Over 4.7 billion individuals are currently active on social media, and approximately 27% of these users discover products through these platforms. This has led companies to view social media as a crucial marketing resource.
Today, more and more businesses are in demand of talented people who know how to work in this area and engage audiences. Social media has created a wealth of opportunities for us to explore career paths that were often overlooked in the past.
So don’t miss out on these online opportunities. In this article, we'll check out fast degree programs that pay well and can help you master every social media management tool.
Fast-Track Degrees You Can Take for Careers in Social Media
Choosing fast-track degrees in marketing or media communications can quickly prepare you for the job market. These programs also allow you to thrive in social media roles that provide both flexibility and a chance to be creative. There are various social media marketing courses available that can enhance your understanding of this industry and broaden your career possibilities.
Arizona State University - Accelerated Bachelor's in Marketing
Arizona State University has a fast-track bachelor’s degree in marketing. In just 3 years, you can complete the program and prepare for various social media careers. Explore topics such as market research, information management, marketing communications, and sales management. This equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to thrive within the field.
- Duration: 3 years
- Available Online: Yes
- Benefits for Social Media: The program offers courses in digital and social media marketing, enhancing your understanding of online marketing techniques and resources.
Drexel University - Accelerated Degrees in English and Strategic & Digital Communication
At Drexel University, you can opt for fast-track programs in BA and MS Strategic and Digital Communication. This lets you earn your bachelor’s and master’s degrees a year earlier than its traditional counterpart. The program is also designed to expand your job prospects in areas like public relations, social media, media relations, event planning, and corporate.
- Length of program: 2.5 to 3 years
- Delivery method: On-campus only
- Benefits for social media: The degree emphasizes communication techniques essential for social media, equipping students for careers in social media management, digital content creation, and brand communication.
Southern New Hampshire University - Bachelor of Science (BS) in Marketing with a concentration in Digital Marketing
South New Hampshire University's Marketing degree is perfect if you're preparing for a career in social media. The program covers plenty of essential topics on SEO, digital advertising, strategic brand management, and consumer behavior. This way, you’ll gain insights into social media marketing. It can also boost your expertise, making you more attractive to potential employers.
- Length: 1 year
- Online Availability: Yes
- Benefits for social media: The program is heavily focused on digital marketing. It can prepare you for roles such as an advertising manager, promotion manager, or a marketing manager.
Liberty University - MS in Marketing – Social Media Management
With Liberty University’s online MS in Marketing with a Social Media Management, you can expand your knowledge on helping brands with their online presence. Whether it's for your own company or you're working for another organization, this program aims to help you gain a broad skill set for social media marketing.
- Length: 1 year
- Online Availability: Yes
- Benefits for social media: It offers fast track courses covering advanced social media strategy and leadership roles. Ideal for those already in marketing or related fields.
Full Sail University - Communications Bachelor of Science Completion Program - Media Communications Concentration
Full Sail University offers a Bachelor's Completion Program in Communications that emphasizes Media Communications, covering topics like media entrepreneurship and leadership skills. This program is ideal for those eager to kickstart their careers in the media industry. In just 52 weeks, you can build on your previous education and acquire essential skills for a successful career in social media.
- Length: 29 months
- Online availability: Yes
- Benefits for social media: Full Sail’s program is great for social media because it combines media production skills with digital communication. It focuses on storytelling and connecting with audiences, which is essential for careers in social media and online branding.
Why Pursue a Social Media Career?
With every passing day, social media is growing even bigger. From Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to X and YouTube, growth remains robust, and more people are signing up and actively engaging in social media platforms every day. Since the previous year, over 282 million new users have already joined social media.
Today, many companies rely on social media to make money. To grow, they need to promote themselves. That’s why social media is now a key marketing tool for any business. A recent report shows that 27% of users find products to buy through social media.
This highlights the vast opportunities that you can find within the field. Here’s why pursuing a career in social media might be beneficial:
Flexible
Most careers in social media offer a rare kind of flexibility that isn’t usually offered in other jobs. For most social media careers, you can be offered to work from home, and even be allowed to venture into freelance positions that let you manage multiple clients for an even bigger income. Working independently also means managing your hours, allowing you to experience a healthy work-life balance.
More to Learn
Social media is rapidly evolving, and there's always something fresh to discover each day. One day you might find an app update that impacts how your campaigns perform, and the next, a shift in the algorithm could throw your brand's online presence for a loop. It's a constantly growing environment that encourages you to sharpen your skills, which makes it a really engaging area to be a part of.
Creative
Social media roles often engage those with a flair for creativity. This gives you the opportunity to let your creative juices flow, developing content and strategies that align perfectly with the brand you're representing.
Careers in Social Media
If you believe you have the creativity and analytical skills needed for a career in social media, there are tons of job opportunities out there for you. Check out some of these roles:
Social media marketing manager
As a social media marketing manager, your job will be to whip up content and campaigns that attract new customers while keeping the current ones engaged. Using a social media management tool, you'll work closely with the creative team to develop fresh content that keeps your brand relevant and in the loop. The average salary for this role is $74,000 per year.
Key Tools to Learn
- Hootsuite
- Buffer
- Canva
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Sprout Social
- Socialbakers
Customer Service Representative
When you're a customer service rep, your daily tasks involve responding to messages from customers on various social media management tools and messaging apps. Nowadays, more than 80% of people turn to social media to contact companies about product feedback or issues. This highlights the demand for customer service representatives across industries, with salaries averaging $39,680 per year.
Key Tools to Learn
- Zendesk
- Freshdesk
- Sprinklr
- Mention
- Chatbots (e.g., ManyChat, Chatfuel)
Copywriter
A copywriter's job is to prepare content for ads, marketing campaigns, or social media posts. You might also dive into the world of SEO, where your writing will aim to boost visibility on Google’s search results. The annual median salary for this role is $67,120.
Key Tools to Learn
- Google Docs
- Microsoft Word
- Grammarly
- Hemingway
- SEMrush
- Moz
Are Fast-track Degree Programs Worth It?
Social media is growing fast, making it a perfect time to look into the many career choices it offers. With fast-track degree programs, you can gain the skills needed for success in these areas. Careers like content creation, social media management, and digital marketing focus on flexibility and creativity, making them great for anyone passionate about the digital world.
