A college degree in Social Media, how did I miss this. Would this interest anyone in RP?

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:45:42 -0400

I was reading an article in the July edition of the Military Advanced Education magazine where I learned that Arkansas State University starting in the fall of 2015, will offer a BS in Social Media Management program. I think that this is interesting. What kind of jobs would this open up for someone with this degree?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 5:48 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:48:14 -0400

I'm sold. I'd like the know the job market for this degree. I'd wager a degree in communications is more marketable.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Aug 3 at 2015 5:55 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 17:55:53 -0400

I don't know. Most of the time, Social Media jobs, like all online jobs, involve writing code, so unless this program includes IPV5, HTML, Java, etc., it may be of limited use...

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 6:00 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:00:46 -0400

It was so hard not to answer: a BS job. That being said, given the direction modern technology is headed this will be a thing. Currently, I would think that these functions are being "managed" by marketing firms by folks with marketing/advertising/communications degrees like LTC Private RallyPoint Member mentioned. This degree will narrow the focus so I suppose it will wind up like Oceanography...desired by a significant number, but with a severely limited number of positions on the other side of the graduation stage.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 6:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:06:17 -0400

I believe you would probably be better off with a degree in Marketing and then bragging on your social media skills in your resume.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 6:10 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:10:16 -0400

I think my wife has a BS in Social Media. She can make people believe anything she posts.

Wait am I using that acronym incorrectly?

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 3 at 2015 6:16 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:16:08 -0400

Hmmmm. Interesting

Response by SPC Makissa Lewis made Aug 3 at 2015 6:41 PM

SPC Makissa Lewis — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:41:46 -0400

A person who was a Public Affairs Specialist or Officer with this degree can use this degree to get to the next level. For all others, I see it can, help the individual that plans to blend this degree with real life experiences and opportunities.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Aug 3 at 2015 6:45 PM

SFC Stephen King — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 18:45:31 -0400

Would this require me to have a Facebook account.

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Aug 3 at 2015 7:30 PM

SPC George Rudenko — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 19:30:15 -0400

Although it wouldn't interest me personally, I think it's a great idea. Media, TV, print, internet raise billions from social media embeding. But what I am reminded of, is when flodding hit New York, a lone dispatcher used social media not only to communicate to citizens but also to dispatch aide. We have to evvolve how we view the world and adapt to it; it will not adapt to us.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Aug 3 at 2015 8:29 PM

SN Greg Wright — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 20:29:15 -0400

Wouldn't this just be a typical Public Relations type, CW4 Private RallyPoint Member ?

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Aug 3 at 2015 8:57 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 20:57:45 -0400

Back in the day, I seriously considered a double major in Philosophy and Communications.

I figured I'd be fully qualified to ... wait for it...

Wonder Out Loud

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2015 10:51 PM

MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 22:51:25 -0400

My guess would be that this is going to be a degree focusing on the use of social media for marketing and public relations. I would also guess that it will go much deeper than simply developing ads to throw up on Facebook, Pinterest, and Rally Point. I would also guess that folks who initially dismiss it have not thought much about the value of the interactions that social media facilitates on a daily basis.

In the marketing, PR, and even customer service realm, Social Media is big business. I really don't know a Fortune 500 company that doesn't maintain a social media presence for one reason or another. It not only helps them get their message out there, but there is a massive amount of structured and unstructured data that flows over social media everyday. Data is big business and big money.

I think this degree would either cross cut marketing, PR, customer service, and data analytics, or would allow you to get very in depth into the application and management of social media within the scope of one of those concentrations. In addition to the plethora of social media applications available, you will probably become experienced in various database language, excel, and other stats programs. Just keep in mind, while you might find Social Media fun now, you might not after doing a capstone project that forces you to analyze 15 million tweets that mentions a hashtag related to a firm or industry and then develop a course of action to engage a subset of those tweeters to influence future behavior. I'm sure it would be quite laborious.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Aug 3 at 2015 10:56 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 22:56:28 -0400

I think this is a degree that one could use to break into the marketing/advertising industries or start their own company help small businesses take advantage of social media to help their businesses grow. For many businesses social media is a great way to attract clients.

Response by CH (MAJ) Tim Meier, SJ made Aug 3 at 2015 11:19 PM

CH (MAJ) Tim Meier, SJ — Mon, 03 Aug 2015 23:19:10 -0400

Chief Hayes:

Whatever you do, please make sure you invest in an undergraduate program from a NOT-FOR-PROFIT institution!!! Arkansas State should be fine. Too many Soldiers have been royally screwed by for-profit "schools," whose only real motivation is to get as much money for themselves as they can, usually to the detriment of the student. Additionally, an undergraduate "degree" from one of those places would not be accepted by a real school if one wanted to pursue an advanced degree.

CH (MAJ) Tim Meier, SJ, PhD (molecular neurobiology, Stanford)

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Aug 4 at 2015 6:03 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 18:03:10 -0400

Another useless degree pushed on ignorant kids because it sounds cool.

Response by SN Earl Robinson made Aug 5 at 2015 1:33 AM

SN Earl Robinson — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 01:33:28 -0400

I have a technical degree and have found its better to have a degree that has a specific focus and demand for that skill set. It gives you options.

Response by Capt Angela Brees made Aug 7 at 2015 9:11 PM

Capt Angela Brees — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 21:11:23 -0400

As a hiring manager in PA/PR, I think it would be a fantastic minor. I'm not certain I'd recommend it as a major. Staffs continue to get smaller and smaller. We look for generalists. Someone who can develop and implement a communications plan that includes media, public outreach and social media.

All that said, it is very different in the private sector in that many companies can afford a massive staff and more specialized folks.

I think you have to consider where you would like to work. I think public/non-profit sectors most likely need generalists due to budget constraints. But, that likely isn't the case in the private sector.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 8 at 2015 8:57 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 08:57:10 -0400

What would the class schedule look like I wonder? I tried looking it up but it doesn't look like Arkansas State lists the required courses.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Aug 14 at 2015 6:04 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 18:04:08 -0400

Great degree! Think about Donald Trump and what it must be like to be the Director of Ops for that campaign. 10,000 staffers all capable of tweeting in an instant and creating the next internet furor. Think about working for any company or companies overseeing their social media image. Imagine you are the Whole Foods Social Media Manager and a story about overpricing gets unleashed. Think about those guys who specialize in rehabilitating all sorts of people (usually Hollywood & DC) who do scandalous things. If you are good -- I think it's an up and coming job. Stressful in some cases, but there are also jobs fund raising for hospitals and other good causes. If somebody is in any business and on the net, they'll need somebody. Bet that singer Ariana Grande (she who licked the doughnuts while professing a hatred for America) is going to need a seriously talented Media Manager. The world is your pearl.