Emerson College is preparing students for careers in the growing creator economy with a new degree program focused on digital content, entrepreneurship and audience development.
The Boston-based college will introduce a Bachelor of Arts in Content Creation in fall 2027, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The major will give incoming students an opportunity to study the creative and business skills involved in building a career on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
The program reflects changes across the media industry, where independent creators and digital platforms have become increasingly influential. As traditional film and television production faces a changing landscape, creator-led businesses have opened new career paths for people interested in producing and distributing their own work.
What Students Will Learn in the New Major
The degree will be housed within Emerson’s School of Communication, in the Department of Strategic Marketing and Business. It will draw on the college’s existing strengths in storytelling, media production and communications while adding coursework focused on branding, marketing, business strategy and audience growth.
Students will learn how to develop original material while exploring the business and ethical considerations that come with publishing content online. The curriculum is also expected to cover digital and financial literacy, platform algorithms, monetization, emerging technology and the responsibilities creators have to their audiences.
Emerson’s website says students will gain practical experience writing, filming, recording and editing content in different formats. They will also examine topics such as authenticity, representation, privacy and artificial intelligence.
The program will culminate in a senior capstone project. Students will develop and publicly launch an original piece of work, which could take the form of a video series, podcast, publication, creator channel or cross-platform project. Graduates are expected to leave with a portfolio and experience engaging with real audiences.
All About the New Degree
Emerson President Jay Bernhardt said the major builds on the institution’s history of preparing students for emerging creative fields.
“Emerson has long prepared students for success in emerging creative industries with a focus on hands-on, real world application in our academic disciplines and now this new major builds on our tradition by combining creativity, technology and entrepreneurial skills for the next generation,” Bernhardt said.
Brenna McCormick, chair of the Department of Strategic Marketing and Business, said the degree is designed to teach students both the production and business sides of creating digital content.
“Our new content creation major prepares students to be a part of the evolving creator economy, teaching them not only how to produce compelling digital content but also how to build a successful entrepreneurial career,” McCormick said.
She added, “From digital and financial literacy to business and marketing, this major has the essential ingredients to help students turn their creative visions into something bigger.”
Emerson’s new major is intended for students interested in more than simply consuming online media. The college describes the program as an opportunity to develop an individual creative voice, build an audience and turn original ideas into a sustainable career.
The degree will combine production, storytelling, performance, marketing and entrepreneurship, giving students experience with both the creative and commercial sides of digital media.
With the program scheduled to begin in fall 2027, Emerson is positioning content creation as a formal area of study as the creator economy continues to develop.
Students Will Soon Be Able to Earn a College Degree in Content Creation