Digital Marketing Certificate of Achievement

The Digital Marketing Certificate of Completion extends the foundational digital marketing curriculum with a deeper focus on business principles and workplace skills. In addition to marketing courses, students can study topics such as human relations, business communications, entrepreneurship, and international business, offering a well-rounded perspective on both digital marketing and management. This 18-unit program prepares students for entry-level positions in digital marketing and enhances their qualifications with broader expertise in business and communication. Graduates will gain a competitive advantage for roles in both marketing and management by developing essential technical and soft skills relevant to today’s dynamic business environment.

We project that approximately 15 students will complete the program annually.

This certificate supports Cañada College's apprenticeship program in digital marketing. This new program addresses the increasing demand for professionals skilled in digital marketing tools and strategies as businesses across all sectors focus on online platforms. This program has been designed with input from our industry advisory board.

Career Opportunities:

Graduates of the Digital Marketing Certificate of Completion can pursue entry-level positions such as social media coordinator, digital marketing assistant, or content creator in various industries. Additionally, this certificate enhances the skill sets of professionals in marketing roles, preparing them for advancement into specialized areas like Search Engine Optimization (SEO), social media marketing, paid advertising, and digital analytics.

Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs):

• Design and manage digital marketing content using current technology to engage in creative problem solving and effectively reach target audiences.
• Communicate digital marketing concepts professionally through written, oral, and visual presentations, utilizing current technology to effectively convey strategies, campaign results, and industry insights effectively.
• Identify and apply ethical standards in digital marketing practices, demonstrating social responsibility and integrity in all marketing initiatives and interactions.
• Analyze digital marketing challenges, interpret performance metrics, and identify industry trends to make informed decisions and optimize marketing strategies effectively.

Recommended Course Sequence:

The proposed Digital Marketing Certificate program aligns closely with Cañada College’s mission to provide equitable, high-quality education that prepares students for the workforce and fosters economic mobility. By equipping students with in-demand digital marketing skills, the program enhances the college’s curriculum offerings in business and technology, addressing evolving industry needs and student interests.

It supports the district master plan by promoting workforce development, responding to local labor market demands, and fostering partnerships with community employers through apprenticeships. The program aligns with California's higher education and community college objectives by increasing access to career-oriented education, emphasizing practical, skill-based learning, and supporting the state's master plan goals of workforce preparation, lifelong learning, and socioeconomic equity, as outlined in Title 5 sections 55130(b)(6) and 55130(b)(7).

There are insufficient opportunities for students in our service area to access training in digital marketing. Within our college’s service area, Foothill College offers a certificate of achievement in digital marketing for 25 units. However, it was created to focus on Facebook, whereas our program is broader. DeAnza College does not offer a digital marketing program. However, they offer a marketing management program focused on the “fundamentals of general business administration, marketing, selling, advertising, and other related functions.” 

The City College of San Francisco does not offer a program in digital marketing. They offer a broader marketing certificate but not one in the narrower, more technical digital marketing field.

Within our district, neither the College of San Mateo nor Skyline College offers a program in digital marketing. However, Skyline College does offer BUS. 193 Digital Marketing and the College of San Mateo offers BUS. 233 Social Media Marketing. The College of San Mateo does not have a program in digital marketing. While they offer a marketing specialist program, they do not offer a narrower, more technical digital marketing program.