MicroMasters programs are a series of online graduate level courses offered by universities through edX that one can take to develop standalone skills for career advancement or earn graduate level credentials.
First launched in September 2016 with 19 MicroMasters programs from 14 different universities as an extension of its MOOC programs. As of February 2019, 52 different MicroMasters programs are offered, with 48 in English, 3 in Spanish, and 1 in French. Each MicroMasters program is sponsored by at least one industry partner, including GE, Microsoft, IBM, Hootsuite, Fidelity, Bloomberg, Walmart, PWC, Booz-Allen Hamilton, and Ford.
Background
History The development of the MicroMasters was originally conceived at MIT by Sanjay Sarma and Erdin Beshimov, with Erdin becoming the Founding Director of the program. In its early stage MIT offered the MicroMasters as a pilot within its supply chain management program, consulting industry leaders. The idea of the MicroMasters program started out as an iteration of the existing MOOC model when Coursera first started offering specializations for its various disciplines and a response to the changing nature of work as well as the major skills shortage impacting businesses around the world. edX subsequently applied for a trademark for "MicroMasters" in response to Udacity registering "nanodegree" as its trademark in 2014. The first 19 MicroMasters programs were subsequently launched in September 2016, in collaboration with 14 different universities. This also included Rochester Institute of Technology's MicroMasters in project management, allowing learners to use it to fulfil the prerequisite of project management education for the PMP certification.
In 2017, General Electric promised to interview any Massachusetts resident who completed a MicroMasters program in supply chain management, cybersecurity, cloud computing, or artificial intelligence.
In 2018, MIT admitted its first batch of 40 students into its blended supply chain management program from graduates of its MicroMasters program, reducing its usual 10-month program to 5 months. This pilot also saw 200,000 people signing up, 19,000 earning certificates and 800 sitting for the final proctored examination. It was reported in July 2018 that the students who were admitted into the blended program had better than average scores across the board than those who were in the residential program.
Funding In October 2016, the Lumina Foundation granted $900,000 to edX to create 30 more MicroMasters certificate programs.
Program structure
Prerequisites All MicroMasters programs are currently running on the edX MOOC platform, where learners are free to audit any of the courses and pay later should they choose to do so. Depending on the program, there are prerequisites ranging from graduate level understanding of various specific disciplines or work experienced. However, these prerequisites serve as recommended guidelines for the learners rather than a strictly enforced rule so there are no specific degree requirements for any of the courses. However, learners will have to pay if they wish to pursue a verified certificate.
Certification To qualify for a certificate for successfully completing a MicroMasters program, all learners are required to complete a series of interactive courses as specified in the respective MicroMasters program and achieve a minimum grade according to the institution awarding the certification.
Continuing education For learners interested in academic credit, the learner must be admitted into the university's respective master's program. Some programs, such as the MicroMasters Program in Supply Chain Management by MIT also operate on a blended learning model which include a timed examination as well as a final proctored examination. Admission requirements for its on-campus blended learning program differ from its traditional residential admission requirements as applicants are not required to submit scores in a GRE or GMAT as performance in the Micromasters program will be taken as a substitute for it. Some other programs still follow usual admission guidelines and the MicroMasters program has little to no impact on their application apart from receiving advanced credits upon admission into its respective programs. Generally, most courses include practice exercises which are ungraded as well as graded assignments with limited attempts.
The following is a list of the current MicroMasters programs offered as well as the respective graduate degree options available for each program upon graduation of the MicroMasters program. MicroMasters program nameInstitutionInstitutions offering credit for advanced standingSubsequent degree options with advanced standingProgram endorsementsAccountingIndiana UniversityIndiana UniversityMS in AccountingPwCAccounting and Financial ManagementUMUC, University System of MarylandUMUCMS in Accounting and Financial ManagementXero AmericasAlgorithms and Data StructuresUniversity of California, San DiegoRochester Institute of TechnologyMS in Professional StudiesYandexAnalytics: Essential Tools and MethodsGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia Institute of TechnologyMS in AnalyticsEquifax, Tech MahindraArtificial IntelligenceColumbia UniversityColumbia UniversityMaster of Computer ScienceGeneral ElectricBig DataUniversity of AdelaideUniversity of AdelaideMaster of Data SciencePwCChemistry and Technology for SustainabilityWageningen University & ResearchWageningen University & ResearchMSc in Biobased SciencesAzkoNobelBioinformaticsUMUC, University System of MarylandUMUCMaster of BiotechnologyGeneDxBusiness AnalyticsColumbia UniversityColumbia UniversityMS in Management Science & Engineering, MS in Marketing Science, MS in Business AnalyticsBloombergBusiness and Operations for a Circular Bio-EconomyWageningen University & ResearchWageningen University & ResearchMSc in Biobased SciencesCrodaBusiness FundamentalsUniversity of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaMaster of ManagementHootsuiteBusiness LeadershipThe University of QueenslandThe University of QueenslandMaster of BusinessWoollam Constructions, Virgin AustraliaBusiness ManagementIndian Institute of Management BangaloreIndian Institute of Management BangaloreAdvanced Management ProgramOracle ConsultingCertified Lifestyle Medicine ExecutiveDoane UniversityDoane UniversityMBAAveraCloud ComputingUMUC, University System of MarylandUMUCMasters in Cloud Computing ArchitectureBooz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed MartinCorporate InnovationThe University of QueenslandThe University of QueenslandMasters Entrepreneurship and InnovationEYCybersecurityRochester Institute of TechnologyRochester Institute of TechnologyMSc in Computing SecurityIBM, Tech MahindraData ScienceUniversity of California, San DiegoCurtin University, Rochester Institute of TechnologyMSc in Data Science, Master of Predictive AnalyticsMitchell International, Tech MahindraDesign ThinkingRochester Institute of TechnologyRochester Institute of TechnologyMS in Professional StudiesAutodeskDigital LeadershipBoston UniversityBoston UniversityMS in Digital InnovationFidelity, Tech MahindraDigital Product ManagementBoston UniversityBoston UniversityMS in Digital InnovationFidelityEconomics and Policies for a Circular Bio-EconomyWageningen UniversityWageningen UniversityMSc in Biobased SciencesCrodaEmerging Automotive TechnologiesChalmers University of TechnologyChalmers University of TechnologyMSc in Automotive Engineering, MSc in Systems, Control and MechatronicsVolvo, ZenuityEntrepreneurshipIndian Institute of Management BangaloreIndian Institute of Management BangaloreInfosysFinanceMIT Sloan School of ManagementMIT Sloan School of ManagementMaster of FinanceGoldman SachsGlobal Business Leadership and ManagementArizona State UniversityArizona State UniversityMaster of Applied Leadership & Management, Master of Global ManagementYDMHealthcare AdministrationDoane UniversityDoane UniversityMBASchoolcraft Memorial HospitalHuman RightsCurtin UniversityCurtin UniversityMaster of Human RightsAmnesty InternationalInformation SystemsIndiana UniversityIndiana UniversityMaster of Science in Information SystemsEYIntegrated Digital MediaNew York UniversityNew York University, Rochester Institute of TechnologyM.S. in Integrated Digital Media, Master of Science in Professional StudiesMicrosoftInternational Hospitality ManagementThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityThe Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityMSc in International Hospitality ManagementThe Dragon Hotel, Hotel ICONInternational LawUniversité catholique de LouvainUniversité catholique de LouvainLL.M. in International Law,