If you enjoy working with people and creating fun, safe experiences for guests, you may enjoy pursuing a hospitality management certificate.
These programs typically provide foundational knowledge of the hospitality industry and help you develop essential skills to pursue careers in the field. Professionals in the hospitality industry may work as travel agents, lodging managers, and food service managers for hotels or other establishments.
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A hospitality management certificate can help you enter this field for the first time or advance in your current career.
Online Hospitality Management Certificate Programs
Hospitality management online certificate programs are designed to help prepare you to run various establishments in the hospitality industry. A hospitality certificate program can be offered at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Select the program that most interests you to jump to that section of the guide:
- Undergraduate Certificate in Hospitality Management
- Graduate Certificate in Hospitality Management Certificate
These programs can be beneficial for those who are just starting out in this sector as well as those who already have a few years of professional experience in the field.
Undergraduate Hospitality Management Certificate
An undergraduate hospitality certification program generally covers the knowledge and skills needed to pursue entry-level careers in the hospitality sector. Pursuing a certificate program can also be a way for you to decide if you enjoy the field and would like to pursue further education.
Students typically need to possess a high school diploma before applying to undergraduate hospitality management programs. These types of certificate programs may take as little as 1 year, leaving you free to apply for jobs or an associate or bachelor degree program.
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With an undergraduate hospitality management certificate, graduates may choose to pursue roles like food service managers, lodging managers, and travel agents. If qualified, they may also work toward getting their foot in the door in the hospitality arena as a chef or head cook.
Graduate Hospitality Management Certificate
Students who are currently employed and hold a bachelors can pursue a graduate certificate in hospitality management to help advance their career.
This level of certificate may be more targeted toward a specific area of hospitality management, which can be helpful if you are already working in a certain part of the industry. For instance, you may be able to pursue a certificate that focuses on hotel management.
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In some cases, it may be easier to find options for online graduate certificates, since many are meant for current professionals who aren’t interested in moving for their education. You may be able to complete these certificates in just a few months.
Examples of course topics you may study in a graduate certificate program include hospitality business operations, hospitality leadership, building guest loyalty, and tourism marketing.
Hospitality Management Careers & Salaries
With a high school diploma and a hospitality certificate, students may choose to pursue jobs as food service managers and lodging managers. These two careers help hospitality institutions like hotels and restaurants run efficiently.
With further education and training, students may decide to work toward more advanced careers. For instance, some professionals work as sales managers, marketing managers, and fundraising managers in the hospitality sector.
A graduate certificate in hospitality management could help professionals with a bachelor degree either move into or advance in the hospitality industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here are the median wages of some careers aligned with hospitality management.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Marketing Managers | $140,040 |
| Sales Managers | $130,600 |
| Fundraising Managers | $107,390 |
| Facilities Managers | $99,030 |
| Lodging Managers | $61,910 |
| Food Service Managers | $61,310 |
| Fundraisers | $61,190 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $56,520 |
| Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners | $52,560 |
| Travel Agents | $46,400 |
Some of these roles require additional education and training. Some may decide to pursue an on campus or online hospitality management degree, either a bachelors or associates degree in hospitality management online. Some may even pursue other credentials in the field, such as a restaurant management certificate online. As you gain experience, you can also work your way toward management positions.
Your educational and professional backgrounds can help determine which types of jobs you can qualify for.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that several of these careers will grow faster than average over the next ten years. For example, 18% job growth is projected for lodging managers, and 10% job growth is projected for food service managers and fundraising managers.
Hospitality Certificate Online Curriculum & Courses
The curriculum for online hospitality certificates can vary, but here are some examples of courses you may come across:
- Management and Leadership in Hospitality and Tourism: You’ll learn the basics of managing people in a hospitality organization, including directing, organizing, and motivating employees.
- Hospitality and Tourism Marketing: This class teaches marketing techniques to use for hotels, restaurants, and various tourism businesses.
- Fundamentals of Food Production: You’ll learn the basics of running a commercial kitchen and managing the people who work there.
- Introduction to Enology: This course covers the fundamentals of winemaking at home for students who want to pursue winemaking as a career.
- Hotel Operations: You’ll learn how to run a hotel and similar types of establishments from a management perspective.
- Legal Issues in the Hospitality and Event Industry: This class dives into various legal factors that apply to the hospitality industry, including employment law and patron civil rights.
- Beverage Management: You’ll learn the legality of serving alcohol in the hospitality industry as well as how to purchase and store alcohol.
- Sanitation and Health in Foodservice, Lodging, and Tourism: This course shows you how to maintain safe and healthy establishments, covering topics like food safety.
- Global Tourism Geography: You’ll learn how hospitality differs across various countries and travel destinations.
- Casino Management: This class covers all aspects of managing a casino, including gaming, financials, security requirements, and more.
Along with classes like these, some programs may offer the opportunity to participate in internships or apprenticeships in various hospitality institutions.
Admissions Requirements
The admissions requirements for a hospitality management certificate program vary, but here are a few common ones:
- High school diploma or bachelor’s degree
- Standardized test scores (only some schools require them)
- Resume
- High school or undergraduate transcripts
- Personal statement
A high school diploma and transcripts are necessary for applying to an undergraduate certificate program. When applying for a graduate hospitality management certificate program, it’s necessary to hold a bachelor degree. You may also be required to submit a resume.
Accreditation
When exploring schools for an online hospitality management certificate, it’s beneficial to choose one that is regionally accredited. This status means a third-party regional accrediting organization has determined the school meets a series of academic quality standards.
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Attending a regionally accredited school can be important when it comes time to apply for jobs, as some employers may prefer applicants with an accredited education. If you’re interested in learning more about regional accreditation, you can visit the US Department of Education’s website.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
If you’re interested in receiving assistance to help pay for your online hospitality management certificate, you may find it helpful to explore financial aid and scholarship options.
For qualifying students, financial aid can come in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, and more. If you’re eligible, financial aid may come from the federal or state government or from your prospective school. Some qualifying students also enroll in work-study programs, where they’ll earn at least the current federal minimum wage.
To learn more about financial aid options and apply for need-based aid, you can visit the Federal Student Aid website.
What Can You Do with a Hospitality Management Certificate?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a high school diploma and a hospitality management certificate, you may be able to pursue roles like food service managers, lodging managers, and travel agents. These can be rewarding careers or first steps into the industry.
With further education and training, professionals in the field may work as fundraisers, administrative services and facilities managers, or event planners. Some professionals in the industry also work as sales or marketing managers for hotels or tourism agencies.
A graduate certificate is beneficial for bachelor-degree holders who want to grow their expertise and qualifications in the hospitality management industry.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management Online?
The timeframe for completing an online hospitality management certificate varies, but it typically takes under 1 year to graduate. Some certificate programs, especially graduate certificate programs, may be completed in just a few months.
Taking more classes each semester might allow you to graduate in less than 1 year, while enrolling part-time and working part-time may increase the program duration. Taking a break from classes, which some programs allow, would also extend the overall length of your studies.
What’s the Difference Between a Hospitality Management Certification vs. Certificate?
There is an overlap in the subject matter of hospitality management certifications and certificates, but here are a few key differences between the two.
| Hospitality Management Certifications | Hospitality Management Certificates |
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Hospitality management certificates are usually educational credentials, while hospitality management certifications are typically granted by professional organizations for those already working in the industry.
Is a Certificate in Hospitality Management Worth It?
Yes, a certificate in hospitality management is worth it for many students. If you enjoy traveling or managing employees and organizations, this career path could be a rewarding option. A hospitality management certificate can help you pursue a new career or advance an existing one.
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, several careers in the hospitality industry are expected to grow faster than average over the next ten years. These include food service managers (10% job growth), lodging managers (18%), and fundraising managers (10%).
Universities Offering Online Certificates in Hospitality Management Programs
Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.
Boise State University offers an online program for a Certificate in Resort and Hospitality Management. The curriculum emphasizes real-world skills. Potential courses include Spreadsheet Topics, Introduction to Financial Accounting, Foundations of Management, and Resort Sales and Marketing. The program requires the completion of 17 to 21 credits and can potentially be finished in 2 semesters.
Boise State University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Colorado Mountain College offers a Certificate in Hospitality Operations that can potentially be completed in 1 year. The program is available on campus and online and provides opportunities to learn from instructors with real-world experience in the hospitality industry. Credits earned in the program may be applied toward an AAS in Hospitality Management.
Colorado Mountain College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Cornell University offers a Certificate in Hospitality Management. Each course is 2 weeks long, and the program can typically be completed in 3 months. Potential courses in the curriculum include Understanding Financial Statements, Building High-Performing Teams, and Services Marketing Planning and Management. The program also provides opportunities to participate in virtual symposiums.
Cornell University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Florida Atlantic University offers an online program for an Executive Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management. The program consists of 8 modules with pre-recorded sessions that may be viewed at any time. The curriculum covers topics such as artificial intelligence, big data, and sustainability. The program’s instructors have experience working in the industry.
FAU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Genesee Community College offers a Certificate in Hospitality Management. The program is 100% online and requires the completion of 30 credits. It can usually be completed in 1 year. Each course is a full semester long, and there are no set login times. The same on-campus instructors teach the online courses.
Genesee Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Northern Michigan University offers an online program for a Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism Management. The program can potentially be completed in just 2 semesters. Courses are offered in 8 weeks sessions, two per semester.
Potential courses include Banquets and Catering, Purchasing for the Hospitality Industry, and Food and Beverage Management. Credits earned may be applied to NMU’s hospitality management 2 year program or its hospitality and tourism management 4 year program.
Northern Michigan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Pittsburg State University offers an online program for a Certificate in Hospitality Management. Potential courses include Event Planning and Management, Event Entertainment and Technology, Event Design, and Tourism Planning and Development. The program also offers the opportunity to participate in a practicum.
Pittsburg State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Texas A&M University offers a Hospitality Management Certificate. The program features 15 credit hours of coursework that can be completed entirely online, though some courses may also be available on campus. Potential courses include Applications of Tourism Principles, Tourism Marketing, Hotel Resort Operations, and Service Quality for Hospitality Organizations.
Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of North Texas offers a Graduate Academic Certificate in Hospitality Management that can be earned online or on campus. The program requires the completion of 12 credit hours and can typically be completed in 1 year. Potential courses include Hotel and Restaurant Operations Theory and Analysis, Promotional Strategies, Service Excellence, and Restaurant Development.
The University of North Texas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Wilmington University offers an Undergraduate Certificate in Hospitality Management. The program requires the completion of 18 credits, with courses starting every 8 weeks. Potential courses include Introduction to the Hospitality Industry, Marketing, and Customer Relations in the Hospitality Industry. Credits in the program may be applied to a degree in either business management or marketing.
Wilmington University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Getting Your Hospitality Management Certificate Online
If you’re interested in managing a hotel, restaurant, or other tourism establishment, you might consider getting your hospitality management certificate online. This credential can help open a wide range of job prospects in the hospitality industry.
Students who are just starting out in the field may want to work toward an undergraduate certificate. Professionals in the industry who are hoping to advance in their current career or pivot into a different area of hospitality may pursue a graduate certificate.
To get started on your journey toward a hospitality management certificate online, you could begin exploring available program options from accredited colleges and universities today.
