Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Tourism and Travel Management, Event Management, and Sport and Recreation Management. Each major below links to what it includes, the skills you build, career paths, suggested minors and how many colleges report awarding it.
| Major | Typical degrees | Career paths | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality Management | Certificate, associate, bachelor's and master's degrees | Hotel Manager, Restaurant Manager, Event Planner | 448 |
| Culinary Arts | Certificate, associate and bachelor's degrees | Chef, Line Cook, Baker | 471 |
| Tourism and Travel Management | Certificate, associate and bachelor's degrees | Travel Agent, Tour Guide, Event Planner | 49 |
| Event Management | Certificate and bachelor's degree | Event Planner, Recreation Manager, Hotel Manager | 52 |
| Sport and Recreation Management | Associate, bachelor's and master's degrees | Recreation Manager, Recreation Worker, Sports Coach | 777 |
Colleges: active, degree-granting U.S. schools that reported awarding at least one degree or certificate in the field, IPEDS completions, awards conferred July 2023 to June 2024 (C2024_A).
Hospitality Management
Teaches you to manage hotels, restaurants, resorts and other guest services businesses. Hospitality management majors learn lodging and food and beverage operations, revenue management, guest service, event management and hospitality finance, often with internships.
Skills: Guest service, Team leadership, Budgeting, and Problem solving. Pairs well with: Business, Marketing, Spanish.
Culinary Arts
Teaches professional cooking, baking and kitchen management. Culinary arts programs teach cooking techniques, baking and pastry, food safety and sanitation, menu planning and kitchen management, with hands-on kitchen labs and often an externship.
Skills: Cooking techniques, Food safety, Speed and organization, and Teamwork. Pairs well with: Hospitality Management, Nutrition, Business.
Tourism and Travel Management
Studies the business of travel, destinations and tourism experiences. Tourism and travel management programs cover destination marketing, tour operations, travel services, sustainable tourism and hospitality.
Skills: Customer service, Trip planning, Marketing, and Cultural awareness. Pairs well with: Spanish, Marketing.
Event Management
Teaches you to plan and run meetings, conferences, weddings and festivals. Event management programs cover event planning, budgeting, vendor management, venue operations, marketing and risk management.
Skills: Planning and logistics, Budgeting, Negotiation, and Communication. Pairs well with: Marketing, Project Management.
Sport and Recreation Management
Studies how sports programs, parks and recreation services are run. Sport and recreation management majors learn facility management, program planning, sport marketing, recreation leadership and parks administration.
Skills: Program planning, Leadership, Budgeting, and Event coordination. Pairs well with: Marketing, Exercise Science.
Practical training for hospitality, culinary and tourism careers
These Career Education Institute courses connect to the careers above. Each is a short, self-paced online course about one job.
A self-paced online course on what event planners do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: event logistics, budget management, and contract negotiation
Why it fits: Connected to your Hospitality Management major
A self-paced online course on what hotel managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: revenue management, budgeting, and staff management
Why it fits: Connected to your Hospitality Management major
A self-paced online course on what food service supervisors do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: shift management, food safety, and cash handling
Why it fits: Connected to your Hospitality Management major
A self-paced online course on what recreation managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: program planning, facility management, and budgeting
Why it fits: Connected to your Event Management major
A self-paced online course on what restaurant managers do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: labor scheduling, cost control, and inventory management
Why it fits: Connected to your Hospitality Management major
A self-paced online course on what concierges do: duties, 15+ key terms, step-by-step tasks, tools, safety and how to launch the career.
Skills you build: local knowledge, reservations and booking, and transportation coordination
Why it fits: Connected to your Hospitality Management major
Why consider career training alongside college?
Your college major gives you an academic foundation. Short career training can add practical knowledge of a specific job: what the work involves day to day, its vocabulary, common tasks, tools and safety rules. You do not have to wait until graduation: many students take a short course to test a career before choosing a major, to prepare for an internship or a part-time job, or to show employers they understand the work.
Hospitality, Culinary and Tourism majors: frequently asked questions
What are the best hospitality, culinary and tourism majors?
The best major depends on the career you want. Common choices include Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Tourism and Travel Management, Event Management, and Sport and Recreation Management. Compare the careers, coursework and skills for each.
How many hospitality, culinary and tourism majors are there?
This guide covers 5 majors in hospitality, culinary and tourism: Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Tourism and Travel Management, Event Management, and Sport and Recreation Management. Colleges may use different names for similar programs.
What careers can you get with a hospitality, culinary and tourism major?
Careers connected to these majors include hotel manager, restaurant manager, chef, line cook, travel agent, tour guide, event planner, and recreation manager. Some require a degree and a license, while others start with a certificate or on-the-job training.
Which hospitality, culinary and tourism majors are offered at the most colleges?
Sport and Recreation Management (777 colleges), Culinary Arts (471 colleges), Hospitality Management (448 colleges), and Event Management (52 colleges), based on IPEDS completions data.
Which hospitality, culinary and tourism programs can you start with a certificate or associate degree?
Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Tourism and Travel Management, Event Management, and Sport and Recreation Management are commonly offered as certificates or associate degrees, as well as at higher levels at some schools.
What skills do hospitality, culinary and tourism majors build?
Common skills include guest service, team leadership, cooking techniques, food safety, customer service, trip planning, planning and logistics, and budgeting.
Can I study hospitality, culinary and tourism online?
Many colleges that offer these majors also report offering fully online programs. Use the college search with a major selected and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with each school which programs are online.
Can I start training for a hospitality, culinary and tourism career before I finish college?
Yes. Short online career training can help you learn what a specific job involves and build practical knowledge while you study. It does not replace a degree or a required license.