Graduate Certificate in Media Analytics
Graduate Certificate
in Media Analytics
The goal of the Graduate Certificate in Media Analytics is to prepare students to work with research units, in-house and externally, so they are able to understand and manage the research tasks, know what type of insights can be drawn from research—including cross-media and cross-platform big data—extract insights from data, draw strategy and interpret that work to senior management.

Overview
Research and analytics departments in media companies – news, marketing, advertising and public relations agencies – have been called the “brains of the industry.” Research professionals working for media companies interpret big consumer-generated data, such as ratings, marketing and social data, and serve as internal consultants to managers in every department: sales, programming, news, brand strategy, marketing and promotions, and general strategic management. In public relations and advertising in particular, media researchers conduct research for the agency’s clients in such areas as message testing, campaign effectiveness, social media network patterns, and audience reception and behavior.
The goal of the certificate is to prepare students to work with research units, in-house and externally, so they are able to understand and manage the research tasks, know what type of insights can be drawn from research—including cross-media and cross-platform big data—extract insights from data, draw strategy and interpret that work to senior management. Students take courses in media management, media planning, research methods, and social media analytics as well as a capstone course.
The Graduate Certificate in Media Analytics represents a recognized and substantial academic accomplishment, completed in conjunction with an M.A. or Ph.D. degree. You can apply here to the one of the many Grady college graduate programs.
ELIGIBILITY
- Students should work with their major professors on completing the necessary requirements for the certificate.
- Complete the Application and Planning Form. The rolling application window starts on June 1 and will continue until the program has 20 students enrolled.
- Submit the application to Dr. Itai Himelboim (itai@uga.edu) and CC Anne Hurne (anne.hurne@uga.edu).
CERTIFICATE TRACK: HOW IT WORKS
The Graduate Certificate in Media Analytics requires 12 credits of required courses and 6 credits of elective courses.
JRMC 8110 – Advertising Media Planning
Students study quantitative and qualitative methodologies of mass communication reslear, with an emphasis on the research process, concepts and issues of research design and methods of data collection.
JRMC 8200 – Media Management
ADPR 7750 – Social Media Analytics Listening & Engagement
Drawing from emerging research and social media practices in the profession, key concepts of social media metrics will be introduced and implemented.
JRMC 8080 – Research Practice in Media Analytics
A Seminar in applied industry research methods as used by various sectors of the media industry, including broadcasting and cable, newspapers and magazines, advertising, and public relations.
JRMC 8100 – Advertising and Communication Management
JRMC 7220 – Graduate Internship
JRMC 8250 – Network Analysis: Theories and Methods
JRMC 8016 – Emerging Media Interaction Design and Usability
Students will learn principles and review case studies in user interaction design, apply this knowledge to the development of interactive interfaces and prototypes, and test product use with members of the target audience.
JRMC 8130 – Introduction to Data Mining and Analytics
Students will be introduced to the social, cultural, and economic analysis of the processes and effects of mass communication in contemporary society.
JRMC 8100 – Advertising and Communication Management
JRMC 8120 – Advertising and Public Relations Research
JRMC 8140 – Public Relations Management
JRMC 9020 – Quantitative Research in Mass Communication
JRMC 9030 – Critical, Cultural, and Naturalistic Approaches to Mass Comm
Students will learn about the paradigms, concepts, and methodologies of critical, cultural, and naturalistic approaches to mass communication research including ethnography, case study, interviewing, life history, textual analysis and field observation.
Other Special Topics course approved by MAC Academic Advisor
CLASS SAMPLER
JRMC 8110 – Advertising Media Planning
Students study quantitative and qualitative methodologies of mass communication reslear, with an emphasis on the research process, concepts and issues of research design and methods of data collection.
ADPR 7750 – Social Media Analytics Listening & Engagement
Drawing from emerging research and social media practices in the profession, key concepts of social media metrics will be introduced and implemented.
JRMC 8080 – Research Practice in Media Analytics
A Seminar in applied industry research methods as used by various sectors of the media industry, including broadcasting and cable, newspapers and magazines, advertising, and public relations.
JRMC 8016 – Emerging Media Interaction Design and Usability
Students will learn principles and review case studies in user interaction design, apply this knowledge to the development of interactive interfaces and prototypes, and test product use with members of the target audience.
JRMC 8130 – Introduction to Data Mining and Analytics
Students will be introduced to the social, cultural, and economic analysis of the processes and effects of mass communication in contemporary society.
JRMC 9030 – Critical, Cultural, and Naturalistic Approaches to Mass Comm
Students will learn about the paradigms, concepts, and methodologies of critical, cultural, and naturalistic approaches to mass communication research including ethnography, case study, interviewing, life history, textual analysis and field observation.
FACULTY
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Learn More
Itai Himelboim
Thomas C. Dowden Professor of Media Analytics; Director of the SEE Suite: Social media Engagement & Evaluation; Associate Professor
About: Dr. Himelboim, the Thomas C. Dowden Professor of Media Analytics and director of the SEE Suite, studies the role social media plays in news, politics and international communication. Through […]
Questions about the Graduate Certificate in Media Analytics?
Itai Himelboim, Thomas C. Dowden Professor of Media Analytics
itai@uga.edu
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Perspectives
“The Certificate provided me with the concepts required for a career in media analytics, along with an advantage over others with more generalized training. Moreover, it introduced me to the contexts and issues that surround media industries at large, which is essential for translating that knowledge into action.”
Matthew Corn
(MA ’08, PhD ’12), Director, Direct-to-Consumer Research at Warner Bros. Discovery

Perspectives
“I am so grateful for the Media Analytics certificate program! I feel that it was the perfect addition to my Double Dawg degree in Integrated Communications, because it taught me how to use, visualize and present data to create strategic insights, recommendations and campaigns. I use a lot of what I learned from the certificate now as a Marketing Operations Specialist in the tech space, and I feel like the program prepared me well for my career.”
Allie Bunting
(AB ‘21), Marketing Operations Specialist at Feedvisor

Apply
Students should work with their major professors on completing the necessary requirements for the certificate. Submit the application and planning form to Dr. Itai Himelboim (itai@uga.edu) and CC Anne Hurne (anne.hurne@uga.edu).