So, you want a career in the hospitality industry? That's great. But the hospitality industry is extremely broad and encompasses many different career paths, everything from restaurant management to sports and event management. To make sure you are well-trained for your future career, it's important to do your research and decide which hospitality degree is the best fit for you and your career goals.

Through our College of Online Education at JWU Online, Johnson and Wales University offers six distinct Bachelor of Science degrees in the hospitality field. Our hospitality degree programs are all 100 percent career-focused, so you'll be learning things that you can put to use right away in your work life. Plus, some of our hospitality degree programs take just two years to complete, so you can get started building your career quickly. All of these degree programs are offered online, so you can fit your coursework around other obligations in your life, earning your degree on your terms.

Bachelor of Science in Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship

Our Bachelor of Science in Food and Beverage Entrepreneurship is designed for people who want to open their own food and beverage business or make an impact as a business partner within the food and beverage industry. Coursework in this program includes business planning, management strategies, and marketing. You'll learn what you need to launch and grow your food and beverage business and increase your chance of success in this competitive area of the hospitality field.

Note: This program is designed for students who have already earned an associate degree or the equivalent, so they can quickly earn their bachelor’s degree and move on with their careers.

Graduates with a BS in Food and Beverage Entrepreneurship have the skills needed to go right into restaurant or bar ownership. According to the Houston Chronicle, owners of food and beverage establishments average $60,000 annually. Admittedly, however, this number can vary widely depending on the location and the profitability of your business.

Bachelor of Science in Food Industry Compliance Management

The Bachelor of Science in Food Industry Compliance Management is a four-year degree program. It can prepare students for hospitality careers with agencies that oversee food safety regulations. The program combines courses in food and beverage management, health sciences and leadership, positioning graduates for jobs in food compliance management—a growing field in the hospitality industry.

Though they do not come out of the program with specific certifications, graduates with a BS in Food Industry Compliance Management are trained in the essentials and are well-prepared to pursue certifications such as the National Restaurant Association Foodservice Management Professional (FMP), U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Defense Awareness, OSHA Outreach, National Restaurant Association ManageFirst, and TAPSeries. According to the Ziprecruiter, workers in food industry compliance careers can expect to make an average salary of $68,000.

Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Resort Management

The Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Resort Management, as the name implies, prepares students to manage operations at a hotel, resort, bed and breakfast, or boutique hotel. It can also be used as a preparation for a career in chain hotel management at the corporate level. Coursework in this four-year degree program includes revenue management, marketing and branding, international property development and food-and-beverage systems. Admission to this degree program requires applicants to have at least two years of post-high school work experience—though it doesn't need to be in the hospitality industry.

Graduates with a BS in Hotel and Resort Management can jump right into hotel management roles. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), lodging or hotel managers can expect to make an average annual salary of $56,670. However, this number can vary significantly, depending on the size, location, and profitability of the property you work for.

Bachelor of Science in Residential Hospitality Management

The Bachelor of Science in Residential Hospitality Management program is designed to prepare students for careers in management at residential communities, such as luxury apartments, resorts, and wellness facilities. The courses in this four-year degree program focus on risk and security factors, human resources, guest service and residential law. This bachelor’s degree program offers a balanced combination of required hospitality and business core courses and general education and communications courses.

Graduates with a BS in Residential Hospitality Management are trained for positions in the growing niche of residential management. According to the BLS, a manager of a luxury apartment building or senior living community can expect to make an average annual salary of $120,000 or more. Again, salary figures can vary quite a bit based on the type of facility, the location, the size and your position without the organization.

Bachelor of Science in Sport, Entertainment, Event – Management (SEEM)

The Bachelor of Science in Sport, Entertainment, Event – Management trains students for careers in the fast-paced field of event management. The coursework for this four-year degree program includes such areas as media literacy, ticketing methods, venue management and negotiations and agreements. You can specialize your degree program with elective courses in professional sports management; event planning within the corporate, nonprofit, and hospitality industries; sports and entertainment marketing; tournament management or concert and event production. Admission to this degree program requires applicants to have at least two years of post-high school work experience. Again, this experience doesn't need to be in the hospitality industry.

Graduates with a BS in SEEM are trained for jobs as event planners, hotel event coordinators, sporting event managers, and concert organizers. According to the BLS, workers in these jobs can expect to make an average annual salary of around $52,000.

Bachelor of Science in Tourism & Hospitality Management

The Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management is designed for students with career goals to work as a travel agent, a tour guide, or as part of the staff at a convention and visitors bureau. This degree will also prepare students to work for a tour operator, a cruise line company, a destination marketing organization, or a ground transportation company. Courses in this four-year degree program include topics like Food and Beverage in the Hospitality Industry, Technology in the Tourism/Hospitality, Industry, Social Media Marketing, World Geography and Destination Management Organization.

The highlight of the degree program is the Familiarization (FAM) Tour, a class project that includes planning a trip to a domestic or international destination. Students are charged with researching, budgeting, planning, promoting and implementing the tasks of a tour escort and tour guide on the trip.

The Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management degree program is offered exclusively online. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree in tourism and hospitality management can expect to earn an annual salary of around $110,000 as a manager for a destination marketing organization, according to the BLS.

About Johnson and Wales University

With a more than 100-year history of excellence, Johnson and Wales University is an established and respected name in culinary and hospitality education. The Providence, Rhode Island-based school currently has more than 12,000 undergraduate, graduate and online students and is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. In addition to online learning, Johnson and Wales offers in-person classes at its two campuses—in Providence and in Charlotte, North Carolina. Notable JWU alumni include Chef Emeril Lagasse and restaurateur and "Chopped" judge Chris Santos.

Now it’s your turn. Earn your hospitality bachelor’s degree online from JWU and start your exciting career in the hospitality industry. For more information about an online degree in hospitality, complete the Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881 or email [email protected].