business backgrounder | education & workforce
“ This degree fills a niche that is at the intersection of graphic design , photography , video production and marketing ,” said faculty member Ira Gardner . “ Students are learning to translate marketing strategies into multiple mediums and social media channels while also learning about measuring the key performance indicators that demonstrate the effectiveness of their efforts on a company ’ s bottom line .”
Linda Roth , chair of the business technology department , which houses the program , notes that many times , companies simply ask current employees to learn new technology and tools as they emerge . This effort is often met with limited success .
“ Our students are equipped far more powerfully than retrained employees who have been serving in the same role for years ,” Roth said . “ They develop strong technical skills and deep expertise , and they ’ re able to learn in a safe , supportive environment before entering the workforce .”
These skills and expertise can pay off big for employers as they seek new ways to meet customers where they are — which is increasingly online , especially right now . Digital marketers know how to build brand awareness and loyalty through social media and make meaningful , authentic connections with customers .
“ The impact of this degree will be to help local brands grow into regional , national , and international successes ,” Gardner said .
“ Our students walk away with the knowledge and skills to be able to accurately audit the online presence of a business , create a compelling strategy , and develop a plan for implementation .”
— Melissa Barker , SFCC adjunct faculty member a portal to new opportunities
Like many college programs , SFCC ’ s digital marketing program requires students to complete an internship . These valuable experiences better prepare students for what they might encounter in the real world once they graduate .
“ Internships provide students with a practical application of their college studies ,” Roth said . “ Students are able to get their feet wet and gain hands-on experience . They also get a confidence boost , which helps them transition from school to the workplace .”
After a student has completed an internship , SFCC requests feedback from the employer on both the student ’ s individual performance and the overall skills taught in the program .
“ We use that feedback to adjust the program as needed to better prepare students ,” Gardner said . “ We listen to what businesses want , and we implement those changes .”
Students must find their internships on their own , which can be challenging . This
“ The impact of this degree will be to help local brands grow into regional , national , and international successes .”
— Ira Gardner , SFCC faculty member
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