The UTA College of Business Will Offer Two New Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management
The University of Texas at Arlington College of Business is unveiling two new hospitality-focused degree programs that will prepare students to lead and thrive in the growing hospitality industry regionally within DFW and globally throughout the world. To help fill the growing employment need in the hospitality industry, the UTA College of Business is launching its first Hospitality Management Programs in Fall 2025.
The programs include a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Hospitality Management.
Dr. Jennifer Cowley, University of Texas at Arlington President, speaks during commencement. (Courtesy photo)
Both bachelor’s programs will offer a core business management foundation and leadership focus as well as courses in hotel and restaurant management, accounting, operations management, industry marketing and sales, event management, business analytics, and information technology. The curriculum will also emphasize human resource management, career planning, service profit chain with additional future hospitality specialties and certification opportunities.
“When you think of hospitality, it’s a global industry. It’s projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries over the next 10 years. When a student gets a bachelor’s in hospitality, the world is truly their oyster,” said Dr. Michael Nalley, UTA College of Business Director of Hospitality Management. “From hotels and restaurants to theme parks and entertainment venues, any facet of the industry is available to them.”
Hospitality management is a broad field that involves overseeing the strategic and day-to-day administrative, operational, and commercial activities of businesses in the hospitality industry. Hospitality management is an umbrella term that covers various industries such as restaurant, hotel & resort, travel and tourism, transportation, casino gaming, cruise lines, theme parks, event management, club management and sports entertainment. With so many career paths encompassing hospitality management, the UTA College of Business has ensured its curriculum offers opportunities to learn firsthand from hospitality centered companies and organizations in the local area.
“We’ve taken core concepts and competencies from our business core and added hospitality to that. We’re going to be teaching our students not only how to navigate customer service, but also how to manage and deliver results,” said Nalley. “We’re lucky to be here in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex because we have so many partners to offer our students internships and learning opportunities. We’re really trying to make sure we understand the needs of the industry so we can develop our students to meet those needs and excel upon graduation.”
Through these programs, students can look forward to courses including hospitality industry finance and analytics, service quality and customer experience, introductions to travel and tourism, and credits for hospitality management internships.
With a focus on developing hospitality professionals for both large and established chains as well as small businesses, these new hospitality focused programs will give students opportunities to apply their skills no matter what type of career path they choose to pursue.
“I think these programs really speak to students who have a passion for service leadership. For those also looking at an entrepreneurial path, those paths will certainly be available and discussed through this curriculum,” said Nalley. “These programs are for students who want to be a part of something or start something bigger than they are. It’s for those who want to make a difference not only regionally here in Texas, but from a global perspective.”
The Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Hospitality Management will consist of 120 credit hours, including 39 credit hours of business core classes and 36 credit hours of hospitality classes and electives.
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Hospitality Management will consist of 120 credit hours, including 27 credit hours of business core classes and 48 credit hours of hospitality classes and electives.
The UTA College of Business will begin offering these programs in Fall 2025. Stay tuned for steps on how to apply. Please contact your College of Business advisor for more details or or email the Hospitality Director, Dr. Michael Nalley at michael.nalley@uta.edu.