Hospitality students in front of cafe counter

Hospitality Management

Associate of Science

Did you ever dream of running a restaurant or traveling the country as a hotel manager? A hospitality management associate's degree from Mercyhurst is a great way to prepare for an exciting career in the growing tourism industry. Our program is designed to prepare students to enter or advance in the field of hospitality management. Students are expected to complete a core of hospitality management courses and select a concentration in either management or culinary arts. In order to graduate students who excel in their field, we also require each major to complete an internship in a career setting they desire.

Fast Facts

  • Students experience a variety of courses including the processes of baking and pastry, hot and cold food preparation, wine education, and the production of food to be consumed in a restaurant setting.
  • Graduates have taken positions in a variety of settings, including hotels, resorts and spas, restaurants, casinos, hospitals, airlines, assisted living communities, cruise lines, country clubs, and consulting firms.
  • Each student participates in Mercyhurst’s lunch and dinner series, which requires them to organize, prepare and present meals for the community at the college and allows them to put their skills to the test

Culinary Arts Concentration

Turn your passion for food into a satisfying career in the restaurant industry, catering, event management and more. By studying Culinary Arts at Mercyhurst, you’ll learn fundamental culinary and hospitality skills from respected chefs with decades of experience. Put those skills to use when you prepare and present meals for our popular community lunch and dinner series, and gain hands-on experience through internships with industry leaders, thanks to Mercyhurst's strong professional connections.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Our main kitchen has a large mirrored demonstration table, a hot foods line, which includes a convection oven, fryers, grill and more. The kitchen’s bake shop includes wooden work tables, large commercial mixers and all the essential baking tools. All our kitchens have a service cooler, and the main storage area has dry storage, as well as a walk-in cooler and freezer.

Excellent Student Outcomes

Our Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management graduates have gone on to work close to home and around the world in in-demand industries and settings such as: restaurants, catering, clubs, banquet facilities, hotels and resorts, and contract food service corporations.