Lead the Way in Hospitality
Cal State East Bay’s Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism (HRT) Certificates are designed to prepare you for a successful career and advancement in the dynamic and growing hospitality industry. You can look forward to building skills related to leadership, communication, technology, research, creativity, and problem solving in various industry sectors, including restaurants/food services, hotels/resorts, and special events/meeting planning.
Choose a Certificate That’s Right for You
With Cal State East Bay’s HRT Certificate options, you can choose to earn your certificate in Food and Beverage Management, Lodging Management, or Event Planning and Management. All certificates focus on recency and relevancy along with experiential learning activities that are a direct reflection of the hospitality sector of your choice.
Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Taught by hospitality industry experts
Advance at Your Own Speed
Cal State East Bay’s HRT Certificates offer a flexible and online format that is perfect for busy working professionals like you, because it allows you to participate on your own time. In fact, all courses are offered asynchronously which means you’ll never have to log in to your class at any specific time.
And just because you’re an online student, doesn’t mean you won’t have the opportunity to expand your professional network. Throughout the program, you’ll engage in interactive asynchronous discussions, assignments, readings, and projects with other business-driven professionals.
Meet the Growing Demand Within the Hospitality Industry
As the demand for hospitality professionals continues to grow, the need for qualified hospitality professionals is ever increasing. The training and skills acquired in one of the three HRT Certificates can transfer into a variety of areas, including hospitality director, supervisor, planner or specialist.
Furthermore, equipped with your certificate from an accredited university, you’ll show potential employers that you have the specific skills and expertise in the growing field of hospitality to increase your marketability in today’s economy.
Occupational Trends
Seven of the top 20 fastest growing industries are in leisure and hospitality.
—Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
For hospitality professionals, the 2021 median wage in the San Francisco Bay Area was $73,554, while the national median wage was $60,590.
—Labor Market Analytics - Lightcast
Employment of hospitality professionals in the United States is expected to grow 4.2 percent from 2023 to 2033.
—Labor Market Analytics - Lightcast
How can a HRT Certificate impact your career? »
Lead the Way in Hospitality
Upon successfully completing your certificate, you’ll be prepared for employment in the hospitality, recreation, and tourism industry that includes a range of opportunities and responsibilities.
Furthermore, you’ll be able to:
- Explain effective and sustainable solutions based on evidence to address challenges faced in the provision of lodging, food services, travel and event management.
- Identify effective leadership and teamwork strategies, management skills, methods to evaluate service quality and meet consumer needs in hospitality and tourism.
- Articulate clearly in both written and oral formats the ethical, philosophical, historical, and administrative foundations of the hospitality and tourism industries.
- Identify techniques that contribute to a culture of dignity and respect in the hospitality and tourism profession.
Become a Dynamic Hospitality Professional
The Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Certificates are structured around a set of courses enabling you to develop general perspectives and skills, with a unique opportunity to specialize in a distinct area.
The HRT program currently offers certificates in Food and Beverage Management, Lodging Management, and Event Planning and Management.
Certificate Requirements
To earn one of the HRT Certificates, you must meet the following requirements:
Certificate in Food and Beverage Management
The Certificate in Food and Beverage Management is a comprehensive and specialized program designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in the dynamic field of food and beverage management. This program provides a solid foundation in key areas such as culinary arts, hospitality management, and business administration, enabling students to effectively manage operations within the food and beverage industry. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be well-prepared to pursue roles such as food and beverage manager, restaurant manager, banquet manager, catering supervisor, or even venture into entrepreneurship by establishing their own food and beverage business.
| Required Courses | Units | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOS 215 Food and Beverage Management | 3 | X | X |
| HOS 300 Marketing in HRT | 3 | X | X |
| HOS 335 Intro to Wine, Beer and Spirits | 3 | X | |
| HOS 340 Menu Planning, Cost Control, and Purchasing | 3 | X | X |
| HOS 450 Data-Driven Decision-Making in HRT | 3 | X | X |
Certificate in Lodging Management
The Certificate in Lodging Management program is designed to provide individuals with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to succeed in the dynamic and ever-growing field of lodging and hospitality management. This program equips students with a solid foundation in hotel operations, guest services, revenue management, and leadership, preparing them for rewarding careers in the lodging industry. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will be well-prepared to pursue a variety of career opportunities such as front office manager, guest service manager, operations supervisor, revenue manager, or even advance to executive-level positions within the industry.
| Required Courses | Units | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOS 200 Lodging Management | 3 | X | X |
| HOS 350 Resort and Club Management | 3 | X | |
| HOS 355 Advanced Lodging Management | 3 | X | |
| HOS 360 Lodging Alternatives | 3 | X | |
| HOS 410 Revenue Management | 3 | X | X |
Certificate in Event Planning and Management
The Certificate in Event Management curriculum is carefully crafted to cover a wide range of topics essential to success in the field. Students will explore event planning and design, focusing on creating engaging experiences and crafting memorable event concepts. They will learn about event logistics, including vendor management, audiovisual production, stage setup, and crowd management. This program provides a solid foundation in event planning, coordination, and execution, preparing students to successfully organize a wide range of events, from corporate conferences and trade shows to weddings and music festivals.
| Required Courses | Units | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOS 210 Meetings, Conventions and Special Events | 3 | X | X |
| HOS 310 Design and Management of Special Events | 3 | X | X |
| HOS 315 Wedding Planning | 3 | X | |
| HOS 320 Event Leadership (Prerequisites: HOS 210, HOS 310)** | 3 | X | |
| HOS 300 Marketing in HRT | 3 | X | X |
**The two prerequisite courses for HOS 320 – HOS 210 and HOS 310, must be completed before taking HOS 320.
Accessible Anytime, Anywhere
All courses are asynchronous, which means you never need to log in at a particular time or on a particular day in order to complete your coursework.
With a completely online program, you can look forward to communicating with your instructors and advisors in a variety of ways: e-mail, telephone, and videoconference.
Who will you be learning from? Meet your professors. »
Dr. Thomas C. Padron
What leads me to lead are the leaders that need to be led.
Dr. Thomas Padron is an associate professor of hospitality and tourism, and the undergraduate and graduate program coordinator at Cal State East Bay. He has been a hospitality educator for more than 20 years teaching courses on-campus, hybrid, and online. Dr. Padron has held many positions in the hospitality industry including chef, sous chef, banquet chef, director of catering, banquet sales director, foodservice director, and foodservice manager, for example.
He has a PhD in Business Organization and Management with a specialization in Leadership from Capella University; a Master of Science Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management with a specialization in Education, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management with a concentration in Food and Beverage both from the University of Wisconsin-Stout; an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts, and a Vocational Diploma in Food Service Production both from Madison College (formerly Madison Area Technical College). Dr. Padron is also a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), and a Certified Wedding Planner (CWP) through The Certified Wedding Planner Society.
Dr. Padron is active in the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) where he served as the Chair of the Faculty Committee, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Meeting Professionals International Northern California Chapter (MPINCC) where he served as the Chair of the Emerging Professionals Committee, International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) where he served as the chair of the faculty committee, as well as the California Restaurant Association (CRA), and the National Restaurant Association (NRA). He is also an active member of the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE), and West Federation CHRIE, having served as the director of conferences, secretary, and treasurer.
Join the Program
There are no admission requirements for this program. If you can satisfactorily complete the program coursework, you are invited to apply.
To apply to the program, simply complete the certificate application form below.
Still have some unanswered questions? Visit the Support section for additional program information. »
At Cal State East Bay, we pride ourselves on putting students first, from the moment you inquire until you graduate. We hope you've found answers to your questions in this support center, but if not, please get in touch.