WHY STUDY HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT AT GRAND VALLEY?

• Experienced faculty with academic and industry experience
• An engaging learning environment where theoretical concepts are applied to the practice of industry
• Individual faculty members mentoring where your career goals are at the heart of curriculum planning decisions
• Experiential learning opportunities facilitated through a structured internship program
• Networking opportunities with faculty, peers, alumni, professional organizations, and industry stakeholders
• We encourage student participation as a way of enhancing educational development
• Class trips to vineyards, food production operations, hotel and convention center tours, faculty-led experiences such as attending the Munising Ice Festival, and other events

The HTM Program requires the completion of 2 Career Concentrations with each concentration requiring 9 credit hours of coursework. Each concentration offers course electives relative to a specific career path in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Please explore the HTM Career Concentrations, and connect with faculty mentors to discuss your interests.

Please note that it is important for students to connect with their CECI Advisor to ensure they are completing their concentrations and all degree requirements correctly.

Food and Beverage Management

Lodging Management

Meeting and Event Management

Tourism Management

Notice: A sixth, customizable career concentration is available. Students interested in creating a customized concentration will need to meet with Dr. Kristen Jack for approval.

Key People

Program Director:
Dr. Kristen Jack, CHA, CTA

GVSU Career Center Contact:
Lori Staggs 

CECI Undergraduate Advisor:

Breeann Mann

Library Liaison: Ashley Rosener

CECI Academic Advising

The College of Education and Community Innovation (CECI) Academic Advising Center is a collaborative partnership between students, faculty, and staff committed to developing meaningful educational plans aligned with students' values, goals, and interests.

CECI Academic Advising Center
Grand Valley State University
401 W. Fulton St., 321C Richard M. DeVos Center
Grand Rapids, MI 49401
(616) 331-6890 | [email protected]

HTM Faculty and Staff Directory

The HTM industry encompasses a variety of career pathways including:

• Restaurants
• Clubs 
• Resorts 
• Corporate Dining Accounts 
• Airlines 
• Cruise Lines 
• Vacation Ownership Resorts
• Catering Businesses 
• Country Club Management 
• Conventions and Visitors Bureaus
• Hotel Sales Departments
• Convention and Conference Centers

Many of our alumni are employed in Business/Management, Entrepreneurship and Sales careers.

See where some of our alums are currently employed!

Connect Early, Connect Often

Make regular appointments with your faculty mentor and with a Career Center advisor to discuss your post-graduation plans.  

Keep in mind that your internship experience is a prime opportunity to build your professional network and gain marketable skills.

HTM Career Guide

Graduation Rates:

• 77.1% students graduate within 6 years of declaring a Hospitality and Tourism Management major.
• 4.2 years is the average time to graduation for Hospitality and Tourism Management majors who started as first-year students at GVSU.
• 3.5 years is the average time to graduation for Hospitality and Tourism Management majors who transferred to GVSU.

Class Size:

• 24 students is the average class size for lower division HTM courses (2020/21 reporting)
• 21 student is the average class size for upper division HTM courses (2020/21 reporting)

Placement:

• 98% of recent graduates are successfully employed either full or part-time.
• 3%  of recent graduates are in graduate school.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Hospitality and Tourism Management Major (BS)
• Hospitality and Tourism Management Major (BS - Food and Beverage Management Emphasis)
• Hospitality and Tourism Management Major (BS - Lodging Management Emphasis)
• Hospitality and Tourism Management Major (BS - Meeting and Event Management Emphasis)
• Hospitality and Tourism Management Major (BS - Recreation and Leisure Management Emphasis)
• Hospitality and Tourism Management Major (BS - Tourism Management Emphasis)

Student Body Profile:

HTM majors at time of graduation, August 2015 to April 2020

• Total graduates: 589
• Age under 25: 87%
• Age 25+: 13%
   
• Female: 84%
• Male: 16%
   
• White: 85%
• African-American/Black: 4%
• Hispanic: 4%
• Asian: 4%
• Mixed-race: 2%
   
• Foreign citizen: 2%
• Transfer students: 29%