Technology Micro-Credentials

Did you know that regardless of major, MC students can achieve industry technical micro-credentials from Microsoft, IBM and Google? UofL offers courses and provides individual coaching on selecting badges that fit your career goals.

Program Overview

Enhance your resume and career with technology Micro-Credentials. Through UofL’s College of Education and Human Development, MC students can achieve micro-credentials and technology badges from various vendors such as: Microsoft, IBM, and Google. These courses, if taken for credit, are covered by MC tuition benefits and are intended for students in any major who are seeking to enhance work ready skills using technology products and services. Students will receive individual career coaching to select their individual badges and establish a career pathway that fits their interests and abilities. Throughout the semester the student will take the industry badge training and produce an applied project (outlined and prototyped) utilizing the badge training they have achieved.

Digital badges serve as a recognition for online learning and help the aspiring professionals to get their qualifications verified while searching for a job. Digital badges validate the accomplishment, skill, or competencies earned in learning environments, where the learning environment is typically online. Earned badges should be included on a resume, LinkedIn, ePortfolio or other professional job search materials.

Below is a sample of information about some of the badges. Some credentials from technology industry vendors exams may not be covered. Your instructor will work with you to map out career pathways that are covered with enrollment of classes LEAD 256 and LEAD257 as well determine what badges may compliment your degree path and experience. 

 

Degree + Essential Skills Gained as a UPS MC Employee + Technology Credentials = EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES!

Check Out The Courses

Courses are offered every Fall, Spring and Summer terms. Courses are online with required Blackboard Collaborate or Microsoft Teams meetings throughout the semester (arranged one on one with the instructor).

LEAD 256 | Technology Industry Badges I (3 credit hour course)

This course prepares students to achieve micro-credentials and technology badges from various vendors such as: Microsoft, IBM, and Google. It is intended for those seeking to enhance work ready skills using technology products and services. At least five introductory level badges must be achieved to pass this course. Industry Badges are included in this class. This course is taught at the introductory level.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  1. Describe industry certifications, micro-credentials
  2. Describe how industry credentials align with business goals
  3. Identify new trends in technology
  4. Evaluate/Analyze technology badges/credentials
  5. Review/Select and pass industry credential badges/certificate during this course
  6. Outline individual technology learning path
  7. Compare and contrast common industry vendors badges/credentialing paths
  8. Identify, use/apply at least two technology industry badge’s knowledge/skills


LEAD 257 – Technology Industry Badges II (3 credit hour course)

This course prepares students to achieve micro-credentials and badges from various technology industry organizations such as: Microsoft, IBM, and Google. It is intended for those seeking to enhance work ready skills using technology products and services. At least three intermediate/advanced level badges must be achieved to pass this course. This course is taught at the intermediate/advanced level.

Students who complete this course will be able to:

  • Describe how industry credentials align with business goals
  • Identify new trends in technology
  • Review/Select and pass intermediate level industry credential badges/certificate during this course
  • Outline individual technology learning path
  • Identify, use/apply at least two technology industry badge’s knowledge/skills

After completing LEAD 256 and 257, students will be advised regarding additional course work, training, and employment opportunities that fit the student's career goals.

Explore Career Pathways

A wide variety of workforce upskill/reskill paths are available and students can mix and matched vendor badges/certificates. During your first week in LEAD 256, your instructor will assist you in selecting a training pathway that fits with your career goals and skills. The are hundreds of workforce career pathways that students can choose. Below are examples of some of the pathways students can choose to pursue.

Computer Technical Support Specialist

Computer technical support specialists engage in troubleshooting and problem solving, both within a corporation and for individual clients. Computer technical support specialists draw on a general knowledge of computer systems, hardware, and software, as well as knowledge of specific products, to alleviate technological issues. Some individuals in this field work for technical support service companies, while others work within corporations or agencies. Computer technical support specialists must maintain up-to-date knowledge of current technologies and technological issues.

  • LEAD 256 Example: Microsoft Office badges/trophy + Windows badge + security badges + Applied learning project
  • LEAD 257 Example: Cloud computing badges + troubleshooting badge + various intermediate Office badges + Applied learning project

IT Desktop Support IT Desktop Support assist end users with a variety of technology issues. Primarily a customer support function but focused on the use/installation and support of technology products

  • LEAD 256 Example: Microsoft 3 badges + IBM 2 badges
  • LEAD 257 Example: Microsoft 2 badges + IBM 1 badge


Introductory/ Entry Level Data Analysts

Introductory/ Entry level Data Analysts enable businesses to maximize the value of their data assets. As a subject matter expert, Data Analysts are responsible for designing and building scalable data models, cleaning and transforming data, analytic capabilities that provide meaningful business value through easy-to-comprehend data visualizations.

  • LEAD 256 Example:
    • Introductory Analytics: Google Analytics for Beginners + Advanced Google Analytics + Google Introduction to Data Studio + Microsoft Get Started building w/Power BI + Azure Data Fundamentals + Create and use analytics reports w/Power BI + Get started with Microsoft
    • Data Analytics: 3 Google Certificates+4 Microsoft module trophy badges (student can go on to additional Microsoft modules to then work toward taking the Microsoft CERTIFICATION EXAM however, there is a cost from Microsoft to take the exam). OR substitute Microsoft module badges for IBM badges such as Data Science Foundations + Data Science Tools + Data Science Methodologies.
  • LEAD 257 Example: Students move on for advanced badges/certificates.


Introductory / Entry Level Developer

Entry level developers work with key stakeholders across the business to create, test and improve the applications that play a fundamental role in the company’s daily operations. You will work across the software development lifecycle, gaining essential grounding in handling requirements, support and maintenance, while following methodology to constantly strive for better results and becoming indispensable to your team.

  • LEAD 256 Example: Developer type badges courses SQL server + .NET
  • LEAD 257 Example: courses in emerging technologies, including data science, big data, cloud computing and blockchain. Badges for various skill levels are available for “R”, Hadoop+ Microsoft .Net+ .


Business Support Technologist/Artificial Intelligence Bot Creator

This badge earner can explain Artificial Intelligence and articulate how it is used for business leaders considering AI-based solutions for business challenges. They understand business-oriented technologies and basic concepts in AI, and have been introduced to the technologies and concepts in data science. The earner can articulate details of the AI Ladder, which is a framework for understanding the work and processes that are necessary for the successful deployment of AI-based solutions.

  • LEAD 256 Example: Microsoft Azure badges + IBM Artificial Intelligence badges+ applied project.
  • LEAD 257 Example: Next step in AI badges+ Data Science badge + Application badge + applied project.


How To Enroll

These courses are available to ANY major. If you are currently receiving MC benefits at UofL, you are eligible for tuition benefits for these courses. If you are not currently an MC UofL student, you must meet one of the following criteria to receive MC UofL tuition benefits:

  1. Cumulative 3.0 high school GPA or greater (GED 600) and a 21 ACT/1060 SAT composite score or Superscore. 
  2. 60 transferable college credit hours or have earned an associate degree.
  3. Cumulative 3.3 high school GPA or greater (GED 660), no ACT/SAT test score required.

MC semester tuition benefits cannot exceed full-time tuition at the University of Louisville. Please contact a MC Student Success Counselor if you have questions about your MC tuition benefits.

UofL students may contact their academic advisor to receive course registration assistance. To review course offerings, log on to www.louisville.edu

  • Select: For You> Current Students > Search the Class Schedule
  • In the Subject box select "EDUC: Leadership, Eval & Org Development"

 

Contact Us

If you have additional questions about the course or you would like to talk through recommendations regarding which career pathway fits well with your skills, education, and goals, contact Dr. Sharon Kerrick at sharon.kerrick@louisville.edu