Event Planning Program

George Brown’s Event Planning program will teach you event project management fundamentals through a variety of event types including hospitality events, weddings and other social events, fundraising events, meetings, conferences, and trade shows. You will take part in event management opportunities each semester, culminating in a final capstone event and a 14-week externship placement. This experiential approach to learning and the course mix, including event-specific courses, business foundations, and hospitality, will provide you with the skills to jumpstart your career in event management.

Students are exposed to industry tactics used in designing, planning, marketing, budgeting, execution, and evaluation of events. Management skills, small business development, and state-of-the-art technology for the current marketplace are explored. The program is taught online and in-class lectures. Group work and individual assignments are highlighted by a capstone project and externship.

This program provides a final capstone event and a mandatory 14-week externship placement. George Brown works with employers and industry partners to identify potential work experience opportunities. Students are also strongly encouraged to pursue self-directed event management industry work experience opportunities they believe would provide the learning experiences they value and meet the program’s learning outcomes. This valuable work experience can be added to your resumé.

What You’ll Learn

• Plan and design events to meet organizational and client objectives.
• Select food and beverage catering services, site location, and decor, according to the theme and needs of an event.
• Develop marketing plans and related promotional plans for events that will meet the needs of the organization and/or client.
• Coordinate and/or supervise staff, contractors, and volunteers to achieve the desired performance.
• Employ best practices for financial management in the planning of events.
• Manage the business transactions of event projects to meet organization and/or client needs.
• Develop strategies to mitigate risk and liability to ensure the safety and security of participants during an event.