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Ministry-approved title: Event Planning
The Event Planning program is an excellent choice for individuals who are naturally organized, detail-oriented people who enjoy taking charge of projects in fast-paced, dynamic settings. The program prepares students for a career that offers incredible versatility and that spans almost every other industry.
Students in the event planning program learn how to design, plan and execute a diverse range of corporate, community and social events and is designed to mimic the high-energy, creative environments of the real-world event industry. While developing a keen eye for detail and strong business acumen, students learn to keep sight of the broader creative concept, schedule and budget. Upon graduation, students can expect to enter the field as an event planner or coordinator, with the required skills necessary to assist in the planning and execution or large scale, multi-faceted events.
The event planning program emphasizes experiential learning, allowing students to apply their skills by executing real events throughout the program, culminating in a capstone project in the second year. This combination of classroom instruction and practical application ensures that graduates are well-equipped to meet the demands of the ever-evolving event planning industry.
To enter the Event Planning program, you will need:
Durham College (DC) offers pre-admission assessment testing to mature domestic applicants to meet admission requirements in English and/or Math. Domestic applicants who are 19 years of age or older as of the start date of their program, and who do not have the required program credit(s), i.e. Grade 12 English and/or Grade 12 Math are eligible to take an admissions assessment test.
Learn more about how to book Pre-Admission Assessment Testing here.
DC also offers Academic Upgrading. Courses are FREE and designed to help you meet the admissions requirements for this program. Available to individuals 18+, these courses are offered on campus at DC. Boost your qualifications with:
Learn more about Academic Upgrading and connect with our team to get started.
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In your first semester of the Event Planning program, students are introduced to the core concepts and industry practices that will guide them through the rest of the event planning courses.
Students learn how to communicate effectively and clearly in business settings, master the use of computer programs for event planning and applications for the hospitality industry, and emerge with a strong customer-focused orientation. In these preliminary event coordinator courses, students are introduced to the events industry and the event planning cycle, and develop leadership and teamwork skills.
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The best way to succeed in event planning is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations as an event planner, under the supervision of an experienced professional.
Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals. Similar to an academic event organizer course, work terms are a mandatory component of the Event Planning program.
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The two-year Event Planning program provides the aspiring event coordinator with a comprehensive understanding of the business of events. Students develop and apply essential skills in leadership, financial management, decision-making, critical thinking, and strategic planning.
Throughout the program, students learn about the various industry segments, including corporate, social, not-for-profit, incentive, community and cultural, wedding, festival, music and sport. Additionally, students focus on developing events designed to support the economic growth, quality of life and richness of rural and urban communities; learn how to plan and execute large and small events; and gain valuable hands-on experience in event management practices through courses and experiential learning in the areas of:
As a critical part of their learning, students participate in several experiential events, including a capstone event. This experiential component provides opportunities for students to apply the skills acquired in their event planning courses. In addition to earning a diploma, students also obtain several valuable certifications they can add to their resumes, which enhances their qualifications and job ready status upon graduation.
Upon completing the Event Planning program and obtaining an event planning certificate, you can expect to understand and be able to do the following:
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
In person
Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
This program contains a co-op option. Click here for information on program costs for co-op students.
Are you ready to embark on a career working with people and organizations across the province, country or world as an event planner or event coordinator? The events industry offers employment opportunities in industries in every part of the world.
Career paths for the skilled event planner might include producing virtual or in-person events such as corporate retreats, non-profit fundraisers, conferences, incentive travel and wedding planning to name just a few. Start your journey into exciting and diverse sector of event planning at Durham College.
Learn more about the industry in this video by Meetings Mean Business Canada and this article from the Event Industry Council (EIC), which demonstrate the importance and impact of the event industry to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product.
Graduates are equipped to take on a variety of roles in diverse settings. The skills you will gain in the event planning program will allow you to think broadly about their application. While this list is extensive, it is by no means exhaustive.
The event planning industry has informative magazines dedicated to professional development, education and industry news:
Durham College faculty and staff are proud to be members of the following professional event planning associations:
Meetings Mean Business
PCMA
PCMA Student Chapter
The DC PCMA Student Chapter brings together students from the Event Planning and Hospitality programs. Through the chapter, students will gain invaluable experience working as the Executive Board, connecting and collaborating with other students from across the country and the United States.
Join us at Durham College, in the Faculty of Business and IT – your future as an event planner or event coordinator awaits!
School is an investment in your future, and financial support is available to help you succeed.
DC's Financial Aid and Awards is here to help you access funding and opportunities that make pursuing your education easier and more achievable:
Visit Financial Aid and Awards to explore all the options to help finance your education.
For students completing a field placement, their event coordinator courses will be complemented by a 120-hour field placement opportunity in the fourth semester. Students work in professional tourism, hospitality or event planning environments, applying skills from their event planning courses to the workplace.
Beyond the special events you will plan and execute as part of your studies, students in the Event Planning program have countless opportunities to further their learning, via student-focused special events, employment in the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food’s restaurant and Bistro ’67, and a range of community projects.
As a critical part of their learning, students participate in several experiential events, including a capstone event. This experiential component provides opportunities for students to apply the skills acquired in their event planning courses. In addition to earning a diploma, students also obtain several valuable certifications they can add to their resumes, which enhances qualifications and job ready status upon graduation.
If you would like to continue your education after completing your event planner training, you may be eligible to apply your academic credits towards further study through Durham College partnerships with Canadian and international colleges and universities.
Looking for more pathway opportunities or to transfer to Durham College? Click here for more information.
To help students have the best learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for event planning courses While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.
Processor: i3 RAM: 4GB Storage: 256GB SSD Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1 Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version) Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter Camera: Webcam/built-in camera Internet connection
Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk or the school office.
Christine is a seasoned event producer and professor with a demonstrated history of success in the non-profit, professional association and education management industry. Christine holds a Master of Education (MEd), a Bachelor of General Studies (BGS), a Certificate in Adult Education, and the industry designation of a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).
The best way to succeed in event planning is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations as an event planner, under the supervision of an experienced professional. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals.
Students in the Event Planning program can apply to the co-op option during their first academic semester. Entrance to the co-op option is limited and the processes for securing a work term are competitive, therefore students are asked to prepare early and diligently.
Students enrolled in the co-op option are required to complete a four-month, paid work term between the second and third semesters of their program.
The Experiential Learning office assists students with securing their work terms and maintains contact with co-op students and their employers during the work terms to help with any questions related to this portion of their event planning program. Upon completing the work term, co-op students return to campus to complete their final two academic semesters in the program before graduating as qualified event planners and event coordinators.
September intake:
Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.
Once a student has transferred to the co-op option of the Event Planning program, they will have a co-op administrative fee of $475 assessed to their accounts during the academic semester(s) prior to scheduled work term(s). The administrative fee goes to support the broad array of support services provided to co-op students including those in the event planning program. These services are dedicated to supporting student success.
Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op student.
Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op employer.
E: co-op@durhamcollege.ca
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