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SALT LAKE CITY, UtahÌý– Western Governors University (ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ) today announced the university’s first globally available microcredential in Information Technology (IT). ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ’s IT Career Framework MicroBachelors is designed to create pathways for individuals looking to advance their IT careers. Credit-backed and stackable, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ’s new microcredential provides value as a standalone credential, but also allows busy working learners to apply credit towards a bachelor’s degree program at ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ, pending admission.

“ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ is committed to ensuring that we address the needs of working learners,â€� said ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ Provost and Chief Academic Officer Marni Baker Stein. “We’ve developed this program to serve as an industry-verified standalone credential as well as a stepping stone to several ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ bachelor’s degree programs in the College of IT. This pathway ensures that busy students acquire valuable credentials as they work toward their degrees.â€�

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computer and IT occupations is expected to grow 12 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. And according to CompTIA’s 2019 Cyberstates Report, there were 3.7 million postings for tech occupation job openings in 2018 alone. By partnering with IT industry leaders, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ has designed this new stackable credential to give learners the foundational skills they need to compete for high-growth, lucrative computer science and IT careers, helping close the IT skills gap.

ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ’s IT Career Framework MicroBachelors provides learners with the in-demand computer networking, security, scripting, and programming skills they need to compete in a dynamic, tech-driven economy. Developed to provide learners with incremental value at the course level, ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ’s new microcredential is perfect for adults who want to add skills to their profiles but may not necessarily pursue a bachelor’s degree. For learners who are interested in pursuing a bachelor’s degree, the new microcredential stacks into seven different IT bachelor’s degree programs at ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ: B.S. Computer Science, B.S. Software Development, B.S. Cloud and Systems Administration, B.S. Data Management/Data Analytics, B.S. Information Technology, B.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, and B.S. Network Operations and Security.

Like all ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ degree programs, the IT Career Framework MicroBachelors is competency-based, allowing students to advance as soon as they demonstrate mastery of course materials. ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ’s new program can be completed for less than $1,500, making it possible for busy learners to advance their careers without breaking the bank. Like all edX courses, learners can choose to access course materials for free but will only be granted credit through successful completion of the verified MicroBachelors certificate.