One of the greatest things about digital marketing is that nearly every organization needs it. To reach customers in today’s tech-centric world, they’ve got to have a strong digital presence – and a solid digital marketing plan. Full Sail created its Digital Marketing Master of Science degree program to provide an advanced-level understanding of digital marketing.

“Students leave [Full Sail’s Digital Marketing program] with a better understanding of how various digital marketing campaigns and activities are integrated to improve overall success,” says Rob Croll, the Digital Marketing program director. “Digital and internet marketing is still a relatively new field, so there aren’t a lot of people out there with the skills our grads have.”

The fast-paced, 12-month online program prepares students for manager- or director-level marketing roles and arms them with resources and tools to continue their education post-graduation – which is important in an always-evolving industry like this one. Digital Marketing grads often pursue high-level roles; for instance, grad Moni Shah is the Senior Director for Sports Marketing at Turner Sports and Jean-Charles Dervieux has worked for Amazon and Hertz. Others launch their own agencies or work as freelance digital marketers or consultants; grad Victoria Harris left her full-time job and has been able to successfully grow her own business and Kristen Reneski has leveraged her skills to continue growing through a variety of positions in the digital marketing space and is currently a senior analyst for a SaaS company.

Here are some of the traits and skills you need to bring to the table – or in this case, the online classroom – to succeed in the Digital Marketing program:

Before entering the Digital Marketing program: While marketing or business experience isn’t crucial, it’s a plus. “You either really love marketing, or you want to learn how to market a business you’re passionate about – even if you don’t love marketing that much,” Croll says. The program is also great for traditional marketers who want to learn more about the digital side of the marketing industry.

Be Ready For a Commitment: Depending on your experience, you’re expected to spend between 20 and 40 hours per week on coursework, which covers SEO, branding, and more. (Some classes may be easier than others if you have a relevant professional background.) “The final project is by far the most time-consuming element, but students have been working on portions of it throughout the program,” Croll says. “It involves a marketing campaign and a ‘pitch’ as though they were presenting to a boss or client. The written portion is often 60-80 pages and becomes a part of the student’s portfolio website.”

Successful students are great communicators who are self-motivated and have a good handle on time management, which is one of the most important skills to master while at Full Sail. The accelerated track means you’re getting a master’s degree in one year instead of the typical two. It’s a huge benefit – you’ll graduate with a head start in the industry and you get to focus on one relevant course per month – but it requires commitment and organization. And though the program may be online, that doesn’t mean it’s self-paced. Students must meet regular deadlines – which is where that great time management will come in handy.

More Keys to Success: A key part of the program includes constructive criticism and feedback, so being receptive and willing to listen to that is essential. “Our approach is very customer-focused,” Croll says. “We’re not teaching ‘get rich quick’ deals, but ways to actually engage your target market to become repeat buyers and brand advocates.”

More questions? Check out the Digital Marketing master’s degree page or call an Admissions Representative at 800.226.7625.