Delivery
Live Online via Zoom
Meeting and Event Planning, Professional Certificate
Program Overview
Become a Confident, In-Demand Meeting and Event Planning Professional
Whether you’re launching a new career, pivoting from another field, expanding your responsibilities in a current role, or building your own event business, UNC Charlotte’s Meeting and Event Planning Certificate helps you develop the practical skills to plan and manage successful events.
This fully online certificate prepares you to design, plan, promote and execute events across corporate, nonprofit, hospitality, social, virtual and community settings. Through live online instruction, applied learning, discussion and insights from experienced event professionals, you’ll build skills in event strategy, budgeting, contracts, risk management, marketing, event design, technology, fundraising, weddings, large-scale events and entrepreneurship.
The Spring 2027 program is delivered live online via Zoom from April 8–July 15, 2027. Classes are generally held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6–9 p.m. ET, giving you opportunities to participate in real-time instruction and discussion while building connections with instructors, classmates and professionals in the meeting and event planning field.
No prior event planning experience is required. You may take individual courses to build specific skills or complete the full certificate. By following the Spring 2027 schedule, you can complete all instructional courses in approximately 3.5 months. If you take courses individually, you have up to two years from your first course to complete all certificate requirements.
Program Contact
Enrollment Team
School of Professional Studies
Still trying to decide?
Ready to register?
Spring 2027 Live Online Program
- Dates: April 8–July 15, 2027
- Class Schedule: Generally Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6–9 p.m. ET via Zoom
- Attendance: Required
Please review the specific 2027 Course Schedule below.
Certified Meeting Professional CMP Continuing Education Credit
UNC Charlotte is proud to be an Events Industry Council (EIC) Preferred Provider. All 60 instructional hours in the Meeting and Event Planning Certificate qualify for Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) continuing education credit.
Eligible instructional hours are automatically reported by UNC Charlotte, making it easier to document your continuing education and advance you professional credentials.
What You’ll Learn
Guided by experienced instructors and event industry professionals, you’ll develop skills to:
- Assess event needs and set clear goals
- Design engaging and impactful event experiences
- Create event budgets and production timelines
- Market events across multiple channels
- Communicate effectively with stakeholders, vendors, and potential clients
- Navigate contracts, legal considerations, risk management, and accessibility with confidence
- Explore specialized areas like fundraising, weddings, large-scale events, and entrepreneurship
- Plan and manage events from concept to execution
What Our Alumni Say
When Robin Sturdivant, owner of She That Finds, enrolled in UNC Charlotte's Meeting and Event Planning Professional Certificate program, she was confident it would give her the edge she needed to expand her hobby — events planning for family and friends — into a business.
“I want to be competitive, and being competitive means being able to position myself in all the different avenues out there. Each instructor brought something that I needed to understand.”
– Robin Sturdivant ’23
Courses
Expand your expertise. Build your network. Launch your future in events.
UNC Charlotte’s Meeting and Event Planning Certificate is a flexible, career-focused program designed for working professionals, career changers, and aspiring planners. You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of the modern events industry through targeted, instructor-led courses that cover logistics, design, strategy, marketing, and business development.
Whether you’re planning corporate meetings, nonprofit fundraisers, weddings, trade shows, or large-scale public events, this program helps you build the knowledge, confidence, and industry tools to thrive.
How the Program Works
The Meeting and Event Planning Certificate is designed to give students flexibility in how they complete the program.
To earn the full certificate, students complete:
- 5 required courses
- 5 of 6 available elective courses
- The MEP113 Practicum
This represents 10 instructional courses totaling 60 instructional hours, plus the MEP113 Practicum.
Students may register for the full Spring 2027 program or enroll in individual courses. There are no prerequisite courses, and courses do not have to be completed in a specific order.
Students who follow the full Spring 2027 schedule can complete the instructional portion of the certificate from April 8–July 15, 2027. Students who prefer to complete courses individually have up to two years from the date of their first course to complete all certificate requirements.
Live Online Learning Experience
The Spring 2027 program is delivered through scheduled live Zoom sessions. Students learn directly from experienced event professionals and participate in real-time discussion, applied examples, activities, and peer interaction.
The Live Online Program is primarily attendance-based and does not include regular homework assignments for the individual instructional courses.
Students enrolling in individual courses attend only the scheduled live sessions associated with the course or courses in which they are enrolled.
Attendance is required. Students should review the detailed course schedule carefully before registering.
Featured Courses
- Event Communication and Sales Strategies for Event Professionals
- Strategic Event and Meeting Management
- Risk Management and Event Contracts
- Special Event Design and Production
- Event Marketing and Branding
- Fundraising and Nonprofit Event Planning
- Wedding Planning: The Business Behind the Big Day
- Hotel Operations for Hospitality and Event Planners
- Planning Virtual and Hybrid Events with Event Technology
- Large-Scale Experiences: From Conferences to Community Festivals
- Introduction to Event Entrepreneurship
- Event Planning Practicum
What Can You Do With Your Meeting and Event Planning Certificate?
Our graduates go on to launch businesses, start consulting careers, or advance into new professional roles at organizations like:
- Atrium Health
- LPL Financial
- Red Ventures
- Levine Museum of the New South
- BCBS of North Carolina
Common roles include:
- Event planner or event coordinator
- Event marketing manager
- Conference and meeting manager
- Proposal coordinator
- Project or operations manager
- Entrepreneur or business owner
Why Choose UNC Charlotte?
Learn from Experienced Event Professionals
Courses are led by professionals who bring current industry experience, real-world examples, and practical insight into the virtual classroom.
Learn Live and Build Connections
Live online sessions give students opportunities to ask questions, participate in discussion, learn from classmates, and build relationships with others interested in the meeting and event planning field.
Build Practical, Industry-Relevant Skills
The curriculum focuses on skills and knowledge students can apply across corporate, nonprofit, hospitality, social, virtual, and community events.
Choose the Completion Path That Works for You
Students may complete the full Spring 2027 schedule in approximately 14 weeks or take individual courses over time. Students have up to two years from their first course to complete the full certificate.
Connect with the Industry
Through the MEP113 Practicum, students complete an Industry Engagement Requirement designed to help them gain additional industry exposure and expand their professional network.
Program Cost
- Per course: $275
- Certificate bundle: $2,571.25 for all required courses (includes bundle discount)
You can register and pay for individual courses as you go, there’s no need to commit to the full certificate up front.
However, if you know you want to complete the full program, enrolling in the certificate bundle saves you money (over $450) and secures your spot in all required courses. The bundle offers a discounted rate of $2,571.25.
Apply for a scholarship!
The Laura J. Campbell Scholarship and Anne Spychala Scholarship support participants enrolled in the Spring 2027 Meeting and Event Planning Certificate program. Four $1,000 Laura J. Campbell Scholarships and one $1,000 Anne Spychala Scholarship are available.
Apply: Laura J. Campbell Scholarship Application | Anne Spychala Scholarship Application
Please note: Applications are due March 31, 2027, and awards will be announced April 21, 2027. Applicants must be registered and enrolled in the Spring 2027 Meeting and Event Planning Certificate program to be eligible.
Discounts may be available for UNC Charlotte alumni, faculty/staff, or early bird registration windows.
Financial Options:
2027 Course Schedule
Spring 2027 Live Online Program
The Spring 2027 Meeting and Event Planning Certificate will be delivered live online via Zoom.
Program dates: April 8–July 15, 2027
Class format: Live online via Zoom
Meeting pattern: Classes are generally held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6–9 p.m. ET. Please review the detailed course schedule for specific meeting dates.
Attendance: Required
Students completing the full Spring 2027 schedule attend the courses required for certificate completion during this 14-week period.
Students enrolling in individual courses attend only the scheduled sessions for the course or courses in which they are registered.
April 2027
All courses are held live online on Zoom, 6:00-9:00 PM EST.
April 8 – Orientation
April 13 & 15 – Event Marketing and Branding
April 20 & 22 – Strategic Event and Meeting Management
April 27 & 29 – Event Contracts and Risk Management
May 2027
All courses are held live online on Zoom, 6:00-9:00 PM EST.
May 4 & 6 – Special Event Design and Production
May 11 & 13 – Communication and Sales Strategies for Event Professionals
May 18 & 20 – Hotel Operations for Hospitality and Event Planners
May 25 & 27 – Planning Virtual and Hybrid Events with Event Technology
June 2027
All courses are held live online on Zoom, 6:00-9:00 PM EST.
June 1 & 3 – Large-Scale Experiences: From Conferences to Community Festivals
June 8 & 10 – Fundraising and Nonprofit Event Planning
June 15 & 17 – Wedding Planning: The Business Behind the Big Day
June 22 & 24 – Foundations of Event Planning Entrepreneurship: Launch You Business
July 2027
July 8 – Practicum Due
July 15 – Graduation Celebration
Which Option Is Right for Me?
We offer two enrollment paths to fit your goals, budget, and schedule.
Not sure yet? Start with one course, then apply your completed classes toward the certificate later. You’ll still have the flexibility to switch paths as your goals evolve.
Pay-as-You-Go
Cost: $275 per course—no bundle commitment required.
Best for: Students exploring the program at their own pace, taking one course at a time, or unsure if they want the full certificate. Great for professional development or testing the waters before committing to the full program.
Full Certificate Bundle
Discounted Rate: $2,571.25 (save over $450)
Best for: Students planning to complete the full certificate and want to save. Secure your spot in high-demand courses, enroll in all required courses at once and stay on track to finish in as little as 3.5 months (you also have up to two years to complete the program after starting your first class).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an online program?
Yes. The Spring 2027 Meeting and Event Planning Certificate is delivered fully online through scheduled live Zoom sessions.
Students participate in real-time instruction, discussion, applied learning activities, and interaction with instructors and classmates.
When does the Spring 2027 program run?
The full Spring 2027 program runs from April 8–July 15, 2027.
Classes are generally held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6–9 p.m. ET. Students should review the detailed course schedule for specific meeting dates.
How long does it take to complete the certificate?
Students following the full Spring 2027 schedule can complete the instructional courses in approximately 3.5 months.
Students may also complete the certificate by taking individual courses over time. Students have up to two years from the date of their first course to complete all certificate requirements.
Is attendance required?
Yes. Attendance is required because the Live Online Program emphasizes real-time instruction, discussion, applied learning, and interaction with instructors and classmates.
Students should review the detailed course schedule carefully before enrolling.
If you know that you may have a scheduling conflict, please contact the program team before registering to discuss your circumstances.
Is there homework?
The Spring 2027 Live Online Program is primarily attendance-based. There are no regular homework assignments associated with the individual instructional courses.
Students completing the full certificate must also complete the MEP113 Practicum through the Industry Engagement Requirement.
What is the MEP113 Practicum?
The MEP113 Practicum is the final experiential requirement for students completing the certificate.
For the Spring 2027 Live Online Program, students complete an Industry Engagement Requirement by choosing one of two options:
- Complete 10 hours of event-related volunteer experience, or
- Establish or update a LinkedIn profile, connect with at least 10 people, and conduct an informational interview with someone in the meeting and event planning field
Do I need previous event planning experience?
No. Previous event planning experience is not required.
The program is designed for beginners, career changers, current event professionals, and professionals who coordinate meetings or events as part of a broader role.
How many courses do I need to complete?
Students earning the full certificate complete:
- 5 required courses
- 5 of 6 available elective courses
- The MEP113 Practicum
The 10 instructional courses total 60 instructional hours.
Do I have to take the courses in order?
No. There are no prerequisite courses, and the courses do not have to be completed in a specific order.
Some students may choose to begin with foundational topics, but students may enroll in courses based on their professional interests, schedule, and certificate requirements.
Can I take individual courses without completing the full certificate?
Yes. Students may enroll in individual courses for professional development without committing to the full certificate.
If you later decide to pursue the certificate, eligible completed courses may be applied toward the certificate requirements. Students have up to two years from their first course to complete the full certificate.
If I enroll in only one course, do I have to attend classes from April through July?
No. Students enrolling in individual courses attend only the scheduled Zoom sessions associated with the course or courses in which they are registered.
The April 8–July 15 dates represent the schedule for students completing the full Spring 2027 program.
What if I cannot complete the entire certificate during Spring 2027?
Students do not have to complete the entire certificate during one Spring offering.
Students may complete courses individually and have up to two years from the date of their first course to satisfy all certificate requirements.
What if I cannot attend one of the Spring 2027 live class sessions?
Attendance is required for the Live Online Program. Students should review the detailed schedule carefully before enrolling.
If you anticipate a scheduling conflict, contact the program team before registering to discuss your circumstances.
