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Honors in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration

An honors program is available for students in excellent academic standing who want to dive even deeper into a specific focus area of the hospitality and tourism industry. In order to qualify for the honors program in HRT, you’ll need to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, both overall and in HRT courses.

The capstone of the honors program is the senior honors thesis—an original work on a subject of your choice. After presenting a successful oral defense of your thesis, you’ll be qualified to graduate with honors. If you have further questions about the honors degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration, the 51�Թ��� Honors Program may be able to help.

Minor in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration

The HRT minor is open to all 51�Թ��� students interested in the hospitality and tourism industry. To complete the minor, you’ll need to take 18 credit hours of HRT courses, including HRT 2000. You’ll also need to choose six credit hours from HRT 2020, 2030, 2050, and 2070, and earn at least nine credit hours at the 3000 or 4000 level. Students minoring in HRT are eligible for select scholarships and memberships in HRT student associations.

What You’ll Learn

Hospitality, tourism and services are exciting, fast-growing industries, and they’re constantly looking for creative, motivated people to help create the best possible experience for every guest, every time. The Bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration from 51�Թ��� will ensure you develop the skills employers are looking for and help you build the professional connections you’ll need.

With a Bachelor degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration, you’ll:

• Acquire a skill set for business management
• Learn how to make informed ethical decisions
• Hone your written and oral communication skills
• Develop strong problem-solving skills
• Build core competency skills in hospitality and tourism management to prepare you for your career
• Apply core concepts of the hospitality and tourism industry to practical business situations
• Identify cultural differences in the business environment
• Receive hands-on work experience and industry insights

By the time you complete your Bachelor of Science Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration, you’ll be ready to apply your knowledge to an exciting career in the area of your choice.

Work Experience

Work Experience Requirement

One of the central parts of the Bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration is the Work Experience Practicum (HRT 3002). The practicum has a work requirement of 600 hours prior to graduation, and many students find that their practicum leads to entry-level positions upon graduation. No matter what, it’s an excellent opportunity for you to practice the skills you’re learning in the classroom, and it adds a compelling item to your résumé when it comes time to apply for jobs after graduation.

If you have more questions about the work experience requirement, reach out to HRT advising.

Internships

The School of HRT works with the 51�Թ��� College of Business Life Opportunities Program to connect interested students with internship placements where they can earn course credit through supervised training and work in real-world settings. As an intern, you’ll be involved in projects directly related to your major for at least 10–15 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters and 18–20 hours per week in the summer semester.

The undergraduate internship course is HRT 3290, a three-credit-hour elective. Internships can be established by the College of Business through the office of the College Internship Coordinator. In all cases, your internship must be approved by the HRT faculty through the College Internship Coordinator. If you have further questions about internships, the Link the Internship to Future Employment (L.I.F.E.) internship program through the Henry Bernstein College of Business Administration may be able to help you.

Facilities

Food Production Laboratory

If you’re interested in moving into the food and beverage industry, the HRT Food Production Laboratory is the ideal training facility for you to build your skills. This state-of-the-art facility contains a production kitchen, a demonstration lab, and a dining room overseeing our famous HRT courtyard. The Food Production Laboratory supports a number of School of HRT functions throughout the year, including the annual Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner.

Hospitality Research Center

Consistently recognized for excellence in hospitality research, the Hospitality Research Center explores a variety of questions about and opportunities for hospitality, travel, and tourism organizations. From visitor estimates and the impact of gambling to convention studies and Louisiana restaurant industry studies, the Hospitality Research Center helps the industry discover new opportunities and maximize its impact.

The Hospitality Research Center is a collaborative effort between the Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration (HRT) and the Division of Business and Economic Research (DBER). It’s the premier source of data and information about visitors to the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. As an undergraduate student, you’ll benefit enormously from access to this hub of well-respected research and the experienced faculty who conduct it.

Sample Courses

• International Tourism
• Introduction to the Convention Industry
• Lodging Operations
• Policy Issues in Tourism and Hospitality
• Principles of Food Production
• Tourism and Hospitality Marketing
• Wines of the World

View Course Catalog

Where Can You Work with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration?

Student Organizations

American Hotel and Lodging Association

The American Hotel and Lodging Association connects students with hospitality education, training, and professional certification so that they’ll be better prepared to succeed in future careers. The Tourism Tee-Off is the Association’s largest annual event. In addition, the American Hotel and Lodging Association regularly holds joint socials and events with the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

Eta Sigma Delta: International Hospitality Management Honor Society

The 51�Թ��� chapter of this national honor society aims to lead hospitality and tourism professionals to the highest levels of achievement. With more than 90 active chapters around the world, Eta Sigma Delta provides outstanding networking opportunities for students, as well as a way for students to distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive industry.

Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Association

The HRT Association is a professional and social organization open to students who want to become more involved in the hospitality industry and make valuable connections with other industry participants.

Louisiana Restaurant Association

Open to all enrolled students, the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s goal is to support students’ professional development through education, community service, and active participation in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Some of the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s major events include the LRA Social, the Zurich Classic, ProStart, including joint events with the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate the ability to make an informed ethical decision.
2. Students will demonstrate effective written communications skills.
3. Students will demonstrate effective problem solving skills.
4. Students will demonstrate effective oral communications skills.
5. Students will demonstrate core competency skills of the hospitality and tourism industry to prepare them for a career in the hospitality and tourism industry.
6. Students will learn to apply core concepts of the hospitality and tourism industry to a business situation.
7. Students will be able to identify cultural difference in the business environment.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements for the B. S. in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration provide an overview of courses required to complete the degree program. The program is designed to provide a sound preparation for graduate study as well as prepare students for careers in tourism, meetings, conventions and event planning, food and beverage management, and hotel operations management.