Accelerated Online Master’s in Social Media Marketing, MS

Essential Skills & Insights

Coursework in this online master’s in social media marketing program equips you with the strategic, creative, and analytical skills to drive digital success. You’ll learn to craft engaging campaigns, measure performance, and leverage technology to elevate brand presence in a competitive marketplace.

• Social Media Strategy: Create, optimize, and analyze campaigns that maximize reach and engagement.
• Data & Analytics: Use data-driven insights to measure effectiveness and guide smarter marketing decisions.
• Content Creation & Copywriting: Write compelling copy and design visually engaging content tailored to audiences.
• Brand & Community Management: Build strong brand identities, foster online communities, and protect reputation.
• SEO & Digital Discoverability: Apply best practices to ensure content visibility across search and social platforms.

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AI-Powered Learning, Real-World Impact

Our accelerated online programs integrate opportunities to engage with Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a powerful tool for learning and career preparation. Students apply AI in ways that build authentic skills and mirror how businesses are leveraging it across industries. We emphasize ethical and responsible use, ensuring that students develop the judgment to apply AI appropriately. This approach helps graduates enter the workforce with both technical knowledge and a clear understanding of AI’s role in their discipline.

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Careers in Social Media Marketing

Social media is one of the fastest-growing fields in digital marketing, and professionals with advanced expertise are in high demand. A Master’s in Social Media Marketing prepares you for leadership roles where strategy, creativity, and data come together to drive brand success.

• Social Media Strategist — Median salary: $76,700
  Design and manage campaigns across platforms, track performance, and use analytics to guide strategy and engagement.
• Digital Marketing Manager — Median salary: $102,230
  Oversee integrated marketing efforts, lead teams, and align social media initiatives with organizational goals to deliver measurable results.
• Brand Manager — Median salary: $111,300
  Shape and protect brand identity across digital channels, ensuring consistent voice, messaging, and customer connection.

AI & Digital Marketing Innovation

Graduates will also be equipped to use artificial intelligence for predictive analytics, automated content creation, and trend analysis—skills that set them apart in a rapidly evolving digital marketplace.

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Admissions Requirements

For admission to your Accelerated Online MS in Social Media Marketing, simply complete the 2 step application process.

1. Complete the Graduate Admissions Online Application by visiting my.lindenwood.edu/register
2. Request official transcripts from your undergraduate institution(s) showing a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
   
   Only transcripts with the final degree posted are required if you attended multiple institutions.
   
   Request your official transcript to be sent directly to Lindenwood University Accelerated Online via one of the methods below:
   • Electronically to: [email protected]
   • By Mail to:
     Office of Admissions
     Lindenwood University Accelerated Online
     8205 S Priest Dr #11480
     Tempe, AZ 85284
   • By Fax to: 480-393-1826

Curriculum Overview

The accelerated online Master of Science in Social Media Marketing at Lindenwood University empowers you to become a leader in today’s fast-moving digital landscape. Our flexible fully asynchronous program is designed for working professionals who want to sharpen their skills without putting their careers on hold.

You’ll gain hands-on experience in digital strategy, analytics, and consumer behavior, learning how to create, analyze, and optimize social media content and campaigns. With a strong foundation in information gathering and data analysis, you’ll develop the expertise to define and understand audiences, craft meaningful engagement strategies, and measure campaign effectiveness.

More than just a degree, this program equips you with the cutting-edge professional skills needed to thrive in leadership roles across the digital marketing industry—preparing you to not only keep up with the evolving world of social media but to shape it.

Applied Project

Students will complete a final project applying theories and research methods of their field in a professional setting or in a final product or series of products. Projects may take different forms, but all students produce some form of material on behalf of an organization or field of practice. Students document their progress and product for final committee review .

Students who do not successfully complete and defend the Project Prospectus, or who have not completed their Project by the end of CAH 61000, must enroll in CAH 60500 Project Experience in every fall and spring semester until the Project is completed.

Major Coursework – 15 Credit Hours

Code	Title	Credits
CAH 50000	Research Methods	3
CAH 51000	Research and Scholastic Writing	3
CAH 55000	Graduate Seminar	3
CAH 60000	Thesis/Directed Project I	3
CAH 61000	Thesis/Directed Project II	3

Research Methods

This course is an introduction to research methods, historiography, and critical theory. The course introduces the language of research and shifts in practice over time through an examination of both modern and postmodern theories. Participants will use these theoretical underpinnings to begin to critically review literature relevant to their field or interests and determine how research findings are useful in forming their understanding of their own work.

Research and Scholastic Writing

This course explores the tools and methods used to write graduate-level research papers. Students will be introduced to advanced research techniques, thesis development and refinement, differentiation of primary and secondary sources, and effective writing for their own discipline. Through the process, students will recognize and address the strengths and weaknesses in their critical thinking and writing skills and produce successful research projects that demonstrate knowledge of topics and proficiency in writing skills in their own field.

Graduate Seminar

Students are encouraged to begin exploration into advanced issues, methods, and critical theory in order to identify the topic for their final thesis and begin gathering research toward that goal.

Thesis/Directed Project I

The directed thesis project consists of a project in the student’s field completed during the course of graduate studies and/or a supporting written thesis depending upon the program. The thesis project and topic must be approved by a committee of three faculty members, two of which must be from the student’s own program. After students finalize their topic with their committee chair, research into and execution of the project begins.

Repeatable: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

Thesis/Directed Project II

The directed thesis project consists of a project in the student’s field completed during the course of graduate studies and/or a supporting written thesis depending upon the program. The approval of the thesis project topic and demonstrable progress of initial research/execution must be completed in CAH 60000. Final production of the thesis project and/or written thesis will be completed under faculty direction and evaluated by the student’s committee.

Repeatable: May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

Specialized Coursework – 15 credit hours

Code	Title	Credits
DCS 50000	Digital Content and Demographics	3
DCS 52200	Emerging Platforms and Analytics	3
DCS 52500	Social Media Strategy	3
DCS 55000	Personal Branding	3
MRKT 55010	Marketing Principles and Issues	3

Digital Content and Demographics

This advanced course introduces demographic analysis techniques and the quantifying of demographic data in the field of digital content and social media. Through various case studies in social media, journalism, as well as memetic content, students will learn how to analyze trends in digital media. Through demographic analysis of major digital platforms, students will learn to illustrate demographic concepts and apply that knowledge in their content creation.

Emerging Platforms and Analytics

This course investigates newly emerging media platforms, including mobile, social, and digital that offer unique user experiences and opportunities for communicators to connect with an audience. Students will examine case studies and strategies used to understand audience behavior, as well as the analytical tools associated with those platforms. The analysis will allow students to develop dynamic content for storytelling, user engagement, and brand management.

Social Media Strategy

This advanced course will teach students how to create detailed social media strategies that utilize the powerful reach of social media platforms. Students will examine contemporary marketing campaigns in the most popular social media platforms and analyze these techniques to be implemented in their own campaigns. This course will focus on teaching students how to develop a social media presence and brand for an outside entity (consulting client, small business, artists, corporations, etc.). Students will be expected to conduct industry research which should be synthesized into their own work.

Personal Branding

This advanced course investigates social media platforms and their role in crafting personal brands. Through platforms, users are able to become their own media company and can apply that experience to other brands. Through case studies and analysis, students will learn to create, promote, protect, maintain, and monetize their own personal brand by utilizing major social media platforms. Students will learn to analyze audience data to construct trend predictions and ultimately, create better content.

Marketing Principles and Issues

This course introduces students to the principles of marketing, the role of marketing in society and in organizations (for-profit and nonprofit), and the factors that influence marketing decision-making. Activities include the study of planning, pricing, promotion, and distribution of products and services to consumer and business markets. The course will increase students’ overall understanding of marketing as a business discipline; utilize systematic approaches to diagnosing and solving marketing problems and issues; and analyze and develop organization-wide marketing strategies as well as strategies for individual programs, services, or products.

*Students who do not successfully complete and defend the Thesis/Project Prospectus by the end of CAH 61000 must enroll in CAH 60500 Thesis/Project Experience in every fall and spring semester until the Thesis/Project is completed.

Technology Requirements

Throughout your studies, you will work with the same tools and platforms professionals use every day giving you practical, hands-on experience with current technology.

What You’ll Need

• A personal computer that meets minimum standards for graphics, processing, and storage
• Ability to install and run specialized software and development tools used in your courses if needed
• Reliable internet access to support downloads, updates, and online collaboration

You will receive a detailed list of required software, platforms, and setup instructions during Student Orientation and in each course. These resources are updated regularly so you’re always working with current industry tools.

Program Length Details

Lindenwood University’s (LU) Accelerated Online programs offer you choice and flexibility to support your education journey. Time to complete a master’s degree can vary based on course load, transfer credits, and individual pacing. You will tailor a course schedule that keeps you in the driver’s seat

• Transfer Credit: LU allows 9 transfer credits toward a master’s degree and you can complete your degree in as few as 21 credits.
• Accelerated Courses: LU accelerated online programs offer 10 5-week terms per year. By enrolling in two courses per term, you can potentially begin and complete your master’s degree in 7 months.
• Frequent Start Dates: LU offers multiple start dates throughout the year so you can begin your studies when you are ready allowing you to graduate sooner.
• Personalized Degree Plan: LU academic advisors will work with you to tailor your degree plan to support your education goals while balancing your personal and professional responsibilities.