Frequently Asked Questions

Hospitality management is the business of creating memorable guest experiences. It includes hotels, restaurants, travel, events, sports, recreation, clubs and resorts.

At The Collins College, students learn how to lead teams, manage operations and serve guests across six areas of hospitality:

• Lodging and Resorts
• Food and Beverage
• Travel and Tourism
• Sports and Recreation
• Country Clubs and Golf Clubs
• Special Events and Meetings

If you enjoy working with people, solving problems and creating memorable experiences, hospitality management can open the door to a wide range of career opportunities.

A hospitality management degree prepares you for leadership careers in one of the world's largest service industries. You'll develop skills in business management, communication, marketing, finance, operations and customer experience that can be applied across hotels, restaurants, events, tourism, clubs, entertainment, healthcare and many other industries.

Hospitality management offers opportunities to build a rewarding career in event production, luxury resorts, destination management, healthcare and many other service-focused industries. The field offers diverse career paths, opportunities for advancement and the chance to develop leadership skills while working in a people-centered profession. The business and management skills you gain can also transfer to careers outside of hospitality.

You'll develop business and leadership skills that employers value across the hospitality industry. In addition to learning about hospitality operations, you'll strengthen your communication, teamwork, problem-solving, customer service, financial management and leadership skills through classroom learning and hands-on experiences.

Hospitality is always changing. New technology, travel trends and guest expectations are creating new opportunities across hotels, restaurants, events, tourism, sports, entertainment and many other industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, several hospitality-related careers are expected to grow faster than average over the next decade, making this an exciting time to begin your career.

The Collins College combines Cal Poly Pomona's learn-by-doing approach with industry-focused hospitality education. You'll build business knowledge in the classroom while gaining real-world experience through laboratory courses, restaurant operations, internships, industry work experience and networking with hospitality professionals. Small class sizes, experienced faculty and strong industry connections help prepare you for leadership roles across the hospitality industry.

Our program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration, or ACPHA. You can learn more about our accreditation on our About page.

The Collins College offers a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in hospitality management, a minor in hospitality management and an interdisciplinary minor in culinology.

The bachelor's program offers courses in events, food and beverage, and lodging. You'll complete 6 units of emphasis electives, and you have the flexibility to take all of your electives in one area or combine courses across multiple areas to match your interests and career goals. 

Yes. The Master of Science in Hospitality Management is designed for professionals interested in advancing in executive leadership or starting and operating a business of their own.

Yes. If you’re majoring in another field, you can add a hospitality minor to develop business, management and people-focused skills that can be used in hospitality and other customer-driven industries.

Culinology combines culinary arts with food science and focuses on developing food products for retail and food service. You can take culinology as a minor if you are majoring in hospitality management or food science and technology.

You’ll apply what you learn through restaurant operations, required industry work experience, internships, field trips, competitions, laboratory courses and study abroad opportunities.

Yes. You can pursue traditional internships, paid internships and short-term micro-internships. These opportunities allow students to explore careers, apply classroom knowledge and build professional networks. To learn more about our internships and discover new opportunities, visit our Internships page.

Yes. Collins study abroad programs can take you from Florence, Italy, to Tokyo, Japan and include programming unique to students studying hospitality. Eligible programs offer academic credit while providing international, cultural and industry experience.

Yes, but you are not alone: we have a team of dedicated staff who will connect you with the resources you need to complete all required 800 hours of hospitality work experience before you graduate. To learn more about the hospitality work experience requirement, visit our Hospitality Work Experience page.

You may apply up to 400 eligible hours completed after high school and before admission to Cal Poly Pomona. At least 400 hours must be completed while enrolled at CPP. To learn more about the hospitality work experience requirement, visit our Hospitality Work Experience page.

Approved experience may come from hotels, resorts, restaurants, events, tourism, clubs, managed food service, entertainment venues and other hospitality-related businesses. You should confirm that a position qualifies before counting those hours. To learn more about the hospitality work experience requirement, visit our Hospitality Work Experience page.

We have five hospitality-specific clubs at The Collins College, including the Hospitality Management Council (HMC), the Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management (SHFM), the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), the National Society for Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) and Eta Sigma Delta, our international hospitality management honor society. To learn more about them, you can visit our Student Club page.  

If you want to make friends and connect outside of clubs, there are many volunteer opportunities, field trips and special events available at The Collins College that can connect you with other students who share your passions and interests.

• Attend the fall Welcome Back BBQ, where you can grab a bite to eat.
• Volunteer at our spring gala, Hospitality Uncorked, where you’ll train and work alongside your peers at a real formal charity event.
• Go on an Industry Field Trip to tour behind-the-scenes and speak with professionals who were once Collins students like you.

You can also join more than 300 clubs and organizations, participate in student government, attend campus events, play intramural sports and explore leadership, recreation and community service opportunities. Visit the Student Life and Involvement page for an overview of campus activities.

We have five hospitality-specific clubs at The Collins College, including the Hospitality Management Council (HMC), the Society for Hospitality and Food service Management (SHFM), the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), the National Society for Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH) and Eta Sigma Delta, our international hospitality management honor society. To learn more about them, you can visit our Student Club page.

CPP offers academic advising, tutoring, career guidance, health and counseling services, accessibility support and assistance with food, housing and other basic needs. Students can use CPP Connect to schedule appointments with participating campus offices. Additional support is available through the Learning Resource Center, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Care Center.

You can receive academic advising through the Collins Student Success Center. Advisors are there to help you understand degree requirements, plan courses, review academic progress, access university resources and stay on track toward graduation. You can also find broader advising resources through Student Success Central.

Yes. You will find plenty of opportunities to connect with industry professionals and alumni through career events like our spring Hospitality Expo, guest speakers, Industry Field Trips, internships, student club activities and other college programs.

Our Dean's Advisory Board is frequently involved in on-campus and virtual mentorship opportunities, giving one-on-one advice to students and even connecting them with opportunities for internships and careers.

In addition, The Collins College Career Services team can help you explore career opportunities, prepare application materials and connect with employers.

Collins graduates work for employers across the hospitality industry, including luxury resorts, restaurants, private clubs, event venues, tourism organizations, entertainment companies and managed food service providers. Thanks to the college's strong industry partnerships like the Dean’s Advisory Board, you'll have opportunities to connect with employers through internships, career events, networking opportunities and recruiting programs while you're a student.

Yes. Hospitality is a global industry, and The Collins College prepares you to pursue opportunities both in the United States and abroad. In addition to study abroad opportunities and an internationally focused curriculum, you'll join a worldwide network of Collins alumni working in destinations including Japan and Thailand, helping you build connections that extend beyond graduation.

Anyone can apply by visiting cpp.edu/apply.

For hospitality management-specific information, visit the Collins College Apply Now page.

Yes. Visit the CPP Transfer Applicant Resources page for admission requirements, application checklists, deadlines and frequently asked questions.

If you’re an admitted student, you can also explore PolyTransfer for support transitioning to the university.

Yes. You can register for a Hospitality Hour hosted by a current hospitality student on our Visit Us page. Each session includes an interactive question-and-answer session and a short guided tour of the college’s learning spaces.

Yes. The Collins College awards scholarships to incoming and continuing students through support from donors and hospitality industry partners.

Visit the Collins College Scholarships and Financial Aid page for eligibility requirements and application information. You can also explore university-wide CPP scholarships.

You may qualify for federal, state and university financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships provides information about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application and accessing grants, loans, work-study and other forms of assistance.

For information about our undergraduate degree program, please contact us using the form on our Contact Us page.

You can also reach out directly at collins@cpp.edu