The Center for Hospitality & Business was created to encompass new academic offerings in hospitality management and business administration, as well as other programs tied to workforce development needs for economic growth and prosperity in the Rapid City/Black Hills region. Our main goals are:

• • Facilitate significant Rapid City community engagement to create a dynamic network of community leaders
  • Orchestrate an innovate educational center for tourism and hospitality programs creating partnerships, curriculum and workforce support for one of South Dakota’s top economic industries
  • Coordinate recruiting strategies to support current and new programs offered on site
  • Establish the presence as the centralized hub for academic partnerships in association with South Dakota State University, Dakota State University, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and Western Dakota Tech
  • Develop work-force driven programs, workshops, seminars that tie into business and industry needs and workforce training through our BHSU Advantage: Strategic Training Programs

• Associates in Tourism & Hospitality
• 61 Credits – 4 semesters
• 4 Core Competencies:
  • Lodging Management
  • Restaurant Management
  • Tourism Management
  • Meetings, Conventions and Event Planning Management
• The “605” Internship Experience:
  • 600 Internship Hours (12 Credits) + 5 Exploration Experiences
• 50% Applied Learning/Experiential Learning
• Course rotation: Summer, Fall, Spring & Summer
• Bachelors Degree option to continue for 2 more years to then receive a B.S. Business Administration – Management degree

• Get your MBA in Applied Management
• Study at one of the Top Programs in the World
• The Business programs at Black Hills State University are accredited by AACSB, putting them in the top 5% of business schools in the world. Through innovative instruction, mentoring, research, internships, and service, BHSU develops business graduates who become local and regional leaders and compete in a dynamic global environment.

BHSU Advantage: Strategic Training Programs

• • Developed to help you build a network of stronger connections and career advantage in this very competitive world
  • Programs are specifically aligned with work-force needs for the Black Hills region
  • Trainings are facilitated by local industry leaders
  • Heavily engaging and interactive to ensure there is significant personal and professional growth
  • Open to local professionals and college students, anyone hungry to learn new and innovative skills within their career area

Strategic Sales Training Program

Professional sales development program designed for up-and-coming sales experts focused on high level/next level sales tactics & skills.

Advanced Project Management

Project Management is one of the fastest growing professions and certified Project Managers are some of the most sought after professionals in the world! Become a certified Project Management in as little as four months through the Advanced Project Management Certification from the Black Hills State University.

Fuel the Growth: Forging Ahead in 2021 Through Economic Development

The Rushmore Region Economic Development Alliance (The Alliance) is an economic development initiative of Black Hills Community Economic Development. It was created to stimulate and increase business investment in the Black Hills of western South Dakota. The Alliance provides consulting, marketing, and other services to support the growth and success of new and existing businesses, as well as businesses relocating to the region. The Alliance works closely with local economic development organizations and development partners to build capacity within the region. One of the key ways it wishes to build capacity in the region is by providing educational content to stakeholders and partners, and to establish western South Dakota as a nexus for economic development leadership.

BHSU has partnered with the Rushmore Region Economic Development Liance to facilitate educational and leadership development trainings to not only strengthen the Black Hills region, the state of South Dakota and all other surrounding states.