Clark University launches microcredential course program

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Image I Courtesy Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Unity Hall

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Microcredentials, short-term targeted courses for those looking to gain a specific skill set without enrolling in a traditional degree program, are now available at Clark University in Worcester.

Offered through the university’s School of Professional Studies, Clark currently offers 19 microcredential course options in fields including data analytics, healthcare product management, and digital marketing, according to Clark’s website.

The microcredential courses are self-directed and typically take up to six weeks to complete, costing between $350 to $1,440 each. The modules are offered online and in an asynchronous format not tied to the university’s academic calendar. Upon course completion, students will receive a digital badge.

“The tech industry has been a big believer in certificates in all forms, and other industries are starting to catch up,” Rich Aroian, executive director of microcredentials strategy and corporate outreach for SPS, said in a Tuesday press release from Clark. “Employers are looking to recruit people with certain skills, and the badges are a way to identify that you have those skills.”

Clark’s microcredential courses are part of the university’s efforts to connect with the wider Central Massachusetts working professional and college graduate community outside of its standard degree paths.

“Microcredentials are ideal terrain for SPS,” John LaBrie, associate provost and dean of graduate studies and international programs, said in the release. “We are committed to providing educational opportunities that are responsive to the marketplace and flexible in execution for professionals who are eager to build proficiencies and stay nimble in an ever-evolving economy.”

With 3,830 full-time enrolled students, Clark is the second largest university in Central Massachusetts when ranked by full-time or full-time equivalent enrollment for fall 2023 by WBJ’s Research Department. Founded in 1887, the university employs 253 full time and 181 part time faculty with a $451.18 million endowment.

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.