Periodically we at ECO will do a course/cost check of local universities to make sure we are staying on the cutting edge of both. Of course, there is no direct comparison to the quality of instruction that you get at ECO, because we are in the trenches, getting our hands dirty, making it work for ourselves and for all of our subscribers. No theory at ECO - just what works... for a whole lot less!

Just reviewed the non-degree courses available at University of Denver and Metro State colleges to see what classes are offered in these subjects and costs. University of Denver had the most comprehensive course descriptions. Here are the results:

Integrated Social Media, 4 credits at DU: $4104.00

Social Media defines the creation and exchange of user-generated video, text and images through social interaction based on use of Web 2.0 technologies. Blogs, online video, wikis, mobile marketing, networking sites and other new media technology distribution modes are accelerating the velocity of communications: content is now created, published, accessed, consumed and shared in real time. As a result, the scope of news, opinion, information and commerce available to consumers is broader and deeper than ever. Organizations must evaluate new media tools and determine how best to incorporate them to achieve their marketing communication objectives. This course provides an experiential understanding of the various social media platforms and networks and emphasizes the importance of creating a strategic digital marketing communication plan to integrate and augment social media into the existing marketing mix. Goal setting, measurement and evaluation at each stage of the process are also emphasized. Through online discussion, hands-on exercises, online research, case studies, and interaction with industry experts, students learn about the essential elements of social media and the strategic application of social media marketing communication.

This class is not listed specifically** in the spring 2012 catalog for Metro.

Branding & Market Positioning, 4 credits at DU: $4104.00

The American Marketing Association (AMA) defines a brand as a "name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of the intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers." Organizations of all types – private, public, and nonprofit – increasingly recognize the importance of their brand and its role in strategic marketing, particularly market positioning. An in-depth examination of branding includes: brand messaging, the process of brand development, fundamentals and theories of consumer behavior and related environmental, cognitive or behavioral influences. Students have the opportunity to research consumer behavioral strategies and explore issues related to brand creation and maintenance, as well as how to leverage, manage, and evaluate their brand.

Reputation and Brand Management: 3 credits at Metro: $1359.00

Internet Marketing at DU: $4104.00

This course focuses on Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC) and its relationship with the Internet. IMC is a comprehensive plan of two-way communication that includes advertising, sales promotion, public relations, direct marketing, and personal selling to provide maximum communication with stakeholders. Through discussion, Internet searches, and the evaluation of case studies and projects, students will research and design an appropriate marketing-communication (MarCom) plan. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the Internet as a critical element of the marketing communication mix.

Not listed specifically** in the spring 2012 catalog for Metro

**not listed specifically means that there were other classes that included this subject matter within the course description, but, not exclusively