University Offers a Master’s Degree in Social Media

You’re unbelievably good at using Facebook and Twitter, but no one is taking you seriously because you don’t have papers to prove it? Birmingham City University can solve your problems; as of next year, it’ll offer a course in social media, encompassing social networking sites as communications and marketing tools.

The one year course will earn you a master’s degree at the cost of 4,400 pounds (6,239 dollars). “During the course we will consider what people can do on Facebook and Twitter, and how they can be used for communication and marketing purposes,” says the course convener Jon Hickman, adding that “There has been significant interest in the course already, and it will definitely appeal to students looking to go into professions including journalism and PR.”

Of course, there’s the question of how deep such a course should go; some students have already described the course as too basic. Finding expert teachers on the subject might be a problem, since many students are already very good at using social networking and social media sites. However, there’s nothing wrong with the idea; there are courses in TV and media, and social media and social networking are definitely worthy subjects, especially if you’re studying communications, journalism, PR or marketing.