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Harper College

Social Media Specialist Certificate

Connect businesses and consumers through effective social media marketing

Program facts Business Program Icon


  • Credit hours: 16
  • Stackable to degree: Yes
  • Potential job outcomes: Marketing associate, social media specialist

Our fully online program focuses on helping you understand the business target market and how best to reach them, how to use social media as a tool to grow your customer base and how to translate marketing to the new marketing tools. Practice what you have learned with our internship experience class and build your portfolio.Learn marketing techniques that will escalate your career to the next level.

Completing this certificate program is a convenient and affordable way to determine whether a career in marketing is right for you. This program is available in an accelerated Fast Track format, giving you added flexibility, and a great start in Fall. Or join our fully online program that will allow you to honor your commitments and get your education starting this Fall and finish in Spring 2022.

Social Media Specialist Certificate

This 16 credit-hour certificate program is designed for those interested in obtaining basic social media and internet marketing skills that can be used in any entry-level marketing position, or for individuals who want to run social media marketing campaigns for their business start-ups.

The Associate in Applied Science in Business Administration includes a specialized study area for Social Media Specialist. Please refer to Business Administration in this section of the catalog if you are interested in pursuing a degree in this discipline.

Required: While not a program requirement, it is recommended that students complete ENG 101 (Composition I) or place into ENG 101.

Number Course Title Credits
MCM 150 3

Description:  Focuses on creating, maintaining, measuring and improving social media networks for a variety of industries. Students engage in data-driven decision making to alter or improve social media channels.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MKT 180 3

Description:  Introduces the fundamental skills needed to develop Web-appropriate written content that can be leveraged for strategic marketing purposes on multiple digital platforms. Evaluates platform requirements and explains the nuances of multimedia writing. Presents techniques to identify success metrics, assess and report content performance and make data-driven recommendations.

Recommended: ENG 101 or placement options into ENG 101: english-placement-grid.php

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MKT 245 3

Description:  Focuses on marketing activities that will cover product planning, pricing strategies and promotional efforts including advertising, selling and sales promotions and distribution channel effectiveness.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MKT 252 3

Description:  Presents techniques on how to design, maintain, and market effective digital storefronts. Focuses on communicating, selling, and providing content to Web-based stores and other Internet businesses.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MKT 253 or

Description:  Uncovers the foundational principles and advanced applications of AI, gaining proficiency in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize marketing practices. Analyzes and deciphers the intricacies of AI-driven consumer behavior analysis, market segmentation, and campaign optimization. Explores ethical considerations inherent in deploying AI for targeted marketing initiatives, fostering a nuanced understanding of responsible AI usage. Engage in hands-on exercises, utilizing machine learning algorithms to craft innovative solutions for contemporary marketing challenges. This course cultivates a comprehensive skill set, empowering professionals to navigate and excel in the evolving landscape of AI-infused marketing strategies.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MKT 281 1-1-3

Description:  Provides work experience in a social media field. Credit is given for participation in a supervised work experience wherein an organized training plan will be followed at a College-approved training station. This course is repeatable twice for a total of three credit hours.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

Electives: Select three credit hours from the following courses:

Number Course Title Credits
MCM 233 3

Description:  Explores the history, theory, practice and role of public relations in government, corporate, non-profit, and private organizations. Introduces students to the business and creative aspects of public relations, as well as the complexities of issue management. Students will prepare original public relations campaigns for print, broadcast and electronic media. Familiarizes the student with computer software for desktop publishing. Recommended preparation: computer design experience. IAI MC 913

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MKT 105 3

Description:  Focuses on the strategic marketing process as it is applied to the sports industry. Topics to be investigated include sponsorships, understanding spectators as consumers, and the application of the marketing mix in a sports environment.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MKT 217 3

Description:  Purposes of advertising, how advertisements are prepared and delivered in media, and how effectiveness of advertising is measured and evaluated in relation to the selling and marketing process. IAI MC 912

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MKT 243 3

Description:  Provides an introduction to social commerce and how to use the major social platforms on a smartphone to market and increase sales. Reviews sales initiatives including programs and alerts to increase sales with targeted customers. Explains the importance of using reward programs in social commerce to increase sales, referrals and customer loyalty.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

WEB 110 3

Description:  Introduces the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to use the Internet and build basic web pages. Students will learn and understand introductory functions of the web, Internet communications, and project management concepts. Social networking tools and the use of multimedia on the web will be explored. Industry career opportunities will be discussed.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

WEB 140 3

Description:  Introduces students who are new to coding, to build mobile apps for Apple mobile devices using the language and tools, Swift and Xcode. With MobileMaker.edu technologies, students will build an app, analyzing error in code, and problem solve. Students complete the class with a portfolio of apps and collection of skills that align with a professional workplace.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

Related programs

Students interested in business may also be interested in:

Resources


Next steps

For more information about marketing courses at Harper, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.

Last Updated: 12/19/24