Educating the Next Generation of Digital Marketers and Strategists

In many modern workplaces, a familiar scenario plays out: a recent marketing graduate presents a brilliant strategy for a new digital campaign, only to be met with the critical question, “Great. Now, can you create the reel, optimize the landing page, and design the visual assets?”

Often, the answer is a hesitant pause stemming from a lack of application-based experience. While many digital marketing programs teach the ‘why’ of marketing, the hands-on ‘how’ is frequently left for on-the-job learning and for the employer to teach, creating a gap that employers are eager to fill.

It’s one thing to talk branding and strategy in class. It’s another to design a visual identity for a real organization. The experiential learning at Hill and Levene forces you to apply the theory, and that’s where real confidence comes from. — Evan Dean, third-year Hill marketing student

The University of Regina's Hill and Levene Schools of Business are tackling this challenge with new programs launching in Fall 2025: a two-year, 60-credit diploma in digital marketing and a flexible, one-year embedded certificate. These programs are designed to cultivate a new class of professional: a strategic thinker with the creative and technical prowess to execute from day one.

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs Emily McNair says employers increasingly want graduates who can plan a campaign and “hit publish” from day one. That demand shaped the curriculum focus. She notes that Business delivers the strategy while a close partnership with the Department of Creative Technologies & Design in the Faculty of Media, Arts, and Performance (MAP) gives students university-level application skills in areas like branding, digital storytelling, analytics, SEO, and design—an uncommon blend at the university level. 

A creator’s education: Built with creative technologies & design 

What sets these programs apart is their deep integration with the Department of Creative Technologies & Design in the Faculty of Media, Arts, and Performance (MAP). Students take university-calibre technical courses—think Visual Identity Design and Digital Storytelling—and learn branding, design, analytics, and SEO. This cross-faculty model transforms students into creators, not just analysts.

From classroom to client

The centerpiece of the hands-on philosophy is a semester-long capstone: a digital marketing consulting class. For four months, students engage as consultants with a real-world client, in work-integrated learning, developing and implementing a digital strategy. The three-credit course produces what employers want to see—tangible work and a portfolio that proves it.

Later in the term, the learning becomes real for students like Evan Dean: “It’s one thing to talk branding and strategy in class. It’s another to design a visual identity for a real organization.” He says the experiential learning at Hill and Levene makes you apply theory. That’s where real confidence comes from.

An accelerated path, not a detour 

Unlike general business diplomas, the U of R's Diploma in Digital Marketing is a concentrated 60-credit program of 20 courses, each specifically chosen to support a career in digital marketing. The two-year diploma is ideal for high school graduates, working professionals, and international students who want depth, speed, and focus.

And, for current U of R students in any faculty, the flexible one-year embedded Certificate is designed to supplement any primary degree, allowing them to graduate with high-demand digital skills regardless of their major.

Fourth-year Hill marketing student Kairo Holness adds: “The best part is that I’m learning by actually doing—creating content, testing strategies, and measuring results against real business goals. That’s the entrepreneurial side of it: you’re not just studying for a grade, you’re building proof that you can execute, adapt, and create impact. It’s like running a small business within the program.” 

Students also get the full university experience—learning alongside Hill and Levene classmates, taking part in student clubs, and being part of a vibrant campus. 

Clear pathways and professional alignment

Students can seamlessly build upon their credential as well. Graduates have a direct pathway into the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), allowing them to continue their studies and further specialize. Furthermore, the program is structured to meet the needs of international students under current IRCC guidelines, opening a vital door for global talent to enter the Canadian economy, and it is actively pursuing recognition from national industry bodies to stay aligned with professional standards.

Strategy and execution, from day one

Hill and Levene’s new digital marketing offerings are one way the U of R is responding to the demands of the digital economy. The promise is simple and rare: graduates who can think strategically, create credibly, and contribute immediately.

Ready to be more than a marketer? Our focused, hands-on programs give you the creative and technical expertise to succeed. Don't just learn theory—execute it. Check out the Diploma in Digital Marketing at Hill and Levene.