Online Bachelor’s in Professional Performance
Build a career as a content creator or around your personal brand, your content, and what you do best. KU’s online Bachelor of Applied Science in Professional Performance helps you develop the skills to create, grow, and sustain your work—while building a foundation in communication, strategy, and business.
What is an online bachelor’s in Professional Performance?
KU’s online Bachelor of Applied Science in Professional Performance is built for students who want to turn their interests, talents, or creative work into something more. Whether you’re creating content, growing an audience, or figuring out how to take the next step, this program focuses on how people build influence and shape their own path.
You’ll work on how to communicate clearly, develop your voice, apply business and strategy to what you create, including how content can grow into a sustainable business over time. The goal isn’t just to produce content—it’s to understand how that work connects to real opportunities and long-term growth.
Transfer students can apply to KU for free, making it easier to take the next step toward completing your degree.
Careers in content creation, branding, and digital media
Graduates of KU’s Professional Performance degree move into a range of roles tied to content, communication, and creative work. Some build careers within organizations. Others build something of their own.
Content and creator-focused roles
If you’re focused on creating and growing content, this program helps you move from posting to building something with direction and consistency.
You may pursue paths such as:
- Content creator or digital storyteller
- Social media or community manager
- Influencer partnerships or creator support roles
Roles connected to content creation continue to grow, with median earnings around $54,900 and strong wage growth tied to demand for digital content.
Branding and communication roles
If you’re more interested in shaping how brands and organizations connect with audiences, you’ll build the skills to step into communication and strategy roles.
You’ll be prepared for positions like:
- Brand strategist
- Communications coordinator
- Marketing or content specialist
Public relations and communication roles report median earnings around $134,597, reflecting strong demand for professionals who can guide messaging and audience engagement.
Independent and entrepreneurial paths
If you want to build something of your own, the program focuses on how to turn your skills, content, or platform into work that’s sustainable over time.
That might look like:
- Freelance or contract work
- A personal brand or content platform
- A small business built around your skills or interests
Influencer-related roles and brand partnership work show median earnings around $86,400, with continued growth tied to audience-driven business models.
What can you do with a Professional Performance degree?
In this program, you’ll focus on how people build influence, communicate effectively, and grow their work over time. That can take different forms depending on your goals.
You may be interested in:
- Content creation or digital storytelling
- Entrepreneurship or freelance work
- Social media or digital marketing
- Performance-based paths in media, athletics, coaching, or community spaces
- Brand partnerships, creative direction, or influencer marketing
If you’ve asked questions like “What degree do you need to be a content creator?” or “How do you build a career around your work or your brand?” this program offers a structured way to move forward.
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE SNAPSHOT
Why choose KU’s online Professional Performance degree?
This program is designed for how careers actually work today—especially if you’re building something that doesn’t follow a traditional path.
- Build real-world skills in communication, leadership, and creative work
- Learn how content, branding, and audience growth connect to real opportunities
- Earn a flexible, transfer-friendly degree designed for working students
- Take courses in short formats that fit alongside work or creative projects
- Develop a foundation for careers in media, entertainment, branding, and entrepreneurship
This degree bridges creative talent with strategic, ethical, and professional skills to help elevate your work and your impact.
Create. Influence. Communicate. Lead.
Want to learn how to strategically build a career around your personal brand, values, and goals? KU’s fully online Professional Performance degree gives you the tools to grow your brand voice, develop storytelling skills, and build confidence on any platform.
Start your journey toward a future in content creation, entertainment, social media marketing, or entrepreneurship.
Build a personal brand. Grow your audience. Turn your work into something sustainable.
KU’s online Professional Performance degree focuses on how people create content, build influence, and develop opportunities around what they do. You’ll learn how to shape your voice, connect with audiences, and apply strategy to your work so it can grow over time.
What you’ll learn
Coursework prepares you to plan, create, manage, and grow your professional brand and start content-based projects. You’ll also explore how creative work can develop into long-term opportunities, including how content and ideas can grow into sustainable work over time. Topics include:
- Digital storytelling and creative communication
- Personal and professional branding strategies
- Entrepreneurial thinking and project leadership
- Audience development and community building
- Influencer partnerships and collaboration strategy
- Applied ethics and responsible digital presence
- Business and creative planning fundamentals
Blend your creative voice with business skills that support long-term growth.
Format built for your life
- 100% online
- Asynchronous coursework so you can learn on your schedule
- Eight-week courses, with two sixteen-week experiences (capstone and an AI course)
- Designed for working learners and transfer students
Earn your degree wherever you are, at a pace that works for you.
Who this program is for
If you’re exploring how to build a career around content, your personal brand, or creative work, this program gives you a structured path forward. This program is a strong fit if you’re interested in careers like:
- Social media marketing
- Digital content creation
- Influencer or creator-focused work
- Branding and audience development
It’s also a good option if you’re:
- Building or growing a personal brand
- Exploring how to turn creative work into a career
- Looking for a flexible, transfer-friendly path to finish your degree