Understanding Social Media

Undergraduate Certificate

The Understanding Social Media Certificate offers students a framework for critical engagement with social media platforms, their cultural and technological influences, and societal impacts.

what to expect

his certificate emphasizes critical thinking about the complex relationships among social media, culture, and society. Students will develop a range of skillsets to critically evaluate digital social media culture and content, interrogate platform economics, and understand algorithmic influences on digital culture. Furthermore, students will explore the relationship between media technologies and identity formation in digital contexts, develop nuanced perspectives on social movements and activism in networked environments, and position contemporary social media phenomena to broader historical and theoretical media contexts. Through interdisciplinary coursework spanning Media Studies and Digital Marketing, students will learn to situate social media within broader historical, cultural, and economic contexts. This certificate prepares students to develop critical toolsets on social media that will serve them across academic disciplines and professional contexts.

This 12 credit certificate is administered by the Media Studies area in the School of Design and Communication.

understanding social media certificate

Complete all of the following courses:
Foundations of Criticism: Understanding Media, 3 credits
Social Media Cultures and Practices, 3 credits

Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
Digital Marketing, 3 credits
Media Writing, 3 credits
Special Topics in Producing Media, 3 credits
Topics in Media, 3 credits
Hashtag Activism, 3 credits

MEET YOUR FACULTY AND STAFF

At UW-Stevens Point we work with students individually to realize their career goals. Our faculty members work professionally as artists, art directors, graphic and environmental designers, interior designers, curators, consultants, videographers, communication experts, educators and scholars. Their commitment to student success and great range of knowledge supports exceptional student learning experiences.

Meet the entire School of Design and Communication faculty and staff
Profile Photo: Alex Ingersoll

Alex Ingersoll

  • Professor – Media Studies
  • Area Coordinator for Media Studies
309 Communication Arts Center
Profile Photo: Cary Elza

Cary Elza

  • Associate Professor – Media Studies
311 Communication Arts Center
Profile Photo: Elizabeth Fakazis

Elizabeth Fakazis

  • Professor – Media Studies
Profile Photo: Kevin Obsatz

Kevin Obsatz

  • Assistant Professor – Media Studies
305 Communication Arts Center
Profile Photo: Kelly Wilz

Kelly Wilz

  • Professor – Media Studies
307 Communication Arts Office

School of Design & Communication

College of Fine Arts and Communication
163 Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage Street
Sevens Point, WI 54481-3897
Phone: 715-346-2669
Email: sdc@uwsp.edu