Successful Student has ranked the 10 Best Online Social Media Marketing Colleges in the United States, according to criteria developed by Successful Student. Social Media Marketing is a full time job, available to those technological gurus 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
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10 Best Online Social Media Marketing Colleges
1. University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
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.
2. Southern New Hampshire (Manchester NH)
Consisting of five graduate terms, the Master’s in Social Media Marketing at SNHU accepts students on a rolling basis at the start of each new term. No GMAT or GRE scores are required. Students will be exposed to a detailed marketing curriculum which has been accredited by both NEASC and ACBSP. All courses hold a special emphasis on marketing channels and strategies. Some examples include:
- Consumer Behavior and Marketing
- Strategic Internet Marketing
- Ethical and Legal Issues in Marketing
- Social Media Marketing Campaigns
Most students will take two courses per term, with each term lasting 10 weeks. The degree can be finished in as little as 15 months and is available completely online.
3. Georgetown University (Washington, DC)
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
4. Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA)
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
5. University of Denver (Denver, CO)
The 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.
6. Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ)
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.
7. Duke University (Durham, NC)
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.
8. UC Berkeley Extension (Berkeley, CA)
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.
9. University of Miami (Miami, FL)
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
10. Antonelli College (Cincinnati, OH)
The Associate Degree of Applied Business in Marketing and Social Media Management offered at Antonelli College may be taken online or on-campus. Open enrollment is offered year-round giving students the opportunity to attend approximately every eight to ten weeks. Students will be given a general introduction to key topics including:
- Economics
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Entrepreneurship
Students will finish the degree with an understanding of the influences of social media in all aspects of life. Students attending full time, or taking a minimum of nine credits, can complete the degree in as little as 19 months.
10 Best Online Social Media Marketing Colleges
Social Media Marketing Career Information
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the 2016 median pay for public relations specialists was $58,020 per year with a six percent expected growth for the field. 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. Ranking factors are academic reputation, type of degree (Bachelor’s Master’s, Certificate) and variety of course work. With rankings, students should always find what matters most to them, and feel free to arrange these schools into whatever ranking is most relevant to you. We encourage independent thinking at Successful Student.
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