Diploma in Hospitality Management

Vancouver Island University

Students interested in the diploma must apply to the Bachelor of Hospitality Management. Prior to completion of their first year, students must indicate their interest in exiting with their Hospitality Management Diploma. Upon successful completion of the first two years (60 credits including co-operative work placements and fulfillment of diploma completion requirements), students will be eligible to receive the Hospitality Management Diploma.

The two-year Hospitality Management diploma develops the learner's knowledge and skills required to build a successful hospitality career. The students acquire their hospitality knowledge through a blend of classroom learning, and experiential activities in an on-campus dining room, in teaching kitchens and participation in special events. Finally, students are required to complete two paid co-operative work placements where they apply their learning at resorts throughout British Columbia and Alberta.

This two year diploma program is designed to prepare students for a wide range of supervisory and management positions in the tourism industry. Students examine management from behavioural, functional, situational and systems perspectives. The unique applications of management to service organizations are a focal point of the program. Students are encouraged to explore and develop their individual leadership styles in the management labs offered in the program. Since the marketing concept forms the basis for developing management practices used in the tourism industry, the marketing/management relationship is studied in detail.

The primary role of the diploma is to prepare students initially for entry level positions and eventually middle management positions in the tourism industry.

Co-operative Education

Under the co-operative education format, the paid co-operative education experiences are integrated into the total curriculum. Students will benefit from the co-operative education experience by:

relating academic study more effectively to the field of practice;

developing a clearer career focus;

gaining valuable practical experience;

being able to finance a larger portion of their education.

Co-operative placements are typically from May to September. Access to co-operative education placements is based on student's GPA (minimum of 2.33 ('C+') is required) and their willingness to work as a team member with faculty and co-operative education staff to find appropriate placements. Students must complete the co-op term after first year, before continuing with the second year of the program.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program hold positions in hotels and resorts, golf and country clubs, restaurants, convention centres, ski resorts and large food service companies providing management services to hospitals, universities and airlines. Specific positions available to graduates in hotels and resorts may include rooms division manager, marketing manager, food and beverage manager and general manager. In convention centres, positions in convention planning, marketing and food and beverage management may be available. Golf and country clubs may offer positions in food and beverage management and club management.