Course Descriptions

The Academy of Hospitality & Tourism curriculum has been developed with leading representatives from industry and education. By integrating necessary workplace skills in the classroom, students come to understand the connection between academic learning and career success.

To ensure that courses are both current and relevant, NAF has been working with its industry and academic partners to update and revise the AOHT curriculum. This process has yielded the new courses listed below, which are now available online to the NAF network.

The Academy of Hospitality and Tourism course list appears below.  Please refer to the AOHT Course Scope for a more complete outline of the Academy program of study.

Strategies for Success
This one semester course of study helps to orient students to the world of work and school. Ideally, this course is offered in the ninth or tenth grade, as it addresses the need for students to develop good work and study habits. Additionally, this course helps students to prepare portfolios, learn about school resources, develop career plans, start preparing for college and develop solid interpersonal skills.

Business Computer Applications (one term recommended)
This is a school-designed course preferably offered in the freshman or sophomore year, and taught by a computer science, mathematics or business teacher.

Fundamentals of Hospitality & Tourism (one term required)
This is a one-term course that provides an introduction to various components of the hospitality and tourism industry. Students are given an overview of the various components of the industry, an introduction to business and marketing, opportunities to learn and practice customer service principles, and exposure to the various careers available in hospitality and tourism.

Travel Geography (one term required)
This is a one-term course geared at having students develop broad geographic skills. In addition to learning how to use the basic tools of the geographer, students learn how economics, culture, history and political issues all affect the study of geography, and how geography affects these other disciplines.

Hospitality and Tourism Systems (one term required)
This one-semester course provides an overview of the systems and technology that provide infrastructure for the industry, including reservations, transportation and online systems.  Upon completion of this course, students will be able to apply these technology principles in other courses, such as Hospitality, Business, and Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management.

Hospitality (one term required)
This is a one-semester course that exposes students to the various components of hospitality, including marketing and sales, lodging management, front desk operations, food and beverage, and culinary services.

Economics for Hospitality & Tourism (one term required)
This is a basic principles and practices one-semester course that parallels the concepts taught in standard high school-required Economics courses. Academy students take this course in lieu of the Economics course offered at their school. Throughout the course, examples of economic principles are drawn from the world of hospitality and tourism in order to integrate academic learning and practical business applications.

Business for Hospitality & Tourism
This course is best delivered as a one- or two-semester capstone to the Academy program. In the course, students learn and apply business, marketing, entrepreneurship and finance principles within a student-centered, project-oriented approach.

Sports, Entertainment, and Event Management
This course is optional for Academies that want to give their students exposure to such areas as event planning and facility and event management.  In this course, students will be given the authentic opportunity to plan their own events.

Paid Internship 
Paid Hospitality & Tourism-related internship during the summer between junior and senior year.

College-Level Hospitality & Tourism-Related Course (one term required)
Offered during senior year, preferably at a four-year institution and taught by a college professor.  (Preferably fall semester of senior year).