Event Marketing and Planning Foundations

Students who are declared in the Event Marketing Associate Certificate can continue to complete that credential by following their original program approval letter they received at the time they declared the program.

Are you good with people and excited about a career in building and promoting events? Whether you are new to event marketing, looking to change careers, wanting to advance your knowledge in events, or starting out on your professional journey, the BCIT Event Marketing and Planning Foundations Associate Certificate will give you the foundational skills you need in this fast-growing industry.  This new, up-to-date program was developed jointly with industry leaders, and as a result includes cutting-edge curriculum.   

With the hands-on training you receive, you will gain skills from industry professionals in the areas of event planning and marketing, event strategy and design, sustainable event management and operations, project management, sustainable marketing practices and technical production. 

You can then use these skills to begin or advance your career in private, public and nonprofit organizations in the areas of meetings and conventions, festivals, concert promotions, sporting events, trade shows, community events, entertainment, attractions, experiential marketing, and much more.  

About the program

• Can be taken completely online
• Focuses on specialized event marketing and planning skills
• Integrates leading-edge sustainability practices
• Designed for students with or without prior experience looking to specialize in event marketing

Find out how you can develop the essential skills necessary for success in this exciting field on the Program Details page.

Who should apply for the Event Marketing and Planning Foundation Associate Certificate?

This program might be right for you if:

• You work well in a team 
• You are organized, a quick thinker, and a problem solver 

• You’re outgoing and personable   

• You enjoy a fast-paced work environment 

• You have excellent written and oral communication skills 

• You’re interested in a career in a vibrant, exciting industry

If this sounds like you, enroll today on the Entrance Requirements page.

What grads can do

Through this program, you’ll be developing the job-relevant skills you need to become an event planner, marketing assistant, trade show coordinator, and more. The courses in this program are designed to give you the most solid foundation of knowledge in this specific area of marketing, while also preparing you for further training to help you advance your career. 

Find out more about the opportunities awaiting you upon completion of this program on the Graduating and Jobs page. 

About Flexible Learning

Take a single course or work towards a credential at your own pace.

Part-time courses are offered in various scheduling formats, including at night or on weekends, flexible daytime delivery, or you can opt for distance or online learning. If you meet the prerequisites and there’s space available, you can register for a course immediately. Courses are offered in each of three terms: Fall (September), Winter (January), and Spring/Summer (April).

To earn your credential, you must complete a Part-time Program Declaration Request. Applications are processed throughout the year.

Bring your own device

Most courses and programs in the School of Business + Media are BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Please ensure you bring a laptop to every class. Plug-in outlets will be provided at most stations in classrooms, but not in all classrooms, so please ensure you have at least 2 hours of battery life available at the beginning of each class. Check the following recommended computer requirements prior to the start of class. If a program or course does not require you to provide your own device, that information will be provided by your instructor or indicated in the course outline.

For online classes, it is important you have a stable and consistent internet connection to access course content.

Important updates to Flexible Learning

Read more about the English requirement.

The courses in this program are all designed by marketing professionals to give you the most current and applicable job skills. Through your hands-on, practical learning at BCIT, you’ll develop fundamental skills necessary for event marketing, including topics that cover live events, social media marketing, sports marketing, and more. 

Note: part-time programs and courses are open enrolment and although we make every effort to accommodate demand, course registration cannot be guaranteed in every semester. High demand courses fill quickly and may result in students unable to register for a course that semester. Courses may also be cancelled due to low enrolment

.

This special package of courses is designed to give you a fast track to a career in event marketing. No matter whether you’re new to marketing, whether you have a degree or diploma in a non-marketing area, or whether you already work in a marketing department and want to gain additional certification, this program is for you.

Event planning and marketing is becoming a much more sophisticated discipline as corporations recognize the need to integrate events into the traditional marketing mix. It’s currently a multi-billion-dollar industry in North America and is projected to grow.

Through this series of seven core courses, you’ll work closely with industry professionals to gain the hands-on experience with event marketing through studies, projects, and real-world case studies you can use in your career immediately.

And with a flexible availability of courses both in the classroom and online, you can choose the path and schedule that fits your own needs while being prepared for a successful career in event marketing in as little as six months.

By earning your associate certificate, you’ll be strengthening your resume with skills employers are looking for.  This program will help prepare you for the following employment opportunities:

• Event Marketing Assistant 
• Event Planner 

• Event Coordinator 

• Special Events Coordinator 

• Marketing Assistant 

• Promotions Coordinator 

• Trade Show Coordinator or Planner 

• Corporate Meeting Planner 

You may choose to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, or you might also consider continuing your education for even more advanced skills and access to more career options. The course credits you earn in this program are all transferable to the Certificate in Event Marketing and Management Strategy.  

Graduate employment outcomes

The BCIT student outcomes report presents summary findings from the annual survey of former students administered by BC Stats one to two years after graduation. These reports combine the last three years of available results for the 2021-2023 BCIT Outcomes Surveys of 2020-2022 graduates and for Degree 2018-2020 graduates. The reports are organized into three-page summaries containing information on graduates’ labour market experiences and opinions regarding their education. More detailed information can be accessed at the BC Student Outcomes website. 

To view these results, you may need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed in your Web browser. 

• Marketing Management – Event Marketing 

If you have questions or if you require further assistance, please contact us: mktgpts@bcit.ca.

Candace Marrington – Student Inquiries
Program Assistant
Tel: 604-432-8723
Email: Candace_Marrington@bcit.ca

Tracey Renzullo
Flexible Learning Program Head
Tel: 604-451-7033
Email: Tracey_Renzullo@bcit.ca

Contact a Flexible Learning Program Advisor with the BCIT program name in the subject line if you have a question about:

• Course selection and program planning
• Declaring your program
• Making changes to your approved program plan
• Applying for transfer credit and advanced placement
• Laddering options
• Job placement and graduate outcomes
• Student life