There’s no question that a college degree is desirable if you’re looking to build a career as a professional meeting planner.
According to the career resource platform Zippia, 78% of meeting planners have a bachelor’s degree and 10% have an associate’s degree. A small percentage, 6%, have master’s degrees.
A Master’s in Meeting and Event Management program, the first graduate-level program in North America, is offered by the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University in collaboration with Meeting Professionals International.
Planners often hold degrees in business, communications, marketing, or hospitality, and a small number of colleges offer meeting planning degrees or coursework.
Windsor Crawford, sales director, Select Shades Eyewear Events, who heads up the Young Leaders mentorship program at SITE, emphasizes that while education is important, so is keeping abreast of the trends and implementing them into your events.
“Continuing education is the most important aspect. Each year, I see new event trends, whether that be the decor, gifting, themes, group size, activities, CSR, technology, location, and more. While it may seem daunting to continuously evolve your program, it’s also important,” said Crawford, who has her bachelor’s in business administration.
The following colleges and universities offer either bachelor’s degrees or concentrations in meeting management:
Bachelor’s Degrees
- Rosen College of Hospitality Management (University of Central Florida), Orlando
B.S. in Event Management.
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Includes event and
meeting planning coursework.
- San Diego State University, San Diego, Calif.
B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management. Offers a specialization in meetings and events. Also:
Master’s degree in Meeting and Event Management.
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas
B.S. in Hospitality Management. Features courses in meeting and
convention management.
- Johnson & Wales University (Multiple Campuses)
B.S. in Event Management. Focuses on event and meeting planning strategies.
- Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver
B.A. in Event and Meeting Management.
Certificates
1. New York University (NYU), School of Professional Studies
Certificate in Meeting and Conference Management.
2. San Francisco State University, College of Extended Learning, San Francisco
Certificate in Event and Meeting Planning.
3. George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Event Management Certificate.
4. Temple University, Philadelphia
Event Leadership Executive Certificate.
