Infamous Party School Launches Hilarious New Major

Arizona State University, long known as one of America’s biggest party schools, is now offering a bachelor’s degree for aspiring influencers. 

The university’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication recently unveiled a Bachelor of Arts in Content Creation, a program designed to prepare students to “become an influencer and strategic storyteller who thrives in the rapidly evolving creator economy.”

According to the university, the program is aimed at students who “dream of monetizing” their social media presence. Courses include How To Become An Influencer, On-Camera Presence, Podcasting, Social Media Foundations, The Digital Audience, and Interpersonal Influence.

ASU says the degree goes beyond creating social media posts.

Students will study multimedia production, audience analytics, personal branding, social media strategy, and integrated communications while participating in internships, brand partnerships, and content creation trips in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and abroad.

Jessica Pucci, senior associate dean at the Cronkite School, said students will analyze performance metrics across multiple platforms, test different content strategies, and use data to grow their audiences.

Their senior capstone project requires students to spend an entire semester creating content on a platform such as TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube while demonstrating measurable audience growth.

“They will have a platform of their choice with real content and real followers and a real audience behind them,” Pucci said. 

University officials say the program reflects the rapid growth of the creator economy, which Goldman Sachs projects could reach nearly $480 billion by 2027. 

Supporters say the coursework teaches practical skills that many successful creators eventually have to learn through trial and error.

But the announcement has also drawn plenty of skepticism online, with critics questioning whether students need a four-year degree to learn skills many internet personalities developed on their own.

Arizona influencer Anna Elizabeth, who also works as a medical assistant, said she wishes the program had existed when she began building her online audience.

“How do I get brands to notice me?” she said. “It’s a little bit difficult to understand that portion if you haven’t done it for a long time.”

Even some faculty members questioned whether the degree justifies its cost. ASU philosophy professor Owen Anderson asked on X whether the major would satisfy new federal accountability standards requiring degree programs to improve graduates’ earning potential compared to workers without a college education.

Arizona State is not the first university to embrace the influencer economy. Syracuse University recently established a Center for the Creator Economy, while Graceland University and Arizona’s Grand Canyon University offer degree programs focused on digital content and social media.