Florida International University - School of Hospitality and Tourism Management

Courses Offered and Course Description

HFT 3003 - Introduction to Hospitality and Tourism Management
A survey course providing an overview of the industry, its history, problems, and general operating procedures. Operating executives from the fields of hotel, restaurant, foodservice, travel, and tourism will be featured periodically.

HFT 3713 - International Travel and Tourism
An introduction to the international scope of travel and tourism. A brief analysis of regional framework and specific regions of the world, explains the impacts of tourism development in the world’s economy, human society and the physical environment. An analysis of the international organization of tourism and the facilitation procedures required for a successful implementation of the tourism activity are highlighted.

HFT 3718 Travel and Tourism Systems
The course provides a foundation for the concept of travel and tourism as a system. Study of the importance of interrelated activities of the components integral to international and domestic travel and tourism: destination planning and development.

Biography

Claudia Castillo works for the School of Hospitality Management as the International Enrollment Manager for the TUC/FIU program in the Tianjin Center in China. She is in charge of the admissions’ coordination, enrollment, and registration of the TUC/FIU program in Tianjin, China. She handles the administrative details of the program as well as students’ academic admission processes, follow up, registration, and advisement. In her administrative role, she works with professors' contracts, visas, and the coordination of faculty and staff travel needs.

She works closely with Dr. Remington, Associate Dean of Academic Programs. Some of her other responsibilities include the coordination of activities for the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Research (IHTER) and its many programs. Additionally, she is responsible for the administration of the Executive Masters and Master Programs via Distance Learning. She is in charge of the admissions, application, and evaluation process, class registration, and student advisement.

Ms. Castillo is also the Assistant Director for the school's Career Development Office. She is responsible for recruitment activities, career fairs, student orientation and workshops, poster presentations for companies interested in visiting with the Hospitality students as well as career counseling, resume writing, interview skills training and any other career related help the Hospitality Management students might need. Claudia works with different companies interested in hiring or offering internships to the Hospitality Management students.

As an Adjunct Instructor for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Claudia teaches Travel and Tourism classes. She graduated from Miami Dade Community College – Tourism Department with an Associate of Science Degree with Honors in 1993, an Associate of Arts Degree with Honors in 1994, and in 1995 she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the School of Hospitality Management. In 1999 she received her Master of Science Degree in Human Resource Development and Adult Education from the College of Education. She is a is a member of Delta Phi, Phi Theta Kappa, National Dean's List, National Scholar's Foundation, and Golden Key Honor Society.

Claudia is involved her community. She volunteers for the Children's Reading Program at the Miami Dade Public Library System. She is also a facilitator for the Lupus Fund, a non-profit organization that counsels, educates, and informs both patients and the public about Lupus.

Ms. Castillo believes that her biggest contribution to FIU is her ongoing commitment to education and training to both students and fellow employees. She says that in order to have a full and rich life one needs to be happy in both the workplace and at home. She believes that one can make a difference by using one’s knowledge to help others. She believes that hard work, enthusiasm, dedication, and willingness to learn new things all the time are the tools that lead to success.

| Curriculum Vita |