Risk Management and Crisis Response
EXSM 3998 is offered this winter:
Learn how to identify, prepare for, and manage the risks inherent to a professional presence on social media, as well as to recognize the impacts of emerging problems elsewhere online. Explore best practices for policy, procedures, and guidelines for social media within an organization. Draw on learnings from traditional media and public relations concepts to prepare for and respond to emerging issues.
“The risk management course gave me the tools to update my employer’s social media policy with support from People Services and create a risk register for the corporate communications team to use. This class used real life case studies to show how learning to manage risk can prevent issues from escalating into crises, help maintain business continuity, improve customer service and enhance public trust. I would recommend this course to anyone who is managing social media for their personal use or for an organization. ”
Course at a glance
- Fully online asynchronous course, accessible through eClass, the University of Alberta’s eLearning management tool.
- Create your own Social Media Risk Register and Social Media Response Matrix.
- Aimed at those who want to better reach and communicate with their target audiences while understanding and building social media skills, including small business owners and those working in government, small to large enterprises, not-for-profits, and board-run organizations.
What you will learn
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Understand and articulate the social media-related risks to an organization.
- Analyse an organization’s preparedness for the issues it might face.
- Explain how an issue or crisis may emerge, how to manage it, and how to recover from it.
- Develop online issues management and crisis communications and messages.
- Develop organizational policies, procedures, and guidelines for social and digital media use.
Offered:
Take note:
- This course has the equivalent of three hours of online instruction per week (including voice over PowerPoints, readings, and resource links), plus weekly assignments.
- Students are encouraged to build relationships and network with their classmates through forums and discussions.
- While there are no prerequisites for this course, a general working knowledge of Social Media platforms is recommended for student success.
- You will be expected to have existing social media accounts or to create them prior to the course start date.
Jan 8, 2024Feb 26, 2024
Asynchronous online learning, eClass
21 hours of instruction
In asynchronous online courses, students are expected to move through the course material at the same pace as their peers, but there are no real-time virtual classroom sessions to attend. All components of this type of course are accessible through eClass, the University of Alberta’s eLearning management tool. format details

Your Instructor
Adam RozenhartID: adam-rozenhart
With over 15 years of experience in marketing and communications strategy, planning, and execution, Adam Rozenhart is the editorial strategist at ATB Financial. He cut his teeth into the digital world as the co-founder and editor-in-chief of OilersNation.com, before moving to local agencies Calder Bateman Communications and DDB Edmonton, where he developed and executed award-winning digital marketing and communications strategies for dozens of clients. Do you remember NoHomophobes.com, Pride Tape, or PlentyOfSyph.com? That was Adam (with other terrific people).
Class info
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This is an asynchronous online learning course.
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21 course hours in total
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Cost assistance: may be eligible for the Canada-Alberta Job Grant, the Canada Training Benefit, and the Skilled Immigrant Micro-Loan.
— view all 28 funding opportunities -
Please be advised that some of our courses fill quickly, early registration is encouraged to secure your spot. See our refunds, withdrawals & transfers policies for detailed information.
This course has no prerequisites
Students from all educational backgrounds welcome. You can register for this course without applying and enrolling in a program.
Take note:
- This course has the equivalent of three hours of online instruction per week (including voice over PowerPoints, readings, and resource links), plus weekly assignments.
- Students are encouraged to build relationships and network with their classmates through forums and discussions.
- While there are no prerequisites for this course, a general working knowledge of Social Media platforms is recommended for student success.
- You will be expected to have existing social media accounts or to create them prior to the course start date.
Currently counts towards:
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└ core course
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└ elective course
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└ elective course
Applicants intending to enrol in a program are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to lock in their course requirements since they are prone to change.
*If you are already enroled in this program, please refer to your specific program requirements as outlined at the time of your admission: Bear Tracks > Academic Advisement.
Looking for different course dates?
New course schedules are released each June and November.