ARIZONA STATE NOW HAS A DEGREE IN CONTENT CREATION
Arizona State University now offers a content creation degree, a Bachelor of Arts run through its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, with its first students expected this fall. The school wants everyone to know the major is “more than just viral videos.”
The degree requires 120 credit hours, and The Next Web reported that the first cohort was expected to enroll in autumn 2026. It was created through a University Senate motion that passed after readings on March 2 and March 30, 2026.
ASU’s pitch to prospective students is “Turn your creativity into content that connects with audiences.” The coursework covers content planning across video, podcasting and writing, plus mass communication models, audience growth, analytics, ethics, copyright and monetization. Sample classes include Grammar for Mass Communication, Media and Society, and Developing Media Content.
Students can also get hands-on experience through the Los Angeles Content Studio, brand content projects, media internships and content creation trips abroad. They can plug into Cronkite School outlets like Blaze Radio, The State Press and the Walter Cronkite Sports Network.
Arizona’s Family reported that the final project has students pick a social media platform, build a growth strategy, create content and gain followers over the semester. It also reported that senior associate dean Jessica Pucci said students learn to measure how content performs across platforms. Fortune reported that specialized electives include podcasting, studio production and on-camera presence.
The careers ASU lists are content strategy, digital influence, brand development, social media management and audience engagement. The Next Web noted that the word “influencer” does not appear on that list.
The salary table pulls from O*NET data and runs from $74,750 for public relations specialists to $166,790 for marketing managers. ASU cautions that those jobs and pay levels are not necessarily entry-level.
The program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is eligible for the STEM-OPT extension for international F-1 students. It is not yet approved for GI Bill benefits. ASU lists Downtown Phoenix, online and ASU Local as locations.
ASU declined The Next Web’s interview request about the degree, the outlet reported on August 14, 2026.
On October 21, 2026, ASU updated its own admission article about the major. It describes the degree as one of four new undergraduate programs at the Cronkite School and quotes Pucci saying it “isn’t about making viral videos for a living.”
