Nope – but I’m sure it couldn’t hurt! I personally do affiliate marketing full time, and it is completely irrelevant to what I went to school for. There was a bit of a learning curve, but all the information you need is available online if you can be diligent about learning.
I would recommend an affiliate program that has some training built in, and minimal need for technical know-how. IMO, Empower Network is the top choice for someone new to have the potential to turn a profit quickly. You can get a lot of info about them on my blog – http://RebeccaALaw.com – if that’s something you’re interested in! Good luck 🙂