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What would you do with $5,831.40?

by Daniel A
10 replies
Came across this piece of news and just thought I'll share.


University offers social media degree about Facebook, Twitter and Bebo

The £4,400 MA in Social Media will also explain how to set up blogs and publish podcasts. The one-year course at Birmingham City University will consider social networking sites as communications and marketing tools.
The course, which will start next year, was advertised through a makeshift video on the university's website.

Jon Hickman, the course convener, said he had received a good response from potential students and described what the course would entail. He said: "It's not for freaks or IT geeks, the tools learnt on this course will be accessible to many people.

"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.

"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."

Mr Hickman described how the course had to conform to academic standards before it was approved by education committees as a worthy course to undertake.

"In my opinion, the course does entail synoptic research and scholarly activity, which are the fundamental criteria for Masters degrees," he said.
"It's very relevant and very scholarly. It's a new course, but its importance is unquestionable.

"Social media is very important for jobs within the marketing and communications sector, as a skill set within other jobs, and as an industry within itself."

Despite claims of its instant popularity, students have attacked the course for being too simple.

Birmingham-based student Jamie Waterman, 20, said: "Virtually all of the

content of this course is so basic it can be self taught.

"In fact most people know all this stuff already. I think it's a complete waste of university resources."
I think this is a pretty cool idea. At the speed that the Internet is growing, it will soon overtake the traditional media as a marketing medium.

And a cert might come in handy for those of you who are offering online marketing service to brick and mortar business.

What do you think?
  • Profile picture of the author Lucky500
    I am definately down with that. I wonder why so few universities are open to the idea to teach social media and IM. I would enroll in one of those classes in a heartbeat. I wonder if the offer Online classes?
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  • Profile picture of the author Amitywill
    £4,400 to learn how to do social marketing?

    They obviously don't know they could learn
    more here at the WF for free lol.

    In all honesty it seems like the university are
    just trying to make a quick buck.

    I'd like to know what sort of success the teacher
    has actually had with social marketing themself.

    I hope no-one falls for this course. But I'm sure
    a lot of people will enroll any way because the
    name 'social media marketing' sounds very legit.

    Will Cooper
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  • Profile picture of the author Lucky500
    I am sure there is alot of information for free....even better information for that matter, but getting credits for something you love to do, and getting a degree on that field...why not?
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  • Profile picture of the author guyster
    I agree with Jamie Waterman that this course is a complete waste of university resources. I believe that social media sites can be self taught if as an individual you are disciplined and patient enough.

    Guy
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  • Profile picture of the author sajae102
    if I had that much money, I would buy a computer/laptop, along with internet connection so I dont' have to keep using the public libraries space, buy me a used car and a mobile home, then put the rest in the bank. How does that sound LOL
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    • Profile picture of the author Nomics
      I'm glad they've embraced social media as a powerful marketing tool. Having said that though, over 5,000 pounds to learn everything (and a year at that to boot!) you need to for free is ridiculous.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve Sanchez
      Universities are also businesses. They have to generate enough income to cover their costs unless they're subsidized. I doubt, however, that someone teaching the course could offer a better education than what you can get here.
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  • Profile picture of the author cashcow
    It's a year long? By the end of the course, much of the stuff you have learned may be outdated!
    Signature
    Gone Fishing
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    • Profile picture of the author lemonarian
      Originally Posted by cashcow View Post

      It's a year long? By the end of the course, much of the stuff you have learned may be outdated!
      Yeah that's a great point. I agree, I think this is a complete waste, however as someone else mentioned Universities are also businesses and if they can get away with this then that's just good business for them, right?
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      * My "fix-all" solution to ANY marketing problem
      (whether you don't even have a website... or you're running a multi-million biz)

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  • Profile picture of the author Andyhenry
    Someone posted that here a few months ago.

    I can understand why a University would do something like this, but I think it's probably more to do with them trying to look like thought-leaders in their industry than because there's a demand or need for such a course.

    The subject is pretty simple and very easy to learn without spending so much time and money to do it.
    In this industry a year is waaay too long to learn rapidly changing technological systems.

    They'd be better off doing a copywriting degree.


    Andy
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    nothing to see here.

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