SOU Offers Two New Courses to Community

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(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University is making two winter term courses available to the public. Working in the Wine Industry and Digital Marketing Strategies will both not only be offered for credit to admitted SOU students, but will also be available at a special tuition rate for members of the community who are not admitted students to SOU.
“This is in direct response to the needs of our community,” said SOU Professor Greg Jones, director of the University’s Division of Business, Communication and the Environment. “The wine industry is booming in Southern Oregon and more and more people are turning to the industry for employment. We want to make sure that not only our students, but anyone in the community interested in a career in this exciting field has the opportunity to learn the basics through this course.”
Working in the Wine Industry is a seminar-style course that will focus on the many facets and possibilities of pursuing and working in the wine industry. The course covers vineyard operations, winemaking, and the marketing and selling of wine. Wine’s place in history, culture, science, and economics are all incorporated into the curriculum as well.
“Anyone who is interested in wine and would like to have a more robust understanding of it will benefit from this course,” Dr. Jones said, “but it is particularly well-suited for those working in the hospitality and tourism industries that would like to expand their skillset.”
Working in the Wine Industry will meet Fridays from 8:30-10:20 a.m. from Jan. 5 to March 20, 2015, on SOU’s main campus in Ashland.
Digital Marketing Strategies will also be offered Friday’s at the University’s main campus in Ashland. It runs Feb. 13 to March 13, 2015, and will meet from 8:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
“Digital Marketing Strategies is an introductory course designed to create a foundation in various digital marketing methods, including social media, search engine optimization, paid digital advertising, content writing, and more,” according to Dr. Jones. “It will be a great asset to small business owners and managers who may not be familiar with the various digital and online marketing opportunities available to them,” he said.
Participants in the class will have the opportunity to apply their learning by designing a marketing strategy for a selected business of their choosing.
The special tuition rate for community members is just $150 for each course. Admitted students taking the classes for credit will pay the standard tuition rate. Anyone interested in learning more or registering is encouraged to contact Connie Lynn at 541-552-6899 or via email at lynnc@sou.edu.
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About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.