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Digital Marketing

Online Bachelor’s Degree Program

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Ready to learn more about the bachelor's degree in digital marketing?
40
Total Courses
$335
Cost per Credit
2.5 Years
Time to Completion With 2 Courses per Term
12-15 hours/week
Time Commitment
Upcoming Start Dates

Explore Digital Marketing

Champlain College Online's Bachelor of Science in Digital Marketing offers a comprehensive education designed to prepare you for the fast-paced world of digital marketing. Our program, accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI), equips you with essential skills in e-commerce strategy, consumer behavior, market research, digital analytics, social media marketing, and more.

Throughout their journey, students will engage in hands-on, project-based learning opportunities that encourage the application of their knowledge to tackle real-world digital marketing challenges. In addition to earning your degree, you’ll graduate with dual certification, including: 

  • Associate Professional Certified Marketer® (PCM®) in Digital Marketing from the American Marketing Association (AMA) 
  • Certified Digital Marketing Associate (CDMA) from the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) 

This degree program also includes industry-recognized certifications from leaders like HubSpot and Google, providing students with valuable practical digital marketing essentials and reinforcing the importance of continuous learning in this dynamic field.

Accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute 

Digital Marketing Institute Approved Partner Logo

The B.S. in Digital Marketing program at Champlain College Online is accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI), a global standard in digital marketing education. Our program has been rigorously evaluated to meet their industry-endorsed standards, ensuring that students graduate with skills recognized and valued by employers. Upon graduation, in addition to a bachelor's degree, you will also receive dual certification in Digital Marketing with both the American Marketing Association (AMA) and the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI). 

 

What does this dual certification mean?

  • Accredited Curriculum: Our program meets the rigorous standards set by the Digital Marketing Institute, offering industry-recognized validation of our students' skills.
  • Dual Certification: Graduates will be prepared not only with a degree but also with professional certifications that give them credibility in the marketplace.
  • Comprehensive Learning: Access to the DMI knowledge center provides up-to-date content and resources that help students stay ahead in the industry.
Employment statistics for those with DMI certification

Strengthen Your Career 

  • These industry-recognized certifications, awarded upon program completion, will set you apart in a competitive marketplace. 
  • Increase your job prospects and long-term career potential with a comprehensive digital marketing education. 
  • Gain hands-on experience in key areas of digital marketing, including SEO, SEM, and PPC. 
  • Earn dual certification that validates your skills and enhances your credibility in the field. 
  • Benefit from a globally recognized curriculum that meets international industry standards. 
  • Become a valuable asset to organizations by mastering the marketing strategies and technologies that drive business growth.

Program Curriculum

Champlain's digital marketing courses encompass the top skills needed by today's professionals. Graduates of the program are required to complete the following courses.

Digital Marketing Core Courses (45 credits)

Business Requirements (9 credits)

Capstone (6 credits)

General Education Courses (42 credits)

General Electives (18 credits)

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to create engaging digital media content by focusing on foundational techniques and skills. Students will utilize various digital formats, such as video, audio and interactive content to create digital experiences for specific audiences and purposes. Emphasis will be placed on understanding audience requirements, devising compelling storylines, and making use of a wide range of digital formats. Students will learn how to plan and create a compelling portfolio of their work.

Prerequisites

MKCM 101: Introduction to Video Storytelling and MKCM 102: Foundations of Visual and Digital Design

All businesses have information systems, and the vast majority of them are computerized. Students will study the development and use of information systems to achieve organizational goals. From a management perspective, students will learn how information systems enhance business processes, how to use information systems as a competitive advantage and their usefulness in integrating across organizations. Other topics include IS security, ethical issues surrounding information systems and the consequences of its international reach.

This class is designed to provide students who have little or no digital video production knowledge with an introduction to methods and strategies for production of digital video stories. Using the art of telling a story, the class will create educational, informational or personal experience video productions utilizing audio, video, storyboard, scriptwriting and digital editing techniques

This course introduces students to the fundamental language of visual form and basic skills including the industry-standard software applications used to create, acquire, and manipulate digital images. Students will learn about two-dimensional composition and design, color theory and terminology, and will apply these principles to a variety of basic design projects. Color, form and content will be explored in terms of cultural, psychological, physiological, and historical aspects.

This hands-on content production class examines and creates audio and video for an evolving variety of social media platforms. Students will examine, question, critique, draft, and revise text, audio, and video created for specific target audiences.

Prerequisites

Take MKCM-101

The American Marketing Association defines Marketing as the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. In this course, students will learn marketing terminology and principles including the marketing mix, marketing segmentation and how external forces impact marketing strategy as well as how marketing fits into the organization.The impact of ethical issues, diversity, globalization and social responsibility on marketing decisions will also be examined.

This course explores the psychological and behavioral factors that influence consumer decision-making. Through a combination of theoretical and applied approaches, students will examine how individuals acquire, process, and use information to make purchasing decisions. Topics include the impact of social and cultural factors on consumer behavior, the role of emotions in decision-making, and the effects of marketing and advertising on consumer choices. Students will apply their knowledge of consumer behavior to the development of buyer personas for an organization.

Prerequisites

Complete MKTG-200

Marketing research is critical to marketing. In this course, students explore quantitative and qualitative marketing research methods and analysis with an emphasis on ethically-grounded practices, such as informed consent, privacy, and data security, that result in data-driven marketing recommendations. The impact and role of AI and machine learning in marketing research will also be addressed. By the end of the course, students will have developed skills to design and execute effective and ethical marketing research projects to inform marketing decisions.

Prerequisites

Complete MKTG-210 and MATH-170

This course will provide an overview of digital marketing strategies and techniques for organizations operating in a digital environment. Students will learn about consumer behavior in digital spaces as well as tactics including search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, email marketing, social media and content marketing and analytics. Students will apply what they learn to the development of a digital audit and recommendations project for an organization. Additionally, students will earn several industry certifications as part of their coursework.

Prerequisites

MKTG-200

This course explores the role of data in creating effective digital marketing strategies. Students will analyze digital marketing data and use various analytical tools to evaluate marketing campaigns, measure performance, and optimize marketing strategies. Course topics will address web analytics, social media analytics, search engine optimization, and data visualization. Students will gain practical experience working with real-world data sets and learn to make data-driven decisions to drive success in digital marketing. Additionally, students will receive industry standard Google Analytics certification.

Prerequisites

Complete MKTG 250 and MATH 170

Students will expand on what they learned in Digital Marketing by moving beyond making recommendations to actually running various aspects of digital marketing campaigns. Students will earn industry standard certifications, practice tactics in a simulated environment and work with a live client project to implement digital marketing strategies and tactics. Students will learn the privacy, ethical and legal implications of utilizing digital tools.

Prerequisites

MKTG 250

In this course, students explore how social media platforms and online communities impact modern society as they gain an in-depth understanding of the principles of community management. Through course materials and embedded industry-standard certification, students will examine and practice strategies for fostering online communities and engaging with audiences across various digital channels. Key topics such as social media metrics, crisis management, and content creation, with an emphasis on developing effective community management skills are emphasized.

Prerequisites

Complete MKTG-250.

In this course, students will explore the various stages of ecommerce management. Starting with the foundations of ecommerce and platform setup, students will examine the core operations in online businesses, including supply chain, logistics, and secure payment gateways. Detailed modules on ecommerce marketing strategies, including ecommerce analytics, Amazon optimization, and social selling, as well as customer relationship management will equip students with practical skills for selling products online.

Prerequisites

Complete MKTG-250

In this course students will explore how Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the marketing landscape, from data analysis and customer insights, to personalized communication and content creation. The course will emphasize strategic thinking and the responsible integration of AI into marketing practices. Hands-on exercises with AI-driven platforms will equip students with practical skills for implementing AI in marketing campaigns.

Prerequisites

Complete MKTG-250, or permission of Program Director.

From storyboard to form creation, students walk through the steps to create a basic four to five-page website to specification in this course that introduces HTML5 and CSS. Hands-on assignments reinforce skills development and best practices in design: navigation, column layout, image editing and usage, fonts and tables.

In addition to the two courses listed, choose an ECON elective

Accounting is the language of business. This course introduces the student to accounting from the point of view of the user of financial reports and is appropriate for personal as well as business applications. Students explore the impact of transactions on the financial position and profitability of a business, and analyze financial reports of real-world corporations.

MGMT 240 is a finance course for managers. It explores financial measurements, the artful application of numbers to solve problems, building financial analysis skills, and the big-picture context needed to understand why finance matters in business management and decision-making. A subset of topics covered in the course include the time value of money, financial statement analysis, ratio analysis, investments, and capital management.

Prerequisites

ACCT-120, ACCT-130, ACCT-140, or equivalent introductory accounting course

In this capstone course, students undertake an individual project, aligning it with their marketing expertise. They will examine ethics, personal values, and conduct self-assessment for career progression. A robust peer-review process aids in assessing strengths and refining career goals. Students will build an active, career-focused network, publish original content demonstrating marketing knowledge, and express a commitment to ethics and integrity through a values statement.

Prerequisites

Complete all appropriate program requirements prior to enrolling in the capstone.

In addition to the following requirements, students must also complete 3 Credits of a General Education Elective (Any ARTS, COMM, CRIT, ECON, ENGL, HIST, MATH, PHIL, PSYC, SCIE, SOCI, MKCM 120, CRIM except CRIM-225)

 

Written Communication
Complete the following two courses:

This course introduces students to the foundational concepts needed to communicate effectively in writing for academic study and professional development. Students will also learn to read critically to evaluate an author's message. Students will be introduced to rhetorical modes and their role in the development of written communication. Students will also learn how to use revision strategies to create written communication that meets its intended purpose for its intended audience

This course builds on students' proficiency in the writing process and rhetorical modes to introduce the use of sources in written communication. Students will practice information literacy as they learn to determine information needs from sources, develop effective search strategies, and incorporate sources in written communication, legally and ethically.

Prerequisites

Complete ENGL-100

Oral Communication

Starting with a frame of human communication as a dynamic system of interactions in which people make choices that impact their relationships, other people, and themselves, students will define theory-informed communication concepts and processes, and critically examine how they apply to everyday life across a variety of contexts. Students will reflect on how the theory, concepts and processes apply to their own lives in becoming competent communicators who are knowledgeable, skilled, and versatile.

Collaboration

This course draws on fundamental concepts of contemporary group communication research to help students identify and develop strategies to communicate effectively in small groups and teams for the cooperative purpose of advancing common goals. Students will draw on listening and responding strategies learned in COMM-130 Interpersonal Communication and apply them to communicating as a leader or member of a small group. They will also learn how to recognize and manage the types of conflicts that can arise in small groups. Prerequisite: COMM-130 Interpersonal Communication

Prerequisites

Complete COMM-130

Inquiry & Analysis

Students will learn and apply critical inquiry skills to analyze persuasive communication created by others and to develop persuasive communication/arguments of their own to solve problems in professional, civic, social, and personal contexts. Specifically, students will learn to recognize fallacies in logic; apply inductive and deductive reasoning strategies to the interpretation and development of persuasive communication; evaluate the validity of sources; and develop logically sound persuasive communication. Students will explore the roles of self-awareness, empathy, and ethics in the context of critical inquiry and the development of arguments.

Prerequisites

Complete ENGL-110.

Technology Literacy
Complete one of the following courses, unless your program requires a specific course:

This course is an historical overview, and examination of the evolution of digital, film, and print media, and their functions. Students will identify and analyze contemporary problems of the media such as the legal, social, economic and psychological implications of their relationships with society. They also will examine the ways in which marketing and PR professionals utilize the mass media channels to reach their intended target audiences.

This course explores the complex and evolving relationship between human beings and technology. Through a multi-disciplinary approach that draws on fields such as sociology, psychology, philosophy, and history, students will examine the ways in which technology has shaped human culture, identity, and values, as well as how humans have influenced and continue to influence the development, adoption and use of technology.

Quantitative Literacy
Complete one of the following courses

Mathematical reasoning, when applied to everyday and professional lives, has two dimensions: logic for deterministic situations and probabilities for non-deterministic situations. This course aims to help students develop these mathematical reasoning skills.

This course introduces students to basic statistics for data literacy. With a focus on exploring real-world data, students will interpret numerical information and utilize the tools necessary to complete the entire statistical process: designing a study; gathering, organizing, and analyzing sample data; and making inferences about a population. Students will demonstrate data-driven decision-making and effective communication of numerical data.

Scientific Literacy/Natural Sciences
Complete one of the following courses, note that two of the courses are 4 credits and two are 3 credits

Introduces students to the biochemistry and physiology of nutrition and exercise. Emphasis will be placed on human body systems such as musculoskeletal, digestive, respiratory and circulatory, and their relationship to nutrition and fitness. Students will also study the biochemistry of energy conversion as it relates to exercise physiology. Laboratory sessions are designed to reinforce, by a hands-on approach, the principles discussed in lecture. Course includes two laboratory hours per week.

Students learn the biology, genetics, chemistry, and physics involved in the forensic investigation of crimes. A wide range of topics are studied including DNA, entomology, fingerprinting, trace evidence, serology (blood, saliva, and semen), blood spatter, and chemical analysis of drugs, alcohol, and other compounds. Students apply their new knowledge of forensic science through the use of case studies and laboratories. This course includes two laboratory hours per week.

Students will develop the ability to apply scientific methods to understand the natural world, to identify scientific aspects of daily life, and to evaluate the quality of scientific information based on its source and the methods used for its generation.

In this course, students will gain an introduction to classical mechanics and learn about motion, force, energy, and momentum. The course covers vectors, scalars, and coordinate systems, as well as kinematics in one and two dimensions, Newton's Laws of Motion, circular motion, and kinetic energy and work. Students also learn about potential energy and energy conservation, collision theory, rotational motion, moment of inertia, torque, rotational dynamics, and angular momentum.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Global/Cultural Understanding

This course will introduce students to major streams of social justice thought, including historical social justice movements, theoretical problems having to do with social equality, personal freedom, marginalization, and stigmatization, and the ways in which civic and professional communities respond to these issues.

Arts & Humanities
Complete any two of the following courses, unless your program requires a specific course(s):

With pressure and release, a window opens and closes, recording light on a sensor. The simple action captures the instinct, judgement, and skill of the person behind the lens. This class will begin a study of the art and craft of photography. Students will develop their vision and their understanding of how to achieve it. Solid skills will be learned and many doors will be opened.

A survey of the continuing change experienced in art since the 15th century. Students will examine how an image is achieved as well as the significance of the subject represented. Individual inquiry concerning the nature of art is encouraged.

Students learn to appreciate films through the critical analysis of various elements of mise-en-scene, cinematography, editing and sound. The course introduces the conventions of classical Hollywood cinema, considers the work of one major director (auteur), and surveys selected international and independent films. Students view and discuss films each week.

Students in the course will explore the cultural history of the music genre broadly referred to as rock. Students will explore the social, economic and political contexts that are influenced by and that influenced each style in the United States. By listening, watching, reflecting upon, discussing and writing, students will explore how music takes on meaning, personally, and culturally. Topics and themes include the relationships between and among gospel, country, funk, folk, disco, rap and hip hop; the role of business and technology in those relationships, and political or transgressive elements of rock music.

Students will apply communication theory and research to address the particular challenges to communicating effectively in organizations. Students will learn how to identify organizational communication problems, analyze those problems, and generate effective solutions. Students will examine the relationship between organizational structure and specific communicative practices, and how communication practices by organizational members establish, maintain, or change organizational culture. They will also learn how to anticipate communication deficiencies in organizations, and use communication as a means to facilitate organizational development and innovation.

Prerequisites

Complete COMM-130

Specific application of common tools for writing in the working world. Students will be instructed in rhetorical strategies of professional writing including style, report formats, editing, document design, and integration of visual aids. Students will complete a semester-long writing project; oral and written reports associated with the process of problem-solving within the project will be included.

Prerequisites

ENGL-112 or COR-125

Students will learn how to create conditions for successful conflict engagement, a necessary skill for any professional. The course focuses on the foundational capacities to remain calm and connected with oneself and others. In this state students can access helpful ideas and responses and be their best selves regardless of environment. Improving facility for conflict creates stronger relationships and reduces fear. By the end of the course, students will understand that disagreement and difference can become a source of personal and interpersonal growth.

Ethics refers to accepted standards of right and wrong that prescribe what humans ought to do in various contexts, typically in relation to rights, obligations/duties, benefits to society, fairness, consequences, and virtues. In this course, students will explore both theoretical and practical dimensions of ethics in order to 1) define ethics and identify ethical positions and principles, 2) critically reflect on how ethics impacts individual and collective responsibility, decision-making, and action, and 3) apply ethics to the personal, civic, and professional contexts.

Prerequisites

ENGL-110

This course introduces students to the fundamental elements of technical writing (clear, concise, and targeted)that are common among seven forms of technical communication: email correspondence, editing,employment communication, proposals, long, formal reports,oral communication, and inventions. Through peer reviews and writing workshops, students develop the ability to write and edit text that precisely targets its audience. This course emphasizes deepening and broadening students' writing, speaking, and thinking abilities in a non-lecture-based, hands-on, discussion-centered classroom.

Prerequisites

ENGL-112 or COR-125

Social Sciences
Complete any two of the following courses, unless your program requires a specific course(s):

Provides a comprehensive analysis of the fundamentals of substantive criminal law. Students will learn the essential elements of crimes and the rationale underlying criminal law. The nature of jurisdiction, the criminal act, the criminal state of mind and matters affecting responsibility for criminal conduct are included.

This course focuses on the rules and procedures governing how the American criminal justice system must process individuals suspected, accused, and convicted of law violations.

This course provides students with a broad overview of the history, theory, and fundamentals of criminal investigation. Students are introduced to the basic responsibilities of investigators and protocols for report writing, evidence collection, and preparation of cases for trial. They also learn specific investigative techniques for different types of crimes, such as crimes involving violence and property, terrorism, and hate crimes, and, where appropriate, compare investigative protocols from other legal cultures.

Prerequisites

Take CRIM-120, CRIM-121.

Principles of Economics introduces the fundamental concepts of economics - the study of how people manage resources, and how they react to scarcity. This course focuses on both microeconomics (the behavior of consumers and companies) and macroeconomics (large-scale economic factors such as employment and interest rates), so that you'll gain a broad understanding of how a modern market economy functions, how decisions in business settings are informed by economics, and how economics applies to your everyday life.

Students will study important themes in the social history of the United States since the Civil War. This course allows students to expand their critical thinking skills through an examination of primary and secondary sources. Themes might include: the evolving status of women; the immigrant experience; the concept of the American dream; the paradox of freedom vs. slavery; the minority experience; the tensions between social classes. Students will be evaluated primarily on writing assignments.

In this course, students will explore broad, foundational knowledge in psychology, including its history, major theorists and a survey of psychology subfields such as developmental, cognitive and social psychology. Students will also describe and assess the role of ethics and social responsibility in the study and application of psychological theory and practices.

In this class, students will explore how social relationships, groups, societies and culture develop and change over time. From a sociological theory foundation and employing the sociological imagination, students will examine the impact of social structures, institutions, and systems on individual lives. Students will apply sociological research methods to investigate sociological phenomena in their own lives.

Additional Program Details

Graduates of the business management bachelor's online program will demonstrate the following industry-specific skills, knowledge, and competencies:

  • Integrate the foundational practices of marketing and digital media in developing comprehensive digital marketing and content strategies. 
  • Apply digital marketing tactics effectively across various platforms and mediums 
  • Demonstrate ethical digital marketing practices by taking into consideration issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, representation, and equity, in the development and execution of digital marketing tactics and strategies. 
  • Analyze and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of digital marketing practices utilizing data to identify trends, insights, and opportunities for improvement. 
  • Implement comprehensive digital marketing and content strategies, effectively utilizing various methods and mediums to achieve business objectives. 
  • Recognize the fundamentals and role of e-commerce within the broader digital marketing landscape and the impact of integrated digital marketing strategies on overall business performance.

In addition to earning a Bachelor's degree, upon graduation you will also automatically receive dual certification with the American Marketing Association and the Digital Marketing Institute.

Certified digital marketer and Associate professional certified marketer digital marketing call out

These certifications provide you with a competitive edge, verifying your knowledge and skills in the digital marketing field. Ordinarily, these industry-standard credentials would require both an extensive exam and an additional fee to obtain them, but because our program is accredited, you will earn both of these certifications at no additional cost, and no exams either!

DMI Knowledge Access 

To further support continuous learning and professional development, as a student you will have four years of access to the DMI knowledge center at the highest membership level. Upon graduation, you will maintain lifetime access at the basic membership level. 

International Recognition 

Through our partnership with DMI, our Bachelor’s in Digital Marketing has gained international recognition. The curriculum is aligned with global digital marketing standards, which are reviewed and validated by industry experts, like Google, Meta, IBM, and HubSpot. This ensures that our graduates are well-equipped to excel within the digital marketing field.

As a student in the bachelor's degree in digital marketing you will earn the Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification. Additionally, depending on the upper-level electives you choose, you may also earn other valuable digital marketing certifications including:

  • Google Analytics
  • Google Ads
  • Hubspot email, and content

Champlain College Online's marketing and communication faculty, led by Elaine Young, PhD, are expert practitioners in the field. Their industry expertise ensures that our curriculum is aligned with the needs of employers, and reflects the skills today’s marketing and communication professionals need for success. Classes led by our seasoned experts will give you real-world insight into the field, and create a rich community of career-focused learning.

Tuition & Costs

Online Undergraduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25

$335 per credit
$1,005* per course
$290** per credit for Champlain alumni or associate degree graduates from any college or university
$250 per credit for military service members (family members see truED tuition)
$150 One-time graduation fee

*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits

** Starts Summer 2024, not retroactive 

See the undergraduate cost of attendance and fees here

Affordability and Paying For Your Education

We provide a number of options to make your online education affordable, including preferred tuition for alumni, associate degree graduates, community college graduates, and military.

What Can I Do With a Degree In Digital Marketing?

As the digital landscape evolves, marketing and digital advertising specialists will play a vital role in shaping the success of businesses and organizations. Overall employment of advertising, promotions, and marketing managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations. 

Over the next decade, an estimated 34,000 job opportunities are anticipated annually in the field of advertising, promotions, and marketing. These openings will arise due to a combination of factors, including the need to replace workers who transition to different professions or exit the labor force, often due to retirement.

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm

Career opportunities for digital marketing graduates include:

  • Digital Marketing Specialist
  • Digital Advertising Manager
  • Search Engine Optimization Specialist
  • Search Engine Marketing Manager
  • Social Media Specialist
Online accounting certificate student working at computer in office

Academic Excellence and Recognition

New England Commission of Higher Education Logo

Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education

Military Friendly Designation, Silver Badge 2024-2025

Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community

Tech Guide logo/badge

Ranked among the best by Tech Guide for game design and computer science

badge for 2024 ranking

Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com

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Learn More About The Bachelor's in Digital Marketing Program

Learn what to expect from our online bachelor's in digital marketing program. 

Sunset over Lake Champlain from Champlain College campus in Burlington, Vermont

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