Event management will be a major and minor in the College of Human Sciences for the first time in the spring semester. The program will be part of the apparel, education studies and hospitality management department.

The new major was created because of numerous activities and events that students have the opportunity to organize coupled with students being interested in a career in event management.

Robert Bosselman, professor and chairman of apparel, education studies and hospitality management, was a leading faculty member in getting this major processed and created.

“Students can gain an academic foundation and experience. [This major] was created to get the experiences while they’re here,” Bosselman said.

Course work will include specific management classes, special events management, opportunities to organize campus event, including the fashion show, selling Veishea cherry pies and a required internship.

“[There are] a lot of students on campus who are undecided on what to do — this gives opportunities. [Event management] is always in action,” Bosselman said.

Bosselman said the major would be a good fit for people who are “people oriented and love people.”

“There is a fair amount of work involved. You’re not just planning the event and it’s over — you are responsible,” Bosselman said.

Event management leads to career opportunities including conference manager, wedding planner, special events coordinator and meeting planner.

Dawn Fiihr, academic adviser involved in the making of this major, considers event management a “great field, you get to do a lot of different things.”

Fiihr was involved in reviewing curriculum and helping decide what courses would be best for the program. Fiihr will advise students in this major and minor on internships, study abroad opportunities and course schedules.

“There are a lot of students who are excited in pursuing their career in that area, now we have a program for it,” Fiihr said. “Part of going through a four-year degree is getting that exposure and experience.”

She said the skill requires a lot of work to pull of events and students must be able to “pay attention to detail.”

“It is a lot of work to be a part of that but it’s very rewarding,” Fiihr said. “Students are so excited that it makes us excited. [Iowa State has] the only four-year program in Iowa and one of the few in the Midwest [for event management].”

This program took less than a year to be processed.

Bosselman took it as a “vote of confidence that this is a very good idea and there are opportunities in this field.”

“We hope that we are attracting students who are going to be involved with the program, college and university — student leaders who want to be a part of things,” Bosselman said.