Department History

How San José State University started      “Serving the World from Silicon Valley”

Timeline:

1992: The Hospitality Management program was established as an interdisciplinary program between the College of Business (now the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business) and the College of Applied Sciences and Arts (now the College of Health and Human Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Food Science (NUFS) and Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies (RECL)). Three tenure track faculty were hired (one in each of the three departments) and a director was appointed.

1995: A new director was appointed and the program was housed in the College of Applied Sciences and Arts with funding still coming from both Colleges.  It was then merged in 2002 with Recreation and Leisure Studies to form the Department of Recreation and Hospitality Management.

2003: The Hospitality Management program spun off RECL and became a standalone department, the Department of Hospitality Management (HSPM), with 3 tenure track faculty.

2006: The Department of Hospitality Management and the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies were merged again into one department, the Department of Hospitality, Recreation, and Tourism Management (HRTM). A minor in Hospitality was offered. 

2008: The degree title for the hospitality management program was changed to B.S. in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management.

2012: The Recreation program was merged into the Department of Health Science, currently the Department of Health Science and Recreation (HS&R). The B.S. in Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management program remained as its own department and the HRTM department name was changed to Department of Hospitality Management (HSPM).

2017: The department name was changed to Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management to reflect the growth and expansion of events in global the hospitality and tourism industry.

2021: The Department is relocated to house in the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business.