Social Media Marketing is a full time job, available to those technologically savvy social media specialists of the 21st century.
In terms of education requirements and labor statistics, social media specialists are often included with public relations specialists.
Those interested in the field should expect to study networking, communications, and business.
However, Social Media Marketing programs will have an emphasis on public outreach through posts, blogs, tweets, and other social media trends.
Social Media Marketing Career Information
Social Media Marketing Colleges Ranking Guidelines
Featured College Profile | Online Social Media Marketing Degree:
Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing – Social Media Marketing Degree
- Fully Online with 24/7 Access
- 120 Credits
- One of the Lowest Tuitions in America
- Many Start Dates All Year
Online Social Media Marketing Courses Include:
- Social Media Marketing Strategy
- Writing for New Media
- Social Media Campaign
Accreditation:
New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE).
COLLAPSE 10 Best Online Social Media Marketing Colleges
The University of Florida offers an online Master of Arts in Mass Communication with a concentration in Social Media. This 38 credit degree can be completed in less than two years, with 12 weeks per semester and three semesters per school year. Thirty five credit hours are dedicated to coursework with a three credit capstone course at the end.
Students have the opportunity to take the Branding Using Social Media course which is co-offered by Hootsuite University. Students can attend Hootsuite during this time for free to study the Hootsuite dashboard and its various features. Those who successfully complete this course will earn a Hootsuite certification.
Minimum GPA requirement:
Total transfer credit accepted: 60+
Minimum GPA of transfer credit: 2.0
COLLAPSE SNHU offers the Online Bachelor of Science in Marketing: Social Media, consisting of 120 credit hours. SNHU accepts students on a rolling basis throughout the year. Students are exposed to a detailed social media marketing curriculum which has been accredited by both NEASC and ACBSP. All courses hold a special emphasis on social media marketing channels and strategies. Some examples of courses include:
- Social Media Marketing Strategy
- Writing for New Media
- Social Media Campaign
Most students will take two courses per term, with each term lasting 10 weeks. The degree is available completely online, and self-paced for online students.
Accreditation:
New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE).
COLLAPSE 
As a private Christian research institution for higher education, Regent University places a heavy emphasis on ethical practices and student integrity. This includes the curriculum for the Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies: Internet and Social Media. Available online or on-campus, students will be exposed to the theory and practices of writing for the web and using social media to connect with specific audiences. The 120 total credits required for graduation include courses such as:
- Public Speaking
- Narrative Concept and Development
- Introduction to Digital Art
- Communicating in the 21st Century
Total transfer credit accepted: 90 credits
Accreditation:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Council for Higher Education, American Bar Association, The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, The Commission on Accreditation (CoA) of the American Psychological Association (APA), Commission of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
COLLAPSE 
The Online Master of Arts in Communication Management degree at Denver University is offered through the College of Professional and Continuing Studies. No GMAT or GRE scores are required for admission. During the 12 courses, or 48 credits, required for the program students will be exposed to the theories and practices of navigating communication, analyzing consumer behavior, conducing market research, and much more.
This program is available both on-campus and fully online, with academic terms running for 10 weeks. A shorter six course, or 24 credit, certificate length program is also offered with a more cursory study of the relevant information.
Accreditation:
The University of Denver receives regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association.
COLLAPSE 
Johnson and Wales University Online offers the Bachelor of Science in Digital Marketing and Social Media online degree. Students learn SEO (search engine optimization), content marketing, and digital advertising, as well as how to analyze the data involved in effective social media marketing.
Selection of courses:
- Search Engine Marketing
- Data-Driven Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Marketing Analytics
Accreditation:
New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE).
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No application is required to attend the Certificate program in Social Media Management offered at Georgetown University, however all those interested must have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree prior to enrollment. The program is convenient for the working professional with online or on-campus options and open enrollment year round.
Once enrolled, students will be required to complete seven courses, or 4.8 Continuing Education Units, within a two year period for certification. Currently those seven courses are as follows:
- Social Media Strategies and Tactics
- Using Social Media Tools Effectively
- Writing for Social Media
- Strategic Communication Planning
- Measuring and Calculating Return on Investment for Social Media
- Policies and Procedures to Manage Risk
- Capstone Course in Social Media
Accreditation:
Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
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Rutgers Business School is offering a ten-module Certificate in Social Media Marketing, which is also being labeled as a Mini-MBA. No GMAT or GRE scores are required to enroll. This completely online program is self-paced with each module consisting of educational videos with follow up exercises and quizzes. Each course, or module, takes approximately 35 to 40 hours to complete, with all course material being available for up to 12 weeks. Topics of the modules include:
- Content Development
- Leveraging Listening Channels
- Strategy Construction and Implementation
- Crises and Landmines
Students will have to complete a final exam and a final project at the end of the program.
Accreditation:
Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
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The non-credit Digital Media and Marketing Certificate offered at Duke University is an online, self-paced program which has a combined total of 350 hours of instruction and study material. Though it is self-paced, students must complete all required material in a 12 month time frame. There are nine available modules including:
- Digital Marketing Certified Associate
- Search Engine Optimization Practitioner
- Content Marketing
- Social Media Practitioner
- Mobile Marketing Practitioner
- Pay Per Click Practitioner
- Conversion Optimization Practitioner
- Web Analytics Practitioner
- Email Marketing
Upon completion of the certificate program students may pursue two additional certifications, OMCA or OMCP. Students who finish the requirements will also be granted an additional 12 months of access to any new or updated material.
Accreditation:
Duke University receives accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
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The Certificate Program in Marketing offered at Berkeley is available both online and in the classroom. There are no prerequisites to enroll, however a bachelor’s degree is recommended. The program consists of four required courses and two electives. The four required courses provide a general overview of marketing research and current social trends. These courses are:
- Introduction to Marketing
- Marketing Research: Concepts and Techniques
- Social Media Marketing Strategies
- Marketing Strategy
The online instructors for these courses are the same Haas School of Business professors who teach in the classrooms. Students have up to five years to complete all the required work which totals an approximate 180 hours of instruction.
Accreditation:
The University of California at Berkeley receives accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
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There are two Social Media degrees offered at the University of Miami. First is the Social Media Professional Certificate. This can be a stand alone program, or can be used as a prerequisite to other programs. There are two required courses:
- Understanding Social Media
- Planning and Implementing Digital Media Campaigns
The second degree offered is the Social Media Strategist Certificate which also requires only two courses:
- What is Social Media and Why it Matters
- Guiding Principles for Social Media Marketing
Both programs offer self-paced, flexible online education with a wide range of material covered in just two courses. Those topics include:
- Social Media Legal and Ethics
- Identifying Your Target Audience
- Identifying and Building Your Tribe
- Content Creation and Calendaring
- Creating Brand Evangelists
- Monitoring to Manage Reputation
Accreditation:
Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
READ MORE Social Media Marketing Career Information
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the 2018 median pay for Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers was $132,620 per year, with an eight percent expected growth rate. A bachelor’s degree is often sufficient for employers, along with a team spirit and a constant willingness to update to new ideas and the latest social media.
Social Media Marketing Colleges Ranking Guidelines:
As always at Successful Student, this ranking was made for students. Successful Student has developed this ranking according to criteria developed by SuccessfulStudent.org. Ranking factors were academic reputation, type of degree (Bachelor’s Master’s, Certificate) and variety of coursework. With rankings, students should always find what matters most, such as the variety of the courses or the reputation of the school. Prospective students should feel free to arrange these schools into whatever ranking is most relevant to suit their needs.
