Program Description

The Department of Hospitality Management was established as a program in 1987 and is now the largest hospitality department in North Carolina and one of the largest in the Southeastern United States. Enrollment is approximately 300 students. The growing department contributes significantly to meeting the strong employment demands in the hospitality industry.

Students also can complete both the BS in Hospitality Management and the MBA with the Hospitality Management Option in only five years, an opportunity that is unique to ECU in the state and Southeast.

ECU’s Hospitality Management students have significant work experience. All students are required to complete externships during their sophomore year and to complete a management internship in the industry before their senior year.

Students receive a variety of applied experiences while in the program. In addition to field trips to many hospitality venues around the state and region, many students attend national conferences; the National Restaurant Show, the International Hotel and Restaurant Show, and the National Society for Minorities in Hospitality annual conference.

Each summer an International Study Aboard program in Europe is offered.

Program Profile

Bachelor of Science (BS); major in Hospitality Management

Three 15 credit hour tracks are offered within the BS degree in Hospitality Management: food and beverage; lodging; and, conventions and events planning. These areas of concentration are in addition to a 45-hour core hospitality curriculum and a 24-hour minor in business.

The BS degree in Hospitality Management is offered via distance learning.

Career Opportunities

• Hotels, Resorts, Food Service
• Convention and Meeting Planners
• Tourist Attractions
• Clubs, Conference Centers
• Theme Parks, Event Management

Faculty

The Hospitality Management faculty at ECU are one of the most diverse faculty within any hospitality management program in the country. They not only have terminal degrees from highly respected universities but also experience working in foodservice, lodging, tourism, and club management.

Dr. Robert M. O’Halloran, Chair
Dr. James Chandler
Dr. Jacqui de Chabert-Rios
Dr. David Edgell
Dr. Dori Finley
Dr. George Fenich
Dr. Kathryn Hashimoto
Dr. David Rivera
Dr. Marcia Taylor
Dr. Mel Weber

Contact

Dr. Robert M. O’Halloran, Chair
252-737-1604
ohalloranr@ecu.edu

Kathy Brown, Director of Development
252-328-1361
brownka@ecu.edu

Visit the HMGT web site www.ecu.edu/che/hmgt