Professional Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning

About the Program

Planning meetings and events is a big responsibility, no matter what your scope is. Whether you’ve been tasked with hosting department-wide meetings at work, putting together conferences, planning a wedding, or building large-scale trade shows and conventions with an international audience, you’ll need to go above and beyond in order to create experiences that are exciting, engaging, and memorable for your attendees.

Award of Certificate
To earn a certificate in meeting and event planning, students must complete all seven required core 100 level courses and 18 hours of 200 level elective courses within two years. Students must attend all class sessions of each course in order to pass the course.

SDSU Bachelor's Degree
Students who earn the Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning may request to have HTM 431 waived in the upper division Hospitality and Tourism Management major at SDSU. See an HTM advisor at SDSU for more information.

Whether you are new to meeting planning or a seasoned pro, SDSU's Professional Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning Certificate will help you expand your knowledge and skills within a rapidly-changing industry. The program can also help you prepare for event industry certifications, build your professional network, and create immersive events that will keep your clients (and their guests) happy.

I felt that the information in all my courses was very relevant to the industry, as some of the examples were used in real time. Instructors were able to explain what situations they were dealing with on a day-to-day basis.”

— Brandi Langham, Former Student

Is This Program Right for Me?

Whether you want to become a wedding planner, get a refresher on current industry trends, learn how to host virtual and hybrid events, or launch an exciting career in meeting and event planning, this Meeting and Event Planning Certificate will help you learn what it takes to thrive in a fast-changing industry.

The majority of our courses are fully-online and accessible from anywhere in the world. Instructors hold classes 2-3 nights per week, which makes it easier to fit the program into your busy schedule. You’ll be able to earn your Meeting and Event Planning Certificate in as few as six months, or take up to two years to complete the program from the year you begin the program.

I’ve gone to so many schools and lived in so many places. It’s so rare to find that community and mentorship and receive help. This is the first time in my schooling career where I really enjoy each day with all of my peers and professors.”

— Fabiola Enciso, Former Student

 

SDSU is a State-approved provider for the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). If you’re unemployed or underemployed, you may be eligible to receive full or partial tuition assistance on this program. Equal Opportunity is the Law. Equal opportunity employer/program auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Click here to learn more.

What Can I Learn?

SDSU’s MEP Certificate program will help you take on the challenges facing our industry today and adapt to the changes that may come tomorrow. You’ll learn how to leverage the latest tools and technology to plan a variety of in-person, virtual, and hybrid events that excite your attendees and satisfy your clients.

The program will also prepare you for a variety of industry certifications, including the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP®) certification exam from the Event Industry Council.

If you’re interested in professional development, you’ll also learn how to grow your career through several courses that focus exclusively on career planning — including Professional Development, Effective Networking and Resumes, and Starting Your Own Business. Throughout the program, you’ll also have the opportunity to make meaningful connections with classmates, instructors, and other local industry leaders. By participating in the program, you’ll also receive exclusive opportunities for experience, volunteering, and jobs. You’ll even get discounted memberships to Meeting Professionals International (MPI®) and International Live Events Association (ILEA®).

Being in the program at the same time helped me launch my business. I had some professors look over my website, I’ve had 10+ peers volunteer for my business. The program is super collaborative and the instructors have a lot of hands-on knowledge they can provide.”

— Jenn Best, Former Student

Working Towards a Bachelor’s in Hospitality from SDSU?

When you successfully complete the program and your Professional Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning, you can request to have HTM 431 waived in the upper division Hospitality and Tourism Management major at SDSU.

Please see an HTM advisor at SDSU for more information.

Career Outcomes

The MEP industry is experiencing seismic shifts in the ways that business is conducted. In the absence of in-person meetings and events, event planning professionals have had to get creative and find new ways to create immersive experiences for their clients. Over the past two years, we’ve seen the rapid rise of virtual events, online meetings, and scores of digital planning tools. These new industry trends have led to an increase in demand for highly-trained, well-educated professionals who know how to create events with technology.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there were around 125,900 meeting, convention, and event planners employed across the country in 2020. As the event industry recovers and demands for technologically-capable planners continue to grow, those numbers are projected to increase by 18% over the next decade — much faster than the national average employment growth rate.

Compensation can be extremely varied, and depends largely on your industry, location, and your level of experience. The nationwide median salary for meeting and event planners across all industries is somewhere between approximately $50,000 per year. In California, the average salary is nearly $55,000 per year.

Why Should You Choose Us?

Accessibility

All courses are online and accessible from anywhere in the world, which makes this meeting and event planning program ideal for working professionals and busy students. You can complete the program in as few as six months, or take up to two years to complete all your courses from the year you begin the program.

Relevant Curriculum

Learn from a panel of highly-experienced industry professionals who are passionate about training the next generation of event planners to succeed. You’ll learn from a curriculum that’s continuously updated by your instructors, which means that you’ll learn what it takes to meet the demands of today’s meeting and event planning industry.

Networking Opportunities

An event planner is only as successful as his or her network. You’ll get the chance to make professional connections with your fellow classmates, instructors, and other local industry leaders. You’ll get access to exclusive volunteer and job opportunities to help you build your experience. You’ll even get discounted memberships to the San Diego Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI®) and International Live Events Association (ILEA®). The MEP program is also a proud member of MPI® and the San Diego Tourism Authority.