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Digital Media

Graduate Certificate

Online

Course Delivery

9

Total Credits

$893

Total Credits

9 months

Minimum Duration


Program Overview


The Graduate Certificate in Digital Media is designed for working professionals seeking to expand and enhance their knowledge and skills in content creation, curation, branding communication and media strategies. The certificate program exposes students to the state of the art technology, application and communication theories.


Program Outcomes


Digital communications in all of its forms demands to be integrated strategically in advertising, public relations and media.

With a masters degree in Strategic Communication, graduates should be prepared to:

  • Become a leader in driving the technology behind marketing
  • Develop a digital marketing strategy
  • Apply the latest digital innovations such as mobile, social media, location-based services and big data to marketing campaigns
  • Integrate marketing, advertising, sales and logistics across physical and digital channels
  • Collect, analyze and interpret digital marketing data to inform decision-making

Themes grafted in each of the courses will include:

  • Understanding the marketplace and economics of the digital world
  • Encouraging an entrepreneurial approach to thinking about new communication technologies
  • Thinking about effective information techniques and flows for corporations
  • Enhanced understanding of cultural and national differences as they play out in the global corporate communication sector
  • Rethinking current embedded corporate practice in light of new digital possibilities
  • Embrace the types of knowledge available through academic scholarship

Career Outlook


According to data from an October 2020 survey of current and former MSU StratCom students, half reported receiving a raise or promotion while in the program or after completing it. The average raise reported among the respondents was more than $14,000.


A Top-Ranked Education

  • 60th Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
  • 123rd Global University —  U.S. News & World Report, 2024

 

spartan logo helmet

Kelly Gaggin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and Interim Director of Strategic Communication M.A. Program
Dr. Gaggin is an assistant professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. She has more than two decades of experience in corporate and agency environments encompassing a multitude of industries including: education, health care, technology, defense, nonprofit, tourism/hospitality and financial services/banking.

Her professional background and personal interest in world cultures motivate a research agenda rooted in exploring public relations and strategic communications as drivers of cross-cultural understanding and relationship-building with special attention to nonprofit organizations and the populations they serve. She earned a Ph.D. in mass communications and an M.S. in communications management from Syracuse University, and completed her undergraduate study in business administration, marketing and economics at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY.

Course Information

 

Core

CAS 827 - Digital Media Strategies (3 Credits)
CAS 831 - Digital Content Creation, Curation and Promotion (3 Credits)
CAS 835 - Branding and Image Communication (3 Credits)

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

  • A bachelor's degree
  • Previous work experience - CV/Résumé
  • Academic Statement [one-page narrative of your academic journey]
  • Personal Statement [one-page narrative or your personal journey. i.e. family, growing up, hobbies, etc.]
  • 3 letters of recommendation - Please provide email addresses for your three recommenders. An email will be sent out to your recommenders providing them the information on where to go to submit their letters electronically so please be sure to list accurate information. The department will only accept letters submitted via the online system. The department will not accept letters submitted through any other format.
  • Official transcripts from all previous schools

To apply to this program:

  • Complete the  university graduate application and pay the application fee.
  • Submit all required materials to the application portal.

Key Dates

Rolling Applications

Students can start the program in any semester. We recommend submitting applications at least one month prior to the start of the semester to allow time for processing.

 

 

Tuition & Fees

 

In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$893
$1,137

 

Cost of Attendance

The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.

Program Overview


The Graduate Certificate in Digital Media is designed for working professionals seeking to expand and enhance their knowledge and skills in content creation, curation, branding communication and media strategies. The certificate program exposes students to the state of the art technology, application and communication theories.


Program Outcomes


Digital communications in all of its forms demands to be integrated strategically in advertising, public relations and media.

With a masters degree in Strategic Communication, graduates should be prepared to:

  • Become a leader in driving the technology behind marketing
  • Develop a digital marketing strategy
  • Apply the latest digital innovations such as mobile, social media, location-based services and big data to marketing campaigns
  • Integrate marketing, advertising, sales and logistics across physical and digital channels
  • Collect, analyze and interpret digital marketing data to inform decision-making

Themes grafted in each of the courses will include:

  • Understanding the marketplace and economics of the digital world
  • Encouraging an entrepreneurial approach to thinking about new communication technologies
  • Thinking about effective information techniques and flows for corporations
  • Enhanced understanding of cultural and national differences as they play out in the global corporate communication sector
  • Rethinking current embedded corporate practice in light of new digital possibilities
  • Embrace the types of knowledge available through academic scholarship

Career Outlook


According to data from an October 2020 survey of current and former MSU StratCom students, half reported receiving a raise or promotion while in the program or after completing it. The average raise reported among the respondents was more than $14,000.


A Top-Ranked Education

  • 60th Best Public Universities in America — U.S. News & World Report, 2024
  • 123rd Global University —  U.S. News & World Report, 2024

 

spartan logo helmet

Kelly Gaggin, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and Interim Director of Strategic Communication M.A. Program
Dr. Gaggin is an assistant professor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations. She has more than two decades of experience in corporate and agency environments encompassing a multitude of industries including: education, health care, technology, defense, nonprofit, tourism/hospitality and financial services/banking.

Her professional background and personal interest in world cultures motivate a research agenda rooted in exploring public relations and strategic communications as drivers of cross-cultural understanding and relationship-building with special attention to nonprofit organizations and the populations they serve. She earned a Ph.D. in mass communications and an M.S. in communications management from Syracuse University, and completed her undergraduate study in business administration, marketing and economics at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY.

Course Information

 

Core

CAS 827 - Digital Media Strategies (3 Credits)
CAS 831 - Digital Content Creation, Curation and Promotion (3 Credits)
CAS 835 - Branding and Image Communication (3 Credits)

Admissions Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

  • A bachelor's degree
  • Previous work experience - CV/Résumé
  • Academic Statement [one-page narrative of your academic journey]
  • Personal Statement [one-page narrative or your personal journey. i.e. family, growing up, hobbies, etc.]
  • 3 letters of recommendation - Please provide email addresses for your three recommenders. An email will be sent out to your recommenders providing them the information on where to go to submit their letters electronically so please be sure to list accurate information. The department will only accept letters submitted via the online system. The department will not accept letters submitted through any other format.
  • Official transcripts from all previous schools

To apply to this program:

  • Complete the  university graduate application and pay the application fee.
  • Submit all required materials to the application portal.

Key Dates

Rolling Applications

Students can start the program in any semester. We recommend submitting applications at least one month prior to the start of the semester to allow time for processing.

 

 

Tuition & Fees

 

In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
$893
$1,137

 

Cost of Attendance

The university reserves the right to make changes in the types, structures, rates for fees, and tuition. Every effort will be made to give as much advance notice as possible. In addition to tuition and fees, there are other expenses associated with your Cost of Attendance. A breakdown of a graduate student budget can be found here.

The MSU Value Promise

You can be ensured a return on your investment at Michigan State University.

As one of the top research universities in the world, Michigan State University has advanced the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years.

MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community.

MSU has been offering online degree programs for over 20 years. Our maturity is evident in the high quality of the learning experience enjoyed by our online students.

MSU provides programs and initiatives that support and enhance diversity. We will expand our campus and external partnerships to put in place inclusive recruitment and retention practices. We nurture and promote individuals’ varied experiences and perspectives, ensuring structures and processes make possible full participation by all members of our community.

MSU actively collaborates with campus and external partners to innovate across all dimensions of graduate education. We create and support networks that increase collaboration and improve educational opportunities for our online students.

MSU’s nationally recognized online programs foster student growth and well-being throughout their academic career. We will expand inclusive mentoring practices and accelerate improvement across units to implement evidence-based practices to ensure our students complete successfully.

Continuing education can be one of the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experiences you undertake in your life. We hope you consider becoming a Spartan, to learn online and reach your career goals. With highly ranked online programs and exceptional professors, we educate students who advance the common good with uncommon will.