually updated, revised, refined and improved to meet the needs of hospitality and tourism leaders of the 21st Century. Our course content demonstrates the uniqueness, relevance, importance, and worthiness of what lies ahead. A college degree enhances future career success, lifetime earnings, and sets one apart from peer applicants when interviewing.

Lastly, we must remind readers that this is all made possible by our faculty members. Each possesses extensive hospitality and tourism industry experience, strong academic credentials, and the human caring that it takes to help our learners achieve their varied goals in this fantastic, global industry.

Come learn with us as an FAU OWL! Please be certain to visit our alumni stories in their own words at: https://business.fau.edu/hospitalityalumni

Minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management

In addition to the BBA degree, the Hospitality and Tourism Management program also offers certificates for both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students in Casino and Gaming Management, Club Management, Event Management and Hospitality and Tourism Management. Students may choose traditional undergraduate course style certificates or weekend/evening Executive Education program offerings.

Which Graduate Program is Right for Me?

MBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management

Graduate Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management

Learn More

Select four of the following courses (12 credits)
Hospitality Operations: A Case Approach	HMG 6299	3
Contemporary Issues in Hospitality Marketing	HMG 6506	3
Strategies for Excellence in Guest Service Management	HMG 6546	3
Event Management Meetings & Events Professional Organizations	HMG 6756	3
Directed Independent Study in Hospitality Management*	HMG 6901	3

Executive Certificates in Hospitality and Tourism Management

Executive Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Essentials Industry

Executive Certificate in Event Management

Please visit the program’s website at business.fau.edu/hospitality for further information or reach out to the Program Director, Dr. Peter Ricci at peter.ricci@fau.edu.