Professional Event Management Certificate - Recreation, Park & Tourism Sciences

Set of images showing our event students — Pictures from Left to Right: • Event Management Student Planners check on the drink station at their event the RPTS Tailgate. • RPTS 321 Student promoting the Pop-up event, Oh the Places, in front of Evans Library. • Student volunteer working the face painting booth at Kite Fest • Student working the check-in table at the Professional Event Management Certification Business Associates Social Hour

About

The Professional Event Management Certificate is focused on preparing students to design, plan, manage, implement, and evaluate experiences, meetings, and special events. Students will take hands-on event management coursework which covers planning, promotion, operational logistics, sponsorship, evaluation, contracting, media, fundraising, risk management, and vendor management. They will also learn using hands on experience to implement a number of community and campus events.

Academic Advisor for program: Melyssa-Anne Stricklin (melyssa.stricklin@tamu.edu)
Program Coordinator: Dr. Donna Lee Sullins (donnalee@tamu.edu)

Professional Event Management Certificate Brochure Download

Admission Requirements

This certificate program requires at least three semesters to complete. Because of this, students must apply 3 full semesters prior to graduation or have already taken RPTS 311. It is best to apply as soon as possible, prior to completing coursework, as there is no guarantee of admission. Please note, required volunteer hours may not start counting until you are officially accepted into the program.

Currently Enrolled in an Undergraduate Degree Program at TAMU

– If required, have permission from their departmental advisor to apply for the program
– All TAMU students in any major may apply
– Students may apply as early as their second TAMU semester
– An overall TAMU GPA of 2.0 or higher is required
– Must complete the PEMC admissions application and essay

Currently Enrolled in a Graduate Degree Program at TAMU

– If required, have permission from their departmental advisor to apply for the program
– All TAMU students in any graduate degree may apply
– Students may apply as early as their second TAMU semester
– An overall TAMU graduate GPA of 2.0 or higher is required
– Must complete the PEMC admissions applicationand essay

Non-Degree Seeking Student at TAMU

– You must apply to TAMU as a non-degree seeking student first (http://admissions.tamu.edu/other/nondegreeseeking)
– Must have 4 year degree from an accredited university with at least a 2.0 overall GPA.
– Must complete the PEMC admissions application and essay

PEMC Admissions Application

Course Requirements

Core Curriculum – Complete all 9 credit hours (4 classes) (Must be taken in order in separate semesters)

RPTS 311 (3) Planning & Implementation of Events and Programs (fall, spring, sometimes summer)
RPTS 320 (3) Event Management & Operations I (fall, spring)
RPTS 321 (3) Event Management & Operations II (fall, spring)
RPTS 324 (0) Event Management Final Assessment (fall, spring)

Note: RPTS 321 and RPTS 324 can be taken concurrently

Administration Course – Choose 3 credit hours

RPTS 323 (3) Managing Hospitality and Recreation Organizations / Tourism Management (prereq: RPTS 201 or 302)
RPTS 444 (3) Service Quality for Hospitality Organizations (online only)

Note: If you took RPTS 304 or RPTS 411, we will accept that has the administration course credit.

Specialized Elective – Choose 3 credit hours

AGCJ 306 (3) Theory and Practice of Agricultural Public Relations (may have prereq’s and/or restrictions)
AGCJ 307 (3) Design for Agricultural Media (may have prereq’s and/or restrictions)
HORT 203 (3) Floral Design (may have prereq’s and/or restrictions)
HORT 416 (3) Understanding Wine: From Vines to Wines and Beyond (may have prereq’s and/or restrictions)
HORT 452 (3) Floral Design: Weddings and Personal Flowers (may have prereq’s and/or restrictions)
HORT 454 (2) Special Event Design and Production (may have prereq’s and/or restrictions)
RPTS 308 (3) Foundation of Community & CDEV (Spring only)
RPTS 331 (3) Tourism Marketing (prereq: RPTS 302)
RPTS 444 (3) Service Quality for Hospitality Orgs (online only) IF NOT USED ABOVE
RPTS 484 (3) Internship – Event management internship

GPA Requirements

Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in each PEMC applicable course
Students must earn a grade of “Satisfactory” (pass) in RPTS 324 (zero credit course)
Must maintain a “B” average (3.0 GPA) in the required PEMC courses
It is departmental policy for the PEMC that you cannot retake RPTS 311, RPTS 320 or RPTS 321

Event Volunteer Requirements

A minimum of 40 hours (unpaid) of service in the conduct of event management and execution
- At least 10 events, volunteering at each event at least 3 hours
- No community service will be accepted; e.g., Big Event, Replant
- No family/friend events
These hours will be performed after the student is admitted to the PEMC program
Approximately half of your required event volunteer hours may be completed within RPTS 311, 320, and 321.
We encourage a variety of events!

PEMC Volunteer Requirement Update – COVID-19 Download

Portfolio Website Requirements

You will build a portfolio website to represent your volunteer work.
Final Portfolio submitted in RPTS 324

Portfolio Instructions

Exit Exam

Students must pass the exit exam prior to gaining the certificate.
The exam will be based on RPTS 311, RPTS 320 and RPTS 321.
You can take the exam as many times as you need to until you pass.
Taken in RPTS 324