HSP 4000 - Hospitality Management Practicum

Credits: 4

The Hospitality Management Practicum course (worth 4 credits and includes a letter grade for the course) allows students to gain valuable experience in a work setting whereby they apply their classroom learning and develop career skills within the hospitality industry. Students work with their practicum supervisor and professor to gain insights into the routines, processes, activities, and contents of various hospitality organizations. Internships may be completed in for-profit, non-profit, or public-sector organizations and can be either paid or unpaid experiences. The Hospitality Management Practicum requires a three-way partnership: College-Student-Employer. The student is at the center of this arrangement; the student benefits from opportunities offered by both the school and employer. The college offers credits and guidance; the employer gives the student an opportunity in the “real world.” Ultimately, the student is responsible for balancing the needs of two “bosses.” The most successful students in this course are those who bring a mature, responsible, go - getter attitude and remain flexible and realistic, seeking ways to balance the sometimes - conflicting needs of school and internship schedules. Internship sites are arranged by the student; support is provided by the Lucey Center for Business Advising (LCBA) and Merrimack’s O’Brien Center for Student Success. A student completes the internship application (found on and submitted through Handshake) and submits it with a resume to the LCBA to apply after the student has located a suitable internship. Once approved, the student is registered for HSP 4000. Four credit hours require a minimum of 180 hours in the internship context (i.e., an average of 13 hours per week).
Prerequisite(s): HSP 3000 and must submit application to be reviewed for approval prior to registration.