Guide to Restaurant Management Degrees
RestaurantManagementDegree.org has information about restaurant management and culinary arts degrees and careers. To the unprepared, restaurant management can be a daunting task. Many restaurants outside of chains require management to hold a degree along with experience. While general management and hospitality management are great choices, restaurant and food management degrees provide the best foundation for this career.
A degree in restaurant management can open doors to a number of different opportunities. Whether you goal is to open your own restaurant or manage someone else’s, knowing how to build customer loyalty, train staff, and manage finances and inventories are essential for success. A restaurant management degree program focuses on developing these competencies so you’re ready to enter the workforce with confidence.
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Are You Interested in Restaurant Management?
The restaurant business is a huge industry with many opportunities for the right candidate. Restaurant owners, managers, and staff work hard to earn their continued patronage. That’s why earning a degree in restaurant management is a worthwhile endeavor if you’re considering a job in this field. You’ll learn the necessary skills to succeed in this exciting and challenging profession.
The Job of a Restaurant Manager
There are many tasks assigned to a restaurant manager due to the multifaceted nature of the industry. But just to give you an idea of what to expect on the job, O*NET OnLine provides a useful job summary:
- Monitor compliance with health and fire regulations regarding food preparation and serving, and building maintenance in lodging and dining facilities.
- Monitor food preparation methods, portion sizes, and garnishing and presentation of food to ensure that food is prepared and presented in an acceptable manner.
- Count money and make bank deposits.
- Investigate and resolve complaints regarding food quality, service, or accommodations.
- Coordinate assignments of cooking personnel to ensure economical use of food and timely preparation.
- Schedule and receive food and beverage deliveries, checking delivery contents to verify product quality and quantity.
- Monitor budgets and payroll records, and review financial transactions to ensure that expenditures are authorized and budgeted.
- Maintain food and equipment inventories, and keep inventory records.
- Schedule staff hours and assign duties.
- Establish standards for personnel performance and customer service.
In order to perform these tasks, proper training is often required. A degree in restaurant management will prepare to take on these responsibilities with confidence and competence.
Coursework and Degree Requirements
Once enrolled in a restaurant management degree program, you’ll be required to complete a series of courses designed to prepare to work in this industry. Each school is different and has its own requirements, but just to give you an idea of the curricula, check out the list below of topics often covered in these programs:
- Sanitation and Safety
- Food and Beverage Operations Management
- Hospitality Managerial Accounting
- Facilities Management and Design
- Legal Issues and Ethics in Hospitality Management
- Hospitality Information Systems
- Management Supervision and Career Development
- Event Management
- Accounting Fundamentals
- Hotel Operations Management
- Recreation Facilities Management
- Wine and Spirits Management
- Strategic Planning and Marketing
Once you have completed the necessary coursework, you might be required to complete an internship. An internship serves to train and prepare students to work in the industry. You might work at a local restaurant, resort, or hospitality management firm. Where you intern should align with your future goals.
Types of Degrees in Restaurant Management
If you’re a recent high school graduate or looking for a career change, you can choose to pursue an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in restaurant management. Both degree programs provide entry-level training. However, a bachelor’s degree requires students to complete general education courses in addition to required major courses.
An associate degree will likely take two years to complete while a bachelor’s degree will take three or four years to complete. Many schools now offer programs online or partially online to help students who have busy schedules and need maximum flexibility.