Broken down in this article are the two semesters of hospitality and tourism courses within Centennial College’s Hospitality Foundations program.

1. Hospitality and Tourism Courses That Serve As a Foundation
The great thing about a post-secondary education is that you can decide whether you want to attend a
college program or university, depending on your area of interest, monetary situation, how quickly you
want to enter the field and more. If you’re deciding between a Hospitality Degree in Canada or diploma
but aren’t sure which is right for you or you don’t have the credentials needed to enter either, there is an
undertaking that can help. Centennial College’s Hospitality Foundations offers a combination of general
education and hospitality and tourism courses that result in an Ontario College Certificate and the
knowledge needed to move onto the next step of a college career, during which you are invited to join any
program of your choice.
The time period it takes to complete these foundation hospitality and tourism courses is just two short
semesters but the knowledge gained can offer you perspective that will help you to be successful. Let’s
take a look at the combination of general education and hospitality and tourism courses that make up this
program.
Semester One: Learning from professors who have experience in the field, you are exposed to a carefully
measured pace to program delivery. Foundation hospitality and tourism courses during this semester
include Geography and Tourism - Western Hemisphere, during which you learn about the world’s
landscapes and how the landscapes of the western hemisphere relate to tourism and diversity in culture;
as well as Sanitation, Safety and Hygiene. The second of these two hospitality and tourism courses is
important as more than 60 per cent of the food consumed is prepared in restaurants, delicatessens,
cafeterias, or institutional kitchens. Working in hospitality often means coming in contact with food so you
must learn how to become a safe food handler, supervisor and manager. However, the first semester is
also focused on general education by way of math, college communication skills, and life skills and job
readiness courses.
Semester Two: Semester two is also a balance of general education and hospitality and tourism courses
that will help you to become totally comfortable with the college environment. The general education
courses are a continuation of first semester courses with more advanced levels of math, college
communication skills and life sills and job readiness. Meanwhile, hospitality and tourism courses include
Geography and Tourism - Eastern Hemisphere, which compliments the first semester Western Hemisphere
course. You learn the impact of tourism on the environment and the importance of eco-tourism.
Additionally, you partake in another hospitality and tourism course called Theory of Food Fundamentals,
during which you focus on theoretical principles of food production.
To apply for the foundation hospitality and tourism courses, you must be advised and assisted to
register by the Centennial College Assessment and Advising Centre. Also required is at minimum an
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature applicant status (19 years or older).
Before you register, you must complete the Centennial College English skills assessment and score 130 or
131. In some cases, your skills assessment score will satisfy the requirements for your original program
choice. Centennial College will notify you by sending an offer to their original program if there is still space
available.
For more information visit Centennial College at
http://www.centennialcollege.ca/Programs/ProgramOverview.aspx?Program=2121