To keep pace with the rapid growth of social media as a vital communication platform, the University of the Sunshine Coast will offer a Social Media minor from next year.

USC Lecturer in Public Relations Dr Karen Sutherland said the minor was designed to allow students in various degrees to improve their social media proficiency in a professional context.

“No matter what field people will work in, almost all professions now need to be social media savvy and have skills to effectively communicate in a digital space,” Dr Sutherland said.

She said USC was one of the few universities in Australia to offer a Social Media minor and to make it available online.

“By having no prerequisites and by offering the option of online courses, USC is providing students at all of its campuses with the opportunity to gain social media expertise.

“Students have the flexibility of completing the entire minor or selecting the individual courses that best suit their needs.”

The subjects will cover the creation and strategic sharing of digital content for a diverse range of organisations, business objectives and audiences across social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat and YouTube.

Students will investigate the tools, techniques and metrics available to monitor and measure social media activity, and explore the art of digital storytelling.

Another course will offer a critical understanding of the ways in which social media affects the political, business and socio-cultural spheres, and will examine ethical and legal issues on privacy, truth and deception.

— Clare McKay