Social Media Marketing Proficiency Certificate
Description:
The Social Media Marketing Proficiency Certificate prepares students to plan, create, manage, and evaluate strategic social media campaigns for businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations. Designed for today’s digital-first media environment, the certificate blends creative content development with marketing strategy, audience engagement, branding, and data-informed decision-making across major platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and emerging digital channels.
This certificate is ideal for students who are:
- Planning to pursue an associate degree in Communication and Media Studies or a related field and want to build career-ready skills alongside their degree.
- Interested in social media, digital culture, branding, marketing, advertising, content creation, or influencer and platform-based media.
- Seeking practical, workforce-aligned training for entry-level roles such as social media coordinator, digital content creator, marketing assistant, communications assistant, or brand ambassador.
- Looking to strengthen their professional portfolio with real-world projects, campaign planning experience, and hands-on work with industry tools and platforms.
- Exploring entrepreneurship, small business marketing, nonprofit communications, or freelance digital media work.
Through coursework in media industries, digital culture, public relations and advertising, social media marketing, marketing and sales strategy, and communication technologies for the workplace, students gain both strategic and technical foundations. The program emphasizes ethical communication, inclusive and culturally responsive messaging, platform governance, and responsible digital practices—preparing students to navigate the social, political, and professional realities of contemporary digital media work.
Students who complete the Social Media Marketing Proficiency Certificate graduate with tangible skills in campaign design, content strategy, analytics, professional communication, and digital workflow tools. The certificate can stand alone as a workforce credential or complement an associate degree by enhancing students’ employability, internship readiness, and transfer preparation for bachelor’s programs in communication, marketing, media studies, and related fields.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Explain how contemporary media, marketing, and platform-based industries operate, including business models, professional roles, and the social, technological, and economic forces shaping digital marketing practices.
- Develop comprehensive, goal-driven social media marketing strategies that align with organizational objectives, brand identity, audience segmentation, platform affordances, and performance goals.
- Produce professional, platform-appropriate social media content that demonstrates effective storytelling, visual communication, brand voice, and ethical, inclusive digital communication practices.
- Demonstrate professional communication and data-informed decision-making skills by applying digital tools and interpreting social media metrics to evaluate campaign performance and present strategic recommendations in written, visual, and oral formats appropriate for workplace and client-facing contexts.
Program Entry Requirements:
This certificate is open to interested students who are ENGL 101 ready. New students are normally required to take the College’s placement test at their time of entry. Students who are identified as needing developmental course work must satisfactorily complete the appropriate English courses as part of the certificate when applicable.
Program of Study and Graduation Requirements:
18 credits and minimum 2.0 GPA
Course Sequence:
Semester 1
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS 114 - Media Industries in the Digital Age | 3 credits | ||
| CMS 180 - Social Media and Digital Cultures | ENGL 097 which may be taken concurrently or ENGL 101 ready | 3 credits | |
| CMS 140 - Communication Technology for the Workplace | 3 credits | Technological Competency |
Semester 2
| Course Number and Name | Prerequisites and Corequisites | Credits | Gen Ed Req. |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMS 252 - Principles of Public Relations and Advertising | CMS 107 or CMS 114 or CMS 122 | 3 credits | |
| CMS 280 - Social Media Marketing | CMS 114 | 3 credits | |
| THM 278/FMM 135 - Marketing & Sales Strategies | FMM 115, with a grade of “C” or better or THM 170, which may be taken concurrently or CMS 114, with a grade of “C” or better | 3 credits |
Minimum Credits Needed to Graduate:
18General Education Requirements:
All general education requirements necessary for graduation are met through the courses in the program as indicated above. Students who wish to take courses that differ from the general education courses indicated above must complete a course substitution request form. To access the form, login to the MyCCP portal, and in the Student tab, under Electronic Forms, click on the Records and Registration Forms link, then choose Request for Course Substitution of Graduation Requirement link. A more detailed explanation of the College's general education requirements is also available.