If you're having accessibility issues, please let us know.
Micro-credentials give you a new way to recognize and verify the specific skills and competencies your learners develop, whether in a course, a workshop, or a co-curricular experience. OPDM partners with MSU colleges and departments to design and launch credential programs that meet institutional standards and carry real value for learners and employers.
A micro-credential is a verifiable record of a discrete achievement, whether instructional, experiential, or professional, that has been assessed and validated against a defined benchmark. Unlike a degree or certificate program, micro-credentials focus on a specific competency or skill rather than a broad course of study. At MSU, micro-credentials are represented by digital badges: clickable, verified credentials that learners can share on LinkedIn, in email signatures, and on resumes. Employers can verify a badge's authenticity in real time by clicking the badge icon.
Micro-credentials surface specific competencies that traditional transcripts or certificates gloss over, allowing learners a verifiable way to demonstrate mastery of specifically articulated learning outcomes to employers and professional communities.
Shorter, flexible credentials attract working professionals and lifelong learners who would not enroll in a full degree program, opening new enrollment pathways for your department.
Credentials designed with industry input carry more weight. 82% of employers globally value credentials co-developed with industry partners. (Coursera, 2026)
Start by identifying the specific competency, skill, or experience your credential will validate. Ask yourself: what will a learner be able to do or demonstrate by the end? How will I assess the learning outcome, and describe these criteria on the credential? Participation alone does not qualify, as there must be an assessed, validated outcome.
Consider the audience you are designing for; examples include students, faculty and staff, or professional learners. MSU recognizes five achievement levels:
Levels are relative to your field and are not placed on a universal university scale.
Determine whether your credential will stand alone or connect to a larger sequence. Stackable micro-credentials are designed as individual badges that build toward a higher credential. This can increase learner motivation and create clearer pathways to program completion.
Badge titles should be specific and externally meaningful. Avoid broad terms like Leadership or Communication. Aim for titles such as Voluntary Team Leadership in Project Settings or something an employer or hiring manager can understand without context.
MSU issues digital badges through Credly, integrated with D2L Brightspace and a non-credit registration system. All badges follow the Open Badges 2.0 standard, making them portable and verifiable across platforms including LinkedIn.
Micro-credentials should be revisited each year. Ask whether earning criteria are still current, whether employer feedback suggests changes, how to differentiate from competitors, and whether the credential should be updated, renewed, or retired.
OPDM offers consultations to help you think through your credential design, understand the process, and determine how your program fits within MSU's taxonomy and standards.
If you're having accessibility issues, please let us know.
SPARTANS WILL|© Michigan State University|