As the dominant advertising medium, digital marketing is pushing more and more companies to enhance their online presence to better serve customers and attract new ones. Now is the time to excel in your digital marketing career with proven content marketing strategies that will generate website traffic and engage visitors with your products and services.
USD’s Digital Marketing Series provides standalone courses tailored to meet your learning needs and help develop the in-demand skills for today’s digital marketing jobs. These courses cover a wide range of topics, including online marketing campaigns, brand building, content marketing, link strategies, advertising, social media, video production, podcasting, and email marketing.
Choose one or more courses to help you enhance your portfolio, grow your own business, advance your digital marketing career, or position yourself for lucrative freelance/consulting work.
Develop your own podcast to promote your product, yourself, your ideas with this one-unit online course offered by the University of San Diego.
Once you have enrolled in your course, log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, which includes directions on how to access the New Student Orientation and your online course.
Social Media Marketing Strategy course for business professionals, including social media managers, digital marketing specialists, content strategists, brand managers, and small business owners to develop successful plan using social media platforms.
This course provides direction in developing marketing strategy research and developing partnerships to gain an edge in the global market.
Once you have enrolled in your course; log in to your account to access the course Welcome Letter, which includes directions on how to access the New Student Orientation and your online course.
This marketing course focuses on building online relationships and how to communicate with that community.
Introduction to AI for Business
Introduction to AI Part Two
AI and Generative Text
AI and Vocals/Music
Our online digital marketing courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that allows you to structure your education to fit your schedule while keeping you on pace toward achieving your goals.
Our online self-paced courses are designed to provide flexibility and autonomy for learners. Unlike traditional classroom methods, which require attendance at scheduled times, self-paced courses allow you to progress through the material at your own speed within a six-month period from the time of enrollment. Your instructor will provide feedback via written responses on your assignments and exams. Grades are based on completed projects, assignments and exams.
Key differences from traditional classroom methods:
Structure of Online Self-Paced Courses:
The content is divided into learning modules, each covering one or more topics. Within each module, you can expect the following components:
Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that synthesizes all the topics covered throughout the course. The design of the learning modules follows a consistent rhythm to help you manage your time effectively. Grades will be available within two weeks of final submission, transcripts will be automatically mailed out following grades being posted and approved. Please allow 3-4 weeks from when final grades are posted to receive a transcript.
Online fixed-date courses are delivered virtually but follow a predetermined schedule, requiring students to complete assignments, participate in discussions, and take assessments by specific deadlines—much like a traditional classroom. The key difference is that while traditional courses are conducted in person at set times and locations, online fixed-date courses allow students to engage remotely, offering more flexibility in where they learn while preserving structure and accountability through fixed timelines. (Note: Any scheduled Zoom sessions will be outlined on the class schedule.) These courses have fixed start and finish dates, but as an online student you will have 24/7 online access to your classroom assignments, syllabus and course resources. Instructor feedback is shared along with the graded assignments.
How is the learning structured? Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates. The course is designed with learning modules where all of the content is grouped into weekly assignments. Each module covers one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:
• Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
• Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
• Assignments with due dates (which may include: written assignments, journal entries, research, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
• Discussion forum where you answer prompts from the instructor and interact with your classmates.
• Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.
The courses comprising the Digital Marketing Series include:
Students who participate in the Digital Marketing & Outreach Series will have the ability to:
Students who have enhanced their career through PCE
Courses are offered in flexible and convenient formats
Students agree courses furthered their careers
Recommend USD’s PCE to a friend or colleague (NPS average is 53% across the education sector)
The USD PCE Digital Marketing Series is designed for anyone who wants to learn the essential digital tools needed to increase brand awareness, sales, and online customer engagement through digital content creation. We welcome any professional that wants to improve their digital marketing skills, from industry veterans to beginner digital marketers ready to start their careers.
Whether you plan to apply your digital marketing skills to your own business or use them in your marketing career, USD’s digital marketing courses cover the core competencies required in this constantly evolving field. Earning your digital marketing certificate can result in:
Now I know how to develop a social media strategy.
[This course] gave us new understanding of the online communication, along with providing information about the communication tools that we can use for our businesses.
I would recommend this course to anyone that is thinking about building a website. It provides great context to how people look at websites and interact with brands online. I really enjoyed the class. Since I am a marketing professional, I already knew a lot of the material. I did learn new techniques and great resources.
These online digital marketing courses were created in collaboration with leading subject matter experts. Every professional development course offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education is taught by faculty that possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.
Alan Bush has 14+ years’ experience in Internet Marketing business. He is the VP of SEO Strategy for Ignite Visibility. Alan has also taught SEO & Marketing and Web Analytics for UCSD. He has co-hosted two internationally known Internet marketing podcasts (WinTheWeb & OwningYourOwn). He has contributed to hundreds of digital marketing campaigns for small, medium and enterprise Fortune 500 companies, including G4TV, No Fear, Nixon Watches, Sony, Target, Links of London, Energy Muse, Musician’s Institute, Walking On A Cloud and many more.
As more and more consumers move to do business online, companies are spending billions on digital advertising to connect with them.
That’s why demand is so high for skilled digital marketers. A quick search for “digital marketing” jobs on LinkedIn will reveal tens of thousands of listings for positions at well-known employers across all sectors.
In addition, the rising demand for digital marketers has resulted in highly competitive salaries. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which categorizes digital marketers under its general umbrella of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers, reports median pay of $156,580 per year.
Industry Insights
Projected job growth
Of marketers use social media
Projected U.S. annual social commerce sales per buyer
Career Opportunities
Prospective students can request to be placed on a waitlist. Should a space open up in a course, those on the waitlist will be notified. We encourage you to register early for courses.
Independent Study Self-Paced courses – USD allows 9 months from the date of registration to complete an independent study formatted course and submit all completed course work for evaluation.
Online Self-Paced courses – USD allows 6 months from the date of registration to complete an online self-paced formatted course and submit all assignments for evaluation within this period
If you need additional time and would like to make an extension request, contact us prior to your upcoming deadline at [email protected] or call between 8:30AM – 5:00PM (PST), M-F, at (619)260-4585 or toll free at (888)321-6658 for a one-time extension. If an extension is granted, it is final.
Classroom, Online Fixed-Date, and Credit Validation formatted courses do not allow for any additional time to complete assignments.
An Incomplete (INC) grade grade is available in some circumstances. The instructor makes the final determination of acceptance of assigning an incomplete grade based on the level of work already completed and the amount of assignments remaining.
To receive an ‘INC’ grade, students must complete a Petition for Incomplete and forward it to PCE. PCE will then forward the Petition to the instructor for approval. If coursework is not completed in the agreed extension period, a final grade is assigned, all ‘INC’ grades convert to ‘F’ grades or ‘NG’ (No Grade).
Click here for complete details regarding our refund, drop and transfer policies
A payment confirmation is automatically sent via email once you have registered and paid for a course through the website, please save these receipts for tax purposes. In addition, you can access receipts in your Student Account, Account History.
The credit earned is considered Graduate Level Extension Credit, in semester hours (1 semester hour= 15 contact hours). The credit earned is usually used for salary advancement, credential renewing and/or recertification. Graduate Level Extension credit is not usually transferrable towards a degree. Prior district approval is highly recommended and the responsibility of the student if using the units towards salary advancement, credential renewing and/or recertification.
Most of our courses do not count toward a degree, unless otherwise stated on the course website page. While credit earned for our courses may be accepted by some universities as applicable towards a degree it is ultimately the decision of the institution you plan to transfer the credit to. It is highly recommended and the responsibility of the student to confirm the transferability with the other institution
The Professional and Continuing Education program nurtures key partnerships on the local, national, and international level. The goal is to better serve working professionals who seek to enhance or build their careers and help achieve their highest value and potential. Contact us today to learn more.
High-quality, career-building courses to choose from
In-depth, innovative, and relevant topics
Career advancing certificates
Master the art of digital marketing by building a solid foundation with our free eBook, Digital Marketing Playbook for New & Non-Marketing Professionals.
This 12-week continuing education program is intended for professionals seeking to expand digital marketing skills. Students will obtain the analytical tools to increase brand awareness, sales, and online customer engagement through content creation strategy.
Sharpen your project management skills and deepen your understanding of essential strategies and methodologies; earn your Project Management Certificate from USD.
This online Data Analytics and Visualization Certificate offers students career-building data analytics skills training and USD certification in this fast-growing field.