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Former title: Special Events Management
The Event Planning program is ideally suited for organized and detail-oriented individuals, who naturally take the lead in groups and projects and thrive in a high-energy, creative environment. Students are prepared for a career that offers incredible versatility and spans almost every industry. They learn how to design, plan and execute a wide array of corporate, community and social events while developing a strong business acumen through experiential learning in our W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (Weston Centre) event space.
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To help students succeed in programs with remote learning requirements, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified minimum technology recommendations. While these are not program requirements, these suggestions will help ensure students have the right tools to support a quality remote learning experience.
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The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals. Similar to an academic course, work terms are a mandatory component to this form of experiential learning.
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This two-year program focuses on the business of events as students will develop and apply essential skills in the areas of leadership, financial management, effective decision-making, critical thinking and strategic planning while learning about the various industry segments, including corporate, social, not-for-profit, incentive, community & cultural, wedding, festival, music and sport. Participation in several experiential learning events, including a capstone event, will provide opportunities for students to apply the skills acquired throughout the program. In addition to their diploma, they will also obtain several, well-recognized, industry certifications.
Students will focus on events designed to support the economic growth, quality of life and richness of rural and urban communities; learn how to plan and execute large and small events; and gain valuable hands-on experience in event management practices through courses and experiential learning in the areas of:
The Event Planning program is offered at the Whitby campus, home of the college's W. Galen Weston Centre for Food (WC). This incredible learning space provides access to state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and event spaces.
The courses listed below are for incoming students. If you are a current student, please refer to your program of study for the year you began your program. Your program of study can be found on MyDC.
Courses and course descriptions are subject to change. Please note that as a result of COVID-19 the 2023-2024 program of study may be modified to accommodate program delivery changes.
More than 75% of this program is delivered in-person.
The rest of the coursework will be delivered using hybrid, flexible or online formats. Students will come to campus to complete in-person learning requirements. Detailed schedules, with course-specific delivery information, will be available after registration. Courses, course descriptions and delivery formats are subject to change.
Are you ready to embark on a career working with people and organizations across the province, country or world? The event industry offers employment opportunities in industries across the globe. Career paths might include producing virtual or in-person events such as corporate retreats, non-profit fundraisers, conferences, incentive travel and wedding planning to name just a few. Durham College is THE place to start your journey into this exciting and diverse sector.
To start, you are encouraged to do a little homework on the industry. Check out the video below created by Meetings Mean Business Canada, and article by the Event Industry Council (EIC), which demonstrate the importance and impact of the event industry to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product. It is significant, and that means JOBS!
You might be wondering about the types of roles and organizations that offer employment opportunities for event planning professionals. While this list is comprehensive, it is by no means exhaustive.
The event industry has informative magazines dedicated to professional development, education and industry news.
Durham College faculty and staff are proud to be members of the following professional associations:
Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners
Festivals & Events Ontario
Meetings Mean Business
MPI
PCMA
PCMA Student Chapter
The current DC Event Planning Students founded the DC PCMA Student Chapter, gaining invaluable experience working on a board, and connecting and collaborating with other event planning students from across the country and US!
Join us at Durham College, in the School of Hospitality and Horticultural Sciences – your future awaits!
For students completing a field placement, their learning experience will be complemented by a 120-hour field placement opportunity in the fourth semester. Students work at professional tourism, hospitality or event planning environments, applying their skills from the classroom to on the job.
Beyond the special events you will plan and execute as part of your studies, students have an opportunity to further their learning beyond the classroom. From student-focused special events, to employment in the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food’s restaurant, Bistro ’67, and community projects, there are countless opportunities to explore.
Graduates may be eligible to apply their academic credits towards further study through Durham College and partner Canadian and international colleges and universities. These include:
To help students have the best remote learning experience possible, Durham College’s IT Services department has identified technology recommendations for each program based on course needs and software requirements. While not required, students may want to consider these suggestions if they are purchasing a computer or laptop for the upcoming academic year.
Processor: i3 RAM: 4GB Storage: 256GB SSD Operating System: Microsoft Windows 10 Professional or Education x64 SP1 Internet Browser: Internet Explorer 11 or Google Chrome (newest version) or Firefox (newest version) Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter Camera: Webcam/built-in camera Internet connection
Questions regarding technology recommendations can be directed to the IT Service Desk or the school office.
The best way to succeed in your field is to immerse yourself in it! Co-op is an excellent way to build your professional network, explore career paths and apply in-class teachings to real work situations. Co-op is a model of education that integrates academic learning with workplace learning in fields relevant to our students’ academic and personal goals.
Students in the Event Planning Diploma program will be invited to apply to the co-op option during their first academic semester. Entrance to the co-op option is limited and the processes for securing a work term are competitive. Students enrolled in the co-op option are required to complete a four-month, paid work term between the second and third semesters of their program.
Supports are available through the Experiential Learning office to assist students with securing their work terms. In addition, the Experiential Learning office is in contact with co-op students and their employers during the work terms to help with any questions. Upon completing the work term, co-op students return to campus to complete their final two academic semesters of the program before graduating.
September intake:
Co-op Work Term 1 (EVPC 1000) The co-op experience provides the opportunity for students to consolidate their professional knowledge and skills in a practice setting. The work term will provide students with work experience in the event planning industry. The work term expands students’ learning environment to real work settings where they will be challenged to apply their academic knowledge and practical skills. Students will be assessed on performance and ability to demonstrate knowledge, skills, professional standards, and ethics.
Courses and course descriptions are subject to change.
Once transferred to the co-op option of this program, students will have a co-op administrative fee of $475 assessed to their accounts during the academic semester(s) prior to scheduled work term(s). The administrative fee goes to support the broad array of support services provided to co-op students. These services are dedicated to support student success.
Please note fees displayed are estimates based on information available at the time the estimate is produced.
RESIDENCY: Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident International
INTAKE: Fall Winter Spring
Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op student.
Find more information about the benefits of becoming a co-op employer.
905.721.3000
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