UC Irvine Extension Offers Search Engine Optimization Specialized Studies Program

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The University of California, Irvine Extension, the continuing education arm of UC Irvine, today announced the availability a new Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialized Studies Program. This program is designed to meet the growing demand for Internet marketing strategists who can improve the visibility of a website via unpaid organic search results. Available for the first time this fall quarter, registration is currently open.

“The SEO Specialized Studies Program will enable participants to deploy various techniques to promote website visibility such as removing barriers to the indexing activities of search engines, modifying content, and leveraging HTML source code to increase a website’s relevance to keywords”

“The SEO Specialized Studies Program will enable participants to deploy various techniques to promote website visibility such as removing barriers to the indexing activities of search engines, modifying content, and leveraging HTML source code to increase a website’s relevance to keywords,” said Dr. Dave Dimas, director of UC Irvine Extension’s engineering, sciences and information technology programs. “As consumers become more sophisticated in their searches, more organizations are seeking skilled staff to optimize website structure to maximize rankings, site visits and sales. This is just one of the many offerings from UC Irvine Extension that expands professionals’ Internet marketing abilities.”

Through the completion of courses in this specialized studies program, students will gain: the ability to measure the website ranking before and after SEO implementation; a detailed understanding of the mechanics of search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing and Baidu; an in-depth understanding of the Google Analytics tool, an overview of the technologies, techniques and strategies required to achieve high rankings on search engines; an understanding of the importance of web analytics in marketing; and how to utilize statistical information to optimize the natural ranking of a website. Those seeking to demonstrate industry-recognized credentials and expertise in SEO to employers, clients and colleagues have the option of receiving a Specialized Studies Award upon completion of 12 credit units.

A free information session webinar will be hosted by course instructor, Dr. Ash Pahwa. With over 25 years of experience in the industry and currently the founder of A+ Web Services, an Internet marketing and web analytics service company, Pahwa will present top trends in the industry and the benefits of the program on Sept. 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT.

The new program boasts a distinguished list of course instructors, including Mike Moran, international speaker and author of Search Engine Marketing, Inc. and Do It Wrong Quickly: How the Web Changes the Old Marketing Rules, who is also part of the SEO Specialized Studies advisory board responsible for the development of the program curriculum. To register for the webinar, visit www.extension.uci.edu/events. For more information about the Search Engine Optimization courses, or to sign up online, please visit: http://unex.uci.edu/certificates/it/seo/ or call 949-824-5414.

About UC Irvine Extension: As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies via online curriculum as well as through on campus classes. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit www.extension.uci.edu or fan the school at www.facebook.com/UCIExtension.

About the University of California, Irvine: The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 27,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.