ECU Online Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management

Finish Your Degree at ECU

120 credit hours; Just 24 transfer credits required*

*Transfer credits may reduce number of hours

$429 per credit hour, including technology fee for Fall 2026*

*$510 per credit hour plus fees for out-of-state students; tuition subject to change

High job placement rates upon graduation

Learn more about the BS in Hospitality Management at ECU Online.

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Training Well-Rounded Leaders in Hospitality

Creating memorable experiences for guests means managing many moving parts behind the scenes. ECU’s online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Hospitality Management prepares you to advance your career as a leader in the hospitality industry.

The BS in Hospitality Management program prepares well-rounded leaders who are poised to oversee multi-team operations in hospitality. Whether you’re ready to enter the industry in a management role or rise to leadership in your current role, you’ll learn broadly applicable skills to manage hotels, restaurants, and retirement homes or direct event planning, tourism, and food and beverage service programs.

You’ll also have the opportunity to further specialize your degree with a concentration in Convention and Special Events Management, Food and Beverage Management, or Lodging Management.

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Develop Leadership Skills To Thrive in Hospitality

The online BS in Hospitality Management prepares future leaders for success in the broader service industry ecosystem, equipping you with strong business acumen, practical experience, and key leadership competencies.

During your time in the program, you’ll develop the following skills for success in hospitality leadership:

  • Decision-making and planning
  • Communication and collaboration
  • Community building and networking
  • Budgeting and financial management
  • Technology and software management

Flight Path Programs

Flight Path Programs are designed specifically for returning, adult learners who are balancing work, family, and life responsibilities. These fully online programs offer the flexibility and convenience needed to fit education into a busy schedule, with multiple start dates throughout the year, so you can begin when the time is right for you. Courses are offered in a condensed format, allowing you to focus on fewer classes at a time—making it easier to stay on track, complete your program, and move confidently toward your academic and professional goals.

Career Outcomes With a Hospitality Management Degree

Graduates of ECU’s online BS in Hospitality Management are desirable candidates for management roles in the hospitality industry, with high job placement rates upon graduation and continuous recruitment with both regional and national businesses.

Take a look at some roles you can pursue with this degree:*

Food and Beverage Director

Average Annual Salary: $79,876

Food Service Manager

Median Annual Salary: $65, 310

Entertainment and Recreation Manager

Median Annual Salary: $77,180

Event Manager

Average Annual Salary: $62,980

Lodging Manager

Median Annual Salary: $68,130

Curriculum & Courses

The online BS in Hospitality Management Flight Path Program provides a holistic view of the hospitality industry, preparing students to manage hospitality operations in multiple settings, from hotels and restaurants to conventions and special events. The BS degree requires 120 total credit hours, which includes 40 hours of general education courses, 51 hours of core courses, 9 hours of concentration courses, 6–9 hours of cognates, and 11-14 hours of general electives.

At least 50% of major courses and 25% of the degree must be completed at ECU Online. Second-degree students are waived from General Education and Minor or General Elective requirements.

Keep in mind that as a degree completion program, we accept transfer credits, which may significantly reduce your required hours to graduate. The required hospitality management courses include:

Core Hospitality Management Courses - 51 credit hours

HMGT 1350 – Introduction to Hospitality Management
Exploration and analysis of management functions, methods, and concepts in food service and lodging operations.

HMGT 1500 – Multicultural Hospitality Management
Influences of culture on hospitality organizations and management style. Impacts of diversity of the global hospitality industry. Significance of culture to hospitality labor market issues, legal and political environments, societal work values, communication, and corporate cultures.

HMGT 2100 – Lodging Management I
Structure, operations, and management in the lodging industry. Emphasis on management of the front office, housekeeping, guest services, security and trends in the lodging industry.

HMGT 2170 – Hospitality Services Management
Customer behavior, expectations, and perceptions and managing hospitality service quality. Strategies for closing critical service gaps.

HMGT 2200 – Introduction to Conventions and Special Events
Introduction to meetings, expositions, events, and conventions industry.

HMGT 2300 – Principles of Food Preparation and Menu Planning
Scientific principles of food preparation. Includes menu planning, preparation methods and procedures, recipe conversion and costing, equipment use, service techniques, and principles of sanitation.

HMGT 2301 – Principles of Food Preparation and Menu Planning Laboratory
Application of scientific principles of food preparation. Application of menu planning, preparation methods and procedures, recipe conversion and costing, equipment use, service techniques, and principles of sanitation to meal preparation.

HMGT 2591 – Field Experience
Supervised, hands-on experience in a mix of face-to-face classes and an off-campus experiential service learning environment, designed to increase the working knowledge of the hospitality service industry and to help develop professional career portfolios.

HMGT 3200 – Dimensions of Tourism
Survey of travel and tourism industry. Emphasis on concepts, terminology, demographics, trends, and financial and economic implications of tourism dynamics.

HMGT 3750 – Hospitality Facilities Management
Operation of hospitality facilities, including operating costs, characteristics of major building systems, responsibilities of the engineering-maintenance department and renovation needs.

HMGT 3990 – Hospitality Internship
Supervised experience designed to develop management skills in hospitality management.

HMGT 4244 – Hospitality Law
Legal aspects of hospitality guest-host relationship as related to personal and property liability.

HMGT 4300 – Advanced Food Production and Service Management
Planning, executing, and evaluating food and beverage operations.

HMGT 4301 – Advanced Food Production and Service Management Lab
Application of knowledge and skills necessary in planning, executing, and evaluating food and beverage operations.

HMGT 4308 – Cost Controls for Hospitality Operations
Techniques for analyzing and controlling products, services and costs.

HMGT 4440 – Hospitality Marketing
Applies marketing principles to hospitality products and services.

HMGT 4450 – Hospitality Human Resource Management
Integration and applications of human resource management and ethical principles through case studies of lodging, food and beverage, and convention/special event operations.

HMGT 4650 – Hospitality Financial Management
Management systems and techniques used to monitor and control finances and costs in the hospitality industry.

HMGT 4700 – Hospitality Management Current Issues Seminar
Capstone course to address current issues in hospitality management.

Hospitality Elective Requirements - 9 credit hours (choose one concentration)

Convention and Special Events Management Concentration

HMGT 3400 – Meeting, Event, and Convention Planning Planning, organizing, staffing, and evaluating meetings, events, and conventions.

HMGT 4040 – Producing Meetings, Events, and Conventions
In-depth assessment of logistics and production of meetings, events, and conventions.

HMGT 4400 – Convention Sales and Services Management
Scope and segmentation of the convention and group business market. Marketing and sales strategies to attract markets with specific needs. Techniques to meet those needs as part of meeting and convention service.

Food and Beverage Management Concentration

HMGT 3300 – Food and Beverage Management Introduction to the management functions of planning, organizing, leading and controlling the day-to-day operations of a food and beverage establishment.

HMGT 4120 – Wine and Beverage Management
Review of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Management of bartending, cocktail and sommelier service, and cost control emphasizing social responsibility, liability, safety and security, and legal issues.

Select one 3000- or 4000-level course in addition to core and concentration courses.

Lodging Management Concentration

HMGT 3600 – Lodging Management II
Decision-making processes for budgeting, forecasting, pricing, cost-volume-profit analysis, and capital budgeting in a real-time hotel simulation.

HMGT 4100 – Lodging Revenue Management
Use of revenue management in the lodging industry. Application of demand-based pricing, stimulating demand and the analysis of yield and revenue.

Select one 3000- or 4000-level course in addition to core and concentration courses.

Cognate Requirements - 6-9 credit hours

ACCT 2101 – Survey of Financial and Managerial Accounting or ACCT 2401 – Financial Accounting and ACCT 2521 - Managerial Accounting

FINA 3004 – Survey of Financial Management or FINA 3724 – Financial Management

MATH 2228 – Elementary Statistical Methods I or MATH 2283 – Statistics for Business

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“The program helped me refine my communication skills and provided me with lifelong connections in the industry. I genuinely wouldn’t be where I am today without the support and education I received from East Carolina’s School of Hospitality Leadership.”
‐ Brian Hatter, Operation Manager at Parks Hospitality Group, 2023 program alum
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"The classes that really guided me were those that allowed us to create, plan, and execute real life events outside the classroom.”
‐ Mollie Wurmbrand, Program Associate at Institute for Defense and Business, 2020 program alum
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“My time with ECU taught me not only about how to be a leader but prepared me for what to expect when I was ready to join the industry after graduation.”
‐ Lezlie Williams, Assistant Social Director at Carolina Country Club, 2017 program alum

Tuition

$410 per credit hour plus fees for Fall 2026*

*$491 per credit hour plus fees for out-of-state students; tuition subject to change

120 credit hours*

*Transfer credits may reduce number of hours

Financial aid assistance available

ECU Online program tuition for in-state students is just $410 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition is $491 per credit hour plus fees. With transfer credits and financial aid, your bachelor’s degree is within reach.

Note: For Summer 2026, tuition is $398 per credit hour plus fees for in-state students and $477 per credit hour plus fees for out-of-state students.

Learn More

Holistic Industry Understanding

As a student in the program, you’ll develop a broad view of the industry—from running a kitchen to calculating event costs—preparing you to effectively manage multiple aspects of hospitality.

Industry-Experienced Faculty

Our internationally recognized faculty bring first-hand experience working in different areas of the service industry—including hotels, restaurants, resorts, and national parks—and they use their expertise to enrich the courses they teach.

Largest Hospitality Program in the State

When you earn your online BS in Hospitality Management from ECU, you’ll come away with a well-known degree from the largest hospitality program in North Carolina and one of the largest in the Southeast.

Partnerships and Networking

Our program partners with hospitality leaders such as Aramark, Darden Restaurants, Chick-fil-A, and the Biltmore Estate, many of whom serve on our program advisory board and facilitate student experiences through assignments and internships.

Professional Affiliations

Our program maintains professional connections with American Hotel & Lodging Association, National Restaurant Association, North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association, Meeting Professionals International, Club Managers Association of America, Professional Convention Management Association, and World Tourism Organization.

Global Hospitality Perspective

Our program offers insights from hospitality partners around the globe, connecting students with international industry workers and students through virtual meetings and optional study abroad opportunities.

The next class start date is approaching. Don’t wait to apply!

Community Connection

ECU is more than a university—it’s a community. Even as an online student, you’ll benefit from a powerful network of peers and faculty who truly care about your success.

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Admissions

Online undergraduate students are required to have a minimum of 24 hours of transferable credits for admission. Students are evaluated under the following transfer applicant criteria:

  • A minimum of 24 hours of transferable college-level coursework (complete or in progress).
    • Only courses with a grade of “C-” or better from regionally accredited institutions are eligible to transfer and can be used to gain admission.
    • Students under the age of 21 will also be expected to meet NC High School Minimum Course Requirements and are required to submit a final high school transcript.
  • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college-level coursework attempted.

Undergraduate Students Application Materials 

  • A completed online application.
  • All official transcripts from each college, technical institute, or university attended, if applicable. Send transcripts to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Mail Stop 517
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC 27858-4353

We also accept electronic transcripts from most transcript services. Please request to have them sent directly to transfer@ecu.edu .

Residency Determination

The Residency Determination Service (RDS) has been established by the North Carolina State Legislature as the centralized service for determining residency for students. All students must visit ncresidency.org to verify their residency.

If you’ve already completed the residency verification process and obtained your Residency Certification Number (RCN), you can enter your RCN when filling out our application. If you don’t already have your RCN, you may submit your application and then come back and enter your RCN once you have it.

For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar’s Residency page , or contact RDS by phone at 1-844-319-3640 or by email at rdsinfo@ncresidency.org .

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many credits are generally required to complete a Flight Path program?

For most programs, 120 total credit hours are required to graduate. This includes transfer credits and credits you earn at ECU.

Can I transfer credits from other institutions to an online Flight Path program?

Yes. 24 transferable credits are required to apply. At least 25% of the degree must be completed at ECU and at least 50% of the major must be completed at ECU.

Are ECU Online’s Flight Path programs accredited?

Yes. East Carolina University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Learn more about accreditation .

What financial aid resources are available for students enrolled in Flight Path programs at ECU Online?

ECU online program tuition for in-state students starts at just $410 per credit hour plus fees. For out-of-state students, the tuition starts at $491 per credit hour plus fees. Please note that tuition is subject to change. Learn more about financial aid opportunities .

Note: For Summer 2026, tuition is $398 per credit hour plus fees for in-state students and $477 per credit hour plus fees for out-of-state students.

About Flight Path Programs at ECU Online

ECU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and was the first university in North Carolina to offer online degrees. We’ve continued to enhance the online experience ever since. As an established institution in North Carolina, we pride ourselves on offering a student-first, community-centric experience that empowers graduates to complete their online degrees from a reputable institution that employers recognize.

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*General labor market and salary data are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment. ECU does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement. Additional training and experience may be necessary for leadership positions.