University of Central Florida launches new theme-park management degree

Do you dream of becoming a show producer at Walt Disney World or maybe a casting agent at Universal Orlando?

University of Central Florida students start classes this week, and some of them will begin work on a new, unique degree tailored to such theme-park careers. The Rosen College of Hospitality Management at UCF has established a bachelor of science degree in entertainment management with a $5 million private donation.

The new degree will provide a career path for students seeking employment as business practitioners versus performers in the entertainment industry. This four-year undergraduate program will focus on the managerial aspects of entertainment and is the first of its kind to be offered by a SACS- accredited public institution in the United States, according to the university.

Entertainment-management students will be immersed in the business side of entertainment in the key areas of design, engineering, operations, finance and marketing to equip them to identify, create and manage successful entertainment products. The program will also develop important management skills, including leadership, communication, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork, to prepare graduates for management roles in private and nonprofit organizations.

The Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Management is an educational partnership between Rosen College and UCF’s College of Arts and Humanities. Students will take classes in both colleges to complete the 120-credit-hour program, which complements a variety of other disciplines.

Rosen College points out that the international entertainment industry is worth an estimated $1.5 trillion and is expected to grow by an annual average of 4.4 percent through 2019, meaning graduates likely will enter a favorable job market. They may pursue careers in a variety of entertainment industry sectors, including live performances and events, historical/cultural/educational exhibits, digital media, film enterprises, tourism attractions, experiential hospitality-related products, special events, sporting events and recreational or leisure activities.

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida, located in Orlando, provides students with a unique opportunity to learn and work in a premiere tourist destination. UCF has been ranked in the top five hospitality management programs worldwide and is the largest in the United States.

UCF’s entertainment-management degree program was established with a donation from Gregory Elias, a Curaçao-born lawyer and businessman with a lifelong interest in music and the arts.

For more information, visit hospitality.ucf.edu/entertainment or contact Rosen College at 407-903-8000 or [email protected].

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