Overview
The Center for Global Engagement's Special Program in Hospitality Management provides qualified international students with the unique opportunity of becoming global-ready graduates while gaining hands-on experience in the field of hospitality and tourism and earning a total of twelve academic credits from Florida State University.
The Hospitality Management Program provides participants with the enriching experience of taking an intensive three-credit course in Managing Service Organizations through the FSU Dedman College of Hospitality on the FSU campus followed by a six-month academic training program at Walt Disney World® Resort near Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
FSU faculty from the Dedman College of Hospitality integrate course-related field trips and guests speakers into the curriculum to provide students with opportunities to learn directly about the fields of hospitality and tourism in the state of Florida, where these are the number one industry.
During the ten days on the FSU campus, students benefit from the experience of living and studying at a U.S. university and from interacting with FSU faculty, staff and students. They also begin a six-credit Applied Intercultural Communication course, which will continue throughout their stay in the U.S. This course, combined with social and cultural activities, helps students prepare for the experience of living, working and studying at Walt Disney World® Resort.
During their six-months of internship (academic training) at Walt Disney World® Resort, students continue their six-credit Applied Intercultural Communication course, in addition to completing their three-credit Hospitality Management Internship.
This approach provides students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field of hospitality and tourism and to apply the principles they have studied at a world-renowned university.
Students live with program participants from a variety of cultures in a state-of-the-art student housing complex near Walt Disney World® Resort. This complex has shopping within walking distance and provides full amenities and transportation to and from the Disney theme parks and resorts. Students receive training in their Disney roles and then engage in work-integrated learning throughout the Disney theme parks and resorts. Students also meet with an FSU professor monthly. Total immersion in such an experiential learning situation helps students develop the invaluable cross-cultural skills and competencies needed to be successful global citizens in the 21st century.
Eligibility
Students need to be in good academic standing. They must be pursuing a degree program at an FSU partner university for this program. They must be majoring in Hospitality, Business, Marketing, Tourism, Communications, or a closely-related field, and their major must be approved by their home university to participate. At least some of the credits earned during the program must count toward students' graduation requirements. Students must be enrolled in their home institution the semester prior to participating in this program or be considered to be enrolled by the home university during their program participation. Students must intend to return to their home institution after the program’s completion. They must be 18 years old or older. Ideal candidates are outgoing and friendly, have very good English conversation skills. All students must pass an oral interview with a Disney recruiter. Students should also possess a sincere desire to gain hands-on experience in the field of hospitality and tourism for their future career path and be willing to be actively engaged in all components of the program.
Each partner school will implement a pre-screening process in order to identify highly qualified and motivated students with strong English skills. Only students who receive a minimum of the following scores on one of these standardized English assessment tests and who are nominated through their home university's pre-screening process may be scheduled to interview with a Disney recruiter: 5.5 on the IELTS, 61 on the iBT TOEFL, 500 on the PBT TOEFL, or 550-600 on the TOEIC. Final acceptance into the program will be determined by the Disney recruiter conducting the personal interviews with each student.
2024-2025 Hospitality Management Program Dates
| Participating Universities | Arrive at FSU | Arrive at Walt Disney World® Resort | Program Ends |
|
Catholic University of Korea Dankook University Hansung University Kyonggi University Sookmyung Women's University Universidad de Colima Woosong University / SolBridge International School of Business |
June 28, 2024 (All Universities) |
July 8, 2024 (All Universities) |
January 5, 2025 (All Universities) |
Program Fee
The program fee of $5,000 USD includes 12 FSU credits for coursework and academic training as well as scheduled activities at Florida State University, airport pickup in Tallahassee and transportation to Orlando by charter bus, textbook and materials for FSU course, FSU student ID card, FSU transcripts, bed linens, pillow, towel, FSU polo shirt, and ongoing support from FSU staff.
Students are responsible for at least the following, in addition to the program fee: roundtrip airfare, J-1 student visa application fee and SEVIS fee, Disney Program Assessment Fee, health insurance which meets the specific requirements of the J-1 Visa program and the State of Florida, and all expenses while participating in the Disney International College Program academic training.
2023-2024 Hospitality Management Program Faculty
Elizabeth Lewis, MA
Managing Service Organizations
Hospitality Management Internship
Robert Hughes, Ph.D.
Applied Intercultural Communication
Curriculum Overview
Hospitality Management Academic Component
The academic component includes three Florida State University courses, as outlined below, for a total of 12 Florida State University credits. Students are required to make sufficient progress in all courses in order to continue in the academic training.
Managing Service Organizations (3 credits)
This three-credit course is designed to provide an in-depth examination of the concept of service and the linkages of the three most important functional areas of the firm: marketing, operations, and human resources. The course addresses the concept of quality customer service and how Hospitality-based companies address and successfully sustain quality customer service. A wide range of American-based hospitality companies such as The Walt Disney Company, The Ritz Carlton, and Pappas restaurants will be used to discuss the concept of customer service. This will be an intensive course taken while at Florida State University and will include at least one course-related fieldtrip.
Hospitality Management Internship (3 credits)
This three-credit hour internship is designed to provide the student with hands-on, work-integrated learning in a professional setting. Students will complete all necessary training for their assigned role(s), and work up to 37.5 hours per week in their role(s). They will set their own professional objectives and evaluate their progress towards achieving those objectives over the course of their program. They will study crucial Disney operations: guest services, leadership, marketing and people management. At the end of the internship, they will analyze their progress towards meeting their professional objectives, and assess their overall experience.
Applied Intercultural Communication (6 credits)
This six-credit course is designed to build the foundations for healthy cross-cultural adjustment; reinforce key principles of cross-cultural interaction; and teach essential elements of American culture in order to prepare students to study and live in the United States. Students will explore the cross-cultural implications of working for one of the largest entertainment and hospitality organizations in the world, including working with an international customer base, and living and working with thousands of international and American college students.
