The University of Michigan’s School of Social Work developed a non-credit pathway delivered via an Online Program Management partnership (Coursera) as a way to create an accelerated pathway into their licensed MSW degree program. Learn how processes and structures were modified to support learners as part of this partnership.
The University of Michigan has developed a degree portfolio strategy model that leverages external partnerships with Online Program Management contracts in support of the institutional goals. The University of Michigan’s Center for Academic Innovation partners with academic programs and schools in support of a vision for a blended future at the University of Michigan. This strategy has been key to the rapid growth in online learning at the University of Michigan (10.2 million unique learners since the Center’s founding in 2019). The partnerships with external OPM providers has allowed for rapid growth and market presence online for the University of Michigan, with the international audience afforded by the Coursera brand. In 2020 the University of Michigan and Coursera announced a new partnership to launch a MasterTrack in Social Work on the Coursera platform. The new MasterTrack product provided a multi-course certificate on the Coursera platform.
The Social Work: Practice, Policy and Research MasterTrack Certificate is a six course series that results in a certificate credential issued by the University of Michigan. Completion of the MasterTrack certificate and admission into the #1 ranked School of Social Work Masters of Social Work (MSW) program provides entry into an advanced standing version of the MSW program that is reduced from 60 credit hours to 45 credit hours. The $2,000 certificate provides an opportunity to explore the field of Social Work for those interested in professional development, as well as a lower cost pathway to the MSW degree. Since 2020 over 400 learners have completed the MasterTrack with 65% of certificate completers applying to the School of Social Work for one of the MSW delivery options.
This session will provide an overview of the Degree Portfolio Strategy employed by the University of Michigan as well as the mechanics of the development process of the Coursera hosted MasterTrack and the University hosted (Canvas) online Masters of Social Work degree. Specifically, we will describe:
-
Degree Portfolio Strategy model at the University of Michigan
-
Course (re)Development Process
-
Partnered promotion and launch (Collaboration between Cousera and Michigan)
-
Integrating MasterTrack pathway in University of Michigan admission processes
-
Affirmation of student readiness post-MasterTrack
-
Challenges and opportunities as a result of partnership
-
Future directions for subsequent partnerships
The session will be structured with opportunities for exploration of key challenges and lessons learned as part of the partnership. During this session attendees will:
-
Identify the benefits of the portfolio strategy model,
-
Discuss friction points for transitioning from an open learning experience to a traditional graduate education experience,
-
Identify characteristics that make a successful partnership more likely,
-
Develop strategies to ensure a high quality learning experience for students.