Successfully managed events bring people together, generate revenue and spur connections, making skilled event planners valuable assets for any business. The University of Florida’s online Master’s in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management program has expanded event management course offerings to train new event professionals and propel veteran event planners to the top of their industry.
UF Online Master’s Offers New Event Management Options for Competitive Students
“Our event courses deliver practical knowledge and advanced skills that set our graduate students apart in an increasingly competitive job market,” said Department Chair Dr. Rachel J.C. Fu. “We are thrilled to cultivate innovative leaders for the dynamic, lucrative events industry.”
Students can choose courses that match their interests and career goals with the fully online Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management (THEM) curriculum. Courses include the core class Trends and Issues in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management and elective courses such as AI Revolutions and Applications in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management and Branding Strategies in Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Management.
Beginning spring 2026, Certified Meeting Professional and THEM alum Katie Risher will teach Advanced Strategic Event Management. In addition to her academic training, Risher brings hands-on expertise as Assistant Director of the University of Florida Conference Department and Immediate Past President of the North Florida Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI).
“You cannot learn how to plan or execute an event from a textbook. It requires hands-on experience, connection, and trial and error to really learn how to develop the successful skills needed to thrive in the job,” said Risher. “I help provide students with the tips, networks, and assignments that they can use to create their own event portfolio to use for their own career development.”
Risher designed her course with interactive, project-based assignments that give students tools they can immediately apply in their professional roles.
“This is a very fun and engaging course that will help introduce relevant concepts and challenge students to think and work like hospitality and event professionals,” she said.
Students who master the skills in Risher’s course and other online event planning courses can turn their accomplishments into career momentum. The job outlook is bright for event professionals – the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts demand for meeting, convention and event planners will grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than average for jobs.
UF’s online event management graduate students can boost their competitive advantage further by earning an Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management Certificate at no additional cost while completing their master’s degree.
“With our AI certificate and robust event management curriculum, UF’s online Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management master’s program is the clear choice for ambitious event leaders,” Fu said.
About the online Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management
The 100% online, instructor-led Master of Science in Tourism, Hospitality and Event Management is designed for busy, working professionals and those just getting started in their careers.
This program allows you to earn your degree and apply what you learn in the classroom to your current and future work environments. Using real data from top industry experts, graduate students develop resource-based views and comprehensive strategies for managing and leading tourism, hospitality and event organizations. Students will also obtain a holistic perspective of environmental concerns that impact visitation to sensitive areas, including how to build sustainable initiatives into a business model and how to use unique faculty-developed tools to better respond to these issues.
Ignite your tourism, hospitality and event management career with our streamlined admissions process.
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