2014-2015 Undergraduate Bulletin [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Department of Economic Development and Tourism
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 Return to: College of Business
William C. Smith, Chair
118 College Drive, Box 5022
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.6762
C. Miller, C. Price, J. Whaley
Overview of Major
The Department of Economic Development and Tourism offers two undergraduate degree plan options.
The first option, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) offers a traditional management curriculum with a focus on business statistics, economics, finance and accounting with either a general tourism or specific casino emphasis. The second option, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management offers a more directed tourism curriculum with a focus on the existing and evolving human, environmental and sociological sciences in a global service-based economy. The overall goal of both degree plans is to prepare students to meet the demands for entry-level management while at the same time laying a solid foundation for attaining senior management positions in their chosen career.
The business environment provides a model for the structure of classes, many of which are project-based using teams to develop cooperative working skills. All classes include technical knowledge and skills, research, analysis, written and oral presentation skills. Much of the same criteria (KSAs) used in the workplace to evaluate employees are used to evaluate student performance in the class room including work place competencies such as self, time, people and relationship management, ethics, leadership and coaching, critical thinking and decision-making. This follows the business axiom that better behaviors result in better performance.
Students who graduate with a degree in the hospitality/tourism industry will have a strategic focus when seeking employment including: hotels, restaurants, casinos, events management, entertainment, attractions and cruises, clubs and spa management, all in a rapidly evolving global marketplace. Over the course of the major, students make many industry contacts that often lead to immediate employment upon graduation. Even in challenging economic times there are numerous entry-level jobs for graduates that quickly lead to management-level positions for those with a strong work ethic and a polished service orientation. Both during school and after graduation, students are encouraged to build networks within the industry that continually expose students to business trends and emerging career opportunities.
For information on economic development, please see the Graduate Bulletin.
Offerings for Non-Majors
A number of courses offered within the Department of Economic Development and Tourism do not have prerequisites and are excellent choices for electives.
TM 100 - Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism
TM 340 - Global Tourism
TM 345 - Customer Services Management
TM 375 - Beverage Control and Service ProgramsBachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science in Business AdministrationNon-degree
Return to: College of Business
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