Overview
Meeting, convention, and event planners remain in high demand across industries. According to Lightcast, employment for meeting, convention, and event planners in North Carolina is projected to grow 17.7% between 2022–2033—faster than the national average. In the Greater Charlotte area, hospitality remains a resilient and growing $7.5 billion industry, employing over 100,000 people.
Whether you’re planning corporate meetings, nonprofit fundraisers, weddings, trade shows, or large-scale public events, UNC Charlotte’s Meeting & Event Planning Certificate provides a flexible, career-focused foundation to help you succeed.
About the Program
Designed to meet the needs of a dynamic and evolving industry, this program blends real-world content, expert instruction, and interactive learning experiences. Each course explores a different component of planning and managing events (from marketing and budgeting to contracts, design, logistics, and entrepreneurship).
You’ll gain tactical skills and strategic insight to help you launch or grow your career in event planning, whether you’re new to the field, pivoting from another profession, or looking to formalize your experience.
Curriculum
Required Courses:
- Communication and Sales Strategies for Event Professionals
- Strategic Event and Meeting Management
- Risk Management and Event Contracts
- Event Marketing and Branding
- Special Event Design and Production
- Capstone: Event Planning Portfolio and Final Project
Electives (Choose 5 out of 6):
- Fundraising and Nonprofit Event Planning
- Wedding Planning: The Business Behind the Big Day
- Hotel Operations for Hospitality and Event Planners
- Planning Virtual and Hybrid Events with Event Technology
- Large-Scale Experiences: From Conferences to Community Festivals
- Introduction to Event Entrepreneurship
Participants Will Learn To
- Develop needs assessments and profile attendees
- Develop goals and objectives
- Design and develop outstanding programs
- More effectively communicate and negotiate with planners and suppliers
- Create budgets and develop timelines and checklists
- Conduct comprehensive site selections and inspections
- Plan for security, crisis management and legal issues
- Successfully market and promote your meeting or special event
- Implement a Green meeting
- Plan and process fundraising events
- Wedding planning
Additional Details
Attendance Requirements
To receive full credit for each course, you must be present for the entire duration of class. Full attendance and active participation are required to receive a record of attendance. Homework assignments are required for certificate completion.
Upon successful completion of all coursework, the portfolio project, and professional experience requirement, students will earn a Meeting and Event Planning Certificate from UNC Charlotte School of Professional Studies.
Certificate Requirements
- Attend ten instructor-led courses in the program.
- Complete a minimum of 10 hours of event or meeting planning practicum experience.
- Also, we request that students NOT use their regular/current jobs as hours for the practicum.
- This is because we want students to experience more than one facet of event planning and management to get a more rounded view of the discipline.
- Complete homework assignments.
- Prepare and deliver team capstone project presentation.
Upon successful completion of the ten Meeting and Event Planning classes, practicum hours, homework assignments, and team project presentation, students will receive a professional Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning from UNC Charlotte School of Professional Studies.