September 23, 2015
Want to major in Twitter? N.J. college starts social media expertise center
HACKETTSTOWN — As more jobs require applicants to have an expertise in social media, Centenary University is opening a new academic center to train students and the public in the use of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other platforms.
The Warren County-based private college will debut its new Social Media Center for Expertise next month, school officials said. The center, which will offer classes for students and help for local businesses, is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the country.
Centenary students will be able to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in social media marketing. Students will also be able to add a social media minor to other majors, including communications and graphic design.
College officials said demand is growing for graduates who know how to use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Periscope and other emerging social media platforms.
“We had a course in social media and I said I think we need more,” said Kathy Naasz, a veteran Centenary University professor and dean of the new center. “There are jobs out there and student demand . . . I said let’s start this central command center.”
Over the last few years, several colleges around the country have launched master’s degrees and certificate programs in social media. But few offer four-year degrees focused on social media.
Centenary University officials said they reviewed programs at more than 500 colleges and could not find any other schools offering a business administration degree with a concentration in social media.
Naasz rejected any criticism that social media is too new or too lightweight a topic to be worthy of an academic degree.
“It is not a passing trend. I believe it is here to stay,” Naasz said. “Look at where companies are spending their money.”
The new center, which the college has dubbed #theVIBE on social media, will officially launch Oct. 9, though some students are already taking classes.
“It is not a passing trend. I believe it is here to stay,” Kathy Naasz, dean of the new social media center.