Flagstaff, Arizona - NAU’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) with the NAU Franke College of Business is offering a new online graduate certificate in Hospitality Innovative Technology (HIT) equipping you with the real-world skills needed in the workplace today.

This five-course online certificate will be awarded to students who are interested in a career in technology. You will learn skills in strategic technology management, big data analytics, project management, social media, and digital marketing. Technology is an emerging skill needed in growing service businesses including retail, hotel and restaurant management, healthcare, banking, real estate, airlines, etc. Learning about system analysis, data analytics, business information technologies, operation systems, data security and service systems will prepare HIT certificate graduates for their careers. After completing each course, students will be awarded a badge for the skill learned.

“Employment in computer and information technology occupations are projected to grow 13 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. These occupations are projected to add about 667,600 new jobs. Demand for these workers will stem from greater emphasis on computing, the collection and storage of big data, project management, and information security," - U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A certificate in HIT provides the technology skills necessary to succeed in today’s services management industry, open doors to career opportunities, and create the potential for career advancement with greater financial rewards.

“Students will learn essential business analytics skills in data mining including regression, classification, cluster analysis, association analysis and data visualization in the applied business intelligence class. I am looking forward to having an enjoyable class with you together," -Dr. Gavin Zhang, Professor of Information Systems, The W. A. Franke College of Business.

“The COVID-19 pandemic primed businesses for innovation, where technology plays a role as a game-changer. The Hospitality Innovative Technology certificate program will equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and tools to be innovative technology leaders in the hospitality, tourism, and business industry," - Dr. SoYeon Jung, Associate Professor and Director of HRM Graduate Studies, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

“This certificate program is designed to support service businesses digitally transforming their services to provide engaging, innovative, and effective customer-centric experiences to their guests," - Dr. Muhittin Cavusoglu, Assistant Professor, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Director of HDTLab.

“The online innovative technology certificate with the awarded badges for each course completed, is designed for the sharpening of your career technology skill set and your advancement in the services business industry including careers in technology, retail, hospitality, and health. It can be transformative for your career acceleration," - Dr. Fred DeMicco, Executive Director, School of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Contact us to learn more about NAU’s HIT certificate

Professor SoYeon Jung | [email protected] or
Professor Fred DeMicco | [email protected]
nau.edu/hrm/hospitality-innovative-technology

About Northern Arizona University – School of Hospitality and Restaurant Management

Northern Arizona University is a higher-research institution providing exceptional educational opportunities in Arizona and beyond. NAU delivers a student-centered experience to its nearly 30,000 students in Flagstaff, statewide and online through rigorous academic programs in a supportive, inclusive, and diverse environment

The School of Hotel and Restaurant Management, which resides in The W. A. Franke College of Business, aspires to be the premier hospitality leadership school providing innovative, multiculturally-focused, student-centered learning experiences, both in-person and through distance-learning programs.

The W. A. Franke College of Business provides a diverse, close-knit class experience for students from varied backgrounds, including first-generation, veteran, out-of-state, urban and rural. Businessman and entrepreneur, Bill Franke, provided a transformative $25 million gift because he recognized one of our key values: opportunity is for everyone. The support and business education our students receive directly impacts the well-being of NAU and all of Arizona. At Franke, you will become a force for change no matter where you go.

Fred DeMicco
Northern Arizona University