Program: Guests Services Specialist (6052) (T.C.) - Florida State College at Jacksonville

Technical Certificate

Mission/Purpose

The mission of the Guests Services Specialist program is to educate, train, and develop students for career-oriented positions as cooks and managers in the dynamic foodservice and hospitality industries. The College successfully recruits, retains, and graduates students who progress through curricular cohorts. Program requirements are rooted in competencies developed by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) and the Accrediting Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA), and emphasize a practical, hands-on application approach to understanding the foundations of culinary arts and hospitality management.

The Program

The Guest Services Specialist program is designed to provide career-oriented students with basic hospitality management principles and training for supervisory/management positions in the food service/hospitality industry. The program provides students with a foundation for building a rewarding career in a dynamic, growing industry. The foodservice and hospitality industry is the second largest and fastest growing business in Florida.

A minimum grade of C or higher must be achieved in all professional coursework.

The Career

The culinary and hospitality fields are consistently one of the hottest, fastest-growing industries, especially in Florida. Many employers in today’s market are expressing a preference for education over experience.

Upon completion of coursework, Florida State College at Jacksonville does not guarantee employment or salary in a given field of study. Any jobs or salaries mentioned are given as examples of potential employment not a representation of guaranteed income. Graduates may need to seek employment outside the local area.

Application Procedure

Immediately upon enrolling and before selecting first semester courses prospective students must be advised by the Program Manager to ensure proper course sequencing. Not all courses are offered every term. There is a specific order in which many courses must be completed. The recommended sequence is available in a student handout. Students must complete FOS 1201 with a grade of C or higher (unless they have completed this course prior to program admission) and pass their ServSafe Managers exam with a passing score of 75% or higher during their first term coursework.

Need More Information? Contact:

Kasey Anderson, Instructional Program Manager, Downtown Campus, (904) 633-8129 or kasey.anderson@fscj.edu

Curriculum

Professional Coursework

Credit Hours: 15

A minimum grade of C or higher is required in all Professional coursework. Students must complete FOS 1201 with a grade of C or higher (unless they have completed this course prior to program admission) and pass their ServSafe Managers exam with a passing score of 75% or higher during their first term coursework.

Total Credit Hours: 15 / Program Length: 6 Months

Graduation Requirements

In order to be awarded a technical certificate, students must have met the following requirements.

Fulfill all academic requirements for the chosen program of study as outlined in the Florida State College at Jacksonville catalog and curriculum.
Earn minimum prescribed semester hours for the chosen program of study with a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) on a 4.0 scale on all courses that apply to the chosen program of study.
Complete a minimum of 25 percent of the total hours required for the program in residence at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Credit by examination and credit for prior learning do not count toward this residency requirement.
Fulfill all obligations, financial or otherwise, to the College before graduating.

Note: Students are cautioned to pay particular attention to the following statements.

A student’s graduation date will be the date of the end of the College term in which the student has fulfilled all academic requirements (The removal of an incomplete grade does not affect students’ graduation dates since the grade change is effective at the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned rather than the term in which the incomplete work was made up).
Students who enter under the (2023/2024) catalog will be assigned to the degree or certificate requirements in effect during the 2023/2024 academic year. The student’s assigned catalog year will remain in effect as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. Changes to requirements as mandated by law or by rule of the District Board of Trustees may supersede this provision.
Many courses in this catalog have prerequisite requirements and/or corequisite courses listed in the course descriptions. Students are advised to be guided by these requirements.
Students who place into developmental education courses are required to complete designated developmental education courses with a grade of C or higher regardless of program of study.

Articulation

This certificate articulates directly into the Hospitality and Tourism Management (2214) (A.S.) and Culinary Management (2259) (A.S.) degrees. Students may pursue one or more certificates to develop or upgrade their skills in a particular field, or pursue the A.S. degree and earn technical certificates while completing the requirements for the degree. Contact an advisor to determine the career education path that is best for you.