Arizona State University is betting that the next generation of entrepreneurs won't necessarily launch startups. They'll launch personal brands and, if done right, they can make bank.

Now, young adults have the chance to learn exactly how to do it.

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The university has introduced a new Bachelor of Arts in Content Creation through its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, giving students the opportunity to earn a four-year degree focused on becoming professional content creators, digital storytellers and influencers.

The program, approved by the university senate earlier this year, arrives as the creator economy continues to expand into a multibillion-dollar industry, with more than 200 million Americans earning income through platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and podcasts. In fact, the global creator economy is currently valued at over $250 billion, driven by surging ad spend, advanced creator tools and the ever-evolving artificial intelligence space.

The average influencer earns $91,991 per year, according to Indeed. For perspective, the average registered nurse earns $93,600 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. More than half of young people (57% of Gen Z) want to become social media influencers, surveys suggest. And they're not alone, with 41% of adults overall expressing influencer aspirations.

"How to Become an Influencer" and more

According to ASU, students will learn content strategy, personal branding, audience analytics, multimedia production, podcasting, social media marketing and videography while building their own online presences. They'll learn how to analyze performance across multiple platforms, test different content strategies and improve results using audience data.

One of the program's most attention-grabbing offerings is a course titled "How to Become an Influencer." Students can also choose classes in podcasting, on-camera presence, social media foundations, photography, videography, editing, vocal delivery and interpersonal influence.

The curriculum culminates in a capstone project where students are expected to grow a real audience. So instead of simply submitting a paper, students select a platform — such as TikTok or YouTube — develop a content strategy, publish original work throughout the semester and demonstrate measurable audience growth. By graduation, students are expected to have an established platform with followers and engagement metrics they can show potential employers or sponsors.