Saint Leo University
Saint Leo University
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International Hospitality and Tourism Management Degree

The School of Business' international hospitality and tourism management degree prepares you for an exciting and dynamic career in tourism, the world’s largest industry.

Destinations compete for tourists worldwide, and the flow of tourists and their economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts are felt on an international basis. As a top year-round international destination, Florida is a unique laboratory for the study of hospitality and tourism.

Our graduates find jobs in tourism's many sectors, including accommodations, food service, attractions, and transportation, as the dynamic industry continues to grow and prosper throughout the world.

Students receive a broad foundation of liberal arts and business skills, and a strong theoretical and experiential background in hospitality and tourism. A hands-on internship of 6-12 credits is required.

Hospitality and tourism courses explore:
  • Restaurant management
  • Hotel management
  • Tourism management
  • Convention management
  • Event tourism
  • Resort management
  • International tourism

Your Degree in the
Real World
A Hospitality and Tourism Managment Degree: Your Ticket to a Dynamic Career... read more

Our international hospitality and tourism management degree program receives strong support from the International Tourism Club, an official organization of the Student Government Union, and the Industry Liaison Council, an advisory board of prominent senior executives representing all sectors of the tourism industry and many geographic regions.
Program ComponentsCredit Hours
Common Body of Knowledge Credits27-30
LINK (General Education)53
*Items in the CBK may be taken at the LINK level. ECO 201 should be taken as the second Global Perspective Course. Finite Math 141 is required as a prerequisite to MAT 201.
Major Requirements33
All of the following Major Courses:12
IHT 220Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Management(3)
As the introductory course in International Hospitality and Tourism, this course provides students with an overview of the tourism industry and its four main operational sectors, including their history, primary characteristics, and career opportunities.
 IHT 425 Internship in IHT(6)
IHT 498Senior Seminar in International Hospitality and Tourism(3)
Prerequisites: Senior standing and completion of all other IHT requirements (except IHT 425);
This is a research-driven, portfolio-building capstone course that requires students to prepare and present a research paper that focuses on the specific career path they intend to take within one of the four main sectors of the tourism industry. It will include the steps they must take to reach their career goals and the issues and challenges they expect to encounter. Discussions, presentations, and progress reports will be guided and supplemented by input from the instructor and guest speakers. Additional fee applies for ETS examination.
Five of the following Major Courses:15
IHT 105Traveling the World for Fun and Profit(3)
International tourism will play an integral part in the personal and professional lives of college graduates in the 21st century. This course is designed to encourage students to develop a personal philosophy for experiencing travel in a meaningful and responsible manner. It will also explore basic tourism concepts and issues to facilitate the development of individual travel skills, to demonstrate the dynamic interaction of tourism's various sectors and components, and to develop an understanding of the many employment and business opportunities available within the industry on an international basis. In addition, tourism's multi-disciplinary character will be discussed to highlight its potential relevance and application to a wide variety of majors and career interests.
IHT 305Restaurant Management(3)
Prerequisites: IHT 220;
Operational management of a successful food service facility is studied. Restaurant characteristics, menu planning, service techniques, kitchen design, sanitation and safety, and food handling from ordering to preparation are featured.
IHT 310Hotel Management(3)
Prerequisites: IHT 220;
This course examines the structure and staffing of full-service hotels and the activities, duties, functions, and systems required to manage and operate them profitably.
IHT 315Tourism Management(3)
Prerequisites: IHT 220;
This course examines the various fundamental elements of destination management that are used to create a sustainable and competitive tourism industry. Topics include international tourism organizations and tourism policy, planning, development, and regulation. Tourist behavior is also studied, including purpose of travel, the destination selection and buying process, and characteristics of travel flows.
IHT 405Convention Management and Event Tourism(3)
Prerequisites: IHT 220;
This course examines the lucrative MICE industry (meetings, incentives, conventions, and expositions) that caters to the needs of business travelers and festivals and events (ranging from megaevents to community celebrations) that serve as tourist attractions for pleasure travelers.
IHT 410Resort Management(3)
Prerequisites: IHT 220;
Seaside and mountainside resorts have attracted visitors for centuries. Today's international resorts offer a vast array of recreational and social activities amid a variety of worldwide climates, physical environments, and exotic cultures. This course examines how these all-inclusive mini-destinations are developed, managed, and operated.
IHT 415International Tourism(3)
Prerequisites: IHT 220;
This course provide a global perspective of the tourism industry by examining the tourism industries of various countries around the world. It features the relative importance of tourism to their national economies, how their tourism industries are organized and governed, and their tourism supply and demand on an inbound, outbound, and domestic tourism basis, as well their major attractions, facilities, and tourist routes.
Select from any IHT course not already taken or from the following Major Courses:6
IHT 100-400Special Topics(1-3)
Prerequisites: Permission of department chair and dean;
This is a variable-content course in hospitality and tourism that is designed for a specific class level: freshman (100) through senior (400). Topic is selected by the instructor prior to registration. Offered as needed.
IHT 329Directed Study: Readings or Research(3)
Prerequisites: IHT 220, and permission of department chair and dean;
This course is intended for individuals or small groups interested in studying a specific hospitality and tourism topic that is not covered in a regular course. It can also be used as an independent study for students who are traveling internationally or studying abroad. Offered as needed.
IHT 429Advanced Directed Study and Research(3)
Prerequisites: Permission of department chair and dean;
This course is an intensive study for individual students interested in a specific hospitality and tourism topic that is not covered in a regular course. It can also be used as an independent study for students who are traveling internationally or studying abroad. Offered as needed.
 IHT 425 Internship in IHT(3-6)
 One upper-level (300- or 400- level) business elective(3)
Electives6-9
Total Credits122