What degrees should you get to become an Event Planner?

This is a great question -- particularly since there are so many routes you can take to become an event planner. You will need a few key skills, particularly: attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, superb client relationship management, and creativity/an eye for design. You can become an event planner at a boutique agency that specializes in corporate or private events (from large sales meetings to weddings) or at an in-house company (where you might contract with an agency to make your event happen)...or, you might work in a division like Communications or Marketing, where your role is to produce events, but you'll be working with an event planner to help bring your strategy, vision, and content to life. With all of those routes, your major is flexible! You can make a case for a number of fields... English (to be a good writer), Communications/Marketing (to understand how events fit into corporate strategies), Psychology (to understand personal dynamics, especially with difficult clients), Art (if you want to focus on the aesthetics of the meeting). It's less about the academics, and more about the skills you'll learn along the way. I agree with the commenter above who said it's important to gain as much experience as possible by planning small events if you can...or finding another way to demonstrate management experience (budget planning, staff oversight, etc.). I absolutely love event planning and the people I've met along the way. Good luck!

Marketing, Business, Public Relations, and Communications are all common degrees. I, however, had a history degree. The most important thing you can do in college is study something you are passionate about. At the end of the day, it is working hard and volunteer/work experience that will help. Are you the event chair of your club? Did you volunteer to run the local animal shelter's walk? These things are really helpful. I have been asked how my history degree helps me every day at work and I say, "I learned the art of learning which is what college is all about." And then I mention I'm really good a Jeopardy. :)

I would suggest business or marketing (preferably a combination in both) Major and minor. Business will help her unstand basic accounting and business organization which will be helpful to be successful. Marketing will helping with promoting her company or the events she will be planning. Not sure about how communication fits.