Courses and when they are expected to be offered
|
| Audio/Visual Basics | MP0106 | X | | X |
| Destination Management | MP0206 | X | | |
| Event Marketing and Promotion | MP0103 | X | | X |
| Financial Management of Meetings and Events | MP0105 | X | | X |
| Food & Beverage Planning | MP0102 | X | | X |
| International Meeting Planning | MP0208 | X | | |
| Introduction to Special Events | MP0201 | X | | X |
| Meeting Planning Basics | MP0101 | X | | X |
| Professional Development | MP0107 | X | | X |
| Site Selection and Contract Negotiation | MP0104 | X | | X |
| Starting your Own Business in the Meeting and Event Planning Industry | MP0203 | X | | X |
| Sustainable Practices - Greening Your Meetings and Events | MP0212 | X | | |
| Technology Tools | MP0211 | X | | |
| Weddings and Social Events | MP0209 | X | | |
Whether you are new to meeting planning or a seasoned pro, SDSU's <strong>Meeting and Event Planning Certificate</strong> offers you the opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills within this growing industry. If you want to explore a new career opportunity or become more astute in your abilities; if you're seeking help with planning a single meeting or event; or if you want to find out how to grow your career in the meeting industry; this program is for you! We are partnering with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) to present this very popular certificate program.
<strong>Award of Certificate</strong><br />
To earn a certificate, participants must complete the required core and elective courses within two years. Students must attend all class sessions of each course in order to pass the course. In order to receive credit for attendance in a course, students are responsible for signing in and out of each class session. Students who fail to sign in and out of each class session will not be recorded as attending that session.<br /><br />
<strong>Registration Deadline</strong><br />
The registration deadline is the first day of class.<br /><br />
<strong>Policy</strong><br />
Students must officially withdraw from a course by contacting the registration department. For refund information, refer to the College of Extended Studies refund policy at www.neverstoplearning.net/registration. Non-attendance or notifying the instructor, program coordinator, program director, or program advisor does not constitute officially dropping or withdrawing from a course. Students must officially withdraw from a one-day course to qualify for a refund.<br /><br />
All SDSU <strong>Meeting and Event Planning Certificate</strong> alumni will receive a 10% discount for any MEP courses. Only one discount may apply.<br /><br />
<strong>Meeting and Event Planning + Wine = A Perfect Blend</strong><br />
Meeting and Event Planning students get 10% off any of our <a href="/Pages/Engine.aspx?id=711">Business of Wine</a> courses.<br /><br />
<strong>SDSU Bachelor's Degree</strong><br />
Students who earn the <strong>Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning</strong> may request to have HTM 431 waived in the upper division <strong>Hospitality and Tourism Management</strong> major at SDSU. See an HTM advisor at SDSU for more information.<br /><br />
<strong>Program Advisor</strong><br />
Annette Gregg, CMP, CMM, MBA, Senior Director of Marketing for PCI Global.<br /><br />
<strong>Core courses include:</strong>
<ul>
<li><strong>(MP 101) </strong><em>Meeting Planning Basics</em> - nine hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 102) </strong><em>Food and Beverage Planning</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 103) </strong><em>Event Marketing and Promotion</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 104) </strong><em>Site Selection and Contract Negotiation</em> - 12 hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 105) </strong><em>Financial Management of Meeting & Events</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 106) </strong><em>Audio Visual Basics</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 107) </strong><em>Professional Development</em> - six hours</li>
</ul>
<br />
<strong>Elective courses (18 hours required) include:</strong>
<ul>
<li><strong>(MP 201) </strong><em>Introduction to Special Events</em> - six hours</li>
<!--li><strong>(MP 202) </strong><em>Creativity 101 for Event Design</em> - six hours</li-->
<li><strong>(MP 203) </strong><em>Starting your Own Business in the Meeting and Event Planning Industry</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 204) </strong><em>Expositions and Festivals</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 205) </strong><em>Sponsorship and Fundraising - Non-profit Event Planning</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 206) </strong><em>Destination Management</em> - six hours </li>
<li><strong>(MP 207) </strong><em>Event Design and Production</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 208) </strong><em>International Meeting Planning</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 209) </strong><em>Weddings and Social Events</em> - nine hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 210) </strong><em>Event Planning in Unique Spaces</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 211) </strong><em>Technology Tools</em> - six hours</li>
<li><strong>(MP 212) </strong><em>Sustainable Practices - Greening Your Meetings and Events</em> - six hours</li>
</ul>
<strong>This program helps to prepare for the MPI and ISES exams.</strong><br /><br />
<strong>Location of Classes</strong><br />
SDSU Extended Studies/Gateway Centers, Hardy Avenue entrance unless otherwise noted.<br /><br />
<strong>For more information contact Melissa Abeyta at (619) 594-1138 or email at <a href="mailto:mabeyta@mail.sdsu.edu">mabeyta@mail.sdsu.edu</a></strong>.
Course Descriptions
MP 0101 Meeting Planning Basics
You've been given the responsibility of planning an event. Where do you begin? By learning just a few of the basic concepts involved in planning or coordinating a meeting, you can ensure a smooth running event. This course provides you with valuable resources for finding information, checklists, and other aids. The course also gives you information about career opportunities in the meeting planning industry.<br /><br />
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
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MP 0102 Food & Beverage Planning
Learn how to enhance your programs with successful food and beverage planning. This course will explain policies and guarantees. It will also provide formulas for order pricing, tips on menu planning, and how to plan for special menus and theme parties. It offers lessons on catering off-site events, how to effectively communicate with catering staff, how to read contracts and confirmations, and on-site coordination guidelines.<br /><br />
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
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MP 0103 Event Marketing and Promotion
Effective marketing and promotion to your audience is critical to your event's success. In this course, you will learn several marketing tools and techniques, and how to use them to your organization's advantage. You will get practical strategies and hands-on experience in creating an event marketing communication action plan for before, during, and after your program.<br /><br />
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
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MP 0104 Site Selection and Contract Negotiation
Selecting a location is a complicated process involving more than just booking rooms or choosing menus. This course will cover how to make that initial contact with a site, what to negotiate, effective site inspection, how to contract with a site, cancellation clauses, and ADA requirements. Included in this course is a field trip to a local hotel to conduct a site inspection and mock negotiation.
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MP 0105 Financial Management of Meetings and Events
Creating a budget and developing a plan to implement it are essential for the success of any meeting or event. This class teaches you the management tools necessary to minimize the chances of cost overruns and eliminates surprises that affect your bottom line. Participants will learn how to forecast revenues and expenses, how to prepare spreadsheets, cost control, and profit and loss analysis. Bring your pocket calculator for this dynamic hands-on course!<br /><br />
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
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MP 0106 Audio/Visual Basics
This course is a basic but comprehensive overview of the design and application of presentational technology for meetings and events. Content covered in this course will include audio visuals and their support mechanisms, common terminology, strategies for selecting the proper technology, as well as recommendations for selecting technology-based vendors and/or suppliers. It will provide instruction in the basic set up of AV and other technical advancements for the meetings and events industry. It is a project-oriented course that will include an off-site class at a local audio visual services company for hands-on application of the lecture materials as well as the various course handouts.<br /><br />
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
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MP 0107 Professional Development
You are an experienced meeting and event planner, now what? With the multi-faceted meetings industry, planners are challenged with making the right career moves, or knowing when to move at all. This course will help you decide where to take your career, and create an attainable plan for getting there. Students will be able to:<br />
<ul>
<li>Identify different career options for experienced meeting planners</li>
<li>Understand if the CMP, CSEP, or CMM credentials are right for them</li>
<li>Define their own personal brand</li>
<li>Gain skills for personal presentation and public speaking</li>
<li>Find solutions for the challenge of work/life balance</li>
<li>Create a career plan that fits their personal goals and strengths</li>
</ul>
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
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MP 0201 Introduction to Special Events
Careful preparation is the key to orchestrating successful special events such as receptions, grand openings, and theme parties. This course will provide you with the basic guidelines and tips you need as you identify the purpose of the event, define the event's format, select a location, and develop event activities. The course covers event planning and management concepts, event themes, and creative idea development techniques.<br /><br />
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
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MP 0203 Starting your Own Business in the Meeting and Event Planning Industry
How do they do it? When is the best time to start your own business in the meeting and event industry? Think you have what it takes to succeed? This introductory class will explore the basics of building a business, from building your reputation and potential client base, to creating a business plan, effective marketing, available resources and the necessary steps to help you succeed. Recommended for this class: prior experience in the industry or the completion of at least seven Meeting and Event Planning Certificate classes.
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MP 0206 Destination Management
Large meetings and conventions require many services to successfully achieve their objectives. From transportation and registration of attendees to special event planning and staffing, meeting managers need help. Destination management companies are designed to fulfill these needs and more. This class will cover all aspects of destination management services from sales and account management through program operation. A few of the topics will include:<br>
<ul>
<li>Defining destination management and the role it plays in the meeting industry</li>
<li>Sales and account management</li>
<li>The important role that creativity and logistical skills play</li>
<li>Program operation</li>
</ul>
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
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MP 0208 International Meeting Planning
This class is designed for meeting planners who manage programs outside the United States for U.S. or international attendees. People interested in taking this course should have some general understanding of meeting planning basics. Objectives for this course are: assessing implications of politics, religion, culture and current affairs; learning the proper etiquette and protocol to follow; understanding how to deal with language, legal and financial matters; assessing risk and dealing with safety and security issues and managing travel and the destination on-site.<br /><br />
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
Prerequisite Information
Food and Beverage Planning; Site Selection and Contract Negotiation; and Financial Management of Meeting and Events
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MP 0209 Weddings and Social Events
This is considered an entry level course for people considering changing careers or wanting to acquire the knowledge of what it takes to be a successful planner in the wedding and social event arena. You will learn how to identify your own personal market; what skills are needed to succeed; pricing, job responsibilities and types of themes and styles of parties and weddings. You will understand who and why people seek the skills of a professional party planner, and learn how to assess your client's needs, especially religious and cultural values that could affect the protocol of your event. You will learn how to identify the resources necessary for your event, and become familiar with the industry professionals that can provide you with those resources.<br /><br />
Note: Students must attend all classes in order to pass the course.
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MP 0211 Technology Tools
Central to the process of effective meeting management has been the adoption of new technologies, some of which could threaten the existence of meetings if they're not understood and utilized properly. This course reviews current and future tools that simplify the planning process.
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MP 0212 Sustainable Practices - Greening Your Meetings and Events
Sustainability is now an important factor to consider when planning meetings and events. This hands-on course will help you navigate your way successfully through the process of greening your programs, a big picture understanding of where sustainability fits in and how to create and incorporate a corporate social responsibility (CSR) event. Useful tips, how-tos and sources will round out this course and help speed you on your way to blazing your own sustainable trail in the meetings and events industry.
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