Hotel and Restaurant Management

Earn a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management at Paul Smith’s College to further your path toward the perfect job or career.

Join an academic tradition that’s respected worldwide. Our graduates are sought by prestigious properties around the globe because of the hands-on education and training they receive. In fact, this tradition is even older than the college itself – hospitality has been a hallmark of Paul Smith’s since the property’s original operation as a top-quality resort hotel. Learn how to be an effective supervisor who can oversee a busy team while also making smart business decisions and delivering guest satisfaction:

  • Gain hands-on experience working in one of two on-campus restaurants or in nearby Lake Placid, a world-class resort destination
  • Develop a talent for handling customer relations with integrity, professionalism and teamwork
  • Understand the fundamentals of marketing, business plans and finance
  • Work directly with faculty and industry professionals on management-level projects
  • Develop a competitive edge through semesterlong study abroad opportunities in places such as Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Costa Rica and Ecuador

Students learn the skills and background to enter the field with a leg up on rapid professional development. This associate-degree program also provides a foundation for students who choose to pursue the hotel, resort and tourism management bachelor’s degree.

Key Facts
  • A.A.S. degree
  • 62 credit hours (minimum) required
    • one-third of credits must be in the liberal arts and sciences
  • 400 hours of industry work experience is required
    • 200 hours (minimum) required at each location
    • this is not credit-bearing and there is no tuition fee
Career Options
  • Corporate Events Coordinator
  • Property Manager
  • Hotel Sales
  • Front Office Manager
  • Restaurant Manager
  • Hotel/Resort Events Coordinator
  • Hotel Operations Consultant
  • Food and Beverage Management
  • Director of Housekeeping
Courses & Objectives

Sample courses:

  • Financial Accounting
  • Hotel, Resort and Tourism Industry Orientation
  • Front Office/Property Management
  • Intro to Food Production
  • Food Service Sanitation
  • Nutrition
  • Dining Room and Kitchen Operations
  • Hotel Practicum
  • Hotel Accounting

More program information and a full course list can be found in the College Catalog. For program planning sheets, click here.