Relevant to: students, faculty, staff
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Introduction
This guide explains what microcredentials are, how they differ from traditional degrees and certificates, and their benefits to students.
What are Microcredentials?
Microcredentials are credentials that verify, validate, and attest that specific skills and/or competencies have been achieved. According to the State University of New York’s policy on microcredentials, they differ from traditional degrees and certificates by being offered in shorter or more flexible timespans and being more narrowly focused. They are:
- Portable: They have value outside the awarding institution to employers or other higher education institutions.
- Stackable: They can stack with other microcredentials or courses toward a higher credential, such as a certificate or degree.
Microcredentials may be non-credit-bearing or credit-bearing. Credit-bearing microcredentials appear on the student’s transcript. Some include digital badges that students can share on platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
For more information, see the Undergraduate Micro-Credential Policy and the Graduate Micro-Credential Policy.
The list of undergraduate microcredentials can be found here, and the list of graduate microcredentials can be found here.