The Restaurant Management program provides opportunities for students to learn necessary skills for a management career in the food and beverage industry. Learn business law, food and beverage management, supervision and customer service through a variety of hospitality courses.
The Restaurant Management Associate in Applied Science degree provides the academic and practical background for immediate entrance into this dynamic field. Certificates in Restaurant Management and Wine Appreciation and Knowledge are also available.
Students will also gain real-world experience essential to careers in restaurant management through Waterleaf Restaurant, located on the COD campus. Learn from expert faculty who bring industry expertise and real world experience to the classroom.
Determine Your Path
Take classes in supervision, restaurant service and sales, hospitality industry accounting and law for hospitality.
Whether you are preparing for a career in hospitality or tourism, planning to transfer to a four-year institution or updating your skills, College of DuPage has the right program for you. We offer:
- Dedicated instructors with years of practical industry and teaching experience.
- Flexible schedules with day and evening classes.
- Affordable classes.
- Articulated transfer program with several prestigious institutions.
- Programs designed to prepare students with the skills that are in demand by today’s employers.
- Study Abroad opportunities to locations such as Budapest and Prague.
Restaurant Management
The Restaurant Management, Associate in Applied Science provides an opportunity for students to learn the necessary skills for a management career in the food and beverage industry. This degree requires a minimum of 64 credits
Restaurant Management
The Restaurant Management certificate focuses on front of the house service skills. Upon completion, students will be prepared for management positions in the restaurant industry. The certificate requires 16 credits.
Wine Appreciation and Knowledge
The Wine Appreciation and Knowledge certificate teaches students techniques that impact the aroma, flavor, body and style of wines and learn how certain practices affect wine flavor through lectures and tastings. The certificate requires 10 credits.
COD Stories
"The professors offered a top-notch educational experience by blending the educational materials with the real-world situations that need to be taught in any field. COD courses offered the flexibility of attending college and working at the same time, helping me set a fine balance.” - Santino Cardoso
Santino's COD StoryGet Started Today
The first step to getting started in restaurant management is to apply for admission.
Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree or certificate that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.
Hospitality and Tourism Program graduates will
- Engage in critical analysis and creative thinking
- Apply the basic principles of analytical thinking and problem solving when examining hospitality management issues
- Analyze trends and organizational data and develop business strategies for the hospitality industry
- Collect and evaluate information to make sound decisions
- Demonstrate the ability to integrate concepts and theories across functional business domains (e.g. Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Operations, etc.)
- Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to function effectively in a diverse and global organizational environment
- Demonstrate proficiency in the application of selected technology
- Synthesize core concepts in the areas of hospitality accounting, finance, human resources, marketing, operations, and quantitative methods
- Demonstrate personal and professional standards for ethical decision-making and social behavior
- Evaluate personal and professional goals and development based on perceived strengths and potential for life-long learning
- Demonstrate the ability to read, listen, and clearly express themselves using written, oral, visual, and quantitative methods to communicate effectively with superiors, coworkers, customers, and members of the community
- Demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills needed for managing diverse and global hospitality operations
College of DuPage partners with several four-year institutions to help students seamlessly complete a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Students can connect with Transfer Services for personalized guidance on transfer opportunities.
For more information about Transfer Pathways, visit the College of DuPage Catalog. The pathway outlines a typical two-year course plan for completing an AA or AS degree before transferring to a four-year program. Course requirements vary by institution, so consult your faculty or academic advisor for specific guidance.
Articulation Agreements
College of DuPage maintains transfer agreements with many colleges and universities to ensure a smooth transition toward a bachelor’s degree. These agreements often include a defined course sequence. Students should regularly meet with a faculty member or the Counseling and Advising office to stay on track.- Eastern Illinois University, AAS Hospitality and Tourism, Hospitality Management to BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Eastern Illinois University, AAS Hospitality and Tourism, Meeting and Event Planning to BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management
- Northern Illinois University, AAS Hospitality Management to BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management, emphasis in Hospitality Management
- Northern Illinois University, AAS Meeting and Event Planning to BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management, emphasis in Meeting and Event Planning
- Roosevelt University, AAS in Hospitality Management to BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management (3+1)
- Roosevelt University, AAS in Meeting and Events Planning to BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management (3+1)
- Roosevelt University, AAS in Restaurant Management to BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management (3+1)
- Roosevelt University, AAS in Travel and Tourism to BS in Hospitality and Tourism Management (3+1)
- Western Illinois University, AAS in Hospitality Management to BS in Recreation, Park & Tourism, Option of Study: Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management Administration (RPTA)
- Western Illinois University, AAS in Meeting and Event Planning to BS in Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration (RPTA), Option of Study: Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
- Western Illinois University, AAS in Restaurant Management to BS in Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration (RPTA), Option of Study: Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
- Western Illinois University, AAS in Travel and Tourism to BS in Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration (RPTA), Option of Study: Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
Transfer Guides
Beyond articulation agreements and guaranteed admission programs, College of DuPage courses transfer to many other institutions. Transfer Guides help students select COD courses that meet prerequisites for specific majors and include details such as contact information, major requirements, general education requirements, and transfer policies.- Southern Illinois University Carbondale, AAS Hospitality Management to BS in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale, AAS Restaurant Management to BS in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale, AAS Travel and Tourism to BS in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management
Career Information
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