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.