Digital Marketing
BUSA-40879
Digital marketing plays a central role in how organizations communicate, compete, and grow. This course provides a structured foundation in digital marketing strategy, focusing on how core channels, data, and decision-making frameworks—supported by evolving digital tools and AI-assisted workflows—are applied in real-world business contexts.
Students will examine the development, execution, and evaluation of digital marketing efforts across key areas, including website strategy, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), AI-integrated search and social discovery environments, social and community-based platforms, email marketing, and mobile marketing. Emphasis is placed on how these channels function individually and as part of an integrated strategy aligned with organizational goals, including how technology is shaping content creation, targeting, and distribution across platforms.
The course reflects the evolving role of AI-integrated search and social discovery behaviors, including how content is surfaced across traditional search engines, generative AI tools, and social platforms. Students will evaluate how these shifts impact visibility, paid media strategies, and audience engagement. These concepts are introduced within the context of practical application, critical evaluation, and responsible use.
Students will apply key concepts through assignments such as website strategy development, SEO and SEM planning, campaign development, and performance analysis. The course culminates in a comprehensive digital marketing strategy and presentation that can be adapted for professional or portfolio use.
Additional topics include digital consumer behavior, customer experience (CX), customer relationship management (CRM), and digital brand, trust, and reputation.
Course Formats
- Online Asynchronous: Fully online format completed within the published course dates.
- In-Person (San Diego): Classroom-based experience with scheduled sessions.
- Spanish-Language Option: Equivalent curriculum delivered in Spanish.
All formats cover the same core material with variations in delivery and pacing.
Tools and Certifications
This course introduces commonly used digital marketing tools and platforms within a strategic framework. Students may choose to pursue additional certifications—such as Google Ads, Google Analytics, HubSpot, and social media marketing certifications—before, during, or after the course.
These certifications are complementary and are not required. The course focuses on the underlying strategy, analysis, and decision-making skills needed to apply tools effectively across platforms.
What you'll learn
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Explain the role of digital marketing within organizational strategy and business objectives.
- Analyze key digital marketing channels, including website, SEO, SEM, social media, email, and mobile marketing.
- Evaluate digital marketing performance using analytics, metrics, and data-driven frameworks.
- Apply digital tools and emerging technologies, including AI-assisted workflows, to support marketing strategy, content development, and campaign execution within appropriate practical and ethical considerations.
- Develop and present a comprehensive digital marketing strategy that demonstrates strategic analysis, channel integration, and implementation planning in a professional, presentation-ready format.
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
All class meetings held in-person according to published location, dates and times. Students may be expected to engage with course content online during the published course dates.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 7/14/2026
Note:
Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/6/2026 | Mon | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 475, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 7/13/2026 | Mon | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 475, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 7/20/2026 | Mon | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 475, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 7/27/2026 | Mon | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 475, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 8/3/2026 | Mon | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 475, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 8/10/2026 | Mon | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 475, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 8/17/2026 | Mon | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 475, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 8/24/2026 | Mon | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 475, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
| 8/31/2026 | Mon | 6:00 p.m. | 9:00 p.m. | Room 475, UCSD Division of Extended Studies 8980, 8980 Villa La Jolla Drive, San Diego |
Instructor:
Caleb Chao, MBA
Caleb Chao is the Senior Manager, Search Strategy at SportRx in San Diego, CA. He is a 15-year veteran of the internet marketing industry with agency, brand, and entrepreneurial expertise in PPC/SEM, SEO, content marketing, analytics, client management, conversion optimization, digital & business marketing, and sales/operations strategy. Caleb is passionate about the intersection of psychology, marketing, sales, behavior, technology and economics.
Caleb has worked with brands such as Blindsgalore, Smith & Noble, Budget Blinds, Oakley, Ray-Ban, Maui Jim, Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, Revo, Costa, Smith, SPY, Fox, 100%, Quiksilver, Roxy, Wiley X, Lincoln Military Housing, Ambit Energy, Medicare.com, University of Mississippi, Florida National University, Indiana Tech University, Ivy Tech University, Archie/Peyton Manning Family Charity, UC San Diego, Sony, and BTO Sports.
Client type expertise includes B2B, B2C, ecommerce, lead gen, reputation management, financial services, legal, health, creative/marketing agencies, medical, education, automotive, utilities, sports, restaurants, technology, SAAS, electronics, defense, manufacturing, rapid prototyping, apparel, eco-friendly, nonprofits, services, startups, and multinationals.
Caleb graduated from UC San Diego with a BA in Economics, then obtained an MBA from Point Loma Nazarene University. Caleb teaches Digital Marketing and PPC Paid Search at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, and is a badged Google Partner with multiple certifications in Google Analytics and Google Ads.
Caleb has a passion for helping students navigate their internships/careers with assessments such as MBTI, StrengthsFinder, and the Enneagram. He has coached hundreds of students and colleagues with these business and personal development tools.
Caleb believes the most gratifying reward for teaching is seeing students progress in higher education, earn their next promotion, pivot to a new field, or massively increase their entrepreneurial revenue, marketing, and sales goals.
Caleb also enjoys coaching voice, guitar, band leading, and pro audio, volunteering at his kids’ schools, exploring martial arts, and administrating several large online community groups. A child of technology, Caleb relishes trips back to the Bay Area where he grew up in the heart of Silicon Valley, and loves driving the Pacific Coast Highway from San Diego to San Francisco and beyond.
