An 'influencer' degree? Colleges bet on content creator major as critics question its value
- Arizona State University has launched a new bachelor’s degree in content creation through its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
- The program overlaps with ASU’s mass communication and media studies degree but adds electives focused on podcasting, studio production and on-camera presence.
- ASU’s announcement drew criticism from people who questioned whether content creation is a legitimate profession and whether a college degree helps launch a social media career.
- The article says ASU is not the first university to offer content creation courses or related programs.
- The expansion comes as universities try to attract students in a shrinking college-age population and adapt majors to current job markets.
Arizona State University has introduced a new bachelor’s degree in content creation, offered through its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The program is built on the school’s existing mass communication and media studies curriculum, with added electives in podcasting, studio production and on-camera performance.
The announcement drew quick criticism from people who question both the legitimacy of content creation as a profession and the usefulness of a college degree for social media careers. The article says the university declined an interview request about the program.
AP notes that ASU is not alone in moving into this area. Other universities have already launched content creation courses or related offerings as they try to compete for students and align majors with changing career paths.
The story frames the degree as part of a wider shift in higher education: schools are responding to a shrinking student population and to demand for programs tied to modern media jobs. Market impact is neutral.
“网红”学位？高校押注内容创作者专业，质疑者则怀疑其价值
亚利桑那州立大学推出了新的内容创作学士学位，由其华尔特·克朗凯特新闻与大众传播学院开设。该项目建立在学校既有的大众传播和媒体研究课程之上，并加入了播客、演播室制作和镜头前表现等选修内容。
这一消息迅速引发批评，一些人质疑内容创作是否算一种正当职业，也怀疑大学学位是否真的有助于开启社交媒体职业道路。报道还提到，校方拒绝就该项目接受采访。
美联社指出，亚利桑那州立大学并不是唯一进入这一领域的高校。其他大学此前已经开设了内容创作课程或相关项目，以争夺生源，并让专业设置更贴近不断变化的职业路径。
这篇报道将这一学位放在高等教育更广泛的调整背景下：学校正面对适龄学生减少的压力，同时也在回应与现代媒体工作相关的专业需求。对市场影响为中性。