Cultivate
Provides opportunities inside and outside the classroom to cultivate and enhance your overall learning and academic experience.
The School of Hospitality
Explore the Hotel Management Major
The Rita and Navin Dimond Hotel Management Program provides transformational career training and educational opportunities that balance academics with skills development in a variety of areas including housekeeping, human resources, legal issues, front desk service, marketing, hospitality accounting, revenue management, and operations management.
CAREER MILESTONES
There are nine essential skills you should have in order to find, acquire, maintain, and grow within a job.
Essential skills build through majoring in Hotel Management include:
- Leadership
- Career Development
- Teamwork & Collaboration
Click here to learn more about each essential skill.
Students graduating from Hotel Management find themselves most often in Lodging and Hotel Management, Casino and Gaming Management, and Food and Beverage Management.
Explore career opportunities by major.
Students who choose to pursue a graduate degree often consider these pathways:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA) at MSU Denver
- Master of Hospitality Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- Master of Science (MS) in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Oklahoma State University
Learn more about applying to graduate school!
MAJOR MILESTONES EXPLAINED
Engage
Highlights activities you can engage and participate in globally, nationally and locally to enhance your essential skills and start building your resume.
Prepare
Lists steps to prepare for postgraduate success whether that's entering the workforce, attending graduate school or pursuing other goals and plans.
What are Major Milestones?
Major milestones consist of activities students should complete during their first year, middle years and last year at MSU Denver. These milestones will help prospective and current students explore major and career options and create a year-by-year plan to integrate curricular (what happens inside the classroom), co-curricular (what happens inside and outside the classroom, and non-curricular (what happens outside the classroom) experiences. For example, milestones might list specific classes student should take at specific times along their journey or may suggest when students should participate in research opportunities with faculty members.
Simply put, Major Milestones are meant to enhance your student experience and set you up for success.
How to Use the Major Milestones Tool
To use this tool to the fullest, follow these steps
- Scroll to your current year in school.
- Read the steps listed in each category: Cultivate, Engage and Prepare.
- Complete any necessary steps listed.
- Check out further resources by connecting with your academic advisor, the Classroom to Career Hub, and your department faculty.
All options listed below are available in-person and online unless noted otherwise.
Explore Your First Year at MSU Denver
ARRIVE - Your First Year at MSU Denver
- Attend orientation and register for classes.
- Meet with your Academic Advisor.
- Complete FAFSA/CASFA/COF and the General Scholarship Application.
- Join a student organization and get connected to support on campus.
- Declare a major, or meet with an exploratory advisor to learn about options.
- Attend signature events on campus (Convocation, Fall Fest, Spring Fling, etc.).
- Check out Career Link for on campus and career-aligned jobs.
- Attend Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) career workshops and events.
- Write your early experience resume and utilize resume resources from the C2Hub.
- Meet with your Academic Advisor, and learn more about your major’s requirements.
- Connect with the Tutoring Center or Writing Center, or visit your professor(s) during their office hours.
- Complete HLDR 1000 Intro to Hospitality and HTL 1010 Hotel Industry Fundamentals.
- Explore student organizations, including hospitality student clubs.
- Get coffee or tea in the Marriott Foundation Career Studio and join us for Waffle Wednesday in the Student Lounge.
- Attend a campus wide event, such as a sports game, theater performance, keynote speaker, etc.
- Begin to explore possible career pathways and attend a networking event.
- Apply for the MSU Denver Scholarship.
- Begin exploring different fields and internship opportunities.
Explore Your Middle Years at MSU Denver
THRIVE - Your Middle Years at MSU Denver
- Consider adding a minor or certificate to your chosen major.
- Explore resources like the tutoring program or the writing center.
- Get familiar with MSU Denver’s Academic Planning Tool.
- Explore student leadership on campus and volunteering in your community.
- Earn credit and gain experience through an internship, study abroad, or community-engaged learning.
- Attend identity or interest-based campus events like the Richard T. Castro speaker series.
- Connect with the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship program.
- Attend an in-person Career Fair to network and secure a professional headshot.
- Connect with the Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) for opportunities for professional mentoring and job shadowing.
- Explore Study Abroad and Student Travel & Professional Development Opportunities.
- Meet with a department advisor to discuss progress to completion.
- Meet with a faculty member in your interest area to begin to discuss best plans.
- Volunteer for a School of Hospitality event.
- Connect with a peer mentor or faculty member.
- Connect with the Auraria Library for help with technology, resources, and research.
- Consider enrolling in a event (EVT), restaurant (RST), or beverage (BVG) elective.
- Explore certificate options in an area of interest.
- Discuss and apply for internship opportunities.
Explore Your Final Year at MSU Denver
SOAR - Your Final Year at MSU Denver
- Meet with your advisor to complete remaining graduation requirements.
- Ready to Graduate? Check out this guide from the registrar!
- Attend or present in-person at a major-specific or industry-specific conference or networking event.
- Attend in-person alumni and campus-wide networking events.
- Submit a proposal to present in-person at the Undergraduate Research Conference.
- Seek to collaborate with local civic organizations.
- Finalize your portfolio of relevant projects and skills.
- Attend in-person career-focused events with an industry-ready resume.
- Identify needs for Professional Certifications or MCAT/LSAT etc. and prepare for professional school admissions.
- Prepare and submit applications for jobs, graduate school, or relevant post-grad training.
- Enroll in Senior Experience, HLDR 4800 Applied Hospitality and Tourism Concept Development.
- Attend office hours to discuss the industry and your future in it.
- Search for and enroll in an elective that contributes to your ideal career path.
- Join professional organizations or subscribe to affiliate publications/newsletters.
- Attend a conference using student funds, and/or the Undergraduate Research Conference.
- Connect with a mentor in the industry.
- Attend networking events, within department and university.
- Create an academic CV or professional portfolio and connect with faculty for any letters of recommendation.
- Complete an internship.
Roadrunner Roads
Things every student should do at MSU Denver.
Roadrunner Upkeep
- Complete FAFSA/CASFA/COF/Scholarship Applications every year.
- Stay on track for graduation by meeting with your advisor every year and check into the Rowdy Pit Stop every semester.
- Read The Runner in your email every Monday.
Roadrunner Career Readiness
- Find and get hired for jobs during college and beyond by visiting the Classroom to Career (C2) Hub and utilize their resources for students.
- To be prepared for any opportunity that comes your way, update your resume early and often.
- Explore options for hands-on learning and graduate school & get prepared for both.
- Log in to Career Link each month to stay up to date on programs, events, and job/internship opportunities.
Roadrunner Wellbeing
- Explore wellness and belonging resources from CESA.
- Access mental wellbeing support through the Counseling Center.
- Visit Rowdy’s Corner when you need some food access support.
- Nourish your physical well-being by checking out the Rec Center and Exercise Sciences, including for-credit courses.
- Determine your need for a Health Insurance Opt-Out Waiver each semester.
Contact the School of Hospitality
Phone: (303) 615-1616
Email: [email protected]
Campus Location:
Hospitality Learning Center (HLC)
Room 209