Event Management Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

An Event Management major teaches you to plan and run meetings, conferences, weddings and festivals. Event management programs cover event planning, budgeting, vendor management, venue operations, marketing and risk management.

An Event Management major includes coursework in event planning, budgeting, vendor and contract management, event marketing, and risk management and more. You build skills such as planning and logistics, budgeting, negotiation, and communication. Typical degrees: certificate and bachelor's degree.

Typical courses include event planning, budgeting, vendor and contract management, event marketing, risk management, and venue operations. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Event Management is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, and a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s. Part-time study takes longer.

Certificate and bachelor's degree. In the latest federal data, 27 colleges reported certificate awards, 10 colleges reported associate awards, 16 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, and 5 colleges reported master’s awards.

Career paths connected to event management include event planner, recreation manager, hotel manager, public relations specialist, and food service supervisor. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include event planner (typical training: 4 years or event experience), recreation manager (typical training: Degree plus experience), hotel manager (typical training: 3–5 years of hotel experience), public relations specialist (typical training: 4 years), and food service supervisor (typical training: 6–12 months of experience).

Event Management majors build skills such as planning and logistics, budgeting, negotiation, communication, and staying calm under pressure.

Good pairings include Marketing (helps you sell and promote events) and Project Management (gives you tools to manage complex events).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as event planner, recreation manager, and hotel manager, and enjoy subjects like event planning and budgeting. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes event planning, budgeting, and vendor and contract management; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

52 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

Pennsylvania (6), Georgia (4), Wisconsin (4), Arizona (3), and Florida (3), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

48 of the colleges that offer event management also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Event Management teaches you to plan and run meetings, conferences, weddings and festivals. Hospitality Management teaches you to manage hotels, restaurants, resorts and other guest services businesses. Event Management leads to careers such as event planner and recreation manager, while Hospitality Management leads to careers such as hotel manager and restaurant manager.

Event Management teaches you to plan and run meetings, conferences, weddings and festivals. Culinary Arts teaches professional cooking, baking and kitchen management. Event Management leads to careers such as event planner and recreation manager, while Culinary Arts leads to careers such as chef and line cook.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to event management, such as Event Planner Training.