fort-hays-state-university

Fort Hays State University Hospitality and Tourism Degrees

Fort Hays State University appears in our ranking of the 5 Most Affordable Online Schools for Bachelor’s in Hospitality.

Fort Hays State University offers a wide range of degree programs designed with hard-working people in mind. There are five departments and colleges at Fort Hayes University, each offering degree programs that are high-quality and taught by experts in their field. The school is proud of their personalized care, turning students into tomorrow’s innovators. The school offers hundreds of degree programs at the undergraduate and graduate level, offering courses on campus and online or in a hybrid format.

The Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management is a 12-hour program offered on-campus at Fort Hays State University. The program prepares students for entry-level positions in organizations that focus on hospitality and tourism. Courses required include:

  • Casino Management
  • Food and Beverage Management
  • Health and Wellness Tourism
  • Hotel and Resort Management
  • International Hospitality: Problems & Planning
  • Medical Tourism
  • Meetings, Conventions and Events Management
  • Service Operations Management
  • Spa Facility and Destination Management
  • Special Topics on Tourism and Hospitality Management
  • Sustainable Tourism & Events
  • Tourism and Hospitality Marketing

All courses must be completed with a “C” or better.

The Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management is designed for those who wish to travel and immerse themselves in diverse cultures. The program prepares students for leadership roles in the world of travel and tourism. Students gain an understanding of event planning, conference development, hotel/motel management, tourism and other areas of the hospitality industry. The program requires 55 credit hours of general education, 24 credit hours in business, 21 credit hours in tourism and hospitality as well as 12 credit hours in a concentration. Eight elective hours must also be completed. Concentrations include:

  • Events Management
  • Health & Wellness Tourism Operations
  • Hospitality Operations

Courses required for the major include:

  • Casino Management*
  • Catering and Special Events**
  • Facilities Management and Space Design**
  • Food and Beverage Management*
  • Hospitality and Convention Sales**
  • Hotel and Resort Management*
  • International Hospitality: Problems and Planning
  • Introduction to Health and Wellness Tourism***
  • Introduction to Leadership Concepts
  • Management Information Systems
  • Medical Tourism***
  • Meetings, Conventions and Events Management*/**
  • Principles and Practices in Tourism and Hospitality Management
  • Service Operations Management
  • Spa Facility and Destination Management***
  • Special Topics in Travel and Hospitality Management***
  • Tourism and Hospitality Marketing

*Hospitality Operations Concentration

**Events Management Concentration

***Health & Wellness Tourism Concentration

An internship is also required.

About Fort Hays University

The Kansas legislature created the Fort Hayes Experiment Station as far back as 1889 as a normal and agricultural school that would provide education for a reservation in the area. It would also provide a good use for an abandoned army post. However, the school did not become a reality until 1899. IN addition to the Experiment Station, the state established the Kansas Normal School which was designed to educate teachers for public school systems.

The first classes were held in the old fort on the former Fort Hayes army property while a former stone guardhouse was used as a gymnasium. The 57 students who started classes paid $5 when they began attending in 1902. Although school leaders wanted to keep the school at the former fort, the community wanted it located closer to town and donated more than 4,000 acres in the center of Hays for use as a campus. When the school was constructed, it absorbed the town.

In 1914, the name of the school was changed to the Fort Hays Kansas State Normal School and changed again in 1923 to Kansas State Teachers College. Another name change occurred in 1931 when the school became Fort Hays State College and the final name change was in 1977 when the school gained university status.

More than 4,000 acres of land were donated in the heart of Hays, which meant the little prairie dog town was basically absorbed by the new school. In 1914, the school became the Fort Hays Kansas State Normal School. In 1923, the name changed again to the Kansas State Teachers College. It became Fort Hays State College in 1931 and gained university status in 1977.

Today, approximately 15,000 students are enrolled at Fort Hays State University.

Fort Hays State University Accreditation Details

Fort Hays State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. As part of the accreditation process, Fort Hays State University undergoes periodic review by the Commission to confirm students are still receiving an education that meets all criteria. If there are any areas identified as needing improvement, the school addresses them as quickly as possible. In addition, programs throughout the University are accredited by the following organizations:

  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Association of Graduate Liberal Studies
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
  • Council on Social Work Education
  • Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology

Fort Hays State University Application Requirements

In order to apply for undergraduate programs, including the Certificate in Tourism and Hospitality Management or the Bachelor of Science in Tourism and Hospitality Management, applicants must complete the Kansas Qualified Admissions Pre-College Curriculum with a minimum GPA of 2.0 and have a composite score of 21 or above on the SAT or an SAT of 980 or 1080 or above or must rank in the top one-third of their high school class. They must complete an application and provide official high school transcripts along with official ACT or SAT scores. Transfer students under the age of 21 or who have fewer than 24 credits must also meet these requirements. Transfer students with more than 24 transferrable credits must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Fort Hays State University Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition for undergraduate programs at Fort Hays State University is $171.09 per credit hour for Kansas residents, $237.72 for contiguous state residents and $506.72 for non-residents. Students who live in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio or Wisconsin may be eligible for tuition reduction. Contiguous state tuition applies to residents of Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.

Fort Hays provides more than $59 million each year in financial assistance. In order to qualify, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and it must be renewed annually. Financial aid may be awarded in the form of loans, assistantships or fellowships for graduate students.

Fort Hays State University is the Midwest’s leading state institution. The University offers highly accessible, award-winning programs with a global reach. Fort Hays State University stands on the frontlines of innovation and education with a faculty dedicated to the success of every student enrolled as well as the many alumni who are leaders in their field.