SEO: Principles and Onsite Optimization

1 Units
Online Fixed-Date

Course Description

Learn How Search Engines Work

This practical Search Engine Optimization (SEO) course is designed to give students a foundational understanding of 'onsite' (SEO). Students will learn how search engines work, the principles behind search engine algorithms and how those algorithms should directly impact your website design process, website layout and onpage keyword usage. Upon course completion, students will not only be familiar with these concepts but also how to directly implement onsite SEO modifications and apply overall best practices when optimizing a website.

Course Details

  • This course is the first course in the Fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Marketing Analytics and is delivered fully online.
  • This course is 4 weeks in duration.
  • This course consists of four engaging learning modules with fixed deliverable deadlines.
  • The course week starts Tuesdays and ends Mondays.

Number of Units: 1.0 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours.

Who Should Attend: This continuing education course 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.

Course Materials: All materials shared within your online course.

Technical Requirements

Course Options

Course Date Units Price

What You Will Learn

  • Execute some basic local SEO tactics and techniques on a geo-targeted website
  • Optimize and audit the technical aspects of a website
  • Write optimized website URLs, title tags, meta descriptions and other SEO code elements
  • Execute a complete keyword research process from start to finish
  • Evaluate competitor's website keyword and strategies
  • Examine how website conversion rate optimization (CRO) of code can inform basic suggestions for CRO improvement
  • Use and/or evaluate various tools, plugins and the like for executing many of the tasks outlined above

Instructors

Professional development courses offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education are taught by faculty that possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.

Why USD?

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.

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Learning Method Information

Courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that allows you to structure your education to suit your schedule while keeping you on pace toward achieving your educational.

Online Fixed-Date

Online Fixed-Date: Online fixed-date courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that enables you to collaborate with your instructor and other students in a shared, online learning environment. 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. Our online fixed-date courses allow you to work on your assignments anytime, although you are required to complete the assignments by specific dates.

How is the learning structured? In an online fixed-date course, you and your classmates will proceed through the curriculum together, collaborating in a shared learning experience. Each online fixed-date course is asynchronous, meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime, although 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.