The Graduate Certificate in Digital and Social Media provides you with an opportunity to learn some of the key aspects of the human dimensions of the internet - how people network, collaborate, and share information through internet communications, media and design.

Depending on your choice of units, you will develop skills in creating, maintaining and/or managing online communications for personal and commercial interactions, as well as gain knowledge of the social and cultural contexts of those interactions.

The course has an interdisciplinary approach: you can develop skills in websites, public communication, social network management, collaboration via virtual organisations, and web media production. At the same time, you will learn about the political, economic and social changes associated with the internet. Building on your existing qualification, this course can provide the knowledge and skills to help you become an astute, engaged professional communicator via the internet.

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Digital and Social Media, you may transfer to the Graduate Diploma of Digital and Social Media and then enrol in the master degree.

Why study

• Curtin was one of the first universities to offer a degree in Internet studies.
• Many of our staff have received Curtin teaching excellence awards and the founding professor of the course received a national teaching award.
• You will learn to be an independent and successful leader of Internet development. The net is not simply ‘another technology’ but a socially productive, culturally rich and practically successful information and communication environment.
• Our staff and students continue to be contributors to the International Association of Internet Researchers (AOIR). Matthew Allen, one of our academics, is President of this association, and many staff have presented papers at the yearly conference.
• All full-time staff in the Internet Studies area have doctorates and are active researchers into the Internet, publishing in the field and presenting at conferences.

Professional recognition

Our Digital and Social Media program is a member of the Internet Industry Association and the Internet Society (Australia).

Our graduates find work in web design and development, in independent online businesses, and as members of the media industry as it develops to include and prioritise the online world. Because of the open structure of the course, they can add almost any skill or knowledge to their core Internet learning. The course provides graduates with the chance to shape and manage their own careers and become leaders in using and managing the Internet in our society.

Our graduates are well positioned to undertake management, operational and policy work concerning the Internet, giving informed advice, making good decisions, and basing their professional work in a deeper understanding of the profound changes that the Internet is bringing.

This course will assist your career development and allow you to take up new employment opportunities. You will then be able to help our society harness the technological development of the Internet for practical and valuable social uses.