School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management

Main Office
Chilton Hall, Room 331

Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #311100
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-2436
Fax: 940-565-4348

Judith C. Forney, Dean
Dee K. Knight, Associate Dean
Lea Dopson, Chair, Hospitality Management Division
Tammy Kinley, Chair, Merchandising Division

Faculty

Note: Effective Nov. 18, 2011, the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management was reorganized as the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism, with two departments: the Department of Hospitality and Tourism and the Department of Merchandising and Digital Retailing. These organizational changes will be represented fully in the 2012–2013 Undergraduate Catalog.

The School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management’s mission is to prepare professionals for careers in the fashion, hospitality and home furnishings industries. Graduates are employed as buyers; manufacturing representatives; showroom managers; product development managers; sourcing specialists; e-merchandisers; department and specialty store managers; restaurant, hotel and club managers; food service directors; catering directors; destination managers; meeting and convention planners; and cruise line hospitality managers.

The School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management (SMHM) operates as one unit but is organized into divisions based on the following programs:

Hospitality Management

The mission of the hospitality management division is to educate students for management and leadership in the hospitality industry and to lead the profession through excellence in teaching, research and service.

The Hospitality Management program at UNT features a unique laboratory environment. Students put theory into practice in a state-of-the-art student-operated restaurant on campus and through work experiences and internships at hospitality operations in the Dallas–Fort Worth region.

Merchandising

The mission of the merchandising division is to integrate education, leadership and research experiences that contribute to critical analyses of merchandising strategies as they relate to the development, distribution, evaluation and use of fashion-oriented products in the consumer-driven global market. Effective leaders are developed through core competencies that include solving complex problems, generating new knowledge, communicating effectively, and creating new product and business strategies. These core competencies are achieved through innovative curricula, laboratory experiences, applied technology, research activities and industry involvement. A merchandising degree can lead to careers in the multifaceted industry, including product development, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing.

Academic Advising

Information regarding academic matters is available in the office of the dean. Advising for entering freshmen and transfer students is available from Student Services in the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management. The associate dean and student services staff answer questions concerning degree audits, application of transfer credit, general academic requirements, policies and procedures and application for graduation, and assist students in the selection and sequencing of courses.

Programs of Study

The school offers undergraduate programs and certificates in the following areas:

Students may pursue teacher certification in Family and Consumer Sciences (grades 8–12) and in Hospitality, Nutrition and Food Science (grades 8–12) under the Bachelor of Science with a major in hospitality management.

The department offers minors in hospitality management , home furnishings merchandising , merchandising with a fashion emphasis and merchandising with a fashion merchandise development emphasis .

Degree Requirements and the University Core Curriculum

Occasionally a course required for a degree may also satisfy a requirement of the University Core Curriculum. In addition to taking the required course, a student may elect to take a different course from among those available to fulfill that core requirement; doing so, however, may add to the total number of hours required for the degree. Students who have questions regarding degree and core requirements should consult a degree program advisor.

Bachelor of Science

The school offers the Bachelor of Science degree with majors in digital retailing, home furnishings merchandising, hospitality management, and merchandising. The school also offers teacher certifications in Family and Consumer Sciences and in Hospitality, Nutrition and Food Science.

Degree Audit

Each student should have a degree audit prepared by the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management Student Services. This degree audit should be made by the end of the freshman year. Transfer students should have degree audits prepared during their first term/semester at UNT.

Minors

The minor requires at least 18 hours, including 6 advanced. To receive a minor in any of the Merchandising and Hospitality Management programs, a grade of C or above must be earned in each Merchandising and Hospitality Management (SMHM) course completed in residence or transferred to UNT.

Scholarships

Information about the following scholarships may be obtained by writing to the Associate Dean, School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management, 1155 Union Circle #311100, Denton, TX 76203-5017.

Completed scholarship applications are due February 1 in the office of the Dean of the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for academic awards, unless otherwise noted. To keep a scholarship, a student must maintain:

3.0 GPA each term/semester and 3.0 overall GPA;
status as a major in the School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management, taking required courses on degree audit and enrolling in at least one SMHM class per term/semester;
full-time status (i.e., 12 credit hours for undergraduate students and 9 credit hours for graduate students).

The following scholarships may be awarded to either merchandising or hospitality management majors:

Bobye J. Riney– Sophomore
Dean Suzanne V. LaBrecque
Ellen L. Flottman– Junior
Florence I. Scoular
Associate Dean Johnny Sue Reynolds
Merchandising and Hospitality Management
R. L. Cartwright Memorial
Woodruff Memorial

The following scholarships are awarded to merchandising majors:

Apparel Group Ltd.
Bette Bunge MacArthur Memorial
Fossil
Furniture Library Association Award
Jack Finger Memorial
JC Penney Company
Merchandising Board of Governors
Murray Munves
Nordstrom
Pier 1 Imports
Van Wyk

The following scholarships are awarded to hospitality management majors:

Alicia Hawkins Memorial
Alladin Hussein Memorial
Banfi Vintners
Ben E. Keith
Billie L. Parker
Chancellor’s Hotel and Restaurant Management
City Club of Fort Worth
Colin Ridgway Memorial
Don Paul and Esther Smith Memorial
Dr. Lea R. Dopson
Dr. Richard F. Tas
Felcor Lodging Trust Fund
Gaylord Texas Resort and Convention Center
Gregory S. and Barbara Hirsch
Guerra Family Endowment
Hiram Walker Hospitality
Hospitality Management Board of Governors
Hyatt Regency Dallas
Jerry W. Dickenson
Joyce, Milton and Tyler Duesman
J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
J.T. Whitaker
J.W. Marriott Hospitality
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Les Dames d’Escoffier
Luby’s Inc.
Lucille Murchison
Marriott Hotel and Restaurant Management
National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS), Region VII
Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH)
Phillip J. Romano Scholarship in Hospitality Management
PFS
Roundtable for Women in Foodservice
Ruby Nell McMahan Ruth
Spring Creek Barbeque
Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival
T.G.I. Friday’s

Accreditation

The hospitality management program is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA) (P.O. Box 400, Oxford, MD 21654; 410-226-5527).

Graduate Study

The school offers graduate programs and certificates in the following areas:

Master of Science with a major in hospitality management;
Master of Science with a major in international sustainable tourism; and
Master of Science with a major in merchandising.

The School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management, in collaboration with the College of Business, offers the following dual degrees:

Master of Business Administration/Master of Science with a major in merchandising; and
Master of Business Administration/Master of Science with a major in hospitality management.

The School of Merchandising and Hospitality Management offers the following 12-hour graduate academic certificates:

Merchandising;
Hospitality management; and
Event management.

For information on graduate study, consult the Graduate Catalog.