Hospitality: Food and Beverage Career Pathway
Is your student a people pleaser? Do they love whipping up delicious new dishes or planning parties? A passion for visiting new places and creating unique travel experiences? Then a career in hospitality might be a good fit.
Hospitality careers vary from high-end chefs and line cooks to hotel clerks and event planners. But all of these have one thing in common: the aim is to put a smile on the customer’s face!
Gain real-world skills through project-based learning.
Students who choose this Stride Career Prep* pathway will prepare for a career in hospitality with our project-based learning curriculum, designed to hone their problem-solving, communication, critical thinking, and team collaboration skills. The curriculum includes culinary arts, restaurant management, food production, and marketing and is taught by experienced professionals from the business world.
Get ahead of the competition.
Our curriculum prepares students to take the exams for the necessary credentials to embark on a great career in the hospitality industry right after graduation—without the hassle or expense of additional training or degrees. The tuition-free program includes exam prep for the NOCTI Food and Beverage Services and ServeSafe Food Handler certification exams, highly regarded industry credentials.†
We encourage students to jumpstart the job search by helping them create a professional résumé, cover letter, and profile on Tallo, the leading professional networking platform for Gen Z. Plus, they connect virtually to working hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs through Nepris.**
Our Hospitality: Food and Beverage Curriculum in Detail
All of our students take the core courses required for high school graduation in their state. The chart below, however, shows the additional classes students take as a Hospitality: Food and Beverage pathway student, and the industry-recognized certification exams they can prepare to take. You can see the rest of the curriculum by viewing the curriculum by viewing the full course list.
Find a school near you that offers hospitality: food and beverage.
Stride Career Prep programs with the Hospitality pathway are available at tuition-free K12-powered, public online schools in the following states:
Don’t see your state? There are also tuition-free options in related fields like the Entrepreneurship pathway.
Occupational Spotlight
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Food Service Manager
Food service managers are responsible for the daily operation of restaurants or other establishments that prepare and serve food and beverages. They supervise staff, handle any disputes with customers, order ingredients and supplies, schedule staff, and manage budgets and payroll records. Work on nights and weekends is often required.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$41,940
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
2,200
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
1% (slower than average) [Note: Estimate is pre-pandemic.]
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, plus experience working in food service
Lodging Manager
Lodging managers ensure that guests in their hotel, resort, or bed and breakfast have a pleasant experience. They also ensure that the business is run efficiently and profitably. They interview, hire, train, and supervise staff; manage budgets; and handle any disputes with customers. Work on nights and weekends is often required.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$39,205
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
-6,700
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
-12% (decline)
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, plus relevant experience
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
Meeting, convention, and event planners arrange all aspects of weddings, reunions, conventions, professional meetings, and other events. They handle everything from facility rental to catering to audiovisual equipment to entertainment. Work on nights and weekends is often required.
2020 Median Starting
Salary1
$40,206
Projected New Jobs, 2019-20292
10,800
Expected Percentage Growth in No. of Jobs, 2019-20292
8% (faster than average) [Note: Estimate is pre-pandemic.]
Typical Entry-Level Education
High school diploma or GED, plus experience working under an experienced planner; some employers may prefer a bachelor’s degree
FAQs
Do you need a college degree to be a restaurant manager?
No. You will, however, need several years of experience working in a restaurant, as well as demonstrated leadership abilities.
Our Hospitality pathway is great training for a career as a restaurant manager; we give students training in marketing, as well as courses in culinary arts, restaurant management, and food and beverage handling, which come in handy when running a restaurant!
Do you need a college degree to be a wedding or event planner?
No. If you are self-employed, you will need to acquire the relevant business licenses, market your services to potential clients, and show prospective clients that you have experience under your belt. If you are just getting starting in the business, it’s helpful to work as an assistant to a more established event planner or work on an event planning team for a larger organization.
Our Hospitality pathway is great training for a career as a wedding or event planner. Students get training in marketing, as well as courses in culinary arts, restaurant management, and food and beverage handling, which will come in handy when organizing the catering for an event!
Learn more about course offerings in the other Stride Career Prep career fields.
Hear how Stride Career Prep can work for your teen.
Think this might be a good fit for your student? Want to learn more about the program from current participants? Email your questions and hear what Stride Career Prep students have to say.
1Burning Glass Labor Insights, accessed October 16, 2020. Data is median salary for job postings with that job title, with typical minimum education requirements for that job title (as shown in chart on this page) and 0-2 years of experience, from October 1, 2019, to September 20, 2020.
2Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Website last modified date: Wednesday, September 1, 2020.
*Stride Career Prep is a program for grades 9–12. At some schools, career exploration is offered in middle school.
**Opportunities vary by school; please visit your school page or check with your school counselor.
†Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
