928-523-1701
shrm@nau.eduBachelor of Science in Hospitality Leadership
Hotel and Restaurant Management
NAU is accepting applications for fall 2025 admission at the Mesa Workforce Development Center.
To receive a bachelor’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.
- All of Northern Arizona University’s diversity, liberal studies, junior-level writing, and capstone requirements.
- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s).
- At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.
- At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.
- A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.
The full policy can be viewed here.
In addition to University Requirements:
- Students may transfer up to 90 units of community college and/or university credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education.
- 30 units of major requirements.
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
- Elective courses, if needed, to reach an overall total of at least 120 units.
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 120 |
| Major GPA | C |
| Highest Mathematics Required | MAT 114 |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| University Honors Program | Optional |
| Some online/blended coursework | Required |
| AZ Transfer Students complete AGEC-A | Recommended |
| Progression Plan Link | View Progression Plan |
Purpose Statement
This interdisciplinary program is designed to enable students to discuss, explain, and implement practical business skills and theories applicable to the hospitality world. Coursework professionally prepares students by focusing on concepts, principles, and practices important to career success in the hospitality industry.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Identify, describe, and critique leadership theory and approaches to leadership in hospitality settings.
- Articulate a leadership philosophy and develop practical approaches to function as agents of change.
- Apply leadership principles to manage in a diverse and global business environment.
- Define, identify, and evaluate ethical issues facing hospitality companies.
- Explain and critique corporate finance decisions.
- Identify and manage key financial risks faced by hospitality companies.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the analysis of profit and loss statements.
- Calculate labor productivity and food and beverage cost ratios and explain how they are used to manage costs effectively.
- Explain the strategies and tactics required for aligning customer expectations with service performance and for improving customer and employee retention and satisfaction.
- Identify and incorporate the appropriate event elements and services (food and beverage, design, entertainment, site selection, etc.) to meet the goals and objectives of an event.
- Demonstrate the skills required to research, design, plan, coordinate, and evaluate an event.
- Demonstrate a strong working knowledge of the meetings, events, and conventions industry.
- Describe the components of revenue management and pricing.
- Apply hospitality industry analytics to optimize revenues and profits.
- Describe the key elements in the resort development process and the wide range and high level of services and activities expected by resort guests and offered by today’s resorts.
- Describe the different types of resorts and how they differ in product offerings, amenities, structure, facilities, and decor.
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate the concepts of hospitality management, operations, leadership and ethics, human resources, marketing, finance, and accounting to analyze interdisciplinary cases and simulated management situations.
Transfer Block
- Students may transfer up to 90 units of community college and/or university credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher education.
Liberal Studies Requirement
- Up to 9 units of major prefix courses may be used to satisfy Liberal Studies requirements; these same courses may also be used to satisfy major requirements.
- Students who have completed the Arizona General Education Curriculum (AGEC) from an Arizona public or tribal community college, the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC), or California State University General Education (CSUGE) from a California public community college are considered to have satisfied NAU’s Liberal Studies Distribution Blocks and Foundation requirements as well as the US Ethnic and Global Diversity requirements.
Major Requirements
All coursework must be upper-division and from Northern Arizona University. Substitutions and use of credit from other institutions are not allowed.
Take the following 30 units:
General Electives
Additional coursework is required if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.
You may take these remaining courses from any of the academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. You may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren’t used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.
We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you.
Additional Information
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.