Download Spring 2012 Schedule

Program Description:
The Certificate in Social Media for Government enables professionals tasked with public affairs or communication functions (internal or external) to develop the expertise necessary to create, implement, manage, and assess social media campaigns for government organizations at the federal, state, or municipal levels. 

When deploying social media campaigns, government organizations operate in a different context than their private sector peers.  Specifically, government agencies:

• Are subject to more stringent rules, regulations, and policies than private sector organizations when communicating with constituents;
• Have public service missions and metrics as opposed to profit maximization objectives in the private sector;
• Employ different marketing approaches and tactics to communicate effectively.

As a result, government professionals must develop a distinct expertise in social media as a means to craft an authentic and effective "voice" for their public service organizations. 

Designed For:
This certificate is intended for professionals in public affairs, strategic communications, information technology, visual communications/media design and others who seek to implement social media more effectively for their respective organization.  Applicable government and military careers include:

• Public Affairs Specialists
• Public Affairs Officers
• Strategic Communicators and Planners
• Media Relations Representatives
• Community Relations Specialists
• Information Technology Managers and Chief Information Officers
• Operations Security Administrators
• Social Media Managers 
• Marketing Communicators
• Congressional Staffers
• Government Contractors
• Consultants

For salary information related to careers in social media, please see the Social Media Jobs Salary Guide published by OnwardSearch.

Objectives:
Program participants will:

• Master social media communication principles.
• Apply strategies and tactics to real projects.
• Develop a professional portfolio to demonstrate newly acquired expertise. 

The primary objective of the program is to give participants the knowledge, skills, and abilities to ensure repeatable success in creating and deploying social media campaigns.   

Format:

• Courses are seven hours in duration and meet for one day each. 
• Courses meet on weekdays during the day or on weekends.  Click on individual course description below for schedule details.

Program Requirements:
Successful completion of all eight courses, for a total of 56 contact hours (5.6 CEUs), is required to receive the Certificate in Social Media for Government. All eight courses must be completed within a maximum two-year time frame.

Prerequisites:

• A bachelor's degree or the equivalent.
• Experience in government communications and/or strategic planning.
• Basic computer skills and knowledge of the functionality of social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr is required.
• A TOEFL examination for non-native speakers of English is not required but students are expected to read, write and comprehend English at the graduate level to fully participate in and gain from the program.
• Any requests for exceptions to these requirements must be made in writing to the program director at CCPE.

Registration:
This certificate is an open enrollment program. No application is required. Register for individual courses by clicking on the course links below.  Participants are strongly encouraged to bring a notebook/ laptop computer, tablet, or iPad to each course.

Location:
Courses meet at the Georgetown University Center for Continuing and Professional Education in Arlington, VA. Blackboard may also be used to deliver some sessions online.

Tuition & Continuing Education Units:

Individual Course Tuition & CEUs	Total Program Tuition & CEUs
$595.00 /0.7 CEUs	$4,760.00/5.6 CEUs

More Information:
For more information or to speak with a program advisor, please complete the Request More Information Form, send an email to ccpemarketing@georgetown.edu, or call (202) 687-7000.
 

Required Courses:

Capstone Course in Social Media
Developing Strategies to Meet Policy & Budget Requirements
Measuring & Calculating Return on Investment for Social Media Campaigns
Social Media Marketing
Social Media Strategies & Tactics
Strategic Communications Planning
Using Social Media Tools Effectively
Writing for Social Media