The Gaylord Opryland Academy of Hospitality and USCCU Academy of Business and Finance
About The Academy
The Gaylord Opryland Academy of Hospitality and USCCU Academy of Finance creates successful college and career-ready individuals by focusing on Responsibility, Achievement, Professionalism, and Service. The following pathways are offered in the Gaylord Opryland Academy of Hospitality and USCCU Academy of Finance:
-
Banking and Finance
-
Culinary Arts
-
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Banking and Finance
Banking and Finance
In this pathway, students will gain an understanding of the banking and financial industries, beginning with basic economics as the underlying basis of the transfer and growth of money in the financial services system.
National Career Cluster Alignment
The Banking and Finance Pathway is a part of the Finance career cluster. The Finance Cluster includes jobs that plan and manage finances and investments. Additionally, finance occupations provide services like banking, insurance, accounting, and financial management.
Pathway Courses
Level 1 Course: Accounting I
- Accounting I is an essential course for students who wish to pursue careers in business and finance, or for those who wish to develop important skillsets related to financial literacy. Whether students aspire to be future business owners or work in finance with other companies, accounting skills are fundamental to success and applicable in many different fields. In this course, proficient Accounting students develop skills to analyze business transactions, journalize, post, and prepare worksheets and financial statements and apply financial analysis to business processes. Additionally, students receive exposure to the ethical considerations that accounting professionals must face and the standards of practice governing their work, such as the GAAP (generally accepted accounting procedures) standards. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be prepared to apply their accounting skills in more advanced Business and Finance courses, and ultimately pursue postsecondary training.
- Aligned Industry Credential: Intuit QuickBooks Certified User. The QuickBooks Certified User tests students on new features found in the QuickBooks Online software, including receipt capture from a mobile device, cloud-based app support, work from anywhere on any device, instant file access for accountants, and schedule and sends invoices automatically.
Level 2 Course: Banking and Finance
- Banking and Finance is designed to challenge students with real-world banking and financial situations through a partnership with a local financial institution. This business partnership should provide resources for faculty and students that include but are not limited to mentors, seminars, and hands-on experience with day-to-day banking operations. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will have a strong foundation for continued education in finance and business administration, specializing in occupations that support banking and financial institutions.
- Aligned Industry Credential: Microsoft Office Specialist - Excel Associate Certification. The Microsoft Office Excel exam tests competencies in fundamentals of creating and managing worksheets and workbooks, creating cells and ranges, creating tables, applying formulas and functions, and creating charts and objects. The exam covers the ability to create and edit a workbook with multiple sheets and use a graphic element to represent data visually.
Level 3 Course: Financial Planning
- Financial Planning is the capstone course in the Banking and Finance program of study intended for students interested in advanced analysis of financial decision-making and wealth management. In this course, students will delve into advanced concepts related to saving, investment, taxation, and retirement planning, and will be responsible for compiling original portfolios of investment and retirement options to present to mock prospective clients. In addition, students will learn to critique the financial consultations of others based on ethical and legal considerations. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be prepared to pursue advanced study of financial planning, wealth accumulation and management, and market analysis at a postsecondary institution.
- Aligned Industry Credential: Center for Financial Responsibility Personal Financial Literacy Certification. The Personal Financial Literacy High School Certification offers students an in-depth understanding of financial concepts and products as they relate to credit cards, loans, retirement, investments, and mortgages. This certification prepares individuals to master key industry standards, including, for example, common budget strategies, assets and liabilities, saving and investing, risk-return tradeoff, estate planning, sources and types of credit, financial institutions, workers compensation, tax liability, and balloon and reverse mortgages. Students who earn this certification will be prepared to make informed financial choices to help them improve their workplace performance and achieve personal long-term financial success.
Dual Credit and/or Dual Enrollment Opportunity in this Pathway
- Credit Type: Dual Credit
- Institution: NSCC - Nashville State Community College
- Dual Credit- Credit by assessment. Students are enrolled in a high school course that is identified as a match with a post-secondary course. Students complete a college assessment at the end of the course to prove mastery of content. If the student passes the test, the student can use the college credit at that institution or request a transcript to use at a different institution.
Affiliated Career and Technical Student Organization: DECA
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.
Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts
This pathway prepares students for careers in the culinary field as a personal chef, caterer, executive chef, and food and beverage manager. Course content covers the components of commercial kitchen safety and sanitation, proper tools and equipment, quality food production, and service operation.
National Career Cluster Alignment
The Culinary Arts Pathway is a part of the Hospitality and Tourism career cluster. The Hospitality and Tourism Career Cluster covers the management, marketing, and operations of restaurants, hotels, attractions, recreation events, and travel services.
Pathway Courses
Level 1 Course: Culinary Arts I
- Culinary Arts I equips students with the foundational knowledge and skills to pursue careers in the culinary field as competent entry-level quick service and fast food employees. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will have knowledge in the components of commercial kitchen safety and sanitation, history of the foodservice industry, hospitality careers, nutritional concepts, recipe basics, proper kitchen tools and equipment, and kitchen staples. Throughout the course students will gain experience in commercial food production and service operations, while preparing for further training in the culinary arts program of study at the secondary and postsecondary levels. Artifacts will be created for inclusion in a portfolio, which will continue throughout the full sequence of courses
- Aligned Industry Credential: OSHA 10 General Industry. The OSHA 10-Hour General Industry certification allows students to increase their value as entry-level workers by demonstrating mastery of the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in the general industry workplace. The program also provides information regarding workers' rights and employer responsibilities. OSHA training and certification ensures that workers are more knowledgeable about workplace hazards and their rights.
Level 2 Course: Culinary Arts II
- Culinary Arts II is an applied-knowledge course to prepare students for careers in the culinary field as a prep cook, line cook, catering assistant, and many other entry-level food and beverage industry career paths. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will have a working knowledge of commercial kitchen safety and sanitation, menu planning, food presentation, purchasing and inventory, cooking principles, and food preparation. Students will gain experience in commercial food production and service operations, while preparing for further training in the culinary arts program of study at the secondary and postsecondary levels. Artifacts will be created for inclusion in a portfolio, which will continue throughout the full sequence of courses.
- Aligned Industry Credential: ServSafe Food Handler. The ServSafe Food Handler Certification, suitable for individuals in food handler employee-level positions, verifies basic food safety knowledge.
Level 3 Course: Culinary Arts III
- Culinary Arts III is an advanced course intended to further equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a variety of careers in the culinary field. Upon completion of the course, students will be proficient in components of commercial kitchen safety and sanitation, dining room service, food preparation and presentation, bakeshop preparation skills and equipment, and advanced cooking principles. Students will gain experience in commercial food production and service operations, while preparing for further training at the postsecondary level. Artifacts will be created for inclusion in a portfolio, which will continue throughout the full sequence of courses
- Aligned Industry Credential: ServSafe Food Manager. The ServSafe program provides food safety training, exams, and educational materials to foodservice managers. Students can earn the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-Conference for Food Protection (CFP).
Dual Credit and/or Dual Enrollment Opportunity in this Pathway
- Credit Type: Industry Credential for Dual Credit
- Institution: NSCC - Nashville State Community College
- Industry Credential for Dual Credit- Credit by assessment. Students are enrolled in a high school course that is identified as a match with a post-secondary course. Students complete the aligned industry credential assessment at the end of the course to prove mastery of content. If the student passes the assessment and earns the aligned industry credential, the student can use the college credit at that institution or request a transcript to use at a different institution.
Affiliated Career and Technical Student Organization: SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.
Hospitality and Tourism Management
Hospitality and Tourism Management
This pathway focuses on the skills and knowledge needed for careers within the hospitality industry, including hotel management, customer service, and travel advising. In this program 10 of study, students investigate the impact of the hospitality industry on the local and global economy, marketing foundations and functions, and human resource management.
National Career Cluster Alignment
The Hospitality and Tourism Management Pathway is a part of the Hospitality & Tourism career cluster. The Hospitality & Tourism Career Cluster covers the management, marketing, and operations of restaurants, hotels, attractions, recreation events, and travel services.
Pathway Courses
Level 1 Course: Hospitality & Tourism II
- Hospitality and Tourism Management II builds on the foundational course and an intermediate course for students interested in learning more about careers in the hospitality and tourism industry. This course covers multiple topics preparing students for the hospitality and tourism industry with the skills and knowledge in management, human resources, recruitment, career development, marketing, finances, economics, and customer services. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be able to pursue more advanced coursework in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program of study.
- Aligned Industry Credential: Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification. The Southwest Airlines Professional Communication Certification focuses on how to communicate effectively in the workplace by addressing topics, including time management, written and verbal communication, listening skills, and effectively managing diversity in the workplace.
Level 2 Course: Hospitality & Tourism III
- Hospitality and Tourism Management III is an advanced course intended to further build on the knowledge and skills from previous courses and preparing students for a variety careers in the hospitality and tourism industry. This course covers multiple topics in employability and professionalism, international and global hospitality and tourism, legislation and governing laws, crisis preparedness and emergency procedures, marketing and selling, and financial applications. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will be able to pursue more advanced coursework in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program of study.
- Aligned Industry Credential: Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification. The Southwest Airlines Professional Communication Certification focuses on how to communicate effectively in the workplace by addressing topics, including time management, written and verbal communication, listening skills, and effectively managing diversity in the workplace.
Level 3 Course: Event Planning and Management
- Event Planning & Management is designed to be a project-based, capstone experience in which students’ research, prepare, deliver, and reflect upon an original event for a community organization, business, or non-profit. Upon completion of this course, proficient students will further refine leadership, teamwork, and management skills acquired in previous courses and apply them through application in a practicum setting. The course is highly customizable to meet local needs: partner organizations may be chosen at the discretion of student teams, with the approval of the instructor and appropriate school personnel. Organizations can include local nonprofits, charities, shelters, agencies, businesses, sports teams, school-based enterprises, or other entities with a demonstrated need for assistance in staging an event or a commitment to providing students with work-based learning opportunities.
- Aligned Industry Credential: Southwest Airlines Professional Communications Certification. The Southwest Airlines Professional Communication Certification focuses on how to communicate effectively in the workplace by addressing topics, including time management, written and verbal communication, listening skills, and effectively managing diversity in the workplace.
Dual Credit and/or Dual Enrollment Opportunity in this Pathway
- Credit Type: Dual Credit
- Institution: NSCC - Nashville State Community College
- Dual Credit- Credit by assessment. Students are enrolled in a high school course that is identified as a match with a post-secondary course. Students complete a college assessment at the end of the course to prove mastery of content. If the student passes the test, the student can use the college credit at that institution or request a transcript to use at a different institution.
Affiliated Career & Technical Student Organization: SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA improves the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics.
Community Partners
-
Cedarstone Bank
- Deloitte
- Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
- Nashville Airport Hilton
- Southwestern Travel Group
- TSU College of Business
- US Community Credit Union
McGavock High's Food Truck Begins Rolling Opportunities for Students
McGavockCulinary_2026_foodtruck