Drury Social Media Certificate faculty members keep in regular contact with past program participants via LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs, etc. and enjoy learning of how they are applying skills gained from the course. Michael Throop, a four decade Mass Communication veteran, was a member of Drury’s inaugural seated SMC and has been very busy over the past year creating college level social media courses.
As someone who spent his “first” career in mass communications, I am always looking for opportunities to learn more about the evolving world of non-traditional and social media.
I attended the Certification in Social Media program last summer at Drury, and I obtained a wealth of information about trends, usage, demographics and major issues in social media. I also had the opportunity to assist in the creation of a program designed to assist an area nonprofit raise its presence in social media through Facebook. While the presentation was important, I also learned more about some of the “tools of the trade” including box.net and other online “cloud” software.
I took these “tools” as well as the other knowledge items I obtained in the Drury session, and applied the materials to my new classes at Benedictine College in Social Media Strategies, Social Media Writing, and New Media. Students have commented on the usefulness of the products and the software; they’ve put them to use in their own presentations and discussions in class.
I heartily endorse the program!
Michael Throop, M.P.A., CSM
Visiting Instructor,
Business Communication
Journalism and Mass Communications
Benedictine College
As a marketing educator it is important for me to keep abreast of the use of social media to keep our curriculum current. The problem is trying to find the time to develop a good skill set amidst all of the other demands of the job. That is why I turned to Drury’s Online Social Media Certificate program. It gave me the jumpstart I needed and took me well beyond what I would have done on my own.
My students need to make effective use of social media and that means their coursework has to include it. I am responsible for the Marketing and the Management AAS degree programs at a community college. Since completing Drury’s course I have a great deal more confidence in enhancing our curriculum to feature SM and in discussing appropriate social media use with my students. In addition, I now use social media to connect with students.
The certificate course is hands-on and fast-paced. Students must be ready to roll on day one. The weekly lectures are interesting and connect very well with the assignments. The weekly lab sessions are critical, particularly for people like me with limited direct use of SM tools. The instructor, Deltina Hay, patiently works with any student who needs assistance.
Ms. Hay practices what she preaches providing outstanding examples across the social media spectrum. Her YouTube tutorials give students clear direction on a variety of topics and I relied heavily upon them. Ms. Hay beats the SEO drum loud and clear and again, demonstrates very well how to “do SEO.”
The course concludes with student presentations of social media plans and this is definitely the highlight. The students and Ms. Hay actively engaged one another throughout each presentation providing valuable feedback and encouragement as well as advice for enhancements.
I am working on the content for a social media tools course to be offered for the first time in Fall 2011. While our course will be less advanced than the Drury curriculum I am confident it will give our community college students a good foundation in the use of social media tools. That confidence comes from taking the Drury course from Ms. Hay.
Congratulations to recent Social Media Certificate graduate Lindsey Castrodale.
I enjoyed the program and gained some great new, marketable skills. I just found out that I landed an internship doing Communications & New Media for a professional tennis tournament. I told them in the interview that I was enrolled in the Drury Social Media Certificate course and I really think it is what gave me the edge over the others interviewing. – Lindsey
We are proud of all of our graduates and enjoy learning of their post SMC accomplishments. If you are a past participant and would like to share your story please drop us a line using the form below.
You may also use the contact form to request information regarding the Social Media Certificate program.
We are very pleased to have attracted dynamic professionals, such as Cara Jones, to our program. Cara explains how the Social Media Certificate she earned at Drury has helped improve her digital skills and given her career confidence.
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I have been a small business owner for over 9 years, fresh out of graduating from Boston University in 2001. I hit the ground running and quickly built up a company that designed and marketed fashion jewelry to a worldwide 1000+ door network of boutiques, catalogs and gift shops. Being an entrepreneur is like earning a real-life MBA. I learned all aspects of running a business from project management, sourcing, day-to-day operations and marketing. Further into my career, I grew more and more focused and enamored with the actual marketing of the jewelry, rather than designing the collections themselves. I had found my specialty and my niche.
After a year of personal and professional transition, I decided in 2010 to seek a full-time marketing position, eager to bring my skills and entrepreneurial spirit to a corporate or non-profit setting.
As a small business owner, I knew I had the experience and the know-how. But I knew that marketing jobs are scarce these days, and that I had to give myself a competitive edge over the traditional career-marketer applicants.
If you are reading this blog, you know that you cannot ignore the Social Web. “Like” it or not, integrated social media marketing is here to stay, and if you are a business owner or marketer, social media networking has become a crucial part of marketing strategy.
Sure, many of us have a grasp on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the myriad of other social networking tools. But how many of us are effectively utilizing those tools and how can we make them work for businesses today? How do you create an engaging and relevant social media campaign?
When searching for social media certification programs, many came up from self-proclaimed social media marketing experts. My first question was, “Well…does it mean anything to be certified by Joe Smith? What makes him an ‘expert’?”
I knew then that I wanted the certification from a university, and that narrowed down the search tremendously.
Although some of the larger universities offer social media classes on campus (including my alma mater Boston University), very few schools offer them online, which was important for me since I live in New Jersey.
Among the universities, Drury University turned up first on Google search results – ahead of NYU and University of San Francisco. Scanning the course website, I could tell already that the right tools were in place to effectively market the course.
I called all three schools, and was pleased with the accessibility of early communications with Drury’s Dr. Curt Gilstrap and Professor Deltina Hay. They understood my needs for taking the course and answered my questions objectively.
The scheduled course completion would be timely (8 weeks versus 3 semesters from the other schools), required practicum lab assignments (versus just learning about social media marketing in theory) and seemed like an excellent value dollar for dollar.
What to Expect from the SMC course
Throw what you think you know about social media marketing out the window and expect to be challenged! It’s not just putting up a Facebook page or using Twitter.
The curriculum is organized systematically. Each new lesson builds upon the blocks presented the previous week. By the end of the course, students will have a firm grasp on how to make sense of the countless social media tools and applications and apply them to real-world scenarios. The coursework can be grueling at times due to its accelerated pace. However, Deltina Hay is patient and offers a wealth of knowledge and constructive input. It was a privilege to be taught by such an authoritative source on the subject.
For my class project, I analyzed a financial technologies company’s social media plan. The company already had solid footing in the Social Web, and had invested thousands of dollars into social media marketing efforts. My project presented what the company was doing right, what could have been more seamlessly and effectively (there were many overlaps and gaps in their plan) and gave solutions to further bolster its online presence in the financial technologies space.
Since Graduation
I have shared my final project with small-business contacts who are interested in getting out there on the Social Web but have no idea how or where to start. I am now offering freelance consulting services for these companies. It’s been fantastic for me to talk with authority on the subject and a wonderful way to build my professional portfolio.
I have discovered that I love blogging, and maintain/update the WordPress blog I started for the SMC class. I keep my professional presence and online blogging persona separate, so I will not be sharing that link here. However, my blog regularly turns up in search results, and readers/subscribers (who I don’t even know) regularly contribute and share content. I am looking now to monetize the site since I am starting to get a solid readership.
In my professional life, my online career presence has been bolstered by the tools I have taken from this course. I have been on a series of interviews, and the recruiters are impressed with my certified skill-set.
I highly recommend this course, and hope that you get as much out of the experience as my fellow classmates and I have.
We asked our past participants to contribute posts sharing their personal experiences to be featured on the Drury SMC blog as part of an ongoing series. Sherman Rockwell explains how the social media program at Drury helped him with a strategic career transition.
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The majority of my career has been involved in all aspects of the food industry: restaurant worker, restaurant manager, regional director of casual dining chain, national accounts manager and director of marketing for food manufacturers. I even owned a small catering company and learned the power of networking through membership in BNI (Business Network International). A couple of years ago, I met Meaghan Chitwood, owner of BNI of North Alabama and she asked that I come onboard with her to help expand her region. It was a good fit, because I had been part of a team that rolled out a national restaurant concept years before and, I was ready to get out of the food business. I have been Chapter Development Director for just over one year.
The Search
While working for BNI of North Alabama is certainly exciting, challenging and rewarding, the biggest benefit for me has been the opportunity to step back and discover a new career direction. As a BNI director, I can also have my own business and promote it through the networking organization. The challenge was finding a new path that would not interfere with my current role.
First, I had to decide what my goals were and how a new career would fit with my responsibilities. There were four parameters:
low start up costs
no employees
portability (something I could do regardless of my location)
something that would hold my interest
So, I started my research.
I work with hundreds of business professionals and having access to so many entrepreneurs, I started talking with BNI members about their careers and businesses. Most held no interest for me and many required additional degrees. While I do consider myself a perpetual student, I really did not want to pursue that avenue.
Many BNI members are involved in direct marketing. I looked at many of those concepts, but I never found a product that I felt passionate about representing.
I read several books about home based businesses, and found most of those positions to be rudimentary and boring.
The Catalyst
One of our members is a very young insurance agent who is a great networker and was setting up Facebook Pages for other agents as a “side” business. And, he was only one of many making an income from social media. That piqued my interest as I knew none of them had any formal training in social media. I had been involved with the internet since its inception, however only from an information gathering, entertainment or communication aspect. I think I was one of the first users of the Prodigy service and very active in “bulletin board” communities as well. I knew I had found the niche I was looking for – now I had to find education. I also knew that I wanted proof that I had completed an accredited course. I went back to the internet.
The Source
My first search turned up a course at another university, but was really put off by the representative. All I heard in her voice was “make the sale and get the commission.” She never even discussed the instructor, only payment plans. While all that was going on, I also found the course at Drury. There was actually a name attached to the course – Curt Gilstrap. I checked him out on LinkedIn and decided to email him. Not only did he return my email the same day, he said he would ask the instructor, Deltina Hay, to contact me! And, she did! There was no discussion of payment options, just the academic course of study. A quick Google search provided the assurance that the teacher had a deep understanding of her subject.
New Direction
The Online Social Media Certificate program at Drury University is highly demanding, however the instructor, Deltina Hay, is committed to offering her students the best of her knowledge delivered accurately and patiently. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy the class, I am completely inspired by the subject. Now, I speak with authority and confidence about the positive impact that an integrated social media plan can have on business and reputation management. I see it as an ideal compliment to word-of-mouth marketing.
Talk about perfect timing. My Executive Director has a strong affection for consultants. Primarily used for information distribution, she has been working with a consultant to redesign our regional website. Meanwhile, BNI headquarters, has been working on an international endeavor to develop a walled social media community for BNI members. With the education I received from the Social Media Certification course, I am the one developing the final piece of the marketing puzzle which will integrate our members within our regional community. With Deltina’s guidance, we put together a complete analysis and integration plan which will aid in member retention as well as accelerating the awareness of BNI in our market area leading to regional expansion.
Not only did I receive more than I ever expected, I also walked away with a personal plan which gives me a specific and tangible map that I can follow for my own future. I look forward to being able to offer sound practical advice backed by solid training. Hopefully, Deltina Hay and Drury University will consider offering advanced trainings in the future.
As Drury University prepares to confer Graduate Certificates in Social Media to its third group of participants we thought now might be a good time to share some general data regarding who has been enrolling.
Drury SMC participant demographics:
57% female
Average age 39
Residents of 11 different US states
Educational Breakdown
Master’s Degree 38%
Bachelor’s Degree 35%
Graduate Student 24%
Undergraduate Student 3%
Employment Breakdown
Marketing Professionals 43%
Education Professionals 27%
IT Professionals 8%
Small Business Owners 8%
PR Professionals 5%
Media Professionals 5%
Students 3%
Drury will continue to track this information and use it to inform and guide the program’s content, goals, and delivery methods as we move forward with future sessions of the course.
I recently performed a Google search entering the character string “social media certificate.” I then eliminated any sites returned that were not institutions of higher learning. After a bit of additional research, I was able to add data regarding the structure and cost of each program appearing on the first page of search results. I divided the results into two categories: paid and non-paid, to showcase the institutions that rely on organic SEO rather than a large marketing budget. After all, a social media program should be able to practice what it preaches.
As I reviewed the list (reproduced below) I noticed that only Drury University offers a Graduate Certificate in Social Media, including 3 hours of transferable graduate credit, and Drury’s fees are between 19% to 38% lower than the other programs. Drury’s SMC students pay less and receive more.
It appears that Drury has truly earned its Kiplinger’s ranking as one of the “Best Value Private Universities” in America for 2011 – 2012.
Paid search results:
1. University of San Francisco (USF) Online Advanced Social Media Certificate
Eight week online program. Cost of program is $2,480 (not a graduate certificate).
Non-paid search results:
1. Drury University’s Graduate Certificate in Social Media.
Seated delivery over six full weekend days in June of each year with virtual discussions bridging seminar and lab activities. Curriculum developed, delivered, and maintained by four experienced professors holding Ph.D.’s in their fields. Program cost is just less than $1,800 (Graduate Certificate and three hours of transferrable graduate credit from Drury University conferred upon completion).
2. Drury University’s Online Graduate Certificate in Social Media.
Online version of Ph.D. generated seated course content. Four or Eight week online program facilitated by Deltina Hay, noted author and Social Media consultant. Program cost is $2,000 (Graduate Certificate and three hours of transferrable graduate credit from Drury University conferred upon completion).
3. UC Irvine Extension Social Media and Web 2.0 Certificate Program.
Seven course program. Total cost is $3,177 (not a graduate certificate).
4. NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies Certificate in Social Media.
Five course program (seated or online). Total cost is a minimum of $3,215 depending on track selected (not a graduate certificate).
5. Purchase College SUNY Westchester, Social Media Marketing Certificate.
Five course program. Total cost is a minimum of $2,515 depending on track selected (not a graduate certificate).
Cost is one factor that should be considered when evaluating certificate programs. For a list of items that prospective students would do well to weigh when making their decision please refer to this post on how to avoid social media certificate scam artists.
The Graduate Certificate in Social Media that I earned at Drury University played a key role in my recent successful job search. While my PR degree, graduate work, and experience certainly helped me get in the door, my social media skills sealed the deal when the field of applicants narrowed.
Background:
I started working part-time as an unpaid graduate assistant at Drury University in January of 2010. When I began my position at Drury I was also employed full-time as the Director of Support for a small cloud-based software company. I was/am compensated for my part time G.A. hours through a tuition grant.
In June 2010 I completed the Social Media Certificate seated course. I learned a tremendous amount about modern media, and possible future directions, while simultaneously building my own digital portfolio. The SMC program is rigorous and time consuming but, as I was soon to find out, very well worth it.
Job Search:
In July, after my company was purchased and merged with another, I was without a job in the midst of our country’s worst financial mess since the Great Depression. As one would expect, I was extremely worried. I gathered my resources, contacted my network, and mounted an extensive job search. By September, I received three employment offers (all career opportunities with stable companies). One offered the same salary I made previously and the other two represented a 20% salary increase. I ended up choosing between the two jobs including the 20% pay bump based on which company had the most liberal vacation policy. That’s not a bad position in which to find yourself, especially less than two months after unexpectedly losing your job.
In my estimation the two factors contributing the most to my successful employment search were:
My professional network.
My Graduate Certificate in Social Media.
My network of friends and colleagues were able to steer me toward the companies that eventually made the employment offers and served as rock solid references for me when the hiring managers were vetting the final candidates for each position.
I leaned on my network for the leads and closings but it was the Social Media Certificate that did the job for me in between. Each of the hiring managers specifically mentioned my social media skills as a deciding factor when evaluating my application in relation to the other top candidates.
I was able to easily field their questions and speak with authority on a wide range of topics regarding Web 2.0, Social Media, SEO, Collaboration Tools, Content Management, Crowd Sourcing, etc. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I could reference the Graduate Certificate I earned from a respected private university in support of my skills. Additionally, when I was asked to prepare a presentation for a group of interviewers I already had everything I needed built and ready to show. My familiarity with the subject matter coupled with the content I had previously developed while earning my certificate impressed all six of the interviewers. I received an offer the next business day.
While I highly recommend Drury’s program, through my own experience, I’m beginning to notice that others are realizing the merits of advanced study in the social media space.
For example: Mashable recently featured an article entitled What Companies Want in a Social Media Intern. After reading the article I feel strongly that an internship candidate with a Social Media Certificate from Drury in their back pocket would likely jump to the head of the pack when applications are being evaluated.
Whether you are an established professional looking for an edge, or a young college graduate trying to get your foot in the door, take it from me, Drury’s SMC program can help.
The first graduates of Drury’s Social Media Certificate Webinar version are to be commended!
The course pushed them beyond their technological comfort zones, and they responded swimmingly!
Here is what some of them had to say about their experience:
This course has been very valuable! I was thrilled to go beyond theories and statistics to actually apply the techniques from the text. I learned so much in each chapter–things I never thought I could comprehend. Creating a blog was new to me…now I have an optimized blog and have been giving advice to friends. And I loved playing around on Facebook and Twitter before the class, but now I love HootSuite, WordPress, and knowing how to integrate all of these sites. Sign me up for the SMC Part 2! -Sonja G., University Administrator
As a university communication instructor I was looking for a comprehensive, intensive course that would give me a good overview of social media and how it can best serve organizations. The 90 minute webinars and day-long bootcamps weren’t enough. This course met my needs and will help me develop new curricular material for my communication students. It also gave me hands-on skills with a variety of social media tools, a new appreciation for social media optimization and, perhaps most important, the confidence to explore social media tools on my own. -John L., Public Relations Consultant & College Professor
I loved the course. The way it was designed allowed me the face to face interaction that I learn best with, mixed with hands-on projects. I felt halfway tech literate before the course; now I feel very tech literate. I will use blogs, Facebook pages, Flickr, and LinkedIn routinely in my new business. I really learned much and enjoyed it! -Kelly O., Small Business Owner
Congratulations to all of them!
There is still time to register for the next Webinar version beginning September 6th.
On June 20th, 2010 we graduated several new Social Media Certificate holders who demonstrated both poise and professionalism throughout our course. Plus, we had a great time!
Brandon Lawson is one of our new, outstanding SMC professionals. We look forward to seeing more of the work he’s already doing for a local academic institution in Southwest Missouri.
Good luck to Professor Ron Schie who will be doing yeoman’s work out in Oregon sampling and blogging about wine during the summer and fall of 2010!
We will post more pictures for our 2010 SMC class in the coming weeks. For the time being, keep up the great work in the space!
Contact us here with interest: cgilstrap01@drury.edu After inquiries from VT, OR, CO, NY, PA, WA, VA and AZ, we realize the need exists. Ask us to arrange a Drury SMC Webinar delivered to your group.
The first graduates of Drury’s Social Media Certificate Webinar version are to be commended!
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