Resort & Hospitality Management Degree
Current information appears on Castleton University pages for students entering in and prior to the 2022-2023 academic year.
Live and Learn on the Mountain
Our accelerated Resort & Hospitality Management bachelor's degree program will take you just three years to complete and combines traditional classroom learning with on-mountain experience at Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area — the largest ski area in the eastern U.S.
Why Study Resort & Hospitality Management at Castleton?
- An accelerated program. Earn a high-caliber, resort-focused Resort & Hospitality Management degree in 36 months to save costs and stand out to employers.
- College life meets resort life. Live and play in the Green Mountains at the newly renovated Castleton Lodge at Killington — your living-learning laboratory.
- Hands-on work, every year. All students participate in three paid co-operative experiences at Killington Ski Resort.
- Expert faculty. Learn directly from the industry leaders at Killington Resort – the “Beast of the East.”
- Free ski pass. As an employee of Killington Resort, you’ll receive all of the perks, including a free ski pass and access to mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, and more.
Request more information about the Resort & Hospitality Management program →
Live in the Castleton Lodge at Killington
Launch Castleton Lodge at Killington
You will have the opportunity to live and work in the heart of Vermont’s Green Mountains at the newly renovated Castleton Lodge at Killington – your living-learning laboratory. The Castleton Lodge at Killington is located on the Killington Access Road and is nestled among a variety of mountain businesses: a pizza shop, a coffeehouse, hotels, and more.
In addition to student dorm rooms, the Lodge also includes a computer lab, dining room and food service, laundry facilities, recreation areas, and a fireplace lounge. Your classrooms are just a five-minute drive away in the Highridge Conference Center.
When you live at Castleton Lodge at Killington, you get to live the outdoors life. As a resort employee, you will receive all of the perks, which includes a free ski pass. Killington has the largest vertical drop in New England at 3,050 feet. You can hit the slopes during your winter downtime and also enjoy what Killington has to offer in other seasons: mountain biking, kayaking, hiking, and much more.
Learn more about the Castleton Lodge at Killington →
Working at Killington Resort
The heart of your education will be your three co-op work experiences at Killington Resort. For each co-op, you’ll earn a regular paycheck for your work from the resort, as well as nine credits from Castleton. Co-op opportunities run the gamut of jobs offered at the resort, including working in guest services, at the front desk at the Killington Grand Hotel, running snowmaking equipment, operating ski lifts, assisting in event planning, and more.
Students who show promise have the opportunity to become supervisors at Killington while still in the program, with responsibility for six to eight employees.
Learn more about cooperative work experiences at Killington Resort →
What You'll Learn
The program runs on a trimester system with a full slate of courses in the Fall and Spring and three, nine-credit co-ops (in Winter 1, Winter 2, and one Summer term). Through your coursework and paid co-op work experiences, you will learn:
- Resort and hospitality operations
- Financial and budget management
- Resort and hospitality law
- Market research
- Event planning
- Food and beverage management
- Lodging operations
View resort & hospitality management courses →
Meet our Resort & Hospitality Management Faculty
Our Resort & Hospitality Management degree program courses are taught by accomplished veterans of the resort and hospitality industry, Killington Resort staff, and our dedicated Castleton University business faculty.
Meet our Resort & Hospitality Management faculty →
Attend a Killington Experience Day
If you’re interested in learning more about the Resort and Hospitality Management Program, we invite you to join us for a visit at Killington. Throughout the year, we host virtual and in-person admission events at the resort called Killington Experience Days. To request an individual visit with the School of Resort and Hospitality Management, please complete our information form. We will be happy to connect with you and then arrange a private visit to accommodate your interests.