Page 21 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Winter, 2023

Students in USM’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program visit a Gulf Coast casino. At the casino, students were able to talk one-on-one with executives for a heightened learning experience.
Industry professionals can earn Casino Management Certificate
GULF COAST — The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) offers an online Casino Management Certificate for industry professionals, business students at the university, and non-business students. This certificate is available for those interested in learning about casino management
who have access to a computer and the internet.
The certificate requires two three-
hour core classes and two three-hour elective classes for a total of 12 hours
of coursework. USM faculty and industry professionals deliver the classes by way
of online lectures and project monitoring through the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program. These faculty members, who either work or have worked in the casino industry, teach as they conduct academic research on the state of the gaming industry. The classes feature video lectures by online speakers from Harrah’s Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National Gaming, Boyd Gaming Corporation and more.
Casino and Resort Operations along with Casino and Resort Marketing make up the two core classes for the certificate. Casino and Resort Operations is designed to teach participants casino concepts, terminologies, and acronyms from the industry. The highlighted topics from the course include Gaming Regulations, the Economic and Social Impacts of the Casino Industry, Revenue Flow and Game Protection, and Resort Operations.
Casino and Resort Marketing is designed to teach students to analyze the casino/ resort market and management, as well as to provide an analytical approach and view of statistics in the market.
The elective courses offer insights
on advertising, special events and tournaments, new technology in casinos, trends in the industry, and more. The courses are designed to give participants business-oriented training to prepare them for management positions, and to provide participants with the opportunity to be considered for promotion from their current positions.
For students looking for a more in-depth education, USM offers course study and programs for a BSBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management. This program is designed to equip students with firsthand experience through projects, field trips, service-learning courses, and internship opportunities. The program cultivates students’ professional skills and operational capabilities in the areas of hotel, casino and resort management, food and beverage management, and event management. Recent graduates work for a variety of casinos, hotels, resorts, restaurants, tourism offices, convention centers, country clubs, attractions, and numerous other types of tourism outlets.
There are multiple financial aid opportunities available for undergraduate students. The program also provides scholarships for qualifying undergraduate students currently working in the industry or seeking to join the industry upon graduation. Enrollment for courses in the certificate program begin in both fall and spring semesters.
Prospective certificate participants can visit online.usm.edu/certificate/casino- management-certificate for more specific information on enrolling. Undergraduate students can visit usm.edu/undergraduate- admissions/apply.php for more information on applying to the university.
WINTER 2023
MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS 21