The Western Illinois University Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration is accepting students into its updated Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Event Planning and Management program for Fall 2022. The program has been redesigned to meet the scheduling needs of busy practitioners and adult learners interested in expanding their knowledge of events.

Students can complete the program on the Macomb campus, and/or remotely via core courses being delivered livestream one Saturday afternoon a month, and elective courses being delivered in a variety of formats.

The program is designed 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 of event planning in the hospitality, tourism, commercial and public recreation, and non-profit industries. The six-course, 18-credit-hour graduate level certificate program is designed to be flexible so participants can complete the program in one year, or as their schedule allows.

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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 toward the certificate, and a Master of Science degree in RPTA simultaneously.

Industry trends suggest that while the COVID pandemic has negatively impacted the event industries, a rebound will occur. A 2021 survey of 3,400 event professionals by Splash, a well-recognized event marketing technology company, found that 50 percent of companies are planning to host more in-person events in the next two years, and 60 percent of respondents are now planning to begin attending conferences again.

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts a job outlook of 18 percent (much faster than average) between 2020-2030 for meeting, convention and event planners.

For more information, contact Jeremy Robinett, RPTA Graduate Coordinator, at JL-Robinett@wiu.edu or (309) 298-1967.

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Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.