Microcredential Announcement
Dear Faculty & Staff:
At the beginning of this semester, the Academic Deans were asked to engage their faculty in the creation of course-based, hard-skill microcredentials to be launched in Spring 2026. These are meant to certify that students have achieved competency in a specialized, career-focused skill. They will involve a sequence of courses followed by an assessment.
What resulted were more than 20 fascinating proposals showing the breadth of our course offerings, the creativity of our faculty, and the excitement for this new endeavor. After consultation with faculty, staff, and senior administrators, we are happy to announce the five microcredentials that we will be implementing next semester.
In narrowing down these proposals, we prioritized what would work best for this pilot, with goals that include testing student interest, platform functionality, and assessment techniques. We therefore focused on those proposals that rely on existing and frequent course offerings, can be achieved by a large number of students in distinct cohorts, and, when possible, cross schools. Further, while initially we discussed microcredentials with varying levels that could be achieved with additional coursework or learning experiences, for now we will concentrate on a single, fundamental level.
The five pilot microcredentials are:
(1) Applied Data Science
*Proposed by the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology.
This microcredential develops students’ ability to analyze and interpret data using statistical reasoning and applied methods. By completing coursework in statistics and their application, students learn to make evidence-based inferences and evaluate data from across scientific and social scientific disciplines. Coursework drawn from BE, SET, and SSSP.
(2) Foundations of Data Analytics
*Proposed by the School of Business and Economics.
This microcredential equips students with foundational quantitative and programming skills for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. Through coursework in statistics and programming, students learn to apply analytical skills and computational tools to a wide range of problems. Coursework drawn from BE, SET, and SSSP.
(3) Person-Centered Research and Analysis
*Proposed by the School of Social Science and Social Policy.
This microcredential trains students to design and conduct qualitative research focused on understanding living persons in their social contexts. Coursework mainly drawn from SSSP.
(4) Policy Analysis and Implementation
*Proposed by the School of Social Science and Social Policy.
This microcredential focuses on the skills needed to evaluate, design, and assess policies using evidence, analytical frameworks, and social values. Requires two courses, spanning different fields, involving policy analysis. Coursework drawn from SSSP and SET.
(5) Sound and Video Media
*Proposed by the School of Arts, Humanities, and Culture.
This microcredential equips students with the skills to design, produce, and edit multimedia works that integrate sound, image, and narrative. Coursework drawn from AHC and SSSP.
Thanks so much to all of those who participated in this process. We will be sharing these microcredential offerings with students soon so they can incorporate them into their plans for next semester.
Sincerely,
Carol A. Fierke, Ph.D. '84
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Lewis Brooks ’80, P’16
Interim Director, The Center for Careers and Applied Liberal Arts