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The online education provider edX is entering the undergraduate market with the launch of the new MicroBachelors™ programs, a series of “career path focused courses” that students can complete to earn academic credits toward a bachelor’s degree.
Created in partnership with colleges, universities, and corporations, the MicroBachelors programs are designed for adults without a college degree who believe they need additional education to advance in their careers but cannot afford a traditional bachelor’s degree and don’t have the time to pursue one full-time. Priced between USD 500 and USD 1,500, these new “stackable” programs are an affordable choice. Plus, since the programs are fully online, working adults can complete the coursework on their own schedule.
“edX was founded on the mission to increase access to high-quality education for everyone, everywhere and MicroBachelors programs are the next step forward in fulfilling that mission,” said edX Founder and CEO Anant Agarwal. “These programs are a significant step towards making a key academic milestone — the bachelor’s degree — accessible and doing so in a way that positively impacts the members of our workforce most at risk to be displaced by automation and other changes in the workplace. We are thrilled to be able to collaborate with our academic and industry partners to offer these programs that enable continuous, lifelong learning and promise immediately applicable skills and knowledge with a valuable credit-backed credential.”
No Applications are needed and it doesn’t matter if interested parties have some or no college experience. MicroBachelors programs are designed for adult learners looking to progress their career. “Now you don’t have to wait years to change your future,” states the MicroBachelors official site. Additionally, students will get personal coaching to help stay organized and on track.
The first MicroBachelors programs launched by the platform are from Western Governors University (WGU) and New York University (NYU). Additionally, Arizona State University will be offering Professional Writing, according to edX.
WGU’s MicroBachelors™ Program in IT Career Framework will be the first globally-available undergraduate modular online credential offered by the non-profit university. The six-month program is self-paced at the cost of around USD 1,345.
In this program, students will learn to:
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Identify the fundamental concepts essential to network security
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Examine basic computer programming elements such as describing steps of the software design process
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Identify how technology contributes to the success of today’s businesses
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The knowledge and skills necessary to understand how information technology systems convert data into organizational knowledge to aid in decision-making
For its part, NYU offers the MicroBachelors™ Program in Computer Science Fundamentals. The six-month program is divided into three self-paced courses at USD 500.
In this program, students will learn to:
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Fundamental knowledge of computer hardware and operating systems
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Understanding modern operating systems structure
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Use the principles of computational thinking
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Gain knowledge of the state-of-the-art in network protocols, architectures, and applications
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Learn the basics of Python programming
According to the press release, edX is also launching a MicroBachelors Program Skills Advisory Council, “a groundbreaking group of select foundations, corporations, and academic institutions that will work to identify the core skills and learning pathways that MicroBachelors programs should deliver on.” Moreover, the development of these programs is funded by Boeing, Lumina Foundation, SunTrust Foundation now Truist Foundation, Walmart, Jeremy M., the Joyce E. Wertheimer Foundation, and Yidan Prize Foundation.
edX will be announcing additional MicroBachelors programs and new credit pathways that stack into full degree options in the future. To learn more about edX MicroBachelors™ programs, visit www.edx.org/microbachelors
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This article from Observatory of the Institute for the Future of Education may be shared under the terms of the license CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 
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