Photo: WVU students on-site at a resort for an experiential learning opportunity.
Many rewarding careers start from passion. For some, that can begin with working in a restaurant, enjoying a well-planned event or discovering a love for travel and growing that experience into a career in the hospitality and tourism industry. West Virginia University's online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.AD.) in Hospitality and Tourism Management program through the John Chambers College of Business and Economics is designed to help you turn that passion into professional opportunity.
Built for an Industry That's Always Moving
"We started this program for many reasons," said Frank DeMarco, Director of the Hardy Family Hospitality and Tourism Program. "One major goal is to connect with people that are already in the industry that want to pursue an education to give them that opportunity while they could work full-time."
That flexibility remains central to the program today. Offered in accelerated 8-week courses, the online degree allows students to continue balancing work, family, and other responsibilities while earning a respected business degree through the AACSB-accredited Chambers College.
Students enter the program from a variety of backgrounds. Some already work as retail or foodservice supervisors, while others are working in more traditional hospitality roles like servers, event planners, or resort staff and want to advance their careers.
Regardless of where the students are in their careers, all of them are looking for opportunities to grow.
"If you're an entry-level manager, you're going to get to that middle level by having this degree," DeMarco said.
More Than Hotels and Restaurants
When people hear "hospitality and tourism," they often think of exclusively hotels or resorts. While those career paths remain popular, the industry is much broader.
Students explore areas including:
- Hotel operations
- Restaurant management
- Event planning
- Tourism
- Recreation
- Destination marketing
- Entertainment
- Entrepreneurship
Large hospitality operations require expertise from nearly every business discipline, creating opportunities for professionals with a wide range of interests and skill sets. DeMarco explains that “when you manage a resort, it's more than operations. It's a city. You need accountants, PR people, Management Information Systems professionals, and technologists to name a few. We need all the disciplines to keep things running.”
Because the degree includes a strong business foundation, graduates can also apply their skills in industries ranging from retail to human resources and marketing.
"There's just a lot of opportunities that people don't know about," DeMarco said.
That variety is reflected throughout the curriculum. Students take courses like:
- HTOR 376: Hospitality and Tourism Leadership
- HTOR 472: Hotel Operations Management
- HTOR 471: Restaurant Management
- HTOR 474: Hospitality Revenue Management
- HTOR 480: Event Planning Practicum
The faculty behind the program regularly create new courses to keep the content current and continue to expand opportunities for students interested in recreation and tourism development.
Hands-On Learning No Matter Where You Are
Hospitality is a people-focused industry, and success often comes from experience. That's why the program emphasizes practical learning opportunities alongside coursework.
Faculty incorporate industry simulations, real-world projects, and emerging technologies like AI into the curriculum to help students practice solving the kinds of challenges they'll encounter as managers and leaders.
"These simulations put students in real scenarios," DeMarco said. "It feels like they're out there working, and they're making these decisions, and they're being able to be taught how to critically think."
Students also complete two required internships that connect classroom learning to professional experience. Those opportunities can take many forms, from event planning projects and destination organizations to hotels, resorts, and tourism businesses.
One of the opportunities that lets students dive into the actual work is the Event Planning Practicum course. DeMarco explained that “students go out and find a local business near them to partner with. It is a little bit of a challenging course, but I stay in contact with the students to make sure they’re on the right track.”
He goes on to say “During my check-ins, you can see things click for the students. While they may say ‘Oh, I didn't realize what it takes to really do a wedding or set up a church function, ’ they gain a lot from these experiences.”
"I feel that it’s important that we make sure online students can participate in the hands-on experiences," DeMarco said.
Learning Through Industry Connections
One of the program's biggest strengths is its relationship with industry partners.
Over the years, WVU has developed connections with organizations including Marriott, Disney, Tourism/Visitor bureaus, and other major players across the region and beyond. These partnerships help create internship opportunities, guest speaker experiences, networking connections, and career pathways for students.
The program's partnership with Nemacolin has been especially influential. What began as a long-standing internship relationship has grown into an ongoing collaboration that supports student experiences, industry engagement, and program growth.
Photo: WVU students arrive at the Nemacolin resort.
Students benefit from those connections long before graduation. Through coursework, guest speakers, and experiential learning opportunities, they gain exposure to professionals actively working in the field.
Create Memorable Experiences in a Growing Industry
For students considering their next career move, hospitality and tourism offers a future filled with possibilities. According to the WV Department of Tourism, hospitality and tourism is a major economic driver in the state and only continuing to grow across the country.
"The hospitality and tourism industry is going to continue to grow," DeMarco said. "There's a lot of opportunities."
Whether your goal is to create engaging events, lead tourism initiatives, start your own business, or advance within your current organization, the industry continues to create new pathways for professionals with business knowledge and leadership skills.
And according to DeMarco, one of the greatest benefits extends beyond any single job title.
"We all try to become friends and take care of each other," he said. "You meet people from all over and you stay connected with them forever."
If you're ready to turn your experience, ambition, and people skills into new opportunities, connect with Senior Academic Advisor, Damia Dobbs, to learn about WVU's online Hospitality and Tourism Management, B.S.B.AD. program can help you accomplish your goals, no matter the destination.