Online Event Planning Courses and Classes Overview

Online event planning courses teach individuals how to prepare for and efficiently execute all kinds of organized occasions, ranging from private birthday parties to large-scale industry conventions. Classes feature business topics in food services, finances, marketing and contracts; creative elements such as theme and design are also discussed. These classes are usually meant to collectively satisfy a certificate or degree program.

About Online Event Planning Courses

Online event planning courses are typically offered as part of an undergraduate certificate or degree program which may relate to the broader educational heading of business management, hospitality, tourism or recreation. However, some graduate-level courses in this field are also available via the Web. These programs may be offered solely online, although some are offered in hybrid format and require on-campus participation. Those with training in event management may be hired by private planning organizations to work with diverse clients, or they may be directly employed by specific businesses such as convention centers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately six percent of event planners were self-employed as of 2008 (www.bls.gov).

Course Requirements

Event planning courses that are offered online are often hosted by a unique college or university division, separate from conventional program offerings. Through an interface such as Blackboard, students are able to watch video or hear audio of lectures, access materials and submit assignments in one convenient location as long as they have reliable access to the Internet. They may communicate with event management professors and peers through e-mail or message board forums online. Faculty is typically the same for both online and on-campus classes, and can therefore also be contacted at the school's brick-and-mortar address.
There is no particular software central to event planning operations; however, various elements of the field may incorporate Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Students enrolled in online event planning classes should have Microsoft Office Suite on their computers, as well as a document reader such as Adobe.

Sample List of Online Event Planning Courses

Event Planning Management

Event planners are expected to have a firm grasp on managerial skills such as organization, leadership and critical thinking. Courses which relate these business practices directly to event planning discuss such career-specific themes as space planning, customer service, vendor contracting, budget management and logistics.

Marketing for Events

While some events are invitation-only, many require public attendance and registration. Marketing lessons teach aspiring event planners how to reach relevant audiences, build seating charts, monitor attendance and create excitement about their upcoming event. Students learn to solicit sponsorship to reduce overhead and increase profit margins.

Food and Beverage Management

Almost any event needs food and drink, which is why it's important for planners to grasp how food services work. For some events, caterers may need to be contracted. In other cases, a venue may offer their own kitchen and wait staff. In this course, students learn the pricing and logistics of serving refreshments and how to factor food into their event.

Special Event Planning

These online classes focus the scheduling, financing, catering and entertainment for such special events as weddings, birthday parties, trade shows or corporate meetings. Because this course ties together many themes of event planning, it may be taken toward the middle or end of a greater event planning program. Students may be asked to complete a tactical project wherein they plan and budget a special event from start to finish.

Event Planning Liability

Professionals must handle contracts, billing, insurance and other legally binding paperwork while planning an event. Risk management classes train them to successfully navigate within legal and ethical boundaries. Prospective event planners must learn to protect themselves as well as their employees, volunteers, venues, contractors and clients. This advanced course may be taken toward the end of an event planning course sequence.