Culinary Travel and Hospitality Programs In America

Credential

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Bachelor of Science (BS)

Bachelor of Occupational Studies (BOS)

Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS)

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

Associate of Occupational Studies (AOS)

Diploma/ certificate

Program Length

4-5 years for bachelor's degree

2 years for associate's degree

1-2 years for diploma

Entry

Bachelor's or applied degree - direct entry; entry after 1 or 2 years of associate's or diploma studies

Diploma/ certificate - direct entry

Areas of Study

travel, tourism, hospitality, culinary arts

specializations include pastry and baking, region-specific cooking, restaurant management, culinary business and management, food and beverage management, hotel management, hospitality and tourism management, resort management, adventure and ecotourism, leisure services management, event management and international business.

Special Features

co-op/ industry internships

international exchange/ study abroad

student-run restaurants

Just as there are many countries to visit and many kinds of food to sample, so there are many undergraduate options for international students in the culinary, travel and hospitality field in the US. You can choose from a general education 4-year college, 2-year college or technical institute, or a specialty community or career college focusing on one or more areas of culinary, travel and hospitality.

Different types of institutions mean a choice of degree possibilities as well. In the field of culinary, travel and hospitality you can take a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Occupational Studies (BOS), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) or Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with a number of major and concentration options. Some of these include pastry and baking, region-specific cooking, restaurant management, culinary business and management, food and beverage management, hospitality and tourism management, hotel management, adventure and ecotourism, leisure services management, and international business. In some cases, these degrees can lead into graduate study, and combined bachelor's/ master's programs may be available. To find the program that fits your career goals, you may have to explore: some programs in culinary, travel and hospitality are offered in 4-year college Schools such as School of Hospitality and Tourism Management or Recreation and Leisure, but also in less obvious Colleges or Schools such as Business, Management, Consumer and Family Sciences and perhaps others, so be sure to look around thoroughly!

At both 4-year and 2-year institutions (such as community, technical or career colleges), you can also pursue a career-oriented Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS). Many of the areas of specialization are the same as the bachelor's degrees: culinary arts, pastry and baking, hospitality and restaurant management, etc. Diplomas and certificates are also often offered in these areas, as well as in event management and tourism destination management. Credits earned for associate's degrees can often be applied toward a bachelor's.

Culinary arts and the various aspects of travel and hospitality are subjects that can't just be taught from a textbook. Therefore, most programs offer hands-on training and practical experience, with most institutions providing specialized facilities. In these fields, which involve specialized skills and interpersonal abilities, learning by doing is the most common model. In some cases, internships can extend the length of study for a bachelor's degree to 5 years.