Thomas Edison State University announced it has completed its review and will now offer college credit for a New York University Tandon School of Engineering’s MicroBachelors® program in Computer Science Fundamentals offered on edX.org.
In January edX.org, announced MicroBachelors programs, the first credit-backed stackable credential, marking a significant milestone in online learning. Created by edX in an innovative partnership with top universities and Fortune 1000 corporations, MicroBachelors programs deliver immediately transferable skills to meet the real-world needs of employers, while providing a pathway to a full bachelor’s degree.
MicroBachelors programs are designed for adults without a college degree who believe that education is the key to career advancement. This group, like the majority of Americans, are looking for an affordable and accessible bachelor’s degree pathway.
The first MicroBachelors programs include Computer Science Fundamentals from New York University Tandon School of Engineering (NYU Tandon). Learners who successfully earn the MicroBachelors program certificate in Computer Science Fundamentals will be able to elect transferable college credit from Thomas Edison State University at no additional cost.
“Thomas Edison State University has been a leader in the field of transfer credit assessment and prior learning assessment for decades,” said Jeff Harmon, TESU’s vice provost for Strategic Initiatives and Institutional Effectiveness. “Recognizing college-level learning wherever and however it may occur, academicians at Thomas Edison State University have developed, and refined, a systematic process for recognizing college-equivalent learning and assessment practices, utilizing rigorous rubric-based tools approved by the University’s Academic Council.”
“We could not be more excited to partner with Thomas Edison State University on a credit-backed stackable program, an innovative program that gives everyone a chance to get academic credit for learning computer science skills,” said Nasir Memon, computer science professor and vice dean for Student and Academic Affairs at NYU Tandon. “For many reasons, not least of which is the explosive growth in jobs requiring STEM backgrounds, programs like these are critically important today. With the devastating loss of service-sector jobs due to COVID-19, it is imperative that job seekers have access to this option of affordable, stackable courses delivered on remote-learning platforms like edX.org.
MicroBachelors programs are affordable, priced between $500 and $1,500 (roughly $166 per credit), and can be completed fully online, allowing working adults to complete the course work on their own schedule. The programs are independently valuable as the rigorous content is created by academic institutions with input from industry leaders to deliver immediately transferable skills for the workplace.
edX will be announcing additional MicroBachelors programs and new credit pathways that stack into full degree options in the future. TESU will continue to work with edX to identify courses where the University can offer credit. To learn more about MicroBachelors programs on edX, visit www.edx.org/microbachelors.
Toni M. Terry, BA