As of May 1, access to Coursera’s Career Academy, which includes 81 professional certificate programs, became available at no cost to Texas State students, faculty and staff with a txstate.edu email address. Alumni can also participate through the Texas State Alumni Association.
A second phase of the initiative is planned for future rollout and will include expanded credentialing opportunities.
The overview
"The partnership ... is transformative and creates an opportunity for all our students to earn credentials of value at no cost," said Pranesh Aswath, TXST provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, in a news release. "Adding these industry-recognized credentials to their existing degree complements the value of their Texas State University education."
Zooming in
The first phase includes credentials across a variety of industries and skill sets. For those interested in technology, certificates include:
- Meta Android Developer
- ADP Entry-Level Payroll Specialist
- AWS Cloud Technology Consultant
- Google UX Design
- Epic Games Game Design
- IBM IT Project Manager
- Keller Williams Real Estate Agent
- HRCI Human Resources Associate
- Goodwill Career Coach
- CVS Health Retail Customer Service
- NASM Personal Fitness Trainer
According to Scot Chadwick, senior director of Coursera, research shows micro-credentials have a measurable impact on employment, with 87% of employers having hired at least one micro-credential holder in the past year.
"Offering TXST’s community access to Career Academy’s carefully curated collection of industry-aligned micro-credentials will ensure that all members of that community are equipped with the essential skills needed to launch, nurture and thrive in their careers,” Chadwick said in the news release.
Texas State will also begin developing its own original certifications.
Stay tuned
Faculty from the McCoy College of Business and other departments are actively designing new credentials to keep offerings current with workforce needs and student demand.
Sanjay Ramchander, dean of the McCoy College of Business, said combining a McCoy business degree with Coursera’s micro-credentials will give students a competitive edge by adding specialized, practical skills that align with real-world industry needs.
“This combination of a world-class education and industry-ready credentials ensures our graduates are exceptionally marketable in today’s rapidly evolving workforce,” Ramchander said.
