Bachelor of Event, Sport, and Entertainment Management (Honours) (Co-op)

This four-year honours degree program prepares students for a career in event management at local, national and international levels, involving entertainment, sport, corporate, tourism, travel, business, non-profit, politics, art, culture and fashion.

  • The only Canadian business degree specializing in event management
  • Unique program design is distinctive in scope to meet the needs of the diverse event industry, at local, national and international levels
  • Gain real life experience during a culminating project in which students design, plan and execute a live event with an industry client

Program Availability and Schedule

Availability

Open

Closed

Waitlisted

Start Term

Availability

International
Availability

Competitive?

Fall 2025

No

Schedule

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Program Summary

Credential

Honours Degree (4 Years)

Program Delivery

Program Code

Area of Interest

Culinary, Hospitality and Tourism

School

School of Business and Hospitality

Campus

Ottawa

Work Integrated Learning

Students build a multidisciplinary set of competencies critical for the event industry, focusing on strategic planning, marketing and project management expertise. Students develop teamwork, leadership, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills at the mid-management level. These business fundamentals support a variety of event specific applications such as logistics, operation and risk management, safety and security, revenue generation, marketing, public relations, project management, economics, finance, entrepreneurship, people management, intercultural relations, sustainability, and crowd management. Local, national and international co-op placements provide students with hands-on practice while networking with, and learning from, industry experts. A culminating project challenges students to design, plan and execute a live event with an industry client, thus enabling them to integrate practical, real-world experience with the theoretical learning acquired throughout the program.

Students also gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term(s) (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op work term(s) are subject to availability and academic eligibility. Please note that admission to a co-op program does not guarantee a co-op placement....(read more)

Overview

This four-year honours degree program prepares students for a career in event management at local, national and international levels, involving entertainment, sport, corporate, tourism, travel, business, non-profit, politics, art, culture and fashion. With the rapid globalization of the event industry, the scale and complexity of today`s events requires the expertise of trained event management professionals. Now that participants and spectators from across the world travel to a myriad of conferences, competitions and festivals, event tourism has become a flourishing industry. Students acquire the event management skills necessary to design, project manage and execute a wide range of small to large-scale events, impacting participants and audiences from around the world.

Students build a multidisciplinary set of competencies critical for the event industry, focusing on strategic planning, marketing and project management expertise. Students develop teamwork, leadership, communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills at the mid-management level. These business fundamentals support a variety of event specific applications such as logistics, operation and risk management, safety and security, revenue generation, marketing, public relations, project management, economics, finance, entrepreneurship, people management, intercultural relations, sustainability, and crowd management. Local, national and international co-op placements provide students with hands-on practice while networking with, and learning from, industry experts. A culminating project challenges students to design, plan and execute a live event with an industry client, thus enabling them to integrate practical, real-world experience with the theoretical learning acquired throughout the program.

Students also gain real-world experience through a paid co-operative education (co-op) work term(s) (see Additional Information for more details). Please note that places in the co-op work term(s) are subject to availability and academic eligibility. Please note that admission to a co-op program does not guarantee a co-op placement.

SUCCESS FACTORS

This program is well-suited for students who:

  • Enjoy planning and organizing activities.
  • Excel in teamwork and collaborating with others.
  • Enjoy taking leadership roles.
  • Adjust easily to flexible hours.
  • Adapt well to change.
  • Possess excellent time management and communication skills.
  • Enjoy using creative, strategic and critical thinking skills to solve problems.
  • Thrive in a fast-paced and constantly evolving environment.
  • Are detail oriented.

Courses

Programs at Algonquin College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with virtual learning activities. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided an Algonquin email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.

Careers & Pathways

Careers

Graduates may find career opportunities in for-profit, government and non-profit sectors in a variety of event management roles. Graduates are qualified for entry-level positions to design, plan and execute events. Employers include trade shows, festivals, sports organizations, charities, non-governmental agencies, government, entertainment companies, corporate companies, non-profit organizations, event planning companies, academic institutions and hospitals.

Pathways

Please use our Pathways tool to search for pathway options.

Learning Outcomes

The graduate has reliably demonstrated the ability to:

  1. Interpret and deliver information through verbal, non-verbal and written communication to local, national and international audiences.
  2. Apply strategic leadership skills and management principles to empower event stakeholders.
  3. Collaborate with diverse individuals, teams, organizations and culture, while respecting differences, to support stakeholder goals.
  4. Identify, analyze and solve problems using creative and critical thinking in order to develop innovative solutions in complex environments for small to mega-events.
  5. Develop strategies for long-term event planning with diverse programming initiatives and comprehensive logistical procedures.
  6. Research, collect and analyze primary and secondary source data to support human resources and business decisions.
  7. Bid on, design, plan, project manage, market and execute a variety of event programming elements for a range of national and international audiences and clients in order to promote growth and sustainability.
  8. Research, select and leverage cutting-edge technologies and marketing strategies to enrich development, event production and market reach.
  9. Develop, negotiate, and implement financial initiatives based on client goals and objectives.
  10. Choose and express reflective practice strategies and self-regulated learning to update knowledge, skills, and apply new learning with confidence in changing situations.
  11. Apply current and emerging concepts, technologies, knowledge and skills to anticipate, and remain responsive to, constantly evolving stakeholder goals and objectives.
  12. Adhere to legal and ethical guidelines governing the execution of events in a global environment, identifying and reducing risk to all stakeholders.
  13. Develop and implement safety and security plans to mitigate potential threats and danger related to event crowds.
  14. Identify and apply discipline-specific practices that contribute to the local and global community through social responsibility, economic commitment and environmental stewardship.

Tuition & Fees

Get an idea of how much each semester will cost with our Tuition and Fee Estimator.

2024/2025 Academic Year

Tuition and related ancillary fees for this program can be viewed by using the Tuition and Fees Estimator tool at www.algonquincollege.com/fee-estimator.

Further information on fees can be found by visiting the Registrar`s Office website at www.algonquincollege.com/ro.

Fees are subject to change.

Admissions Requirements

All applicants must satisfy both College Eligibility and Program Eligibility requirements.

College Eligibility

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent.
  • Mature students are applicants who have not achieved the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or its equivalent and who are at least 19 years of age on or before the commencement of the program in which they intend to enroll. Mature students applying for Degree programs satisfy College Eligibility by having demonstrated academic abilities equivalent to those of Ontario high school graduates, verified by successful completion of at least one full-time term at the post-secondary level (minimum five courses taken concurrently in an academic program of study).

Program Eligibility

  • Six Grade 12 University (U) or university/college (M) courses with a minimum 65% average including:
    • One Grade 12 U English course, with a minimum of 60%.
    • One Grade 12 U Mathematics course, with a minimum of 60% (Students who have not achieved the required 60% or who have not completed a Grade 12 U Mathematics course prior to the start of term may still be considered for admissions. Students will be required to satisfactorily complete a math equivalency course by the end of their first semester in this program.)
  • Please note that mature students must meet the following subject-specific Program Eligibility requirements, either directly or through equivalencies:
    • One Grade 12 U English course, with a minimum of 60%.
    • One Grade 12 U Mathematics course, with a minimum of 60%> (Students who have not achieved the required 60% or who have not completed a Grade 12 U Mathematics course prior to the start of term may still be considered for admissions. Students will be required to satisfactorily complete a math equivalency course by the end of their first semester in this program.)
  • Applicants with international transcripts must provide proof of the subject-specific requirements noted above and may be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Domestic applicants with international transcripts must be evaluated through the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) or World Education Services (WES).
  • IELTS-International English Language Testing Service (Academic) Overall band of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each band; OR TOEFL-Internet-based (iBT)-overall 90, with a minimum of 22 in each component: Reading 22; Listening 22; Speaking 22; Writing 24; OR Duolingo English Test (DET) Overall 120, minimum of 120 in Literacy and no score below 105.

Not sure if you meet all of the requirements? Academic Upgrading may be able to help with that: https://www.algonquincollege.com/access/.

Application Information

BACHELOR OF EVENT, SPORT, AND ENTERTAINMENT MANAGEMENT (HONOURS) (CO-OP)
Program Code 6179X03FWO

Applications to full-time day programs must be submitted with official transcripts showing completion of the academic admission requirements through:

ontariocolleges.ca
60 Corporate Court
Guelph, Ontario N1G 5J3
1-888-892-2228

Students currently enrolled in an Ontario secondary school should notify their Guidance Office prior to their online application at www.ontariocolleges.ca.

Applications for Fall Term and Winter Term admission received by February 1 will be given equal consideration. Applications received after February 1 will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis as long as places are available.

International applicants please visit this link for application process information: https://algonquincollege.force.com/myACint/.

For further information on the admissions process, contact:

Registrar`s Office
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Ave
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8
Telephone: 613-727-0002
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4723
TTY: 613-727-7766
Fax: 613-727-7632
Contact: https://www.algonquincollege.com/ro

Additional Information

Program Resources

Algonquin College has been granted consent by the Minister of Colleges and Universities to offer this applied degree for a seven-year term starting June 15, 2022. The College shall ensure that all students admitted to the above-named program during the period of consent have the opportunity to complete the program within a reasonable timeframe.

CO-OP INFORMATION:
Co-operative education (Co-op) allows students to integrate their classroom learning with a real-world experience through paid work terms. Two academic terms prior to the cooperative education work term, students are required to actively participate in and successfully complete the self-directed co-op course, readiness activities and workshops.

Students must actively conduct a guided, self-directed job search and are responsible for securing approved program-related paid co-op employment. Students compete for co-op positions alongside students from Algonquin College and other Canadian and international colleges and universities. Algonquin College`s Co-op Department provides assistance in developing co-op job opportunities and guides the overall process, but does not guarantee that a student will obtain employment in a co-op work term. Co-op students may be required to relocate to take part in the co-op employment opportunities available in their industry and must cover all associated expenses; e.g., travel, work permits, visa applications, accommodation and all other incurred expenses.

Co-op work terms are typically 14 weeks in duration and are completed during a term when students are not taking courses. For more information on your program`s co-op level(s), visit the courses tab on your program`s webpage.

International students enrolled in a co-op program are required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to have a valid Co-op/Internship Work Permit prior to commencing their work term. Without this document International students are not legally eligible to engage in work in Canada that is part of an academic program. The Co-op/Internship Work Permit does not authorize international students to work outside the requirements of their academic program.

For more information on co-op programs, the co-op work/study schedule, as well as general and program-specific co-op eligibility criteria, please visit www.algonquincollege.com/coop.

Completion of the total number of co-op work terms listed under the courses section on the program page are mandatory for graduation. Co-op students must make every effort to remain on schedule and participate in co-op work terms as planned. Students who fail to complete co-op work terms as scheduled may be required to take an unscheduled break in their studies, resulting in a delay in graduation in order to complete their co-op at a later date. Taking an unscheduled break in studies can impact an international student’s immigration status, including, in most cases, the ability to work. International students are advised to consult with the International Education Centre to understand the potential implications of unscheduled breaks at www.algonquincollege.com/international/student-handouts/scheduled-unscheduled-breaks/.

Contact

Sylvia Densmore

Program Coordinator

densmos@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 7423

Room H204n

View Bio

Sylvia Densmore

Program Coordinator

densmos@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 7423

Sylvia Densmore practices and instills teamwork as one of the key skills in her students. She believes that to be a credible role model to students you must “practice what you teach!” For twenty years Sylvia has worked as a professional Event Manager on projects including the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Tour, the Canadian Olympic Association Congress and the Breast Cancer Action Walk to name a few. Along with the Event Management team, Sylvia currently teaches and mentors students through the creation, planning and execution of numerous fundraising events.

A highlight of Sylvia’s career was a trip to Tanzania, Africa where she delivered a two-week course in Event Management to College faculty and Industry representatives as part of a CIDA program called Education for Employment. She recently obtained her Masters in Tourism Management at Royal Roads University. As coordinator of the Event Management program she continues to maintain communication with her grads, reaching out to provide new job opportunities and advice whenever asked.

Sophia Bouris

Professor

bouriss@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 3552

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Sophia Bouris

Professor

bouriss@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 3552

A successful and memorable event is achieved by creating a multi-sensory experience. Sophia has accomplished just this as she has over fifteen years of experience transforming spaces and creating in the event industry. Sophia joins us from Queen’s University where she is the Director of Strategic Communications and Events. In this role, Sophia continues to reimagine corporate events and communications to enhance the employee, alumni and stakeholder experience. She is also an accomplished communicator, event manager, and educator with extensive experience in strategic communications and both in-person and virtual events. Always at the forefront of current trends, Sophia has the ability to create, market, connect, and communicate personally with her target audience. Building strong relationships within the industry and the community has allowed her to bring original and effective programming and communications to life. One of Sophia’s priorities is getting to know her clients and understanding their needs in order to effectively execute a communications plan and/or an event design.

A self-professed life-long learner, Sophia is a certified Digital Event Strategist who holds a Diploma in Event Management from Algonquin College, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Arts in Leadership from Royal Roads, where her thesis focused on how post-secondary institutions can leverage key communications opportunities. Sophia also taught in the Event Management program at Algonquin College for more than eight years.

Outside of her day job, Sophia owns and operates an event-planning company and volunteers with many local organizations.

Caron Fitzpatrick

Professor

fitzpac@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5312

Room H204e

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Caron Fitzpatrick

Professor

fitzpac@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5312

Caron Fitzpatrick brings diversity to the Hospitality program, coming from the Event Management industry. Caron is a graduate of the Event Management program at Algonquin College and holds a Master’s Degree in Tourism Management. Caron’s thesis explored the use of Mobile Apps in sport tourism focusing on the ability to use mobile apps to increase the duration of stay and tourism spend.

Caron has over a decade of experience in restaurants and as well as experience in the event department at a major hotel. Her real expertise has been in the planning and execution of events including tradeshows, races, ski competitions, galas, golf tournaments, hockey tournaments, conventions, annual general meetings, awards ceremonies, political campaign management and festivals. Caron has a passion for lifelong learning and is currently completing the Social Media College Certificate here at Algonquin College.

Colin Kovacs

Professor

kovacsc@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5836

Room WB423c

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Colin Kovacs

Professor

kovacsc@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 5836

Colin Kovacs received his Master of Arts from Queen’s University after completing his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Ontario. He has taught economics, statistics, and finance for over 15 years at both the DeVry College of Technology, in Toronto, and Algonquin College, in Ottawa.

His research papers have included Determinants of Labour Force Participation Among Older Males in Canada, and Minimum Wage – The Past and Future for Ontario. As well, he is a co-author of Exploring Microeconomics (Nelson, 2nd edition, 2010), and Exploring Macroeconomics (Nelson, 2nd edition, 2010)

Matthew Moore

Professor

moorem1@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 6248

Room H217

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Matthew Moore

Professor

moorem1@algonquincollege.com

613-727-4723, ext. 6248

Matt Moore is a professor of Sport Management with a specialized focus on finance. With more than 20 years of invaluable experience in the dynamic hospitality industry, Matt brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge to his classroom, specifically in financial management. His extensive background includes a tenure of 13 years at Chances R Restaurant, where he served as co-owner and dedicated manager. During his time in the industry, he developed a profound understanding of economics, entrepreneurship, and the intricacies of restaurant management.

Matt’s academic achievements include a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Carleton University, which provided him with a solid foundation for understanding the financial aspects of the field. He further pursued his education by earning a Master’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism from Glion University, focusing on Asset and Revenue Management. This advanced degree equipped him with a comprehensive understanding of the financial intricacies associated with the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Beyond his academic and professional accomplishments, Matt has also dedicated his time and expertise to volunteer work in the realm of sports. With over 30 years of competitive sports experience, he possesses firsthand knowledge of the sports industry and its management. This unique combination of practical experience, academic expertise, and a passion for sports has positioned Matt as a sought-after professor and mentor in the field of Sport Management with a concentration in finance.

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