The Rosen College of Hospitality Management is an academic college of the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida, United States. In 2016, the college was rated #5 among all hospitality schools worldwide. In 2019, for the third consecutive year, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management was ranked among the top five best hospitality and hotel management schools in the world by CEOWorld magazine.
History
UCF offered its first program in Hospitality Management in 1983. The program was the outgrowth of UCF's Dick Pope Sr. Institute for Tourism Studies, which began in 1979. Dr. Abraham Pizam led the department from its founding in 1983 to 1993. Dr. Robert Ford served as department chair from 1993 to 1998. Dr. Pizam returned in 1998 and after 17 years stepped down in 2018. Dr. Youcheng Wang was selected as the new Dean and is the current dean. Despite being based in Orlando - one of the world's premier tourist destinations - the program had difficulty getting started, being realigned several times: originally it was aligned under the College of Business, then it would become an independent program, then it would lose independent status and be aligned under the College of Health and Professional Studies, then realigned once again under the College of Business. The difficulties with the program led to a 1998 Orlando Sentinel article, which bluntly criticized UCF's administration for its "less-than-stellar hospitality program". Whether intentional or not, the Sentinel article served as a catalyst for improvements. A $250,000 donation led to new and unique study tracks in Vacation Ownership Resort Management and Theme Park & Attraction Management. The turning point would come in 2000 when Harris Rosen, owner of Orlando-based Rosen Hotels & Resorts and long-time supporter of the university, donated $10 million in cash and 25 acres in land, along with an additional $1.1 million in cash for scholarships, to the program. The donation spurred others, and the program would once again become an independent school, with Dr. Pizam being named Interim Dean. The new campus would open in January 2004, with the School being elevated to College status in May of that year. The improvements would lead to the College's remarkable rise in status and the once-maligned Pope Institute would re-establish itself as a leader in tourism research and information.
Academic programs
The Rosen College of Hospitality Management offers four undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees, along with graduate certificates.
Undergraduate degrees
All Rosen College undergraduate programs confer the Bachelor of Science degree upon successful graduation.
Hospitality Management, both general and with the following specialized tracks:
Along with mandatory curriculum requirements, in order for a Rosen student to gain real-world experience in the hospitality industry, all Rosen undergraduate programs require the student to complete three, one-hour paid internships over three separate semesters. Each semester's internship must consist of at least 16 hours work per week and must be paid at no less than minimum wage. In addition, the College offers undergraduate minors in Hospitality Management and Event Management; the minors are open to all UCF students except Rosen College majors.
Graduate degrees
The College offers the following graduate degrees:
*In addition to the regular M.S. degree, the College also offers a unique track for MD students; they will "witness and experience adoptable elements to effect a cultural change in the practice of medicine vis-a-vis the concept of hospitality and service-oriented business models."
PhD in Hospitality Management, the only Hospitality Management doctoral degree in the State of Florida
Previously, Rosen offered a PhD in Hospitality Education ; this option was ended and replaced by the Hospitality Management PhD. In addition, graduate Certificates are offered in Event Management and Destination Marketing and Management. The Certificate programs consist of three, three-hour graduate-level courses; the courses do not have prerequisites but are offered only during a specific semester, so a student may enroll at any semester and take the specific course offered at that time. The credits earned from the courses taken can be applied toward a future master's degree.
Campus
The Rosen College campus is located adjacent to the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, and near the Orange County Convention Center, not far from the many tourist attractions along International Drive. The campus itself is designed to imitate a resort-style feel, with elegant Spanish-inspired architecture and landscaping. Various areas of the college are dedicated in name to major donors to the college. The campus includes the Three Pillars Cafe, a student-operated cafe that serves various cuisines and food items. Regular Shuttle service is offered Monday through Thursday to and from the UCF Main Campus. Shuttle service is also offered to the UCF Main Campus for Rosen Students during major campus functions such as when the UCF Knights Football team are playing at home in Spectrum Stadium, affectionately known as the Bounce House.
Student life
The college features an on-site Campus Life Office that coordinates on-campus activities and events in conjunction with the UCF Student Government Association. The college offers a variety of student organizations including nationally renowned associations such as Eta Sigma Delta, National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, the Professional Convention Management Association, and the National Association of Catering Executives. The college is also home to the only college chapter of the Future Theme Park Leaders Association. The Career Services Office also offers career development events including the popular annual Career Expo with historically high attendance from world-renowned companies and organizations.
Housing
In 2005 the University opened two on-campus housing buildings, able to hold 400 residents and 8 resident assistants. The student apartment community includes an outdoor pool, community center, outdoor grill area, and key-card only access into the building. The campus is under the law enforcement jurisdiction of the UCF Police Department which provides 24-hour security for the campus including the apartment community.
Library
In 2004, the Universal Orlando Foundation Library at Rosen College was opened along with the new Rosen College Campus. The library was named after Universal Orlando due to a donation of money and materials at the time of its construction. The Rosen Library holds materials relating to the hospitality industry, including the areas of event management, golf and club management, lodging management, restaurant management, theme park management, and tourism management. The Rosen Library also offers multimedia related to the previously mentioned areas of study and technology for its patrons to use. The Rosen Library is also one of seven libraries in the United States which holds the status as a United Nations World Tourism Organization depository and carries UNWTO materials in English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
