In
higher education a microdegree, also microcredentials and
micromasters, is a qualification focused upon a specified professional or career discipline and typically comprises one or more sources of accelerated educational experiences. Microdegrees are a single manifestation of
Competency Based Education (CBE) which seeks to tie credentialing to specific skills sets. Micro-credentials may be completed on-site, online or in a blended format.
Microcredentials including microdegrees act as a
pointer to the criteria for and demonstration of the
skills represented by the microcredential. Because the
credentials are presented in a
digital format
Digital data, in information theory and information systems, is information represented as a string of discrete symbols each of which can take on one of only a finite number of values from some alphabet, such as letters or digit (unit), digits. ...
, they can be
parsed automatically for
verification over the web and allow for a greater level of
granularity than a traditional paper
transcript. Microdegrees meet the criteria for Open Educational Data defined by the
U.S. Department of Education.
Within the
hierarchy
A hierarchy (from Greek: , from , 'president of sacred rites') is an arrangement of items (objects, names, values, categories, etc.) that are represented as being "above", "below", or "at the same level as" one another. Hierarchy is an important ...
of educational credentials microdegrees are considered to be "
certificate
Certificate may refer to:
* Birth certificate
* Marriage certificate
* Death certificate
* Gift certificate
* Certificate of authenticity, a document or seal certifying the authenticity of something
* Certificate of deposit, or CD, a financial pro ...
s" requiring a lower level of commitment and rigor than a traditional
degree program
Degree may refer to:
As a unit of measurement
* Degree (angle), a unit of angle measurement
** Degree of geographical latitude
** Degree of geographical longitude
* Degree symbol (°), a notation used in science, engineering, and mathematics
...
but serving an important role as a
vocational credential.
Microcredentials may have a credit value at either undergraduate or postgraduate level, and this may be used towards undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications. or potentially at another university (subject to the agreement of the receiving institution).
The
advent
Advent is a Christian season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ at Christmas. It is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity.
The name was adopted from Latin "coming; arrival", translating Greek ''parousia''.
In ...
of the microdegree is presented by its promoters as a challenge to the existing degree model as it permits students to utilize accelerated, free and low cost programs to earn credentials of direct relevance to their interests and career ambitions.
Microdegrees and other microcredentials are also seen as a system to facilitate and record lifelong learning. A significant percentage of microdegree students are working adults seeking career change or advancement.
Some institutions that offer Microdegree programs describe themselves as a "Micro College".
In recent years,
MOOC
A massive open online course (MOOC ) or an open online course is an online course aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the Web. In addition to traditional course materials, such as filmed lectures, readings, and problem sets, m ...
platforms have started expanding their offerings of microcredentials as viable substitutes, going as far as offering a blended education model. Such programs allow graduates of the respective microcredential programs to have a reduced residency period at traditional universities. Universities like
MIT have started admitting its first batch of students in
supply chain management
In commerce, supply chain management (SCM) is the management of the flow of goods and services including all processes that transform raw materials into final products between businesses and locations. This can include the movement and stor ...
at a reduced 5-month residency period through their
blended learning
Blended learning, also known as technology-mediated instruction, web-enhanced instruction, or mixed-mode instruction, is an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with physical pla ...
initiatives on the
edX platform with the launch of its
Micromasters program.
See also
*
Digital badge
References
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Open educational resources
Qualifications
OpenCourseWare