Ready to Get Started? What’s Next?
Southern Oregon University offers several micro-credential path options for both new and current students.
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Returning Student?
Use this form if you have been away from SOU for more than 3 terms, so we can reactivate your account. Please note, if you have received a bachelor’s or master’s degree elsewhere since attending SOU, you will need to complete the Graduate/Postbaccalaureate application with Admissions.
Academic Micro-Credentials
Cinema Production Technology
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
The Cinema Production Technology badge provides a strong foundation for students interested in securing entry-level employment in broadcast media, corporate video production or communications departments, and in assisting freelance video producers. When completed as part of an undergraduate degree, the Cinema Production Technology badge will supplement graduate applications to MFA programs in film production or adjacent programs.
Community Planning
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
The micro-credential in Community Planning prepares students for a range of planning professions including transportation planning, land use planning, water resource planning, urban planning, and community development.
Digital Security
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
By completing Southern Oregon University’s 12-credit badge in Digital Security, students develop intermediate skills in the three core toolsets within Digital Security: Network Security, System Security, and Web Security. The Digital Security badge provides a strong foundation for students interested in securing entry-level employment in security.
EDI: Gender, Indigeneity, & Sexuality
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
This Equity Diversity & Inclusion: Gender, Indigeneity, & Sexuality micro-credential prepares students to communicate effectively across difference, understand how structural and systemic barriers and inequitable processes and practices are created, and thrive in an increasingly diverse world.
Environmental Research & Data Analysis
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
The micro-credential in Environmental Research & Data Analysis prepares students with advanced technical skills in research methods and data analysis in the environmental sciences broadly. Courses emphasize advanced statistical analysis, field methodology, and computer modeling for use in natural resource management, field research, and geospatial data management.
Foundations of Professional Writing
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
The 14-credit Professional Writing badge builds the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to write and edit effective professional documents and materials. Students who complete the certificate will gain experience with a range of genres (e.g., grant proposals, manuals, end-user documentation, press releases, catalogs, published articles, and essays), as well as the ability to work collaboratively with organizations.
Foundations of School Mental and Behavioral Health
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
The School Mental and Behavioral Health micro-credential equips K-12 classroom assistants and classified staff to provide universal behavioral supports in a culturally appropriate and trauma-informed manner. Offered in collaboration with K-12 districts and community mental health agencies, the credential is the first rung of a regional School Mental and Behavioral Health career ladder.
Foundations of Sustainability and Tourism
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
By completing this Badge, learners gain an understanding of corporate sustainability and sustainable practices in the tourism business and destination development. This is a “stackable credential” and all classes can be applied towards either the Certificate in Sustainable Tourism or the Certificate in Sustainable Leadership.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
The Micro-credential in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) equips learners with the concepts and skills necessary to advance careers in the geospatial sciences. This micro-credential is designed both for working practitioners and traditional students desiring to develop and demonstrate proficiency in GIS. The micro-credential is designed to nest within a proposed certificate in geospatial technology.
Network Technology
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
By completing Southern Oregon University’s 12-credit badge in Network Technology, students develop intermediate skills in the three core toolsets within network technology: Network Foundations, Network Services, and Wireless Networks. A Network Technology badge provides a strong foundation for students interested in securing entry-level employment in network management.
Project Management
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
Learners who complete the Project Management micro-credential will gain an understanding of traditional project management tools and processes including project networks, budgets and schedules. They will learn how to scope projects effectively to get projects done on time and within budget. They will also apply a variety of risk management tools in their work.
Set Skills for Cinema Production
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
In this immersive learning experience, students leave the classroom to learn on location in an environment that emulates a professional film production. Students apply for a below-the-line crew position and work within a departmental hierarchy to collaboratively produce a short film alongside faculty and professional mentors. The Set Skills for Cinema Production badge demonstrates the student’s preparation for entry-level assistant work on professional film and television sets.
Social Media Strategy
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
By completing Southern Oregon University’s 12-credit badge in Social Media Strategy, students demonstrate their ability to conceive, execute, and assess social media campaigns on behalf of clients. The Social Media Strategy badge provides a strong foundation for students interested in securing entry-level employment with clients or employers in marketing, public relations, advertising, or journalism.
Story Development for Screenwriting
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
By completing SOU’s 12-credit badge in Story Development for Screenwriting, students demonstrate their ability to pitch and develop screen stories for film and television. The Story Development for Screenwriting badge provides a strong foundation for students interested in securing entry-level employment in the entertainment industry as a script reader or writer’s assistant, in pursuing a screenwriting fellowship, or, when completed as part of their undergraduate degree, in applying to graduate programs in screenwriting.
Sustainable Food Systems
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
The micro-credential in sustainable food systems prepares students entering into food system-related careers to better understand sustainable systems utilized in production, distribution, processing, sales, and waste reduction.
Team Leadership and Collaboration
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
This Micro-Credential emphasizes knowledge of individual emotional intelligence, leadership styles, conflict styles, and group dynamics in order to be a better leader of teams and collaborator in groups.
Values-Based Leadership
Offered as an Academic Micro-Credential
A badge in Values-Based Leadership is an experiential learning opportunity that gives curious learners an opportunity to analyze community needs and prototype local solutions in collaboration with established local businesses as well as social and commercial entrepreneurs. In addition to values-based leadership training from industry professionals, students will gain internship experience and take a course that challenges them to consider how local entrepreneurship takes place in wider systems of influence.
*Micro-credential programs are available to both degree-seeking and non-degree seeking students at Southern Oregon University. If you have questions on your eligibility, please contact our Admissions office at sou.edu/admissions/contact .
Micro-Credential
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a micro-credential?
A micro-credential is a digital recognition of an individual’s competency in a specific area, with competency defined as critical knowledge, skills and dispositions required to understand and apply the learning. Academic micro-credentials at SOU generally consist of three to four SOU courses, some with additional applied opportunities, community workshops, service learning or other requirements.
What is a badge?
A badge is a web-enabled version of a credential, certification or set of learning outcomes which can be displayed and verified online. It is the digital token that represents the fulfillment of the outcomes identified by each micro-credential.
What is the difference between a Certificate and a micro-credential?
A Certificate is a formal academic credential that is awarded by SOU. Certificates are fully approved by SOU’s Board of Trustees and are accounted for in SOU’s Academic Catalog. Micro-credentials are less formal recognition of student accomplishment. Certificates appear on SOU transcripts and are typically 28-48 credit hours. Micro-credentials do not appear on transcripts and are comprised of fewer credit hours.
What are the benefits of earning a micro-credential?
Micro-credentials allow learners to demonstrate their proficiency in a set of key competencies that were identified and developed by educators at Southern Oregon University. Unlike a traditional degree where the learning process is linear, the micro-credential learning process is a unique and “stackable” experience, in which learners achieve sets of discrete and demonstrable learning goals as they are earned through completion of courses. Micro-credentials also give learners the opportunity to break apart the traditional degree credential to represent and communicate skill sets they have earned, as they earn them. Learners can stack these credentials to gain degrees or certificates or to tailor their learning to their specific career needs, professional goals or personal interests.
A badge provides a way for students to represent their skills and abilities, and to share these in online environments in a simple and easily verified way. Badges demonstrate clear evidence of what the student was required to do to earn the micro-credential and what skills, abilities, and knowledge they have gained.
Are micro-credentials eligible for financial assistance?
You can apply financial aid to any coursework you complete that meets the requirements for any micro-credential as long as it fits into your SOU degree program. There is no financial aid available for non-degree seeking students.
Where can I find micro-credential requirements?
Requirements for each micro-credential can be found using links on this page or at https://sou.edu/academics/#micro-credentials .
Current degree-seeking SOU students should note that micro-credential requirements are not tracked in DegreeWorks. Check with your academic advisor to learn more about the requirements.
How does the micro-credential get displayed as a badge?
Once the requirements of the micro-credential have been met, students can submit a request for the badge to be issued using this online form (you must be logged into insideSOU in order to access the form). After confirming that the badge has been approved, SOU submits the badge details to Parchment who issues the badge directly to the learner.
Will micro-credentials appear on student transcripts?
No. Micro-credentials are only represented by badges issued, but any coursework completed in order to earn the badge will appear on academic transcripts.
Do I have to pay for my badge?
Yes. A $10 fee per each badge issued will be charged to your SOU account.
How will I know if I’ve earned a badge?
You will receive an email notification with instructions for claiming your badge and setting up your account.
Can someone else copy my badge and use it?
No. While badges are simply digital image files, they are uniquely linked to data hosted on Parchment’s digital platform. This link to verified data makes the badge more reliable and secure than a paper-based certificate. It also eliminates the possibility of anyone claiming a micro-credential and the identity associated with it.
Questions about SOU Micro-Credentials?
Contact SOU Admissions
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6411 (local)
855.470.3377 (toll-free)