In many cases, nearly any degree can help a prospective Social Media Manager launch their career. Because social media management is essential for every field, industry-specific knowledge can surpass formal education for a candidate’s viability for a social media management role. However, a Social Media Manager often has a degree, and in some cases, an advanced one.

Some of the most appealing options for social media careers include degrees directly related to media, marketing, or communications. Those without degrees may land their dream job because they graduated from a bootcamp or certificate program. Read on to learn more about the educational concerns of social media management candidates—whether they have a degree or not.

What is a Social Media Manager?

Most Social Media Managers combine their marketing expertise with management skills. They may design, curate, and manage an organization’s social media content, especially in smaller companies. Larger organizations may require a Social Media Manager to partner with a creative team and outside agencies to oversee everything from short-form videos to marketing campaign strategies.

Job Responsibilities

There are just as many typical responsibilities for Social Media Managers as there are positions. These vary by seniority, industry, and title. Social media management positions can require duties like video editing for YouTube or TikTok, writing blog articles, attending trade shows, and managing search optimization (SEO) and search engine marketing (SEM), to name a few.

Reporting Structure for This Position

Some Social Media Managers oversee all their organization's social media and marketing projects, whereas others work with a larger team. Small company Social Media Managers may report directly to upper management, whereas in larger organizations, they may work with a Development Director, Executive Director, or Programming Manager.

Typical Working Environment

While there is no typical working environment for all Social Media Managers due to the diversity of positions, a team approach is the most common in large organizations. In addition to their combination of technical skills like SEO or Google Analytics, Social Media Managers need soft skills like creativity, excellent written and verbal skills, and the ability to multi-task on several projects at a time.

Social Media Managers need multiple hard and soft skills to qualify for their positions. Although these can vary by company, industry, or specific role, consider the following among the most common.

Do I Need a Degree to Become a Social Media Manager?

Education is essential to many careers, both formal schooling and on-the-job training. Social media management training can include practical experience as well as theoretical training.

Although a bachelor’s or master’s degree may be a standard requirement for some positions, this is not always the case with social media management. Scan online job postings, and you will find some Social Media Manager roles that require an associate degree or do not list any degree whatsoever.

Supervisory positions in well-known companies typically require college degrees, but not as a hard and fast rule before hiring. For example, a company that employs a valued Social Media Strategist might promote them to management or reimburse them for needed schooling before promoting them.

Social Media Managers with degrees often come from communications, journalism, marketing, or public relations backgrounds. Some positions require experience, while salary corresponds to a particular set of skills or industry-specific knowledge in others. However, the lack of a formal degree does not necessarily exclude strong candidates from specific social media management roles. A certificate of completion from a respected course provider can often open the door to a full-time position that includes healthcare benefits and paid time off (PTO).

Common Degrees for Social Media Managers

Although Social Media Managers can hold nearly any degree—especially one that provides industry-specific knowledge—some of the most common ones emphasize media savvy, strong communication skills, or general business knowledge. Consider the following popular degrees among social media marketing pros:

Business Administration

A Business Administration degree might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering social media, but many Social Media Managers hold this popular degree. Although a Business Admin graduate might not be a social media expert, organizations typically appreciate their understanding of business priorities. A focus or minor in Marketing can also assist Business Admin grads in their search for Social Media Manager roles. 

Communications

The standard Communications Bachelor of Arts degree delivers a broad education applicable to most fields. Communications majors often get into brand management, copywriting, marketing, or public relations. The skills and tools a Communications graduate brings to a Social Media Management career range from excellent writing and speaking skills to media messaging and corporate communications.

Graphic Design

The Graphic Design Bachelor of Arts might seem like a strange major for a Social Media Manager, but it often works as an effective one. The crucial visual aspects of social media videos and illustrated posts require creativity, a good eye, and experience with tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, InDesign, and Illustrator. While Social Media Managers do not have to be graphic design experts, this degree can help anyone from social media team leaders to Social Media Specialists.

Journalism

Journalism majors might not want to work in social media, but they may not have a choice once on the job. In some news organizations, reporters and editors must post on social media as a standard responsibility. While not the typical degree for a Social Media Manager position, the Journalism B.A. focuses on speaking, editing, and writing for media, all essential skills for social media careers.

Marketing

A marketing degree is an obvious choice for many social media management careers, and there are many types: Content Marketing, Digital Marketing & Social Media, or Social Media & Content Marketing, to name a few. Some marketing degrees emphasizing social media are Bachelor of Arts, others are Bachelor of Science, and others are associate’s degrees. Marketing majors may get a fair amount of social media training, though not as much as in a Digital Marketing program. Check course listings at various schools to compare. 

Tips for Starting a Social Media Manager Career Without a Degree

A professional without a degree may be able to launch a social media management career through other means. Many companies hiring today are more concerned with a candidate's current skill set than where they went to school. A prospective Social Media Manager with a professional-level portfolio and knowledge of SEO, Google Analytics, and Adobe Creative Cloud programs may be the best candidate to walk in the door. Consider the following options for social media prospects.

Part-Time Jobs

A part-time job in a relevant position can open doors for marketing and social media novices—especially if they have additional education, like a bootcamp or certificate. 

Internships

A paid or unpaid internship can be an excellent way for students to get digital marketing and social media knowledge and experience. A part-time job or internship in the industry you want can give you industry-specific experience to use later on. 

Bootcamps

Bootcamps typically run a few days or weeks, and multiple bootcamps comprise many certificate programs. Check course providers for marketing, social media, and digital marketing bootcamps.

Certificate Programs

A program like the Social Media Marketing or Digital Marketing Certificate from Noble Desktop can qualify marketing novices for many entry-level social media roles. When choosing a certificate program, look for social media essentials like professional portfolio building and top platform training like YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Learn the Skills to Become a Social Media Manager at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers numerous training options for students to learn social media management in person or online through teleconferencing. Topics include marketing, SEO, and Google Analytics, to name a few. Consider the following programs:

  • Digital Marketing Certificate - Noble’s Digital Marketing Certificate program is Noble Desktop's primary program for students looking to get on the marketing career track. You and your classmates will gain a deep understanding of digital marketing from every angle. Topics include Google Ads and Analytics, SEO, email marketing, and social media marketing campaigns, to name a few.
  • Social Media Marketing Certificate - The Social Media Marketing Certificate emphasizes social without delving into SEO or Google Ads/Analytics. This immersive 72-hour certificate covers LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms alongside social media content marketing. Attendees learn hands-on as they create a professional-level portfolio.
  • Google Analytics Bootcamp - The Google Analytics Bootcamp introduces students to GA4, the newest analytics service from the tech giant. Topics include determining key performance indicators (KPIs), tracking ROI (return on investment) on marketing campaigns, and Google Analytics Reports. You can save by taking this bootcamp as part of the Digital Marketing Certificate program.
  • SEO Bootcamp - Also available through the Digital Marketing Certificate, Noble’s SEO Bootcamp is a 12-hour dive into the importance of search engine optimization. You'll learn keyword research techniques with Semrush, SEO for mobile, and numerous other subjects.
  • AI for Marketing - AI For Marketing is one of Noble Desktop’s most popular new courses, covering popular platforms like ChatGPT, Salesforce Einstein, and Google's Gemini AI. Applicants should understand social media marketing, SEO, and analytics before enrolling. You can save by taking AI for Marketing as part of the Generative AI Certificate program.