The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects event planner employment growth of 43.7% between 2010 and 2020 with the expectation that over 30,000 new jobs will be added during that timeframe. This puts the Event Planning industry on a much faster pace of growth than the average industry. This growth leads US News and World Report to ranks the upward mobility of event planners as “Above Average”, something that many young people find very appealing. Money Magazine ranked Event Planning at #8 in their list of the top 20 jobs for young people. There are many ample opportunities to enter this industry on the ground floor, and we owe it to our students to adequately prepare them for such a career.
The Event Planning minor requires the following five courses:
JRL 101 Media & Society
Can be taken on campus or online. This course is generally taught every term.
Examines the mass communicator’s role in developing political, social and
economic fabrics of a democratic society. Reviews the organization and function
of newspapers, magazines, broadcast stations and other principle media.
PR 215 Introduction to Public Relations
Can be taken on campus or online. The course is generally offered every term.
Introduces the principles of public relations. Examines the definition and
historical development, opportunities and challenges and techniques and management
of public relations.
PR 436 Event Planning
PR 436 must be taken online. This course offers an exploration of the foundations
of event planning including an examination of the uses and purposes of large
scale events to clients.
Prerequisites: JRL 101 and PR 215
PR 437 Event Promotion
PR 437 must be taken online. This course offers an examination of the issues
facing events and the promotional tactics used to ensure they're successful.
Prerequisites: JRL 101 and PR 215
PR 438 Event Execution
PR 438 must be taken online. The application of knowledge of how events operate
and an examination of what tactics can lead to success.
Prerequisites: JRL 101 and PR 215
To earn a minor in Event Planning, a student must earn a GPA of 2.0 or better in the five courses required for the minor.
Students who double-minor in Event Planning and Public Relations must take ADV 215 (Principles of Advertising). Students who double minor in Event Planning and Strategic Social Media must take a 200-level course that does not conflict with their selection of a 200-level course in each minor.
Students with two Reed School of Media and Communications minors can select a third minor outside of the School and declare themselves MDS majors within the School’s Multidisciplinary Studies Program. However, JRL 101 (Introduction to Mass Communication) and ADV 215, and PR 215 can be taken only once; each must be replaced with one of the Reed School of Media and Communications online 200-level or higher open-enrollment courses.
All online courses are taught completely via eCampus. Students need to plan on logging into eCampus daily during the week but can do so at the time of their own choosing. Students should budget the same amount of time for an online class as they do for classroom classes.
For additional information contact MediaCollegeOnline@mail.wvu.edu. To register for online courses, contact WVU Online at (800) 253-2762 or email WVUOnlineInquiry@mail.wvu.edu.