Hey Scott, I wrote a reply to your rant (and everyone else scared of this news): http://www.smoexpert.com/youre-not-an-social-media-expert-im-the-only-real-social-media-expert

I love the idea of recognizing social media as a new discipline worth a curriculum. There is much to unveil in this field and organizing knowledge in such a program can definitely help. I don't believe that someone should gain an expert status by holding a degree though. When dealing with new knowledge, humility and willingness to be surprised are one's best weapons. I wrote a while back about pseudo social media experts (http://traackr.com/blog/?p=36). Much of it still applies today.

I think some legitimacy would be nice, as it currently requires very little to proclaim yourself a guru/maven/expert/influencer. An MA program, if suitably rigorous, is an interesting approach. I don't know how many people would pursue it, since it's much easier to *say* you are something than to actually demonstrate it. I'll pass this around and see what my colleagues think.

The influx of all of these "social media experts" aka "aka SM wannabes" that point to their facebook friends and twitter friends as proof they know what they are doing in the space, are ruining the image of real experts. To say that "you need to have a masters in social media to be a social media expert" is complete and utter crap. Being an expert in social media comes down to three things...RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS... If you can't point to any quantifiable results you have helped a client achieve in social media...you are nothing more than a snake oil salesperson selling naive individuals a dream of "social media fame" when you yourself could never deliver what you are promising. It's legally stealing if you ask me... Unless you can physically prove to people that you have done the following for clients: *MADE THEM MONEY *BUILT THEIR LISTS *LANDED MEDIA OPPS *DRIVEN INSANE AMOUNTS OF STICKY TRAFFIC THROUGH THEIR WEBSITES *BUILT EFFECTIVE AND ENGAGING COMMUNITIES ...You should stop calling yourself a social media expert. I have done all of these things and more for clients. I don't say this to brag, but instead bring it to the surface to cut through all of the bullcrap that is happening with all of these new wannabes taking advantage of people who don't know any better.

Most professions require a combination of education and experience. I think without one you're fighting against the current. But then again maybe your actions can speak louder than a piece of paper. Sometimes it only takes someone important saying "This person is an expert!". That might be more appropriate in this case with the way information spreads through word of mouth in social media. Its a variable answer on that one, but I think you're safe with getting a degree from an accredited school.