A new accelerated online master’s degree program at the
West Virginia University
Reed College of Media will give students the strategy and skills to manage
marketing communications across digital, social and other emerging media.
The Master of Science in Digital Marketing Communications degree is a one-year, fully online program that addresses a growing talent gap in the industry.
“This program was designed in response to research that shows that the in-demand skill sets of the 21st century are constantly evolving and an in-depth understanding of digital marketing techniques is essential to success,” said Chad Mezera, assistant dean of online programs at the College of Media. “WVU is a leader in online education because we develop and offer programs in direct response to the demands of students and the market alike.”
The Digital Marketing Communications program consists of 10 courses including an introductory course, three courses in strategy and campaign planning, two courses on content and production, three courses focused on application and technologies, and a capstone course where students complete a professional digital marketing communications campaign for a real-world client.
Additionally, the College of Media is working with platforms like Google and Facebook to build popular certificates into the program. Students who pass the certificate exams have an added resume credential that demonstrates a proficiency in aspects of digital marketing related to the platforms. These might include topics like Google Analytics or Facebook Blueprint.
“What I love about digital marketing is that more than ever before, it requires so much strategy, skill and creativity,” said Mel Wilson, the manager of digital marketing at UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a 2018 graduate of WVU’s online M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications. “You have to bring a wide range of knowledge into each decision, considering user experience, web design, search engine optimization, social media, web analytics, paid media, email marketing, digital content, videography and photography, interactive technology and more, to make all of the puzzle pieces fit together.
Students in the program will gain a thorough understanding of each of these areas and new media as they arise. Knowing these digital marketing platforms and using the data they provide to develop more impactful marketing campaigns is central to the Digital Marketing Communications degree.
The Master of Science in Digital Marketing Communications is the third online offering by the WVU Reed College of Media, an innovator in online marketing communications education. The Media College launched the award-winning M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications in 2003 and the nation’s first online Data Marketing Communications master’s program in 2016.
For more information or to apply for the Digital Marketing Communications master’s degree, visit marketingcommunications.wvu.edu/digital. The first cohort begins August 19, 2020.