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Graduate Studies

Event Planning and Management
2024-2025

Chairperson: Micheal Lukkarinen
Graduate Program Coordinator: Jeremy Robinett
Office: Knoblauch Hall 140
Telephone: (309) 298-1967
E-mail: RPTH@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/RPTH
Location of Program Offering: Macomb, Online

Program Description

The interdisciplinary graduate certificate in Event Planning and Management offered by the Department of Recreation, Park, Tourism, and Hospitality provides an opportunity for individuals interested in obtaining entry-level and mid-level positions in event planning and management as well as seasoned practitioners wanting to advance their knowledge of theoretical and applied best practices in commercial, public and non-profit environments. The six-course, 18 credit hour graduate level certificate program is designed to be flexible so that participants can complete the program in one year, or as their schedule allows. The interdisciplinary courses expose students to industry best practices as well as theoretical, legal and economic considerations related to event design, fiscal planning, food sanitation and security, and risk management.

Courses may be counted towards the certificate and a Master of Science degree in RPTA. Students who wish to earn a certificate and MS simultaneously must notify the graduate program coordinator so they can receive proper advising.

Requirements for Enrollment

In addition to the minimum requirements for the School of Graduate Studies, applicants should submit:

  • Current personal resume
  • Three letters of reference
  • An essay, professional in appearance and content, addressing the following topics:
    • The applicant鈥檚 immediate and long-term career plans
    • The applicant鈥檚 reasons for wanting to pursue a post-baccalaureate certificate in Event Planning and Management

Certificate Requirements

I. Core Courses: 12 s.h.

HM 500 Fiscal Planning and Management for Events (3)
HM 501 Risk Management and Safety for Events (3)
RPTA 563 Event Protocol and Promotion (3)
RPTA 567 Best Practices in Event Planning and Management (3)
RPTA 604 Comprehensive Examination for Event Planning and Management (0)

II. Directed Electives: 6 s.h.

Choose two from the following list:

HS 400G Grant Writing (3)
or
IDT 525 Grant Writing Basics (3)

MST 501 Museum Administration (3)
MST 502 Museum Exhibition (3)
RPTA 424G Fundraising and Volunteerism in Leisure Services (3)
RPTA 455G Casino Operations (3)
RPTA 482G Facility Management (3)
RPTA 522 Planning in Leisure Service Industries (3)
RPTA 599 Experience Studies in Leisure Service (3)
SM 545 Sport Facility and Event Management (3)
SM 555 Sport Marketing (3)

TOTAL: 18 s.h.

Course Descriptions

Health Sciences (HS)

400G Grant Writing. (3) Focuses on skills and techniques necessary to research and write grant proposals for nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government agencies. Prerequisite: HS 370 or permission of the instructor.

Hospitality Management (HM)

500 Fiscal Planning and Management for Events. (3) Best practices and industry standards for financial planning and reporting practices used to monitor events in commercial, public and non-profit environments. Students will be introduced to planning, decision-making, and reporting models commonly used in event and event-related industries. Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

501 Risk Management and Safety for Events. (3) Best practices and industry standards related to safety and security considerations for events in commercial, public and non-profit environments. Students will be introduced to risk management practices including food security, crowd management, and event sanitation. Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

Instructional Design and Technology (IDT)

525 Grant Writing Basics. (3) (On-line course only) To identify and select appropriate grants, learn strategies for effective proposal writing, and develop skills for utilizing a team approach to generate ideas, coordinate writing, maximize organizational involvement, and strengthen successful grant implementation.

Museum Studies (MST)

501 Museum Administration. (3) This course will provide students with an overview of management history, theory and practice focusing on the issues involved in managing a non-profit organization. Topics to be covered include strategic planning; ethics and governance; membership; earned income; and marketing and non-profit finance. Students will complete a finance assignment and an in-depth museum management case study. A variety of topics will be covered including the concepts of project management, team building, group problem solving, and managing change. Case studies of actual projects in museums.

502 Museum Exhibition. (3) This course will focus on the development of interpretive museum exhibitions including theory, planning, research, methodologies, design, construction and installation, and the application of new technologies.

Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration (RPTA)

424G Fund Raising and Volunteerism in Leisure Services. (3) A study of the principles and practices associated with fund raising and utilization of volunteers in public as well as private nonprofit leisure service organizations. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

455G Casino Operations. (3) Description of basic casino operations and principles of casino marketing, mathematics of casino games, and utility analysis of gaming motivation and gaming addictions. Exploration of career opportunities in the gaming industry. Historical background and impact of gaming on hospitality industry. Activities outside of class and field trips are required. Prerequisites: 21 years of age or permission of the instructor.

482G Facility Management. (3) Explores problems, principles, and techniques of acquisition, management, design, and operation of facilities (e.g., parks, community centers, event venues, etc.) commonly used in leisure industries. Consideration given to factors affecting energy conservation and reducing operational costs. Field trip charge for course. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

522 Planning in Leisure Service Industries. (3) An in鈥慸epth study of the strategies and plans used across the leisure services industry to manage organizational resources and address customer experiences. Students will demonstrate strategic assessment, planning, and implementation competencies through case analysis and application to organization.

563 Event Protocol and Promotion. (3) Best practices and industry standards related to protocol and promotion for events in commercial, public and non-profit environments. Students will demonstrate protocol, promotion and technological competencies by developing a protocol and promotion plan incorporating market research, universal design and technology. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

567 Best Practices in Event Planning and Management. (3) Best practices and industry standards for planning, implementing and evaluating events in commercial, public and non-profit environments. Students will be introduced to concepts for program design and strategic management strategies for the implementation and evaluation of events. Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

599 Experience Studies in Leisure Services. (3) Exposure to and application of strategies and practices to analyze experiences in leisure services such as customer relationship management, visitor studies and experience studies. Students will apply methodologies consistent with these frameworks to design and analyze evaluations of leisure experiences.

604 Comprehensive Examination for Events. (0) Students will complete a comprehensive examination covering the course content required for the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Event Planning and Management. The examination will be administered in the fall and spring semesters and may be taken a maximum of three times. Graded S/U. Prerequisites: Student must have completed the course work required for the post-baccalaureate event planning and management certificate.

Sport Management (SM)

545 Sport Facility and Event Management. (3) A comprehensive review and analysis of the management of sport facilities and the process of managing events held at these facilities.

555 Sport Marketing. (3) This course is designed to give sport management students an overview of marketing principles and procedures from a managerial perspective. The course is designed to help students develop an awareness of the terminology, concepts, and techniques which are part of the work of sport marketing. The course relies upon lectures, class and group projects and discussions, and resource personnel to facilitate the learning process. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Kinesiology.