“What should I major in if I want to work in events?”

It’s one of the most common—and most stressful—questions people ask.

In this episode of So You Want to Be an Event Planner, we explore the academic disciplines that feed into event planning and event management careers. We look at how hospitality, business, communications, sport management, theatre, social sciences, design, and technology each contribute different capabilities to event work. This episode reframes events as an interdisciplinary field and explains why skill stacking and applied experience matter more than choosing a single “right” major.

If you’re a student, parent, counselor, or advisor navigating event management degrees and pathways, this episode brings reassurance and clarity.

1. No single major owns the event field
2. Events draw from many academic disciplines
3. Interdisciplinarity is a strength, not a weakness
4. Skill stacking matters more than major choice alone
5. Most successful event professionals build toward the field over time

1. Source majors
2. Interdisciplinary field
3. Skill stacking
4. Academic pathways
5. Applied experience

List what your major—or past education—already contributes to events.

Then identify one complementary skill you’d like to build next.

Episode 6: The Formats of Events — A Taxonomy

Once you understand pathways, it’s time to look at the events themselves. Next, we’ll break down the different types of events—and why format matters more than you think.

1. Hospitality and tourism programs
2. Business and marketing degrees
3. Theatre and performing arts backgrounds
4. Sport management programs
5. Sociology, psychology, and design disciplines