Looking for an exciting career? Set yourself apart from the competition! Ocean County College (OCC) is offering a new Associate in Science (A.S.) degree in Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management (HRTM). Since 2015, OCC has been offering selected courses in HRTM and is pleased to announce the newly approved A.S. degree, which provides instruction in hotel, travel, recreation, tourism, food and beverage, convention and meeting planning, facilities management, and related service industries.
According to Jennifer Evans, HRTM Program Chair at OCC, this is a developing industry and the need for educated, skilled employees is in demand and is expected to continue to grow.
“Ocean County College is centrally located within the beach counties of Ocean, Monmouth, and Atlantic counties, and is the gateway to New Jersey tourism, offering tremendous job opportunities for our students,” explained Evans.
According to Evans, anyone considering an HRTM degree should be a “people person,” crave variety and excitement in their work day, and have a passion for food, travel, and special events. “With an associate degree from Ocean County College, students can begin working right after graduation or can transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management at a four-year school,” she said.
OCC’s new associate degree provides a business planning foundation that examines industry trends, consumer behavior, guest services, and other factors that influence HRTM development and promotion. Students will acquire skills in cost control and accounting; customer service management; employee hiring, training, and management; event design and planning; legal and risk management; marketing; and operations procedures. Students will also learn to both provide superior service treating customers as guests and to develop marketing and sales techniques to use within their specific field.
Potential careers are plentiful whether students plan to work locally in Ocean County, statewide throughout New Jersey, nationally, or even internationally. For example, careers in travel might involve working on cruise ships, airlines, or chartered transportation. If fun and recreation are at the top of your list, you may find a position at theme or water parks, arcades, aquariums, casinos, clubs, museums, and zoos. Other prospective careers may involve restaurants and managed services such as dining halls, hospitals, wineries, breweries, or catering. Careers in lodging feature hotels, motels, and resorts. And special event careers include weddings, conventions, meeting planning, expos, trade shows, sporting events, and colleges. Plus facilities management features golf clubs and gyms.
For more information on Ocean County College’s new Associate in Science degree in Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management, contact Jennifer Evans, HRTM Program Chair at OCC, at 732-255-0400, ext. 2821, or jevans@ocean.edu.
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