Degrees and Programs in Hospitality Management at Northern Arizona University
Northern Arizona University appears in our ranking of the 10 Best Online Colleges for a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality.
The main campus of Northern Arizona University is in Flagstaff. That region is a Mecca for tourists and sun-seekers, so studying hospitality management at the school makes a lot of sense. There are traditional as well as innovative degree programs, minors, accelerated degrees, and certificates.
The Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management is a 120-credit program, offered traditionally or online, that builds on a strong liberal arts foundation. In addition to coursework and field experiences, students are required to take two semesters of a modern language. The program also involves building a resume, performing a supervised internship and documenting a minimum of 1200 hours in a hospitality-based job. Students must also join at least one club to build an attitude of diversity and global awareness.
The degree path features courses in areas such as management theories, competencies in operating a hotel or hospitality business, kitchen operations, and other course areas. Students must have a minimum of 15 units of electives, but there are 35 courses from which to choose. The program requires 120 hours, and all undergraduate degrees at this school have a liberal arts component, require diversity courses, proficiency in writing at a junior level and the completion of a capstone project or experience.
Students may also earn a minor in Hospitality Management by completing 20 units of study including two electives that are chosen with the help of an advisor. Certificates offered include Hospitality Accounting, Hospitality Events Management, Hospitality Marketing and Sales and Restaurant Management.
The Bachelor of Science in Parks and Recreation Management, Community, Commercial and Tourism Emphasis is a 120-credit-hour program as well. It requires 57 hours in the major and 18 hours in a minor, emphasis or individualized study. This degree program is available as an accelerated program online that allows students to earn both an undergraduate and graduate degree.
The university offers this degree in a “ThreeNFree” option that enables students to earn an undergraduate degree in three years and in a traditional four-year program.
There is a minor in the department as well as a master’s degree that contains 30 units and requires a thesis.
Another option in Hospitality Management is the Interdisciplinary Global Program. This innovative degree path begins with a business or STEM major, including the business degree major in hospitality. The first three years are spent building cultural and professional business management skills. During these three years, students also take six semesters of a foreign language. The fourth year, students study abroad in the country of the language they took. The intent is to immerse the student in the language and culture of the country, and also to give them a five-month internship.
At the end of the study-abroad experience, students complete a final year at Northern Arizona University in further study and in the BS and BA capstones.
About Northern Arizona University
This school was founded as the Northern Arizona Normal School in 1899. There were twenty-two students and two faculty members who taught students using Webster’s International Dictionary as their only teaching resource. In 1925, the school became the Northern Arizona Teachers College and was endorsed to award Bachelor of Education degrees. It became Northern Arizona University in 1966.
In addition to its traditional offerings, the school has more than 99 accredited online programs. There is also an innovative Personalized Learning option that is competency-based. Students demonstrate competencies to earn credits and proceed at their own pace. They buy a subscription to the university online programs that lasts for six months. During that time they take as many courses as they can. A general degree subscription costs $3,000 for the six-month period.
There are seven academic colleges at Northern Arizona University as well as a graduate college. The US News and World Report ranks NAU as # 230 to #301 of National Universities. Online undergraduate degree programs at the school rank #58.
Northern Arizona University Accreditation Details
- Higher Learning Commission
- Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration
Northern Arizona University Application Requirements
The preferred method of application to this school is through an online portal. Freshman applicants complete the form and submit it along with the $25 non-refundable application fee and their self-reported high school grades and test scores. After acceptance, freshman students must have their high schools send the official transcripts and arrange for the agency that administered the SAT or ACT to send that official documentation as well.
Applicants for online programs apply the same way, but they must select a start date for classes and choose a schedule that works best for them.
Graduate applicants apply online. They self-report their undergraduate program grades and test scores as well. After acceptance, graduate students must arrange to have the official documents sent to NAU. Additionally, the departments housing their degrees, or the degree programs themselves, may have other requisites such as GRE or GMAT scores, letters of recommendation, resumes, portfolios and other documents.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Undergraduate tuition at Northern Arizona University is $11,564. Room and board averages $10,282 per year, and the expected expense for books and supplies is $1,000. Graduate students will pay $10,590 in tuition as well as about $1,000 for books and must budget for living expenses whether they live on campus or in other housing. Additionally, there are fees and other personal expenses such as Internet, transportation costs and miscellaneous charges. The cost per credit for online courses is $425.
Most students receive financial assistance to pay for their degree programs. It is important to complete a FAFSA form as soon as possible. FAFSA is an acronym for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The federal government uses the information given by applicants to award grants, loans, and subsidized work-study opportunities according to student financial need.
After getting back the awards letter from FAFSA, most students search for other financial assistance in the form of scholarships and grants. There is limited financial assistance available through the state. The Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Grant, the Arizona College Access Aid Program and the AzLEAP program are some of these state funds that assist the low income.
Northern Arizona University has scholarships as well. Many are based on financial need or membership in a special population, but others carry the added requisite of academic merit. The National Scholarship, Finn Scholar’s Award, Honors College Scholarship, and the Graduate College Scholarships are merit-based funds, while the Tribal Scholarship is intended for those of Native American descent.
Northern Arizona has a funds-matching program called Earn to Learn that matches student contributions of $500 with $4,000 towards tuition and student debt as well.
Students who do not qualify for enough grant or scholarship money may apply for student loans, get part-time employment or participate in a work-study opportunity. There are many ways to pay for a degree program at Northern Arizona University.