Ontario Tech to launch master’s program for online creators in Fall 2026

Ontario Tech University in Oshawa is launching a new master’s program focused on social media and online content work, with the first cohort set to begin in Fall 2026. The Master of Social Media Communication in Online Creators will be offered in person and fully online, with full-time and part-time options, according to the university.

For residents in Durham Region and nearby communities, the program adds a new graduate option based in Oshawa while also allowing students to study remotely. Ontario Tech is positioning the degree for people working in online content and related roles who want formal training in areas such as strategy, monetization and how platforms operate.

Ontario Tech describes the intended students as content creators, social media managers, digital strategists, creator managers and influencer marketing professionals. The university also lists entrepreneurs building digital-first ventures, along with policy and communications professionals.

In its May 21 announcement, Ontario Tech cited estimates that the global creator economy is worth more than US$250 billion and is projected to approach US$500 billion by 2027. The university also cited a figure of more than 200 million people worldwide who identify as creators.

“The creator economy looks like an industry on the surface, but underneath, it’s still incredibly unstructured,” said Dr. Emilia King, an assistant professor in Ontario Tech’s Faculty of Social Science and Humanities and a co-director of the program.

Ontario Tech says brand deals are highly unequal, with a small percentage of top-tier creators capturing a disproportionate share of revenue. It says mid-tier and emerging creators navigate inconsistent pay, opaque negotiations and limited leverage, and that creators from marginalized groups often report less favourable deal terms and fewer opportunities.

Ontario Tech says the program will cover topics including:

• content strategy, growth and audience analytics
• digital storytelling across platforms, including viral storytelling techniques, narrative design and cross-platform audience engagement strategies
• monetization, brand partnerships and campaign execution
• platform dynamics, algorithms and discoverability
• AI tools, policy, regulation and ethical leadership

“The Creator MA is about understanding how to build sustainable careers in an environment defined by platforms, data and constant change,” said program co-director Dr. Zenia Kish, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities.

The program includes a two-semester capstone project in which students will launch an initiative such as a platform, venture, campaign or policy framework. Ontario Tech says each project will include defined goals, a public release and measurable outcomes.

Ontario Tech also says the program will include discussion of power and obligations connected to online influence, an issue raised by King in the announcement.