Experience And Education: How Are Hospitality Programs Coordinating This Vital Curriculum Interface?

Abstract

The work experience requirement of a hospitality management program has long been considered an important component of the curriculum. Designing and administering the work experience component requires a rethinking of the objectives we are setting out to achieve. In the fall of 1986 a survey was conducted of 142 four year baccalaureate hospitality management programs to determine the structure of their work experience curricula. Sixty-eight responses were received. The results of the survey supplied information pertaining to the structure and administration of work experience courses.

To ensure that the graduates of our programs are being given the opportunity to practice the theoretical portion of our curriculum, we must support well thought-out, organized and executed work experience course(s). This paper presents a model of work experience courses for a hospitality management program, utilizing what is called the “theory into action” approach to analysis. At the University of New Haven this work experience curricula has been used for two semesters where it has, for the most part, received positive student evaluations.