Specializations, Minors, and Concentrations
Students may choose from the options below:
Specializations for Students who Matriculated in Fall 2022 or Later
As a Nolan School student, you have the option to complete a specialization (12 credits) . You may also choose to take additional electives from across the different specializations to pursue your interests as your schedule allows. The Nolan School’s specializations are organized into three broad categories: the business of hospitality, hospitality operations, and real estate. For more information please click here.
Minor
Concentrations for Students who Matriculated in Spring 2022 or Earlier
What is a concentration? Cornell Nolan School undergraduate students can academically specialize in a particular area of hospitality through one of the school’s three concentrations – Finance, Accounting & Real Estate (FARE); Hospitality Leadership (HOLD); and Services Marketing and Operations Management (SMOM). Within each of these concentrations, students have flexibility to formulate a personalized course plan to gain knowledge in a focused area with their faculty advisor. Where minors are open to all students across the Cornell University colleges/schools, Cornell Nolan School concentrations are only available to Hotelies. A concentration is not a requirement to graduate, but many students pursue a concentration in efforts to learn more about a specific area of interest relative to their personal and/or career aspirations.
How to Declare a Concentration:
- Step One: Research concentration options
Think about not only the concentration subject (FARE/HOLD/SMOM), but the subcategory. Students must choose an area of focus from the list below and work with the Recommended Faculty member from that area of focus.- Students are encouraged to meet with a Career Management Career Coach to learn more about what a concentration may add to your academic/professional goals. Career Coaching appointments can be made via the Student LaunchPad: Hotelie Launchpad (cornell.edu)
- Step Two: Discuss your concentration plan with the Recommended Faculty member from your area of focus (listed below).
Concentration coursework is not pre-prescribed and courses are determined based on the area of study and student interest. The student and the recommended faculty member will determine what exact 12 credits of upper-level (3000-level and above) electives will make up their concentration.- Faculty contact information: Faculty & Research | Cornell Nolan School
- NOTE: it is important to view the University Courses of Study and consider course offerings to ensure that the identified electives will be available during a given semester and that any prerequisites are completed prior to planned enrollment.
- Step Three: Complete the Election of Undergraduate Concentration Form: Election of Undergraduate Concentration Form (cornell.edu) and include concentration faculty signature.
- Step Four: Submit the Election of Undergraduate Concentration Form to ha-registrar@cornell.edu
Important Notes:
- All courses toward the concentration must be taken for a letter grade (unless offered SX/UX only).
- Students must achieve a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA within the 12 credits of concentration courses.
- Concentrations must be declared prior to the start of the student’s final semester.
- Students cannot complete or declare more than 1 concentration.
- The concentration will not appear on your Cornell diploma, but it will appear on the official Cornell transcript.
Questions? Please e-mail ha-advising@cornell.edu
Finance, Accounting, and Real Estate (FARE)
| Areas of focus include: | Recommended Faculty AY 2023-2025: |
| Corporate Finance | L. Canina, S. Carvell, Y. Mao |
| General Financial Management | L. Canina, S. Carvell |
| Hospitality Controllership | M. MacAusland |
| Security Analyst/Investment Banking | L. Canina, S. Carvell, F. Liu |
| Design | L. Chervinsky, B. Wellstead |
| Development | L. Chervinsky, B. Wellstead |
Hospitality Leadership Concentration (HOLD)
| Areas of focus include: | Recommended Faculty AY 2023-2025: |
| Human Resources | B. Tracey, T. Lakhani |
| Law | A. Klausner, D. Sherwyn |
| Managerial Leadership | T. Simons, K. Workman |
| Entrepreneurship & Innovation | N. Tarallo |
Services Marketing and Operations Management (SMOM)
| Areas of focus include: | Recommended Faculty AY 2023-2025: |
| Beverage Management | D. Miller, C. Stanley |
| Business Analytics | A. Anderson, E. Belavina, J. Chestnut |
| Corporate Food & Beverage Operations | A. Adalja, C. Gaulke, L. Jan, M. Ozanne, A. Susskind |
| Information Systems Management | A. Whitmore |
| Revenue Management | C. Anderson |
| Services Marketing Management | H. Chun, R. Kwortnik, K. LaTour, M. Lynn |
| Specialty Operations | L. Jan, R. Kingra, H. Kolakowski |