Should You Consider a Social Media Degree?

When I was in college, social media didn’t exist. Wow; that really makes me sound old. But, it’s true. Social media wasn’t a thing. There was no Facebook and Myspace wasn’t even around yet. To be honest, I’m kind of glad that my life back then wasn’t documented online. There are some things I’d rather not have out there for the world to see. In that way, I kind of feel bad for the kids in school today; but on the other hand, there are so many more ways to network and connect with other students and influential people that the tradeoff might just be worthwhile.

In the past few years, social media has emerged as not only a way to connect with friends, but as a viable career option. Still, the question remains: Is it worthy of a dedicated degree? To really answer that question, you have to ask yourself a few more questions, and you have to understand that any answers are based in speculation. It’s not like becoming an accountant where you know there will be demand for your specialty for years to come. Because of that, those who decide to major in social media are taking a risk.

On the plus side, they will graduate as one of the very few “experts” in social media marketing. On the minus side, they won’t really know whether their education will be relevant in ten or even five years to come. That’s why many students are shying away from social media degrees. They’ll gladly take social media classes as part of their marketing or business admin majors, but most students feel that a degree dedicated to social media is too risky. I have to say, I don’t disagree. Education is too expensive to gamble your future on a concentration that may or may not help land you a job in the future. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think social media is going anywhere, but I do think things are changing so rapidly that your four year degree may become obsolete way too soon.

Anyhow, as I’ve said, it’s all speculation. If you’re thinking about a social media degree, I’m not trying to sway your opinion. I just think you need to carefully weigh your options.  

Rutgers Now Offers Social Networking Classes

Contrary to the belief that American schools are falling behind (gasp!), Rutgers is among the many universities that are showing that there really is no need to be worried. Rutgers has begun to offer social networking classes as part of the standard curriculum inside their hallowed halls, showing an ability to keep up with the times and to give students the skills that they will need in order to succeed in the workplace of tomorrow.

There is actually not much that’s more important these days, whether branding a business or an individual, than to make sure that your online presence is complete and professional. You might think that these classes are only for marketing majors, but that’s just not true. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a personal trainer or a software developer, learning to network online can help you advance in your career and form lasting relationships.

Today, many more people find jobs online than ever before. Also, employers have stated in many articles that they regularly peruse the social media platforms in order to weed out the candidates who lack professionalism.

But, there is more to social networking than simply finding a job. It is, for all intents and purposes, how most young people actually communicate these days. Many people find activity partners and even dates by using the Internet, and more and more people are moving away from real life communication. Although there are benefits to online interactions, this fact is kind of sad.

The bottom line is that social networking classes are the communications classes of today, and Rutgers is setting a shining example for many of the other elite universities around the nation. Regardless of your major, you should seriously consider adding a social networking course to your agenda. You may find a job, a mentor, or you might just find out more than you knew before about your industry. Either way, it's a win-win.