Hood College Introduces Non-Degree Skill Accelerator Badge Program

The Graduate School at Hood College has announced the new non-degree Skill Accelerator program, which awards verified digital badges for completing graduate-level coursework. Badges are offered at the foundational, intermediate and advanced levels, and most badges can be applied toward a future master’s degree or certificate.

The program is designed for working professionals who are seeking to advance their credentials or change careers, without committing to the demands of a full degree program. Most courses are fully online for added convenience and flexibility. Focus areas include biotechnology, business, computing, counseling and trauma, equity and inclusion, education and more.

The Skill Accelerator program meets the demands of emerging trends in education, as workers and lifelong learners seek affordable, accessible and efficient ways to upskill and boost their careers. Likewise, industry leaders are looking for ways to retain employees by incentivizing professional development within their organizations.

Digital badges are short, focused, competency-based credentials that provide in-demand skills, knowledge and experience. Skill Accelerator badges will be issued by Milestone™ and can be embedded on LinkedIn and similar online portfolios/resumes. Badges are verified and list the skills and competencies acquired through completion of the course(s) for prospective employers to view.

“Increasingly, we see that businesses and organizations value the skills and competencies workers possess above other qualifications,” said April Boulton, Ph.D., associate provost and dean of the Graduate School. “We want to respond to that need with a non-degree program like Skill Accelerator badges, which complements our existing master’s and doctoral degree programs.”

Hood alumna Marcy Taylor ’81, MBA’00, is serving as coordinator for the Skill Accelerator program.

“Hood’s Skill Accelerator program offers professionals the opportunity to deepen their expertise in a subject area and/or learn skills that will help promote their career,” said Taylor. “We think this is especially appealing because earning badges does not require the long-term commitment that is needed to earn a master’s degree. Badge credits can still be stacked toward an advanced degree if desired, which provides the flexibility to select courses that will best fit your career goals.”

One of the inaugural Skill Accelerator badges is Generative Artificial Intelligence for Business, taught by David Gurzick, M.S.’03, Ph.D., chair of The George B. Delaplaine School of Business. The course introduces key AI concepts from large learning models to data analytics and explore cutting-edge strategies for AI in business.

Media Contact