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


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

  • Conventions, trade shows

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

  • Festivals, music

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

  • Non-profit

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

  • Weddings, corporate

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

Additional information

  • What is an event manager?

    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

  • Pathways

    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

     

  • Courses

    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
     
     
  • Cost and funding
  • Helpful links

Hear it from us

"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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