Posted in Education

Sign of the Time: UF offers social media degree

   February 11, 2013

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The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications has launched a fully online Master of Arts in Mass Communication with a specialization in social media beginning with the summer 2013 term.

The master’s in social media is designed for the working professional seeking to better understand how to harness the digital power of social media. The program is for people new to using social media as a mass communications strategy, as well as those actively engaged in it.

The college also will offer an online graduate certificate program beginning in the summer 2013.

“We continue to grow our online graduate programs and we are particularly excited to introduce a master’s degree and certificate program in social media,” said Diane McFarlin, dean of the college. “Our graduate programs consistently rank in the top ten nationally and we believe there is a strong market of professionals who are seeking these online programs.”

The social media program will be taught entirely online and explores the theories that explain digital communications and examines the strategic uses of social media in advertising, marketing, public relations, journalism, writing and politics. Students also will examine the limitations of social media and how to creatively plan and design social media initiatives and use evaluation metrics.

“This program’s emphasis on both the tactical and strategic use of social media ensures that students will be prepared for not only today’s complex communication landscape, but also for the rapid changes that will impact our industries in the future,” said Spiro Kiousis, director of distance education and chair of the college’s department of public relations.

Designed primarily as a part-time program for professionals working in traditional media professions, students may also enroll full time in the degree program to complete the 33 credits. In the graduate certificate program, students will complete four courses.

Students may enroll for the summer, fall or spring semester.

For more information about the online Master of Arts in Mass Communication – Social Media, visit http://socialmediadegree.jou.ufl.edu.

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