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Summer Academic Program in Hospitality Management
Overview
The Florida State University Special Program in Hospitality Management was designed to provide qualified international students with the unique opportunity of becoming global-ready graduates while gaining hands-on experience in the field of hospitality and tourism. This program is currently available only to students from the Macau University of Science and Technology, Sookmyung Women's University, the Institute for Tourism Studies, City University of Macau, and Hansung University.The program provides participants with the enriching experience of taking an intensive course in Leadership in Hospitality Management in the FSU Dedman School of Hospitality for one week on the FSU campus followed by a six-month academic training program at the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.
Fieldtrips to one of the premier resorts in Florida, and also to a prestigious residential country club, provide students with opportunities to learn more about the fields of hospitality and tourism in the state of Florida—where these are the number one industry.
During the nine 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 an 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 the Walt Disney World Resort.
The Disney International College Program provides them 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.
The Disney International College Program provides students with the opportunity to live in gated communities with students from a variety of cultures. They receive training and then engage in work-integrated learning throughout the Disney theme parks and resorts. Students engage in academic training between 30-37.5 hours per week, except when classes are not in session during which time the hours might exceed 37.5. 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 at least second year students in good academic standing at their home institution majoring in international tourism or hospitality management. They need to be outgoing and friendly, have very good English conversation skills, and pass an oral interview with a Walt Disney World recruiter. Students should 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 receiving a minimum of the following scores on one of these standardized English assessment tests may be scheduled to interview for this program: 5 on the IELTS, 60 on the iBT TOEFL, 490-510 on the PBT TOEFL, or 550-600 on the TOEIC.
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Program Dates
| University | Arrive at FSU | Arrive at the Walt Disney World Resort | Program Ends |
| Institute for Tourism Studies/City University of Macau | June 8, 2013 |
June 17, 2013 |
December 20, 2013 |
Macau University of Science and Technology/Institute for Tourism Studies/Sookmyung Women's University/City University of Macau |
July 6, 2013 |
July 15, 2013 |
January 10, 2014 |
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Program Fee
The program fee includes airport pick-up in Tallahassee, room and board as well as scheduled activities at Florida State University, transportation to Orlando by charter bus, health insurance (for all non-U.S. passport-holding students), bed linens and towels, textbook and materials for FSU course, FSU student ID card, FSU polo shirt, and 12 FSU credits for coursework and academic training.Students are responsible for at least the following, in addition to the program fee: roundtrip airfare, J-1 student visa application and SEVIS fee, book and course materials for any course at the Walt Disney World Resort, and all expenses while participating on the Disney International College Program.
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Curriculum Overview
Hospitality Management Academic Component
The academic component includes four 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.
HFT 4930 Leadership in Hospitality Management (3 credits, letter-graded)
Students will study human behavior principles important to leadership, decision making, professional and personal success in the hospitality industry. These principles will include: self-development, decision making, leadership traits, ethics, motivation, values, priorities/time management, goal setting, interdependence, employee and guest relations, interpersonal communication skills, diversity & synergy, team building, continuous improvement and career success. This will be an intensive course taken while at Florida State University. Course will include fieldtrips to a near-by beach resort and country club.
HFT 3941 Hospitality Practicum (3 credits, S/U)
This three-credit hour practicum is designed to provide the student with hands-on, work-integrated learning in a professional setting. As part of this practicum, students will participate in Disney’s Traditions class, complete all necessary training for their assigned role(s), and work up to 37.5 hours per week in their role(s). Through this practicum, students will develop new professional skills and examining key areas of Disney operations. Students will set their own professional objectives and evaluate their progress towards achieving those objectives over the course of their program. And, at the end of the practicum, they will write a final report summarizing their professional role, analyzing their progress towards meeting their professional objectives, and assessing their overall experience in completing their practicum.
COM 3930 Applied Intercultural Communication (3 credits, letter-graded) This 3-credit course begins at Florida State University and continues with regular class meetings throughout the academic training period. The Florida State University portion of the 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. During the academic training period, 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. They will develop an increased awareness of their unique cultural identity, and an increased respect for the world views of others from diverse cultural backgrounds.
COM 4910 Corporate Social Responsibility (3 credits, S/U)
This 3-credit course is designed to encourage students to combine first-hand experience in a professional setting—during 30-37.5 hours weekly in their academic training—with an exploration of four different areas of Walt Disney World policy which exemplifies Disney’s approach to corporate responsibility. Research topics may include but are not limited to the Walt Disney World’s Volunt-ears® program (for employee involvement in service to the community), environment programs (recycling and energy conservation), diversity and equal opportunity policies, health, food safety practices, Friends for Change initiative, Human Rights Policy Statement, Magic of Healthy Living program, or Worldwide Conservation Fund.
Click Here for more information about the Disney Collegiate Courses.
The above will constitute a full course of academic study as required by exchange visitor regulations. Students must maintain fulltime study in order to participate in academic training. Credit will only be awarded for courses completed at the time of departure.
Peer Mentors
Two or more FSU students will serve as a Peer Mentor to field questions students might have about college campus life in the United States, and facilitate activities and excursions. For the summer academic programs, these Peer Mentors will live in the residence hall and eat meals with program participants.Peer Mentors will serve as the students' first point of contact if they should have problems of any kind. The typical Peer Mentor is an upper level FSU student who is knowledgeable about FSU, is interested in learning about other cultures and has experience traveling abroad.
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Housing & Dining
Students will be housed in Ragans Residence Hall on the Florida State campus. This residence hall is one of newest on campus, and features apartment style housing. Each student will have his or her own room, but will share a bathroom with one other student. Each apartment will have 3 or 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a common area, and a kitchen.Students can use Ethernet cords to access the Internet using the Ethernet ports in each bedroom. There will be a study room and laundry facilities available in the residence hall. Apartments are fully furnished, and the Center for Global Engagement will provide a pillow, towel and bedding for the student to use while at FSU and take with them to Orlando.
All meals will be provided for the students during their time at FSU. Most meals will be on campus in the dining facilities with other FSU students. All scheduled meals during the students' time at FSU are included in the program fee.
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Walt Disney World Overview
After students finish their study at Florida State University, students will begin a 6-month academic training experience at the Walt Disney World Resort. During this time, students will complete several academic requirements, including a monthly class; live in company sponsored housing for Disney Internships & Programs participants; and work in one of the parks, resorts or entertainment areas of the Walt Disney World Resort in order to receive the 3 hours of Florida State University credit for the practicum experience.
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Orientation
FSU Center for Global Engagement staff will hold a class for students within the first few days of arriving in Orlando, in order to provide assistance with the transition should any problems arise. The Disney International College Program will provide an orientation session spanning several days in order to help students adjust to living in the provided apartments and working at the Walt Disney World Resort. Typically, students find out where they will be working on the second day of orientation. All cast members will attend a class called Traditions where they will learn about the Disney Look and heritage of Walt Disney World. Students will need to have business attire for this class. When students pass the Traditions class, they may then be trained by their work location for their role. The length of the training process depends upon both the student's role and work location, and can take from two days to three weeks.
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Housing & Transportation
Participants live in company-sponsored, fully furnished, one- to four-bedroom apartments near the Walt Disney World Resort. A bus system provides students with transportation to work, classes, shopping and social activities. Security is provided. An accommodation charge covers the housing fee, utilities, high-speed Internet, local phone service and transportation. This charge is deducted from participant’s weekly paychecks.
To find a complete description of apartment amenities, current housing rates and other fees and housing information, visit: www.disneyinternationalprograms.com/aee.html
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Roles & Workplace
Students should think carefully about the positives and negatives of each role. There is a comprehensive list of the duties that fall under each role in the information provided by the Walt Disney World Resort. FSU encourages each student to visualize performing each and every task under a role before selecting it.
The most common roles are quick service food and beverage, merchandise and operations. Students offered these roles can expect to change roles after three months, and by so doing, experience two different work environments and learn a new set of skills. Students offered the Rotation Role which includes quick food and beverage, merchandise and operation will be assigned two out of these three roles by Disney. Students may not choose the two they prefer, and they may not choose to stay in their first role for the entire six months. Disney may not leave them in the same role for six months. Students who are offered a role in hospitality, concierge, lifeguard, culinary or character performer will have the opportunity to learn about their role over the full six-month internship.
The role a student is given will be decided by the Walt Disney World Resort, not FSU. Students will find out which role they have been assigned in their offer letter from Walt Disney World Resort. The student can then accept or deny the offer. Occasionally, the Walt Disney World Resort reserves the right to change a role assignment after the student has signed the offer letter.
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