As part of UMBC’s commitment to digital skill development and workforce readiness, faculty members can integrate Google Career Certificates into their courses to provide students with industry-recognized credentials that complement their academic studies.
Why Should Faculty Consider Using Google Career Certificates?
✅ Bridges Academic Learning & Industry Skills – These certificates align with in-demand technical and professional competencies that are highly valued by employers.
✅ Enhances Student Employability – Students graduate not only with a degree but also an industry-recognized credential that can boost their job applications and resumes.
✅ Supports Career-Ready Learning Outcomes – The certificates are designed to align with real-world skills, such as data visualization, project management, cybersecurity, UX design, and digital marketing.
✅ Flexible & Self-Paced Learning – Students can complete certificate coursework alongside their academic studies, making it an adaptable supplement to your curriculum.
✅ No Cost to Students – Through UMBC’s partnership with Google, students can access these certificates for free—a valuable professional development opportunity.
How Faculty Can Use These Certificates in Their Courses
📌 🔗 Supplemental Learning: Assign specific certificate modules as additional learning resources to reinforce course topics.
📌 🎯 Course Assignments: Have students apply what they’ve learned in a certificate module to a research paper, case study, or hands-on project.
📌 🎓 Extra Credit or Alternative Assignments: Offer students the option to complete a certificate or selected modules for extra credit.
📌 👩💻 Capstone & Portfolio Integration: Allow students to use certificate projects as capstone work, portfolio artifacts, or professional development deliverables.
📌 💡 Career Readiness Initiatives: Encourage students to add their certificates to LinkedIn, resumes, and job applications as part of career planning.
Syllabus Statements
Option 1: Encouraging Students to Earn a Certificate (Standalone Recommendation)
“As part of this course, you have the opportunity to earn a Google Career Certificate in [relevant field, e.g., Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, UX Design, etc.]. This industry-recognized credential is offered at no cost through UMBC and is designed to help you build job-ready skills that align with your coursework. While not required, completing this certificate can provide you with valuable hands-on experience and a digital credential that can enhance your resume and LinkedIn profile.”
Option 2: Embedding a Certificate as Part of Course Requirements
“As part of this course, you will complete portions of the [Google Career Certificate Name] to supplement your learning. This certificate provides hands-on experience with [e.g., data analysis, project management, cybersecurity techniques] and aligns with the skills covered in this course. Completion of the certificate modules will be integrated into your coursework and may be used for assignments, projects, or extra credit.”
🚨 Please contact Collin Sullivan to ensure there are enough seats reserved for your course if you choose to make a certificate a course requirement.