• Description of Program
• Admission
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The tourism, hospitality, and event management program prepares students to enter the world's largest and most diverse industry. Tourism is the business of attracting and catering to the needs and expectations of visitors. Although the tourism industry includes transportation, travel brokers, and food and lodging, students in this program focus on the marketing and management of tourist facilities and destinations. These include government tourism divisions, hotels, resorts, convention centers, theme parks, visitor centers, cruises, and airlines.

Admission

Apply online for undergraduate admission to Indiana University at http://admissions.indiana.edu/.

A newly admitted freshman or transfer student, beginning in the fall 2020 semester, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Recreation degree with a major in tourism, hospitality, and event management, will receive an offer of direct freshman admission to this program if he or she meets both of the following criteria:

1. Entrance Test Scores: The applicant must have earned one of the following minimum standardized test scores:
   • a combined critical reading and math score on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) of 1280. --or--
   • a composite score on the ACT (American College Test) of 27.
2. Academic Performance: The applicant must either:
   • possess a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.5. --or--
   • rank in the top 12 percent of his or her high school graduating class.

Before entering the School of Public Health - Bloomington as a tourism, hospitality, and event management major, all other students begin studies in the University Division, and then subsequently certify into this program as soon as they satisfy the following two admission criteria:

Students in the University Division must also declare their intention to major in tourism, hospitality, and event management to the University Division Records Office. If a student earns less than 2.0 semester GPA for the term before entering the School of Public Health-Bloomington, the student may be admitted on academic probation as long as the student has completed 30 credits and has at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA.

International applicants for admission to a second undergraduate degree program in the School of Public Health - Bloomington, whose primary language is not English, must satisfy one of the following criteria before being considered for admission directly into one the School's degree programs:

• submission of a minimum score on the Test Of English As a Foreign Language (TOEFL), of 550 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test, or 80 on the Internet-based test.
• submission of a minimum score of 7 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• proof of completing at least three full years of secondary school in a predominantly English speaking country.

For students from countries where the TOEFL and the IELTS are not available, other evidence of English proficiency may be considered.

All entering international students whose primary language is not English will be required to take a special examination in English with IU prior to registering. Prepared by IU and designed to test a student’s ability to use English in an academic setting, the exam consists of three parts: an essay on a general topic, a listening comprehension exercise, and a grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension section. There is little that one can do to prepare for this exam other than to continue using written and spoken English at every opportunity. Appropriate remedial English courses may be prescribed on the basis of the results of this test.

International students whose primary language is not English must agree to take any English language courses prescribed from the results of this examination. Fees for special part-time English courses are the same as for other courses; however, credits earned do not meet degree requirements. If the results of the proficiency examination indicate that full-time work in English is required, the student will be assigned to the Intensive English Program (IEP).  

Students enrolled in IEP do not take academic courses until they achieve adequate English proficiency. If a student has serious doubts about English ability and is not financially prepared to undertake the additional time and expense of an intensive English program here, the student should consider completing English study in the student’s home country. In addition, the student may consider delaying admission to a future session.

Degree Requirements

This is a four-year program leading to the degree, Bachelor of Science in Recreation with a major in tourism, hospitality, and event management. This major program prepares students to become leaders in the tourism industry for a wide range of careers as students develop competencies in administration, budgeting, communications, event planning, marketing, and management. A minimum of 30 successfully completed credit hours and a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) are required for admission to this program. Graduation requirements include:

• completion of general education requirements.
• completion of tourism, hospitality, and event management major requirements.
• a minimum of 120 successfully completed credit hours which count toward the degree program.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.
• a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in courses used to complete the major.
• No Pass/Fail except for free electives.

General Education (20 – 39 credits)

All undergraduate students must complete the IU Bloomington campus-wide general education common ground requirements. Such students must visit the 2019-2020 General Education Bulletin to view these requirements.

Major (72 cr.)

Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-T 201 Introduction to Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management Industries (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 335 Entrepreneurship in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 425 Capstone in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 388 Marketing Principles for Leisure Services (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 413 Fiscal Management of Leisure Service Organizations (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 414 Legal Aspects of Recreation (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 426 Human Resource Management in Leisure Services (3 cr.)
• ENG-W 231 Professional Writing Skills (3 cr.)

Recreation Core (30 cr.)
Complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-R 200 Foundations of Leisure and Public Health (3 cr.) +(S&H)
• SPH-R 210 Inclusion in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 311 Management in Recreation, Parks and Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 312 Career and Internship Preparation (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 314 Data-Based Decision-Making (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 410 (Formerly: SPH-T 410) Event Planning and Program Development (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 497 Professional Internship (12 cr.)
• 320 Hours of Field Experience are required.

Focal Tracks (18 cr.)
Complete a minimum of 18 credits in one of the following three focal tracks: 1) Event Management, 2) Hospitality Services, 3) Global Tourism. Course options are as follows:

Event Management

If this track is chosen, complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-T 311 Convention Management and Meeting Planning (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 323 Festival and Event Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 345 Special Event Production (3 cr.)

Complete the remaining 9 credits from the following courses:

• SPH-T 203 Principles of Lodging Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 211 International Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 276 Theme Park Leadership (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 301 Sustainable Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 302 Management of Food and Beverage Operations (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 336 Systems Integration in Hospitality (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 375 Winery and Food Tourism: The Case of Sorrento, Italy (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 389 Global Destination Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 418 Public Health in Global Travel and Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 431 Green Operations in Hospitality (3 cr.)

Hospitality Services

If this track is chosen, complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-T 203 Principles of Lodging Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 302 Management of Food and Beverage Operations (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 336 Systems Integration in Hospitality (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 431 Green Operations in Hospitality (3 cr.)

Complete the remaining 6 credits from the following courses:

• SPH-T 211 International Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 276 Theme Park Leadership (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 301 Sustainable Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 311 Convention Management and Meeting Planning (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 323 Festival and Event Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 345 Special Event Production (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 375 Winery and Food Tourism: The Case of Sorrento, Italy (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 389 Global Destination Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 418 Public Health in Global Travel and Tourism (3 cr.)

Global Tourism

If this track is chosen, complete each of the following courses:

• SPH-T 211 International Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 301 Sustainable Tourism (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 389 Global Destination Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 418 Public Health in Global Travel and Tourism (3 cr.)

Complete the remaining 6 credits from the following courses:

• SPH-T 203 Principles of Lodging Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 276 Theme Park Leadership (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 302 Management of Food and Beverage Operations (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 311 Convention Management and Meeting Planning (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 323 Festival and Event Management (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 336 Systems Integration in Hospitality (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 345 Special Event Production (3 cr.)
• SPH-R 375 Winery and Food Tourism: The Case of Sorrento, Italy (3 cr.)
• SPH-T 431 Green Operations in Hospitality (3 cr.)

+ Courses followed by a S&H notation apply toward completion of both the major requirement and the general education, social and historical studies requirement.

Special Opportunities

Tourism students have opportunities to expand their understanding of international tourism and travel through select study abroad programs. Further, internship opportunities allow students to preview their career interests and build a competitive edge within a field of specialization (e.g., hotel/resort management, event planning, destination management) prior to graduation.

Careers

Tourism graduates often secure positions in hotel, resort, and theme park management as well as visitor and convention bureaus, and event and meeting planning organizations.