Researched & Written By Olivia Remsen & Kyla Covert
Are you looking to enter or advance in the exciting world of hospitality management? At Johnson & Wales University College of Professional Studies, our Hospitality Management bachelor’s program combine learning fundamental business concepts with the option of allowing you to shape your degree to prepare for the career you want. This customizable and broad industry offers fulfilling careers ranging from running a multi-national hotel chain to owning and operating a food truck and everything in between.
Options for Studying Hospitality Management
Beginning in Summer of 2025, Johnson & Wales University College of Professional Studies will offer its new 90-credit degree option for the Hospitality Management program. This new career-focused, streamlined degree option gives you the opportunity to complete your degree sooner and save on tuition while receiving the same quality education. Continue reading to learn more about earning an online degree in hospitality management at JWU.
90-Credit Bachelor’s Degree
For students looking to earn their degree faster and potentially save money, our 90-credit degree option may be the best fit. Courses in both the 90-and 120-credit degree programs remain the same, ensuring you receive the same high-quality education no matter which option you choose.
With the 90-credit degree option, students are introduced to WIL: Work-Integrated Learning. This new component allows students to gain real-world experience while they complete their degree. And the best part is that students can fulfill these requirements in a number of ways, even if they don’t directly relate to hospitality. WIL hours can be filled with current jobs and military experience, and opportunities outside of work such as attending a conference, earning a certificate, community service, leadership roles in the community and more! Our Career Services team works with each student to ensure they are on a path to success. This new 90-credit degree option “allows students to customize their educational paths for their career goals,” states Michael O’Malley, Director of Academic Programs: Hospitality, CFIT, and Engineering. This 90-credit program is designed for students looking to transfer 30 or fewer credits.
“For students who understand their place in the industry and need the degree to level up – the 90-credit option is perfect! On the other hand, the student that wants to explore the industry and find their pathway has the opportunity to try out a few different things in the 120-credit option. They are both exceptional education experiences and meet the student where their need is!” – Bryan Lavin, Associate Professor, International Travel & Tourism Studies
For more information regarding the 90-credit degree, visit our FAQ page.
120-Credit Bachelor’s Degree
Our traditional, 120-credit degree is also available for students. For those looking to do a “deeper dive” into a focus area, students can also choose from three specialization options: Food and Beverage Management, Hotel and Resort Management and Sustainable Tourism. As a student, you will develop a strong business and management foundation to then mold your degree to your desired track by selecting from a number of electives. “We offer a significantly broader number of experiential embedded and elective courses across all segments of the hospitality industry. Hotels and Resorts, Food and Beverage, Travel, Meetings and Events. All of the skills you learn [at JWU] are transferrable to any segment, or to any other business.” – Rex N. Warren, Assistant Professor, College of Hospitality Management.
Program Highlights
Designed to align with current industry standards and best-practices, courses in JWU’s Hospitality Management program prepare students to enter or advance in the hospitality industry. Warren notes, “We incorporate the current required skills of industry partners on an ongoing basis and have an active, robust advisory board of senior industry executives who provide continual improvement feedback.”
Our faculty are industry-experienced, and they utilize their professional experiences to teach their course. Associate Profession Lavin explains, “I think JWU is uniquely positioned, as many of our faculty have been leaders in the industries in which we teach. This firsthand knowledge helps to bridge the gap from learning about a concept to understanding its application. With an added focus in experiential learning, students are able to get valuable reps in an iterative learning environment before embarking on a career path.” Gaining knowledge from those with experience in the field can help students gain valuable insights into the exciting career of hospitality management.
Our faculty’s experience offers them the chance to design their coursework to be applicable in the real world. Academic Director O’Malley states, “We don’t need you to memorize what’s already in the book. What we need you to be able to do is apply what you’re learning to solve real world problems. You’ll find that pretty much every week, there’s an assignment that poses an actual problem in the industry and ask you to solve it and rationalize your solution.” This ensures students are equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful during their academic journey, career and beyond.
Which Option is Best for You?
Your dedicated JWU admissions associate will help you determine which degree path is best for you and help answer any questions you may have regarding cost, transfer credits, program details and the enrollment process.
“[The two-degree options] allow the student to customize the educational path that makes the most sense for them and their career goals. The choice may be based on having a meaningful conversation with someone who can help them, and that person could be their admissions rep, academic advisor or a faculty member.” – Michael O’Malley
Ready to Advance Your Hospitality Management Career?
If you’re looking to enter or advance in the exciting and rewarding field of hospitality, Johnson & Wales University College of Professional Studies offers an online associate, bachelor’s — both 90 and 120 credit degree options — and master’s in Hospitality Management. You’ll be equipped with the essential skills and knowledge you need to help you excel in this rewarding career industry.
For more information about earning your degree online, complete the Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881, or email [email protected].