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.[1][2][3][4]
First launched in September 2016 with 19 MicroMasters programs from 14 different universities as an extension of its MOOC programs.[5] As of February 2019, 52 different MicroMasters programs are offered, with 48 in English, 3 in Spanish, and 1 in French.[6] 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.[7]
The development of the MicroMasters was originally conceived at MIT by Sanjay Sarma and Erdin Beshimov,[8] with Erdin becoming the Founding Director[9] 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.[10] edX subsequently applied for a trademark for "MicroMasters" in response to Udacity registering "nanodegree" as its trademark in 2014.[11] 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.[12]
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.[13][14]
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.[15] This pilot also saw 200,000 people signing up, 19,000 earning certificates and 800 sitting for the final proctored examination.[16] 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.[17]
In October 2016, the Lumina Foundation granted $900,000 to edX to create 30 more MicroMasters certificate programs.[18]
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.[19] 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.[20] However, learners will have to pay if they wish to pursue a verified certificate.
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.
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.[21] 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 name | Institution | Institutions offering credit for advanced standing | Subsequent degree options with advanced standing | Program endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | Indiana University | Indiana University | MS in Accounting | PwC |
| Accounting and Financial Management | UMUC, University System of Maryland | UMUC | MS in Accounting and Financial Management | Xero Americas |
| Algorithms and Data Structures | University of California, San Diego | Rochester Institute of Technology | MS in Professional Studies | Yandex |
| Analytics: Essential Tools and Methods | Georgia Institute of Technology | Georgia Institute of Technology | MS in Analytics | Equifax, Tech Mahindra |
| Artificial Intelligence | Columbia University | Columbia University | Master of Computer Science | General Electric |
| Big Data | University of Adelaide | University of Adelaide | Master of Data Science | PwC |
| Chemistry and Technology for Sustainability | Wageningen University & Research | Wageningen University & Research | MSc in Biobased Sciences | AzkoNobel |
| Bioinformatics | UMUC, University System of Maryland | UMUC | Master of Biotechnology | GeneDx |
| Business Analytics | Columbia University | Columbia University | MS in Management Science & Engineering, MS in Marketing Science, MS in Business Analytics | Bloomberg |
| Business and Operations for a Circular Bio-Economy | Wageningen University & Research | Wageningen University & Research | MSc in Biobased Sciences | Croda |
| Business Fundamentals | University of British Columbia | University of British Columbia | Master of Management | Hootsuite |
| Business Leadership | The University of Queensland | The University of Queensland | Master of Business | Woollam Constructions, Virgin Australia |
| Business Management | Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | Advanced Management Program | Oracle Consulting |
| Certified Lifestyle Medicine Executive | Doane University | Doane University | MBA | Avera |
| Cloud Computing | UMUC, University System of Maryland | UMUC | Masters in Cloud Computing Architecture | Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin |
| Corporate Innovation | The University of Queensland | The University of Queensland | Masters Entrepreneurship and Innovation | EY |
| Cybersecurity | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester Institute of Technology | MSc in Computing Security | IBM, Tech Mahindra |
| Data Science | University of California, San Diego | Curtin University, Rochester Institute of Technology | MSc in Data Science, Master of Predictive Analytics | Mitchell International, Tech Mahindra |
| Design Thinking | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester Institute of Technology | MS in Professional Studies | Autodesk |
| Digital Leadership | Boston University | Boston University | MS in Digital Innovation | Fidelity, Tech Mahindra |
| Digital Product Management | Boston University | Boston University | MS in Digital Innovation | Fidelity |
| Economics and Policies for a Circular Bio-Economy | Wageningen University | Wageningen University | MSc in Biobased Sciences | Croda |
| Emerging Automotive Technologies | Chalmers University of Technology | Chalmers University of Technology | MSc in Automotive Engineering, MSc in Systems, Control and Mechatronics | Volvo, Zenuity |
| Entrepreneurship | Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | Infosys | |
| Finance | MIT Sloan School of Management | MIT Sloan School of Management | Master of Finance | Goldman Sachs |
| Global Business Leadership and Management | Arizona State University | Arizona State University | Master of Applied Leadership & Management, Master of Global Management | YDM |
| Healthcare Administration | Doane University | Doane University | MBA | Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital |
| Human Rights | Curtin University | Curtin University | Master of Human Rights | Amnesty International |
| Information Systems | Indiana University | Indiana University | Master of Science in Information Systems | EY |
| Integrated Digital Media | New York University | New York University, Rochester Institute of Technology | M.S. in Integrated Digital Media, Master of Science in Professional Studies | Microsoft |
| International Hospitality Management | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University | MSc in International Hospitality Management | The Dragon Hotel, Hotel ICON |
| International Law | Université catholique de Louvain | Université catholique de Louvain | LL.M. in International Law,
Online LLM in International Law |
Foley Hoag |
| Internet of Things | Curtin University | Curtin University | Master of International Business and Entrepreneurship, Master of Engineering Science (Electrical Engineering) | Cisco, Tech Mahindra |
| Instructional Design and Technology | UMUC, University System of Maryland | UMUC | Masters in Learning Design and Technology | Discovery Education |
| Leadership in Global Development | The University of Queensland | The University of Queensland | Master of Leadership in Global Development | AECOM, Overseas Development Institute |
| Leading Educational Innovation and Improvement | The University of Michigan | The University of Michigan | Master in Educational Leadership and Policy, Master in Teaching and Learning, Master in New Media and Literacy, Master in Urban Pedagogy | Carnegie Foundation |
| Management | Université catholique de Louvain | Université catholique de Louvain | Master of Management | Volvo |
| Managing Technology & Innovation | RWTH Aachen University | RWTH Aachen University | MSc in Management and Engineering in Technology, Innovation, Marketing and Entrepreneurship | Ford, Tech Mahindra |
| Marketing Analytics | University of California, Berkeley | Curtin University | Master of Marketing | On Demand Advisors |
| Marketing in a Digital World | Curtin University | Curtin University | Master of Marketing | Marketforce |
| MBA Core Curriculum | University System of Maryland, The University of Maryland, College Park | The University of Maryland, College Park | MBA | Northrop Grumman |
| Nano-Science and Technology | Purdue University | Purdue University | MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering | Qualcomm, Rolls-Royce |
| Predictive Analytics for Business Applications | University of Edinburgh | University of Edinburgh | MSc in Business Analytics | PwC |
| Principles of Manufacturing | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, RMIT University, Chulalongkorn University | MEng in Advanced Manufacturing and Design, Master of Engineering Management, MS in Professional Studies, MBA | |
| Project Management | Rochester Institute of Technology | Rochester Institute of Technology | MS in Professional Studies | Paychex |
| Robotics | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania | MSE in Robotics | Rethink Robotics |
| Social Work: Practice, Policy and Research | The University of Michigan | University of Michigan | Master in Social Work | National Council for Behavioral Health |
| Software Development | University of British Columbia | Curtin University | MSc in Computer Science | Hootsuite |
| Software Testing and Verification | UMUC, University System of Maryland | UMUC | Master in Information Technology | Booz Allen Hamilton |
| Solar Energy Engineering | Delft University of Technology | Delft University of Technology | MSc in Sustainable Energy Technology, MSc in Electrical Engineering | Trina Solar |
| Statistics and Data Science | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Chulalongkorn University, Covenant University, Curtin University, Deakin University, Doane University, Galileo University, Harvard Extension School, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Reykjavik University, RMIT University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Royal Roads University, Southern New Hampshire University, Tsinghua University, Universidad Technologica | PhD in Social and Engineering Systems, MS in Professional Studies, MBA, MBA in Healthcare Management, Master of Predictive Analytics, Master of Business Analytics, Master of Health Economics, Master of Information Systems, Master of Public Health, Master of Data Analytics, Master of Cyber Security Professional, Master of Nutrition and Population Health, Master of Information Technology, Master of Data Science, Master of Business Management, MSc in Business Management, Master of Information Management, MSc in Information Management | Booz Allen Hamilton |
| Supply Chain Management | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Arizona State University, Covenant University, Curtin University, Deakin University, Doane University, Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Griffith University, Harvard Extension School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Purdue University, Reykjavík University, RMIT University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Royal Roads University, The University of Queensland, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Universidad Galileo, University of Zaragoza | MEng in Supply Chain Management, MBA, Master in Operations Management, Master of Commerce, Master of Information Management, Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies, M.Sc in Business Management, MSc in Industrial Engineering | Walmart |
| Sustainable Energy | The University of Queensland | The University of Queensland | Master of Sustainable Energy | Global CCS Institute |
| Water and Global Human Health | Queen's University | Queen's University | Graduate Diploma in Water and Human Health | Malroz |
According to a report by Columbia University's Teachers College, a typical MicroMasters student is well-educated and employed, with almost 80% having an undergraduate degree or better.[22] The majority of the learners are between the age of 22 and 44, with the United States and India forming 16% and 14% of the learners, followed by Brazil, Colombia, and Nigeria forming the next 3%. The majority of learners have also shown fluency or proficiency in English.