Event Management
The events industry is a quickly growing and high-demand field offering a plethora of career opportunities for graduates. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the current event management industry is projected to grow much faster than the average segment, by 29% or higher, in the U.S. Locally, the hospitality industry as a whole is projected to increase even higher than the average region in the U.S. over the next few years due to new legislation that will be allowing the casino industry to be introduced into the state of Massachusetts, thus increasing jobs in the events industry, as well as lodging, entertainment, food and beverage, and other hospitality fields.
The Lasell College Event Management program is designed to prepare students for management and executive level positions, as well as for entrepreneurial opportunities within this complex and challenging field. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students majoring in Event Management will gain the expertise, commitment, and skills for management positions in this expanding industry through a comprehensive background in the business world including accounting, human resources, organizational behavior, technology, marketing, and more, and then learn about the inner-workings of the hospitality and events industry including food and beverage, service quality, and facility operations down to the individual segments of the industry such as conventions and trade shows, special events and weddings, non-profit events, and sporting events. Throughout the core of their coursework, students learn about service quality and the operations of diverse organizations such as convention centers, private clubs, stadiums, arenas, resorts, performing arts centers, concert halls, and cruise lines.
Students gain valuable connected learning experience both on campus and on site visits throughout New England (Boston Harbor Hotel, TD Garden, Woodland Country Club, Fenway Park, Hynes Convention Center, the Boston Public Library, Stowe Mountain Resort, Mohegan Sun, and the Taj Hotel, are just a few examples). In addition, students are required to complete both a Field Experience and a full Internship so that they leave with a resume full of both academic accomplishments and real-world experience.
Our Hospitality Advisory Board connects students with industry professionals, providing them with networking opportunities, site visit experiences, professional feedback, and participation in community service and volunteer experiences. Students in the hospitality management programs are given many additional opportunities to make connections, gain experience, and prepare themselves for successful careers upon graduation. Some examples include speaking with Bryan Rafanelli of the world-renowned Rafanelli Events, meeting one-on-one with successful business owners and directors in their respective fields, and volunteering for some of the areas most prestigious events like the Nantucket Wine Festival. Double majoring is not allowed amongst the three hospitality majors (Hospitality Management, Event Management, and Resort and Casino Management). Graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree.
The following goals and associated learning outcomes delineate what we strive for students to achieve when they complete the major programs of study in the Hospitality Department.
Goal 1: Application of Principles of Event Management
Upon completion of the Hospitality programs of study, students will be able to
- demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area of organizational behavior
- demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area of human resource management
- demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area of information technology
- demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area of the global economy
- demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the areas of food and beverage management
- demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in the area of service quality and operations strategies within the greater hospitality industry
- demonstrate a comprehensive level of knowledge in all sectors of the events industry
Goal 2: Application of Business Information
Upon completion of the Hospitality programs of study, students will be able to
- apply quantitative ad qualitative research methods to various propositions relating to organizations within the events industry
- integrate business information into effective decision making skills
Goal 3: Legal and Ethical Decision-making
Upon completion of the Hospitality programs of study, students will be able to
- identify legal and ethical issues implicit in all aspects of the greater hospitality industry
- evaluate and decide among alternative solutions to ethical problems
- understand the underpinning issues behind laws and regulations related to the greater hospitality industry
Goal 4: Professional skills
Upon completion of the Hospitality programs of study, students will be able to
- communicate effectively in both professional and technical writing for the events industry
- work effectively in teams
- communicate effectively in both large presentation and face-to-face situations
- effectively utilize their education and experience to successfully gain relevant employment and succeed within their respective fields
Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
BUSS201 | Financial Accounting | 4 |
BUSS220 | Marketing | 3 |
BUSS224 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
BUSS336 | Human Resource Management | 3 |
ECON101 | Principles of Econ-Micro | 3 |
HEM101 | Hospitality Management | 3 |
HEM102 | Fundamentals of Special Events | 3 |
HEM201 | Strategies for Meeting Planning | 3 |
HEM202 | Convention Sales & Group Planning | 3 |
HEM210 | Food & Beverage | 3 |
HEM299 | Field Experience I | 3 |
HEM301 | Advanced Special Event Management | 3 |
HEM303 | Law & Ethics in Hospitality | 3 |
HEM312 | Global Issues in Hospitality | 3 |
HEM321 | Revenue Management & Technology | 3 |
HEM330 | International Event Planning | 3 |
HEM401 | Managing Quality in Hospitality | 3 |
HEM406 | Strategic Operations in Hospitality | 3 |
HEM498 | Hospitality Seminar | 3 |
HEM499 | Internship | 6 |
MATH208 | Statistics | 3 |
SMGT301 | Sport Facility & Event Management | 3 |
Choose 1 from the following: | ||
PSYC101 | Psychological Perspectives | 3 |
SOC101 | Sociological Imagination | 3 |
Choose 3 from the following: | ||
BUSS202 | Managerial Accounting | 4 |
BUSS231 | Entrepreneurship & Venture Creation | 3 |
BUSS236 | Career Development & Planning | 3 |
BUSS324 | E-Business | 3 |
BUSS332 | Cross Cultural Management | 3 |
BUSS334 | Nonprofit Management | 3 |
BUSS422 | Global Marketing | 3 |
COM208 | Public Relations | 3 |
COM303 | Nonprofit Public Relations | 3 |
HEM103 | Economic Development & Mgmt in Tourism | 3 |
HEM205 | Private Club Management | 3 |
HEM206 | Lodging Management | 3 |
HEM207 | Resort & Casino Management | 3 |
HEM214 | Ecotourism | 3 |
HEM399 | Field Experience II | 3 |
HEM402 | Advanced Resort & Casino Management | 3 |
SPAN111 | Elementary Spanish I | 4 |
SPAN112 | Elementary Spanish II | 4 |
Core Curriculum Requirements and remaining Unrestricted Electives: 35-36 credits
Minimum credits required for graduation: 120
Courses listed below fulfill Knowledge Perspective requirements:
Individuals & Society
PSYC 101 Psychological Perspectives
SOC 101 Sociological Imagination
HEM101 - Hospitality Management
This course examines the Hospitality and Tourism industry with emphasis on individual sectors within the industry with emphasis on their business functions. The infrastructure and interrelationships of lodging, tourism, food service, events, and entertainment organizations are examined. Career opportunities, current operational issues, and emerging trends in the hospitality industry are also explored.
HEM102 - Fundamentals of Special Events
This course focuses on components of organizing and executing a special event. Components such as: Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Banquet Event Orders (BEO's), and contract negotiations, are introduced. This course is hands-on, allowing the student to apply basic skills and techniques for negotiating with suppliers and service contractors. This is a project driven course.
HEM103 - Economic Development & Mgmt in Tourism
This course offers a survey of trends and developments in the hospitality and tourism industry, including a total approach to lodging operations, events management, global tourism, and foodservice establishments. It offers an introduction to the broad fields of travel and tourism. Among the topics covered are cultural tourism, eco-tourism, sociology of tourism, tourism development, the economic role of tourism demand and the marketing of tourism. Prerequisite: HEM101
HEM201 - Strategies for Meeting Planning
This course provides an overview of conference planning and group coordination as it relates to the sale and final contract. Students become familiar with Meetings, Expositions, Events, and Conventions (MEEC), destination specialists, travel planners, and their place of importance within the industry. Site evaluations are analyzed as they relate to group needs. Emphasis is placed on the development of a group resume agenda, illustrating the interdependence of hotel departments and the role of communication in the service sector of the hotel industry. Prerequsites:HEM 102.
HEM202 - Convention Sales & Group Planning
This course is an examination of the basic skills and techniques needed to develop accurate meeting budgets. Students are provided with instruction and practice on negotiating with suppliers and service contractors, i.e., hotels, airlines, car rentals, design companies, entertainment, security, signage, ground transportation companies, and sponsors. Analysis of service options, contractual and legal liability issues, cancellation clauses and penalties are covered. Prerequisite: HEM102
HEM205 - Private Club Management
This course explores many areas vital to the success of club management including business, finance, food, beverage, facilities, sales, operations, and multiple recreational activities while stressing the supreme importance of customer service quality. By taking this course, HEM students explore a field that covers all aspects of the hospitality industry. We are privileged to be in a great location, close to many of the area’s most notable clubs, which can provide students with employment experience and internship opportunities. Prerequisite: HEM 101.
HEM206 - Lodging Management
This course concentrates on providing an in depth view of the various aspects and departments that fall under what is commonly known as Lodging Management or Lodging Operations. Some of the specific departments this course explores are - Front Office, Housekeeping, Human Resources, Security, Engineering, Maintenance, Food and Beverage, Recreation, and Accounting and Finance. Aside from the various operational procedures utilized, the course also addresses service philosophies, best practices, revenue management, and technology. Prerequisite: HEM 101.
HEM207 - Resort & Casino Management
This course provides students with an introduction to the hospitality management specialization of Resort and Casino Management. Subjects covered include operational infrastructures of resorts and casinos, organizational structures, service in resort and casino environments, securities, technologies, and revenue management and tourism. This course includes guest speakers and field trips. Prerequisite: HEM101 Formerly HEM404
HEM210 - Food & Beverage
This course examines the details of food and beverage management, with an emphasis on running a profitable operation. It examines the impact of menu planning, purchasing, receiving, inventory control, production, and service to the guest. This course also focuses on the manager’s ability to control operational costs. Students apply commonly-used formulas and strategies for calculating appropriate selling prices and evaluating actual cost percentages. Special attention is paid to the use of management systems and tools to help minimize food, beverage and labor costs, to ensure collection of revenue, and ultimately to maximize profits. Topics include purchasing, receiving, storage, production, and cost control. The course also explores basic culinary and beverage appreciation topics. Case studies are incorporated into class discussions. Prerequisites: HEM 101
HEM214 - Ecotourism
Ecotourism promotes cultural and environmental awareness and has local environmental and economic benefits. This course introduces students to the history, principles, marketing, and management of ecotourism activities and development. The course takes a holistic approach to planning and tourism development; standard industry practices and processes are discussed. Students enrolled in this course participate in an educational trip to Belize to view, research, and participate in a newly developing ecotourism system. Students must apply and may only register with the permission of the Ecotourism Program Director.
HEM299 - Field Experience I
This course provides a supervised work experience in the hospitality or event management industry as a complement to academic coursework. Students earn 150 hours in the field, gain practical skills in a business environment, and begin to view the workplace from a management perspective. During the course of the field experience, students keep a personal reflective journal of critical incidents. In addition, they complete a detailed profile of the management systems and policies at their workplace for submission at the end of the field experience. Students participate in monthly discussion groups during the course of the semester to evaluate and compare their experiences. Prerequisites: HEM 101 and Permission of the Program Director.
HEM301 - Advanced Special Event Management
This course explores the complex area of special event planning, including non-profit, commuity, corporate, wedding, religious, holiday, and other social events. The course provides students with a basis for using research as a tool to plan and organize special events. The class works towards understanding, practicing, and executing the elements of successful event planning such as budgeting, site-selection, food and beverage, promotions, and site logistics. This is a project-based course and requires the execution of a successful event. Prerequisite: HEM 102.
HEM302 - Casino Regulation & Security
This course is designed to give an in-depth overview of the regulatory, legal, and security aspects of the casino industry including federal and local gaming laws and regulations, difficulties and liabilities surrounding those regulations, casino cage operations, surveillance operations, and security technologies. Prerequisite: HEM207 or HEM404
HEM303 - Law & Ethics in Hospitality
This course provides a study of the nature and function of both legal and ethical issues as applied to the hospitality industry. Topics include operator relationships, contract law, torts, civil rights, wage and labor laws, gaming laws, property law, and insurable risks. This course also examines ethical issues in the hospitality industry. Prerequisite: HEM101 and BUSS 336
HEM307 - Technology in Casino Operations
This course explores principles of executive casino operations as it relates to technology, as well as providing hands-on opportunities for students to both observe and work within real programs including, but not limited to, casino operations business assessments, casino floor operations financial integrations, pit and floor statistics analysis, casino credit authorizer development, cage operations management software, casino accounting programs, table games accounting audits, currency transaction reporting, and surveillance technology. Prerequisite: HEM 207 or 404
HEM310 - Event Sponsorship
This course provides students with a comprehensive plan for identifying, evaluating, soliciting, selling, managing, and coordinating long-term sponsorship deals. Students discover the art and science of effective fundraising. Additionally, they explore what the experts know works in this highly competitive field, from managing the event, to overseeing staff and volunteers, to maximizing gifts and contributions. Prerequisite: HEM 102.
HEM312 - Global Issues in Hospitality
In this course, students examine the position of hospitality in the global market place. The course explores “factors influencing the global environment and the contemporary struggle for economic/political power between world regions and the impact on the hospitality industry. The role and significance of hospitality multinationals in light of the current trend of sustainability is analyzed. In addition, the global drivers and industry strategies affecting multinationals are explored. Finally, students analyze the role of culture and its impact on different management styles in an international industry. Prerequisite: HEM101
HEM321 - Revenue Management & Technology
This course provides an advanced overview of the revenue management function in the hospitality industry. Revenue management is a method for managing capacity profitably. This course offers an integrated approach to maximizing revenue that includes capacity analysis, demand forecasting, variable pricing, and distribution technology. The objective of this course is to help students learn how to apply the principles of revenue management to maximize profitability in the hospitality industry. Topics to be covered include forecasting, overbooking, reservations systems, information technology, process design, pricing, and management and marketing issues. Prerequisite: HEM101 and BUSS 201
HEM330 - International Event Planning
Today, the event industry is global. Not only do successful event planners need to know the challenges of working across borders, but they must also respect and understand the cultural differences and expectations that even attendees in the U.S. will bring. This course explores basic international business protocol, cross-cultural awareness, basic geography, and other factors that must be considered when doing business internationally. Topics include marketing, human resource issues, communication, cultural clashes, avoidance of cultural errors, financial issues, government involvement, and international law. Prerequisite: HEM 102.
HEM399 - Field Experience II
This course provides an additional supervised work experience in the hospitality or event management industry as a complement to academic coursework. Students earn 150 hours in the field, gain practical skills in a business environment, and begin to view the workplace from a management perspective. During the course of the field experience, students keep a personal reflective journal of critical incidents. In addition, students complete a detailed profile of the management systems and policies at their workplace for submission at the end of the field experience. Students participate in monthly discussion groups during the course of the semester to evaluate and compare their experiences. Students must have permission of the Program Director. Prerequisites: HEM 299.
HEM401 - Managing Quality in Hospitality
This course explores the application of customer service quality as well as management theories and techniques in the hospitality industry with a focus on organizational effectiveness. Case studies and real-life examples facilitate students’ synthesis of previous knowledge with the principles of service quality and excellence. This is a research project driven course. Prerequisites: BUSS 224 & MATH 208.
HEM402 - Advanced Resort & Casino Management
This course provides students with an advanced look into the hospitality management specialization of Resort and Casino Management. Students learn advanced strategic management skills and theory as they relate to both resorts and casinos. Key topics include how to responsibly overcome common challenges in the industry, managerial and human resource challenges, marketing strategies, labor laws and disputes, operations strategies, and resort realestate development and planning. The goal of this course is to aid students in developing decision-making, financial, and strategic management skills appropriate for careers in the casino and resort industries. Students develop an advanced understanding of the stakeholders and industry practices necessary for success in managerial and executive positions. Prerequisite: HEM207 or HEM404
HEM406 - Strategic Operations in Hospitality
This course examines how operations excellence can be used as source of competitive advantage in the greater hospitality Industry. Contemporary case studies focus on formulating operational strategies and strategic decision-making. This is a writing intensive course. Prerequisite: HEM 401
HEM498 - Hospitality Seminar
This course is a capstone course in Hospitality and Event Management that focuses on current trends and issues in the service industry. Operational and theoretical topics are explored through a variety of readings, case studies, and class discussions. Students complete an applied thesis or practicum project in an area related to their specific hospitality and career interests. This is a writing intensive course. Prerequisite: Senior standing.
HEM499 - Internship
Hospitality and Event Management students are involved in practical on-the-job experience (250 contact hours) in a professional environment. Each student develops a learning contract with the site supervisor and faculty member that includes an internship-related project. Evaluation of the internship experience is based on performance of the student as reviewed with the employer and faculty member. Prerequisites: Senior standing and approval of Course Instructor.
- Academic Information
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- Arts and Sciences Electives
- Course Descriptions
- Core Curriculum
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Programs of Study
- Undergraduate Minors
- Accounting
- Applied Mathematics
- Arts Management
- Athletic Training
- Communication
- Criminal Justice
- Education
- English
- Entrepreneurship
- Environmental Studies
- Event Management
- Exercise Science
- Fashion
- Finance
- Graphic Design
- History
- Hospitality Management
- Human Services
- Humanities
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- International Business
- Law and Public Affairs
- Legal Studies
- Management
- Marketing
- Pre-Law
- Psychology
- Resort and Casino Management
- Sociology
- Sport Management
- Undeclared Option
- Undergraduate Admission