In an increasingly digital world, the art of bringing people together face-to-face has never been more crucial. Whether you’re planning the wedding of the century, building large-scale trade shows, putting together conferences with an international audience, or simply hosting parties at work, you’ll need the fundamental knowledge and skills to go above and beyond for your attendees.
Jobs for meeting, convention, and event planners are projected to grow faster than average between 2023 to 2033, making this career extremely sought after and secure.
The Meeting and Event Planning Certificate program offered through SDSU Global Campus is perfect for first time event planners, seasoned professionals, and everyone in between to augment their career in this ever-changing and highly rewarding industry. Bolster your knowledge and skills and discover how expert meeting and event planners create unforgettable experiences that foster genuine connections and drive meaningful outcomes.
Michelle Corcoran
“The meeting and event planning certificate program is a great opportunity for both young and aspiring professionals and people who want to change their careers at any level to have an entry into the meeting and event planning world,” says program advisor Michelle Corcoran.
The meeting and event planning program is designed for a wide-range of individuals, such as opportunity-seekers looking to explore a new career, newcomers looking to help with planning a single meeting or event, event planning professionals hoping to hone their craft, and forward-thinkers wanting to grow their careers.
The certificate program is fully online, with synchronous classes held at specific times during the semester, allowing for collaboration with easy access to education from anywhere in the world. The course schedule covers a range of essential topics to build your foundation and grow your career. The seven core courses focus on catering, contracts, finances, marketing and promotion, site selection, and A/V tools and setup. You also will be able to customize your program by choosing from 18 units of elective courses.
Additional benefits include professional development and career planning opportunities, access to exclusive volunteering and job opportunities, and discounted memberships to professional organizations like Meeting Professionals International (MPI®) and International Live Events Association (ILEA®).
The certificate program can be completed in six months with a fully online course schedule of about 2-3 nights per week. The program also features industry certifications preparation, professional network building, and a focus on creating engaging and memorable events.
“I’ve gone to so many different schools and lived in so many places. It’s so rare to find that community and mentorship and receive help. This is the first time in my schooling career where I can really enjoy each day with all of my peers and professors,” said program graduate Fabiola Enciso.
Looking to advance your craft even farther? The SDSU Master’s in Meeting and Event Management program is designed to help you elevate your career and open doors to leadership positions in the industry. Created by the SDSU L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in collaboration with MPI®, this program is the first graduate-level program in North America that’s designed to advance meeting professionals to business event strategists.
Some certificate students decide to advance to the master’s program, while many find what they are looking for by earning their online certificate.
