First-of-its-kind partnership offers students the opportunity to simultaneously earn social media certification and degree program credit.
Saint Paul, MN (PRWEB) February 14, 2013
The National Institute for Social Media (NISM), the first organization to offer a professional certification around the discipline of social media, today announced it has established a partnership with Argosy University to offer Argosy students the opportunity to earn certification in social media as part of their degree program.
Under the partnership, any Argosy student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, business, psychology or criminal justice can now choose to take NISM’s Certification Preparation Course (Live or Online) as an upper-division undergraduate elective class. Upon passing the course and achieving certification, the student can apply to receive three credits toward their graduation requirements.
Beginning on Feb. 22, 2013, NISM’s “Social Media Strategist Certification” prep course will be held on campus at Argosy University, Twin Cities, located at 1515 Central Parkway in Eagan, MN 55121. This first on-site course offering meet each Friday, through March 22, 2013. Upon passing the course and achieving certification, the student can apply to receive three credits toward their graduation requirements.
“Establishing a business presence in social media channels can be as simple as a few mouse clicks, but we’ve learned that leveraging those tools for maximum business or organizational impact requires a deep and thorough knowledge of applicable strategies and tactics,” said Eric Mills, president of NISM. “This premise led us to launch NISM in 2011, and to develop and offer the first certification program in the industry. Argosy’s partnership with us underscores the fact that there is need in the market today for truly educated talent who can use social media to drive real and measurable business value.”
“Though social media is a relatively new phenomenon, it has had an enormous impact on businesses and society. We look forward to providing out students with the opportunity to bring certification in this field to their roles in their chosen professions,” says Argosy University, Twin Cities Campus President Scott Tjaden.
The NISM Social Media Strategist certification program validates the foundational skills required of professionals using social media. To achieve certification as a Social Media Strategist, participants complete the coursework and are required pass a certification exam covering the six primary content domains of general practitioners in social media: strategic planning; compliance and governance; project management; social media marketing; community management; and research and analysis. Certified professionals have demonstrated at least minimum levels of comprehension and mastery of essential social media best practices, and are able to apply them on the job with a marginal level of supervision.
ABOUT ARGOSY UNIVERSITY
Argosy University (http://www.argosy.edu/), with 28 campus locations in 13 states and online, is a private academic institution dedicated to providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs to students in a supportive learning environment where academic knowledge is enriched by the acquisition of interpersonal skills vital to success. Argosy University has seven colleges: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Business, Education, Health Sciences, Undergraduate Studies The Art Institute of California and Western State College of Law. With one of the largest communities of graduate students in the nation, Argosy University offers doctoral and master’s degree programs in Psychology, Business, Counseling and Education. The institution also offers bachelor’s degree programs in Psychology, Business, Liberal Arts and Criminal Justice and, through The Art Institute of California, serves as an important source of education for design, media arts, fashion and culinary students and professionals. Degree level and programs offered vary by location.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA