Applied Science degree in Hospitality Management (bachelors, skills, degrees, high school)

[VACollegeStudent]

I am starting college very soon, and already have a big hurdle that I have overcome. Some young adults’ don’t know what career they are interested in, or what they would like to go to college for. I on the other hand have known since I graduated high school. I am enrolled in my local community college and am attending school full time for a degree in associates of applied science in Hospitality Management. My thought process for this was I will be able to get a degree that will help me get a job very quickly in this industry since I hear education isn’t every important in the hospitality industry at every hotel I have applied for a job in(at least three). Once I have obtained a degree in Hospitality Management I want to transfer my credits or degree to obtain bachelors in Hospitality Management with a minor in a foreign language like French or Spanish. This leads me to my two questions.....I am all for living your dream etc. but in this economy can I do that? I don’t want to obtain a useless degree and be screwed when I graduate needing a job! My thought process is most big private and government corporations have a need for some of their employees to travel and this makes a need for hotels, and because we will always have traveling there will always be hotels making this a economically safe job choice and smart reason to get a degree in this field. My views may be skewed because I really love the idea of working in a hotel, and running it.....So is this a economically sound job? Also will I be able to transfer my credits from a community college to a university successfully? If I am wrong ill re think what I am going to school for or maybe minor in Hospitality Management instead? I love to travel, explore new places and cultures, and want to make a lot of money so I know the Hospitality industry is what I want to do, but to make it in this economy is it what I NEED to do?

[Mar0]

I work in the hospitality industry and have a degree in hospitality. I live in Hawaii, where the economy is dependent on tourism. It is also a area where many people (at least in Kauai) have not gone to college. I graduated in an honors program, double major and a minor with a great GPA. I recently transferred departments and my former job was offered to an associate who has experience but no degree. So it is possible (here at least) to advance within the industry without the education if you have the experience. Of course, this associate would not have the opportunity to be GM in the future..

Anyway, hospitality has very high turnover which helps you advance quickly. In my experience, the key to success within operations is to rotate throughout departments so that you have the basic experience to move upwards. Because of the turnover, this is relatively easy to accomplish. A hospitality degree will definitely be appreciated, however if you have an interest in sales or accounting or HR, a hospitality degree wouldn't necessarily set you apart. So it all depends!

I just heard on the radio that hotel job openings are on the rise..which makes sense. Business travel has resumed a bit and I find that people are a bit more open to taking vacations, despite the still lagging economy.

Hope everything works out!

[Rift]

Originally Posted by VACollegeStudent

I am starting college very soon, and already have a big hurdle that I have overcome. Some young adults’ don’t know what career they are interested in, or what they would like to go to college for. I on the other hand have known since I graduated high school. I am enrolled in my local community college and am attending school full time for a degree in associates of applied science in Hospitality Management. My thought process for this was I will be able to get a degree that will help me get a job very quickly in this industry since I hear education isn’t every important in the hospitality industry at every hotel I have applied for a job in(at least three). Once I have obtained a degree in Hospitality Management I want to transfer my credits or degree to obtain bachelors in Hospitality Management with a minor in a foreign language like French or Spanish. This leads me to my two questions.....I am all for living your dream etc. but in this economy can I do that? I don’t want to obtain a useless degree and be screwed when I graduate needing a job! My thought process is most big private and government corporations have a need for some of their employees to travel and this makes a need for hotels, and because we will always have traveling there will always be hotels making this a economically safe job choice and smart reason to get a degree in this field. My views may be skewed because I really love the idea of working in a hotel, and running it.....So is this a economically sound job? Also will I be able to transfer my credits from a community college to a university successfully? If I am wrong ill re think what I am going to school for or maybe minor in Hospitality Management instead? I love to travel, explore new places and cultures, and want to make a lot of money so I know the Hospitality industry is what I want to do, but to make it in this economy is it what I NEED to do?

I have a similar 4 year degree in this field. However, I do not currently work in the Hospitality industry. I found out that it was not for me. I worked at some hotels and some restaurants and found that I did not really want to make a career out of it.

I would actually urge you to reconsider your major. If it really is your passion then by all means go for it, but I would consider just getting a Business degree which would apply to a broader spectrum of jobs. A Hotel, Restaurant and/or Hospitality degree is very specific. It can be applied to other areas, but if I had college to do all over again I would have majored in Business Administration or something else.

In the hospitality industry, it is true that you don't really need an education or degree. You can start working in this industry in high school and once you graduate you can just keep trying to get experience and move up that way.

Plus, this type of degree normally is not very challenging. My degree wasn't really hard at all to obtain. There were a lot of BS classes and they taught you stuff that most anyone would know.

In my opinion, get out of this major if it's not too late. You may come to regret it like I have.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by Rift

I have a similar 4 year degree in this field. However, I do not currently work in the Hospitality industry. I found out that it was not for me. I worked at some hotels and some restaurants and found that I did not really want to make a career out of it.

I would actually urge you to reconsider your major. If it really is your passion then by all means go for it, but I would consider just getting a Business degree which would apply to a broader spectrum of jobs. A Hotel, Restaurant and/or Hospitality degree is very specific. It can be applied to other areas, but if I had college to do all over again I would have majored in Business Administration or something else.

In the hospitality industry, it is true that you don't really need an education or degree. You can start working in this industry in high school and once you graduate you can just keep trying to get experience and move up that way.

Plus, this type of degree normally is not very challenging. My degree wasn't really hard at all to obtain. There were a lot of BS classes and they taught you stuff that most anyone would know.

In my opinion, get out of this major if it's not too late. You may come to regret it like I have.

Very good advice; a degree in Business Adm, without, specification, is much more flexible and valuable, especially when one is considering a career change..

In all honesty, many people tire of the hospitality industry very, very quickly..

[mawipafl]

Originally Posted by VACollegeStudent

Also will I be able to transfer my credits from a community college to a university successfully? If I am wrong ill re think what I am going to school for or maybe minor in Hospitality Management instead?

In my experience here in Florida (and it may be the same or different in VA), the transfer from a community college to a university is dependent on the general ed. credits. An A.A. degree from a FL state community college requires specific numbers of credit hours in math and sciences which universities require. An A.S. degree requires fewer math credit hours and thus makes a university transfer not as easy.

Originally Posted by VACollegeStudent

I love to travel, explore new places and cultures, and want to make a lot of money so I know the Hospitality industry is what I want to do, but to make it in this economy is it what I NEED to do?

What I placed in bold when quoting you may be something you want to rethink more so than rethinking your major.

[princesasabia]

Originally Posted by Rift

I have a similar 4 year degree in this field. However, I do not currently work in the Hospitality industry. I found out that it was not for me. I worked at some hotels and some restaurants and found that I did not really want to make a career out of it.

I would actually urge you to reconsider your major. If it really is your passion then by all means go for it, but I would consider just getting a Business degree which would apply to a broader spectrum of jobs. A Hotel, Restaurant and/or Hospitality degree is very specific. It can be applied to other areas, but if I had college to do all over again I would have majored in Business Administration or something else.

In the hospitality industry, it is true that you don't really need an education or degree. You can start working in this industry in high school and once you graduate you can just keep trying to get experience and move up that way.

Plus, this type of degree normally is not very challenging. My degree wasn't really hard at all to obtain. There were a lot of BS classes and they taught you stuff that most anyone would know.

In my opinion, get out of this major if it's not too late. You may come to regret it like I have.

I agree. I have been working in hospitality at hotels and restaurants and when I got out of high school I thought I wanted to get a degree in culinary arts or in hospitality management. After working in restaurants and hotels getting a feel for how its like Im very glad I didnt get a degree in either of those fields. There is a VERY high turn over rate. Long hours, low pay, working holiday and weekends, and I dont even want to get into how a lot of managers are. You definitely do not need a degree either. I have worked with managers who dont even have degrees in anything at all. I know a few people that have degrees in hospitality and they are waiting tables. You can easily get burnt out from working in hospitality. I wouldnt recommend getting a degree in it. Please get a degree in something else. If you arent entirely sure I would take a career assesment test. A guidance counselor at your school should have one of those computerized career assesment test.

[tamyy]

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