Program Overview

Program Type

Graduate Academic Certificate (G.A.C.)

Format

On Campus Online Hybrid

Estimated Time to Complete

2-3 semesters

Credit Hours

18

Program Description

The graduate academic certificate in interactive and virtual digital communication combines the best of two nationally accredited programs to train students in the most up-to-date written, visual and technical competencies required to successfully communicate in today's online and information world.

Why Earn an Interactive and Virtual Digital Communication Certificate?

During this period of dynamic change in traditional print and broadcast media, it is absolutely essential that anyone interested in pursuing a career in media have a fundamental grasp of how the Internet, social media and technology are changing the way we gather, report, write, distribute news and information.

Marketable Skills

• Collect, analyze, and interpret information
• Stakeholder and audience segmentation/analysis
• In-depth knowledge of media operations
• Management of online content
• Strategic communication campaign effectiveness analysis

Program Highlights

This program will help students understand how to best use technology and digital media to better reach new and existing readers, viewers, consumers and customers.

Career Outlook

This certificate can help students who wish to pursue careers in:

• Corporate communications at nonprofits and media companies
• Interactive media manager at a newspaper, broadcast, online media outlet or a public relations or advertising agency
• Media analyst: Helping a company decide which media to use to best communicate with staff, consumers and/or industry colleagues
• Interactive Marketing Manager
• Media strategist for a PR or advertising agency
• New Media Strategist
• Social Marketing Program Manager
• Manager, social media and digital marketing
• Digital community manager
• Manager/Director Online Services
• Interactivity Producer
• Digital Content Manager/Producer/Director

Program Courses

• Information Behavior (3 hrs)
• Electronic Databases and Information Services (3 hrs)
• Advanced Study in Advertising and Public Relations for Social Good (3 hrs)
• New Technologies of Instruction (3 hrs)
• Computer Graphics for Mediated Communications (3 hrs)
• Narrative Journalism (3 hrs)