Hotel Administration (BS)
SC Johnson College of Business
Program Description
The faculty-designed curriculum encourages completion of two-thirds of core coursework in the first two years. Immersion in core provides a thorough overview of hospitality, allowing students to quickly determine their specific interests and positioning them to tailor internship experiences toward their anticipated career path.
Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In Person
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 120
Program Requirements
Core Courses
The faculty-designed curriculum encourages completion of two-thirds of core coursework in the first two years. Immersion in core provides a thorough overview of hospitality, allowing students to quickly determine their specific interests and positioning them to tailor internship experiences toward their anticipated career path.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting; Finance; Real Estate | ||
| HADM 1210 | Financial Accounting | 3 |
| HADM 2210 | Managerial Accounting | 3 |
| HADM 2220 | Finance | 3 |
| HADM 2221 | Principles of Hospitality Real Estate | 3 |
| Employment Relations; HR; Law | ||
| HADM 1150 | Organizational Behavior and Leadership Skills | 3 |
| HADM 2810 | Human Resources Management | 3 |
| HADM 3870 | Business and Hospitality Law | 3 |
| Food and Beverage Management | ||
| HADM 1361 | Principles of Food and Beverage Operations Management | 4 |
| HADM 2351 | Restaurant Management | 3 |
| Information Systems | ||
| HADM 1740 | Business Computing | 3 |
| Management Communication | ||
| HADM 1650 | Business Writing for Hospitality Professionals | 3 |
| HADM 3650 | Persuasive Business Communication for Hospitality Leaders | 3 |
| Operations | ||
| HADM 1350 | Introduction to Hotel Operations | 3 |
| HADM 2011 | Hospitality Quantitative Analysis | 3 |
| HADM 2021 | Critical Thinking and Mathematical Modeling in Operations | 3 |
| Properties Development and Management | ||
| HADM 2560 | Fundamentals of Hospitality Development and Management | 3 |
| Services Marketing | ||
| HADM 1410 | Microeconomics for the Service Industry | 3 |
| HADM 2430 | Marketing Management for Services | 3 |
| Strategy | ||
| HADM 4410 | Strategic Management | 3 |
| Total Hours | 58 | |
Additional Requirements
HADM Electives (12 Credits)
Students focus on their specific interests within hospitality through upper-level HADM coursework. Students may fulfill this requirement by choosing to specialize in a variety of areas including finance, analytics, services marketing, food and beverage management, and more. Students could also choose to pursue the Real Estate Minor to fulfill this degree requirement. These credits must be 3000-level or higher and completed as a letter grade unless the course is only offered SX/UX. Note: Up to 3 credit hours of the following coursework may be used toward HADM electives, any credit over 3 will count as free elective only: HADM 4910, HADM 4970, HADM 4971, HADM 4980, HADM 4990, HADM 4930, HADM 4940. HADM 4960 will count toward free electives only.
Non-JCB Distribution Electives (15 Credits)
Students must take 3 credits minimum in at least 3 of the following 5 distribution elective categories outside of the SC Johnson College of Business:
- Arts, Literature, & Culture and Historical Analysis (courses coded ALC-AS, HST-AS, HA-HE, LAD-HE, LA-AAP, HA-AAP, ALC-AAP, HA-AG, LA-AG)
- Global Citizenship and Social Difference (courses coded GLC-AS, SCD-AS, CA-HE, CA-AAP, CA-AG, D-HE, D-AG)
- Social Science (courses coded SSC-AS, SBA-HE, SBA-AAP, SBA-AG)
- Mathematics and Data Science (courses coded SMR-AS, SDS-AS, MQR-AAP)
- Biological and Physical Science (courses coded BIO-AS, PHS-AS, PBS-HE, PBS-AAP, BIO-AG, BIOLS-AG, BIONLS-AG)
Distribution Electives (18 Credits)
Courses coded with any of the Distribution Requirement Codes from any of Cornell's colleges or schools, including the Nolan School.
First-Year Writing (3 Credits)
First-year students must take a first-year writing class during their first or second semester.
Ethics Course (3 Credits)
The full description and list of classes that can satisfy this requirement can be found on the Nolan School Distribution Requirements webpage.
Diversity & Inclusion Course (3 Credits)
The full description and list of classes that can satisfy this requirement can be found on the Nolan School Distribution Requirements webpage.
Free Electives (8 Credits)
Courses can be taken at any of Cornell's colleges or schools in or out of the SC Johnson College of Business to fulfill this requirement. Courses may be applied or liberal arts and sciences courses.
2 Practice Credit Units
Students must work a minimum of 800 hours (two units), paid or unpaid, in one or more industries that interest them.
Additional information regarding undergraduate degree requirements can be found in the Nolan School Student Handbook.
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Additional Requirements for Undergraduate Students
The University has two requirements for graduation that must be fulfilled by all undergraduate students: the swim requirement, and completion of two physical education courses. For additional information about fulfilling University Graduation Requirements, see the Physical Education website.
Physical Education
All incoming undergraduate students are required to take two credits (two courses) of Physical Education prior to graduation. It is recommended they complete the two courses during their first year at Cornell. Credit in Physical Education may be earned by participating in courses offered by the Department of Athletics and Physical Education and Cornell Outdoor Education, by being a registered participant on a varsity athletic team, or performing in the marching band.
Students with medical concerns should contact the Office of Student Disability Services.
Swim Requirement
The Faculty Advisory Committee on Athletics and Physical Education has established a basic swimming and water safety competency requirement for all undergraduate students. Normally, the requirement is taken during the Fall Orientation process at Helen Newman Hall or Teagle Hall pools. The requirement consists of the following: jump or step feet-first into the deep end of the pool, float or tread for one minute, turn around in a full circle, swim 25 yards using any stroke(s) of choice without touching the bottom or holding on to the sides (there is no time limit) and exit from the water. Students who do not complete the swim requirement during their first year, during a PE swim class or during orientation subsequent years, will have to pay a $100 fee. Any student who cannot meet this requirement must register for PE 1100 Beginning Swimming as their physical education course before electives can be chosen.
If a student does not pass the swim requirement in their first Beginning Swimming PE class, then the student must take a second Beginning Swimming PE class (PE 1100 or PE 1101). Successful completion of two Beginning Swimming classes (based on attendance requirements) with the instructor's recommendation will fulfill the University's swim requirement.
Students unable to meet the swim requirement because of medical reasons should contact the Office of Student Disability Services. When a waiver is granted by the Faculty Committee on Physical Education, an alternate requirement is imposed. The alternate requirement substitute is set by the Director of Physical Education.
Nolan School of Hotel Administration Graduation Requirements
Undergraduate Curriculum
The Nolan School of Hotel Administration offers education in the numerous disciplines required for modern management in the global hospitality industry. Included in the core curriculum are courses in operations, management and organizational behavior, human resource management, finance/accounting, real estate development, food and beverage management, marketing, tourism, strategy, facilities management planning and design, communication, business computing, and law. Students also are encouraged to pursue a broad range of elective courses among the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences as preparation for assuming leadership positions in the business and local community. For more complete information about undergraduate program requirements, see the school's Student Handbook.
Requirements for Graduation
Regularly enrolled undergraduate students in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration are candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Science. The requirements for that degree are:
- completion of eight semesters in residence for those who entered as first-year students; semesters of residence for transfer students are determined by the amount of transfer credit awarded and the number of credits outstanding;
- completion, with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, of 120 required and elective credits (note: 120 credits does not include PE courses);
- qualification in one language other than English. This requirement is met prior to admission;
- completion of two units of practice credit (800 hours); and
- completion of the university requirement in physical education (including the swim test).
Additional degree requirements and suggested course programs appear on the Nolan School degree programs page.
Students in the Nolan School of Hotel Administration who plan to attend summer or winter school at Cornell or any other accredited college or university, with the expectation that the credit earned will be counted toward the Cornell degree in hotel administration, must obtain pre-approval from the Nolan School in advance. Without advance approval, such credit may not count toward the degree.
Credit earned in military science, aerospace studies, or naval science courses may be counted toward Free Elective degree requirements.
Graduate Curriculum
The school’s programs for advanced degrees include those of Master of Management in Hospitality, Master of Professional Studies/Real Estate, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. For requirements, see the Nolan School degree programs page. For further information on graduate programs, contact the Office of Graduate Student Services, 180 Statler Hall, (607) 255-9393.