The Creator Economy minor gives Syracuse University students the first formal academic pathway into an industry still writing its own rules. Available to all Syracuse students, the minor reflects the University’s commitment to preparing students for dynamic opportunities in an expanding sector of the economy, where creative entrepreneurs produce and monetize content across digital platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Substack.
Syracuse’s minor is distinguished by the integration of coursework from two of the country’s leading schools: the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and the top-ranked Martin J. Whitman School of Management, which co-lead the Center for the Creator Economy. The minor also draws in electives from other schools and colleges across the University, including a Name, Image and Likeness class from the Falk College of Sport, and Music Industry Marketing and Media from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
“The creator economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world, and Syracuse University is uniquely positioned to prepare students to lead in it. This minor brings together two of the country’s premier schools in communications and business to give students the skills, strategy and confidence to build something that lasts,” said Chancellor J. Michael Haynie. “That is exactly the kind of bold, interdisciplinary thinking that defines what we do here.”
Curriculum
The minor requires 18 credits, built around three required courses and a menu of electives:
- Introduction to the Creator Economy (Newhouse) — A survey of media industries and platforms, with an emphasis on the intersection of creators with brands, entertainment, sports, gaming, news, and music
- Business Toolkit for Creators (Whitman) — The business tools creators need, including monetization, strategic partnerships, and customer acquisition
- Entrepreneurship (choose one) — A hands-on course where students build their own creator startup: either Launchpad (Whitman) or New Media Venture Launch (Newhouse)
Students then choose three additional courses from a menu of electives matched to their career goals, with topics including entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises, electronic retailing and marketing, social media for communicators, and sports content for social platforms.
List of Classes
The following is the elective class list where students choose 3 classes for a total of 9 credits toward the minor.
| Fashion Advertising and Promotion | ||
| Social Media and Data for the Music Business | ||
| Digital Nation | ||
| Social Media for Communicators | ||
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises | ||
| Essentials of Marketing | ||
| Electronic Retailing and Marketing | ||
| Strategic Content Management | ||
| Advanced Media Business | ||
| Entertainment Innovation & Entrepreneurship | ||
| Trendspotting in Digital Media | ||
| Music Industry Marketing and Media | ||
| Sales and Strategic Partnerships | ||
| Sports Content for Social Platforms | ||
| Name Image Likeness | ||
| Analysis of Digital Media in Sport | ||
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Other courses (300-level or above) may fulfill the elective requirement with approval from the students’ minor advisor.
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How to Declare
For questions about the minor and how to declare, contact either:
- Your home college academic adviser
- Minor coordinator Aileen Gallagher, Newhouse associate dean for academic affairs, at aegallag@syr.edu
Students must pass either introductory course (detailed above) before declaring the minor. Once you’ve passed, follow these steps:
- Submit the form to your home college academic adviser
- Go to eForms to obtain the Declaration of Minor Form
- Complete the form
- Obtain a signature from the minor coordinator (Newhouse associate dean Aileen Gallagher — aegallag@syr.edu)
- Sign and save the completed document as a PDF