Content Creation: America’s famous Arizona State University (ASU) has started a degree program in content creation. This course has been designed for those youth who want to become social media influencers, digital storytellers or professional content creators. The university claims that this degree will effectively help students in making careers in the creator economy. Let us tell you that, the university has started a new bachelor’s degree in content creation through its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Its curriculum is similar to that of ASU’s Mass Communication and Media Studies degree, but the main differences are the inclusion of specialized elective courses on podcasting, studio production, and on-camera presence.
degree course price
At ASU, the basic tuition fee per academic year excluding scholarships for Arizona residents is approximately $12,000, but after adding housing, dining and other fees the total cost can exceed $37,000. For students from outside Arizona, tuition fees exceed $35,000 and the total cost before scholarships is approximately $60,000.
ASU had to face criticism
ASU’s course immediately drew criticism from many quarters. Some people believe that content creation is not a legitimate profession, while others are questioning the importance of a college degree to start a career in the social media profession. Notably, universities, keen to compete for the dwindling number of students, are introducing new courses aimed at preparing students for today’s careers. However, the possibility of getting employment from these can be debated.
Understand the importance of this course from experts
These college programs represent a turning point, according to Brooke Erin Duffy, a professor of communications at Cornell University. Duffy said that in the last one year, institutions in education and other sectors have accepted content creation as a better career option. Even though the word “influencer” might make some people uncomfortable. Duffy said the image of an ideal influencer is usually a “young girl taking selfies and making a ton of money doing nothing.” But this is not the case for content creators who are working on media production, audience retention strategies, brand partnerships, and business relationships related to their online presence. According to Duffy, it’s a time-consuming, laborious job that often doesn’t pay well, at least not at first. But this is often hidden behind the notion that it is a dream job.
According to Max Willens, principal analyst at eMarketer, another expert, social media is already a crowded field, and it’s going to get even more competitive in the coming years. eMarketer estimates that revenue for social media creators in the U.S. will top $20 billion this year, but Willens said it’s important to understand what that means for individual creators. “Most of that money is not going into the pockets of the creators,” he said.
Content creator and actor Sammy Christerna graduated from Arizona State University this year with a degree in sociology and political science, but he said if the content creation program was available he would definitely take classes in it and consider choosing it as a major. Cristerna said these courses would have been useful in helping brands negotiate deals, maximize monetization opportunities, and learn how to attract and retain audiences. He further said that some of these skills can be learned on your own through experience. Still, “it’s good to have a formal education.”
Many institutions have started such courses
Over the past few years, many higher education institutions have launched courses focused on the emerging content creation industry, and many institutions also offer certificate or minor programs. These include Syracuse University, Quinnipiac University and Colorado State University which have launched minor courses and St. Bonaventure University had also earlier announced a major course in content creation.