Human Performance and Health Education

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Event Management – B.S.

This program is offered in-person.

This interdisciplinary program empowers students to create their own event management pathway.  The core program focuses on event ideation, program design, technology, execution management, budgeting, and community engagement and is experientially based with both in-class and off-campus learning. Students are provided with opportunities to work with community businesses to experience the challenges of event implementation. Curriculum is designed to support the Meeting Planner International (MPI) Standards with courses that focus on the meeting and business event competency standards industry subsets.

Why event management at Western Michigan University?

 

Real-world experience: 100% of event management students complete an internship or field experience. 

Engage with the industry: This program enables students to interact with professionals in the fields of event management, utilizing service learning and getting class credit while working in the field. This includes the planning and execution of events such as popups, catering, conventions and exposition management. Students are involved in local events such as Food Truck Fridays, Art-hop and the Holiday Parade.

Build your own pathway: This program provides focused career exploration for students as they individualize a program that incorporates both theory and practice within their academic pathway. Pathways include: corporate event management, festival and music direction, non-profit event management and conventions and corporate planning. 

Hitting the standard: Curriculum is designed to support the Meeting Planner International (MPI) Standards with courses that focus on the meeting and business event competency standard industry subsets.

    Meeting a national demand

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According to the U.S. Department of Labor, demand for job positions in this industry is expected to grow by 18% from 2021 to 2031, which is significantly faster than the average occupational growth.  

 

Build your own pathway

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Conventions, trade shows

This pathway dives into conventions, corporate meetings and trade shows.
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Festivals, music

This pathway is for students hoping to learn about stage management, tourism and the arts.
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Non-profit

This pathway is for students interested in non-profit sectors and grant writing.
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Weddings, corporate

This pathway is for students looking to plan weddings and conference style events.

Additional information

In the profession, here are the job responsibilities for an event manager. This program is specifically designed to support student success in the field of event management addressing the outcomes required of this profession: 

  • Managing the customer experience portfolio complementing the mission, vision, values of the organization

  • Budgets and budget management for sustainable operations

  • Hiring of associated event partners / vendors.
  • Contract negotiations and insurance plans
  • Creating event themes that work with the overall event objectives
  • Designing the event addressing impactful décor and venue set up

  • Designing communications materials and event collateral like signage and programs

  • Building custom menus/programs/conference tracks/expo areas

  • Designing entertainment production and financial implications

  • Creating risk management plans and implementation strategies.

  • Creating registration processes, fee based tracking, customer communication

Corporate Event Managers (including weddings):

Event Core Classes

Suggested Electives: FCS 1550 Design Principles; LAW 3800 Legal Environment, MGMT 2500 Organizational Behavior; MGMT 3350 Building the Entrepreneurial Business; COM 3350 Leadership Communication

Recommended Minors: Fashion Merchandising, Advertising, 

Festivals and Music Directed Events: 

Event Core Classes

Suggested Electives: THEA 1810 Stage Management; THEA Arts Management; MGMT 3350 Building the Entrepreneurial Business; GEOG Tourism Marketing; GEOG 4180 Tourism Planning and Development

Recommended Minors: Advertising 

Non-Profit Event Managers:

Event Core Classes

Suggested Electives: FCS 1550 Design Principles; PADM 3000 - Nonprofit Advancement; PADM 5830 Grant Writing; PADM 5840 Nonprofit Marketing and Development; 

Recommended Minors: Leadership for Social Change 

Conventions, Corporate Meetings, Trade Shows:

Event Core Classes

Suggested Electives: (3) LAW 3800 Legal Environment; (3) HPHE 4700 Facilities and Risk Management; (3) HPHE 3110 Event Marketing; (3) MGMT 3350 Building the Entrepreneurial Business; (3) COM 3350 Leadership Communication

Recommended Minors: General Business

 

Core Courses (36 credits)

 
Core Cognates – 12 credits
FIN 2420 Entrepreneurial Finance
MGMT 2140 Exploring Entrepreneurship
MKTG 2500 Marketing Principles 
COMM 2000 Human Communication Theory
 
Core Courses – 15 credits
COM 2500 Introduction to Public Relations 
COM 3480 Public Relations Writing
GEOG 3100 Introduction to Tourism
HPHE 2100 - Strategic Planning for Events
HPHE 3100 Event Management Advanced Applications
 
Field Experiences – 9 credits
HPHE 2750 Popups, Catering and Fundraising Events
HPHE 3750 Meetings, Conventions, and Exposition Mgt
HPHE 4199 Event Practicum
 
Elective Courses – 15 credits
THEA 1810 Stage Management
THEA 2600 Arts Management
COM 3350 Leadership Communication 
FCS 1550 Design Principles 
GEOG 4080 Tourism Marketing
GEOG 4180 Tourism Planning and Development
HPHE 1700 Intro to Recreation/Sport Management\
HPHE 3110 Event Marketing
HPHE 3150 Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics for Exercise Science, Health and Physical Education 
HPHE 3300 Grants and Fund Development for Sports, Recreation & Events
HPHE 4700 Facilities and Risk Management
LAW 3800 Legal Environment
MGMT 2500 Organizational Behavior
MGMT 3350 Building the Entrepreneurial Business
PADM 3000 - Nonprofit Advancement
PADM 5830 Grant Writing 
PADM 5840 Nonprofit Marketing and Development
PADM 5870 Fund Raising for Nonprofit Organizations
 
 

Hear it from us

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"In event management we do lots of hands on learning and you get the opportunity to decide what events you would like to plan."

- Mallory, event management student (Hear more)

 

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Study abroad

Students are encouraged to pursue additional educational opportunities through one of many study abroad options offered by the HPHE department or WMU in general.
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All WMU students have the option to stand out with an integrative learning project in one of several pathways including health and wellness, entrepreneurship, leadership and more!
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Visit campus

There's simply no substitute for seeing WMU for yourself and experiencing a little slice of what makes WMU so unique and beloved. In-person and virtual tours are available.
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Department of Human Performance and Health Education
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5426 USA
(269) 387-2710

Questions?

Deb Droppers

Deborah Droppers

Program Coordinator
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