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Microcredentials are digital badges that contain data regarding skills, competencies and strengths within a field of study, or through a course stream comprised of existing Allegheny courses. Microcredential badges are used on hiring and application portals to help job and graduate school applicants rise through the algorithmically-parsed applicant pool by meaningfully tying skills, competencies and strengths gained while studying at Allegheny to needs designated as important to organizations.
A Microcredential is defined by at least 12 credits that, taken together, develop a set of well-defined skills, competencies and strengths. Courses used to fulfill a Microcredential must be completed with a C or better. Up to one transfer course may be used to fulfill the requirements for any given Micro-credential.
Microcredentials are issued twice per year, typically falling on the first business day after February 1st for microcredentials earned in the fall semester, and June 1st for microcredentials earned in the spring semester.
2 Dimensional Design
24/FA Start Date
2D Design equips students with the foundational knowledge to produce a portfolio of works in 2D, whether digitally or in traditional media such as drawing and painting. Students who earn this microcredential will be able to effectively utilize the tools and techniques of varying 2D media toward the production of a body of work.
| 2 Dimensional Design (12 credits) |
| Take all of the following (12 credits): |
| ART 151 , Drawing I |
| ART 182 , Painting I |
| ART 187 , Electronic & Intermedia Art |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Identify 2D design techniques that can be applied across multiple media.
- (PLO2) Apply 2D design techniques across multiple media.
- (PLO3) Incorporate 2D designs into a portfolio.
3 Dimensional Design
24/FA Start Date
3D Design equips students with the foundational knowledge to produce a portfolio of works in 3D, whether in sculpture, ceramics, or emerging media areas such additive manufacturing. Students who earn this microcredential will be able to effectively utilize the tools and techniques of varying 3D media toward the production of a body of work.
| 3 Dimensional Design (12 credits) |
| Take the following (8 credits) |
| ART 162 , Sculpture I |
| ART 165 , Ceramics I |
| And one of the following (4 credits) |
| ART 262 , Sculpture II |
| ART 265 , Ceramics II |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Identify 3D design techniques that can be applied in multiple media.
- (PLO2) Apply 3D design techniques across multiple media.
- (PLO3) Incorporate 3D designs into a portfolio.
Accounting
25/FA Start Date
The accounting microcredential provides foundational knowledge of accounting processes and methodologies. Students develop an understanding of accounting principles such as recording transactions, presenting financial information, and analyzing costs.
| Accounting (12 credits) |
| Take the following three courses (12 credits): |
| ECON 285 , Fundamentals of Financial Accounting |
| ECON 286 , Fundamentals of Managerial Accounting |
| ECON 386 , Cost Accounting |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Understand Fundamental Accounting Principles: demonstrate an understanding of core accounting concepts, including recording transactions, presenting financial information, and analyzing costs.
- (PLO2) Apply Accounting Methodologies: utilize foundational accounting processes to accurately record and report financial transactions in compliance with standard accounting practices
- (PLO3) Analyze Financial Data: develop the ability to interpret and analyze financial information to support decision-making and assess organizational performance.
AI-Driven Content Creation
24/FA Start Date
AI-Driven Content creation equips students with contemporary strategies and tools for creating images, video, and text such as prompt engineering and large language model (LLM) model fine-tuning. Students completing this microcredential will be able to generate intentional and consistent results in response to a wide variety of purposes, including artistic and industrial applications.
| AI-Driven Content Creation (12 credits) |
| Take all of the following (12 credits) |
| ART 187 , Electronic & Intermedia Art |
| CMPSC 303 , Artificial Intelligence* |
| CMPSC 350 , Computational Narrative* |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Create images, text, audio, and video using industry-standard platforms and models.
- (PLO2) Write successful model prompts using platform-specific best practices, to yield consistent, high-quality results.
- (PLO3) Revise model outputs using iterative design practices and AI-informed design tools.
Art History Fundamentals
24/FA Start Date
Students who complete the Art History microcredential demonstrate basic fluency in the language of art history and visual analysis. Students understand major movements in Art History, particularly in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and they learn about how artworks reflect, impact, and participate in cultural power dynamics related to race, gender, sexuality, and nationality, among others. Students must take 3 of the 4 listed courses.
| Art History Fundamentals (12 credits) |
| Take three of these four courses (12 credits) |
| ART 115 , Art History Since the Birth of the Museum |
| ART 250 , Contemporary Strategies in Art |
| ART 252 , Feminist Art Histories |
| ART 350 , Contemporary Art Writing |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Identify and use terms related to art history and visual analysis
- (PLO2) Demonstrate an understanding of major movements in art history, with an emphasis on developments in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
- (PLO3) Articulate how artworks and their circulation reflect cultural power dynamics
Artificial Intelligence Engineering
25/FA Start Date
The Artificial Intelligence Engineering microcredential equips students with the skills to integrate machine learning techniques into new software for autonomously solving real-world problems beyond standard benchmarks. Through the coursework, students will critically evaluate how the convergence of modern tools and new applications can proceed ethically and sustainably.
| Artificial Intelligence Engineering (12 credits) |
| Take the following courses (8 credits): |
| CMPSC 101 , Data Structure |
| CMPSC 203 , Software Engineering |
| Take one of the following courses (4 credits): |
| CMPSC 303 , Artificial Intelligence |
| CMPSC 405 , Deep Learning* |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Incorporate modern machine learning libraries in software applications
- (PLO2) Implement systems for solving real-world problems with AI
- (PLO3) Weigh the ethical impacts of AI-enabled software for individuals and society
Content Creation
23/FA Start Date
Content Creation will develop students’ skills in producing images, video, and sound-based content and instructing them on effective deployment through web development and/or contemporary marketing practices.
| Content Creation Requirements (12 credits) |
| Take all of the following: |
| ART 171 , Photography I |
| ART 187 , Electronic & Intermedia Art |
| CMPSC 302 , Web Design* |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Demonstrate camera use fundamentals,
- (PLO2) Develop production, sound editing, web development and design tool fundamentals
- (PLO3) Identify contemporary marketing practice
Core Skills for Mental Health Professions
25/FA Start Date
Provides foundational knowledge and introductory skills in clinical assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions for mental health conditions affecting adults and/or children. This microcredential is designed as an educational stepping stone to build essential skills for roles supporting licensed mental health professionals or preparing for further training in mental health fields. It is not intended to qualify participants for clinical practice or independent therapy provision but offers a solid foundation for pursuing careers in clinical psychology, counseling, or related mental health services.
| Core Skills for Mental Health Professions (12 credits) |
| Take the following (8 credits): |
| PSYCH 170 , Adult Psychopathology |
| PSYCH 401 , Foundtional Helping Skills: Research & Practice* |
| Choose one of the following (4 credits): |
| PSYCH 350 , Clinical Psychology* |
| PSYCH 370 , Tests & Measurement* |
| PSYCH 404 , Child Clinical Psychology* |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Demonstrate foundational knowledge of adult psychopathology, including diagnostic criteria, symptomology, and cultural considerations.
- (PLO2) Develop and apply core clinical skills in psychological assessment, therapeutic techniques, and ethical decision-making to support professional mental health practice.
- (PLO3) Enhance critical thinking and professional communication skills essential for mental health-related roles, with a focus on ethical awareness and evidence-based practice.
Cybersecurity Risk Analysis
25/FA Start Date
Cybersecurity Risk Analysis introduces the knowledge and skills that students need to design, implement, and deploy secure software systems. Students who complete this microcredential will have the demonstrated ability to identify and resolve cybersecurity risks through the analysis of a system’s design and implementation.
| Cybersecurity Risk Analysis (12 credits) |
| Take the following courses (12 credits): |
| CMPSC 200 , Computer Organization * |
| CMPSC 400 , Operating Systems |
| CMPSC 403 , Computer Security |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Build and use automated software tools, like penetration testing techniques and automated threat scanners
- (PLO2) Mitigate cybersecurity risks by identifying and repairing the vulnerabilities in the implementation and use of a software system
- (PLO3) Create and present audit reports that effectively characterize the strengths and weaknesses of a software system’s security profile
Data Analysis
23/FA Start Date
Data Analysis introduces the knowledge and skills that students need to effectively make decisions using varied data sources. Students who complete this micro-credential will have the ability to use the Python and R programming languages to create data visualizations, perform statistical analyses, and train machine learning models that yield actionable insights and support decision-making.
| Data Analysis Requirements (12 credits) |
| Take the following (4 credits): |
| CMPSC 301 , Data Science |
| And any two of the following (8 credits): |
| CMPSC 100 , Computational Expression |
| CMPSC 101 , Data Structures |
| CMPSC 102 , Discrete Structures |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Perform exploratory data analysis and visualization
- (PLO2) Train, validate, and apply machine learning models
- (PLO3) Automatically model and mine text documents
- (PLO4) Deploy visual data analytics dashboards
- (PLO5) Use commercial data analysis platforms
Data-driven Health Informatics
24/FA Start Date
Data-driven Health Informatics microcredential provides foundational knowledge and skills in finding, understanding, organizing, visualizing, and extracting information from health-related data. Students who complete this micro-credential will be able to explore publicly available health and genetic data, and use open-source web tools, Python programming, and Stata software package to learn insights from this data.
| Data-driven Health Informatics (12 credits) |
| Take all of the following (12 credits): |
| CMPSC 100 , Computational Expression |
| CMPSC 300 , Bioinformatics |
| GHS 228 , Global Health Data and Visualization |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Employ database management and software packages to collect, analyze, store, retrieve and run queries on publicly available health data.
- (PLO2) Use industry-standard web-based and computational library-based tools, and bio/health algorithms to process, explore, examine and analyze health and genetic data.
- (PLO3) Demonstrate, articulate and document health information and all the processes by which health data is generated.
Editing and Publishing
24/FA Start Date
This microcredential emphasizes public-facing writing, editing, and ethical publication. The courses have been selected to offer students opportunities to consider the practical skills of copy-editing, publication production, and marketing, while simultaneously learning to give and receive useful and editorial feedback.
| Editing and Publishing (12 credits) |
| Take the following (4 credits): |
| ENGL 207 , Editing and Publishing |
| And one of the following (4 credits): |
| ENGL 205 , Writing Fiction |
| ENGL 206 , Writing Poetry |
| ENGL 210 , Writing Creative Nonfiction |
| And one of the following (4 credits) |
| ENGL 208 , Professional Writing |
| ENGL 504 , Editorial Practicum: The Allegheny Review (2 credits Fall and 2 credits Spring) |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Apply writing and editing skills in professional and publication contexts.
- (PLO2) Demonstrate editorial skills by providing written and oral feedback on the writing of their peers.
- (PLO3) Analyze the ethical and social implications of editing and document design.
Embedded Systems Engineering
25/FA Start Date
Embedded Systems Engineering microcredential equips students with the skills to develop and optimize software for hardware systems. Students who complete this microcredential will have the demonstrated ability to design efficient, high-performance embedded applications while utilizing memory management, parallel processing, and secure communication.
| Embedded Systems Engineering (12 credits) |
| Take the following courses (8 credits): |
| CMPSC 200 , Computer Organization * |
| CMPSC 203 , Software Engineering* |
| Take one of the following courses (4 credits): |
| CMPSC 400 , Operating Systems |
| CMPSC 406 , Internet of Things |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Execute high-level code on hardware, manage memory, and leverage parallel processing to maximize efficiency in C and Assembly.
- (PLO2) Design and manage domain-specific software, applying best practices for project management and using Python for testing and debugging.
- (PLO3) Develop operating systems or Internet of Things applications with a focus on memory management, secure communication, and performance optimization.
Filmmaking & Media Production
24/FA Start Date
Filmmaking & Media Production equips students with strategies, and techniques to best utilize contemporary tools in the field. Students completing this microcredential will be able to produce technically advanced films that effectively leverage technique toward expressing an underlying conceptual or narrative objective.
| Filmmaking & Media Production (12 credits) |
| Take all of the following (12 credits): |
| FILM 171 , Filmmaking 1 |
| FILM 300 , Filmmaking 2 |
| FILM 350 , Filmmaking Technique |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Apply standard film and video production techniques and tools
- (PLO2) Articulate tools and approaches employed in filmmaking and video production
- (PLO3) Develop a video and filmmaking portfolio that represents formal, and technical breadth
Finance
25/FA Start Date
Finance equips students with the tools and methodologies employed by finance professionals. Upon completing this microcredential, students will understand the role of financial markets in the economy, how interest rates are determined, how risk affects the price and expected return of a financial asset, and will be able to analyze investment decisions.
| Finance (12 credits) |
| Take the following three courses (12 credits): |
| ECON 226 , Money and Financial Institutions* |
| ECON 227 , Introduction to Finance* |
| ECON 427 , Theory of Finance* |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Understand Financial Markets and Economic Impact: Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the role financial markets play in the economy and the factors influencing interest rate determination.
- (PLO2) Analyze Risk and Asset Valuation: Evaluate how risk affects the pricing and expected return of financial assets using professional finance methodologies.
- (PLO3) Apply Investment Decision-Making Tools: Utilize financial tools and techniques to effectively analyze and make informed investment decisions.
Foundations of Industrial Design
24/FA Start Date
Foundations of Industrial Design equips students with the foundational knowledge to produce a portfolio of Industrial Design studies prompted by problems generated through the study of commonplace objects and their use cases. Students who earn this microcredential will be able to effectively utilize the tools and techniques of the field of Industrial Design toward the production of a cohesive portfolio of design objects.
| Foundations of Industrial Design (12 credits) |
| Take all of the following (12 credits): |
| ART 142 , Industrial Design Principles |
| ART 242 , Materials & Fabrication |
| ART 342 , Design Forms |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Identify industrial design techniques.
- (PLO2) Apply industrial design language.
- (PLO3) Incorporate industrial designs into a portfolio.
Game Design
25/FA Start Date
The Game Design microcredential allows students to develop crucial skills for conceptualizing, designing, and building video games. Skills include electronic art, game logic, and web-based interactive interfaces. In addition, students learn how to think conceptually in areas like digital space, story, and level design. These skills apply in the fast-growing gaming industry as well as other engineering and design contexts.
| Game Design (12 credits) |
| Take the following courses (12 credits): |
| ART 287 , Art at the Intersection of Science and Culture* |
| CMPSC 303 , Artificial Intelligence* |
| CMPSC 404 , Web Applications* |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Design and build interactive interfaces for local and online gaming applications
- (PLO2) Create intelligent agents that carry out game logic
- (PLO3) Conceptualize game mechanics and narratives
German Language and Culture
25/FA Start Date
Through the German Language and Culture micro-credential, students acquire basic skills in reading, speaking, and writing the language together with essential cultural knowledge about the geography, regional culture, art, economy, politics, and values of German-speaking countries. In addition, students acquire an intercultural awareness and understanding of how linguistic and cultural differences shape communication and cognition.
| German Language and Culture (12 credits) |
| Take the following courses (12 credits): |
| GERMN 110 , Basic German I |
| GERMN 120 , Basic German II |
| GERMN 250 , Intermediate German |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Students acquire basic knowledge of German culture (geography, politics, education, costumes, everyday life)
- (PLO2) Students are able to express themselves in German on the intermediate level (producing and understanding texts of multiple paragraphs and various genres)
- (PLO3) Students develop intercultural awareness
Health Anatomy
24/FA Start Date
The Health Anatomy microcredential involves a three-course series that covers terminology and anatomy & physiology. This series may fulfill admissions requirements for graduate programs in nursing, physician’s assistant, physical therapy, or other allied health professions.
| Health Anatomy (12 credits) |
| Take all of the following (12 credits): |
| BIO 175 , Medical Terminology |
| BIO 210 , Anatomy & Physiology I |
| BIO 211 , Anatomy & Physiology II |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Connect medical terminology to human anatomical and physiological systems
- (PLO2) Identify normal and abnormal anatomical features related to human health
Investing
25/FA Start Date
Investing equips students with the tools and methodologies employed to value assets. Upon completing this microcredential, students will understand how risk and interest rates influence the pricing of financial assets, and will be able to generate reports on firms, including equity recommendations.employed to value assets. Upon completing this microcredential, students will understand how risk and interest rates influence the pricing of financial assets, and will be able to generate reports on firms, including equity recommendation
| Investing (12 credits) |
| Take the following three courses (12 credits): |
| ECON 010 , Financial Literacy |
| ECON 227 , Introduction to Finance* |
| ECON 425 , Equity Valuation* |
Learning Objectives
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Understand Asset Valuation Principles: Demonstrate an understanding of how risk and interest rates impact the pricing and valuation of financial assets.
- (PLO2) Analyze and Evaluate Firms: Apply financial methodologies to analyze firms and assess their performance, risks, and opportunities.
- (PLO3) Develop Equity Recommendations: Generate comprehensive reports on firms, including well-supported equity recommendations based on financial analysis and market insights.
The Multilingual Mindset
25/FA Start Date
The Multilingual Mindset Microcredential is awarded to students who study two languages besides English at an intermediate (200-level) or higher. This level of study develops situational language skills, cultural awareness, and effective communication in multiple languages. Students gain critical listening and problem-solving skills through language comparisons and cultural exploration, and the credential recognizes students’ adaptability to work in teams and communicate in multiple linguistic and cultural settings.
| The Multilingual Mindset (12 credits) |
| Students will take 3 courses from the list below, with no more than 2 courses the same rubric (12 credits): |
| ARAB 215 , Intermediate Arabic I* |
| ARAB 225 , Intermediate Arabic II |
| FRNCH 215 , French Language through the Individual and the Collective* |
| FRNCH 225 , French Language through Communication and Technology |
| FRNCH 301 , French Society and Culture |
| FRNCH 302 , Francophone Societies and Cultures |
| FRNCH 305 , Advanced Skills through Local and Global Communities |
| FRNCH 360 , Stories and Storytelling |
| FRNCH 365 , Health, Illness, and Bodies |
| FRNCH 375 , Back to Nature: French Culture and its Environment |
| FRNCH 380 , Laicite: State-Secularism and Religion a la francaise |
| GERMN 250 , Intermediate German* |
| GERMN 305 , Advanced German in a Cultural Context |
| GERMN 310 , Advanced German in Literary Context |
| GERMN 325 , German Culture |
| GERMN 360 , Topics in German Culture |
| GERMN 380 , Stories and Storytellers |
| SPAN 215 , Intermediate Spanish* |
| SPAN 220 , Issues in Contemporary Spanish and Spanish American Culture |
| SPAN 225 , Hispanic Texts |
| SPAN 245 , Spanish for Heritage Speakers |
| SPAN 315 , Advanced Spanish Language Study |
| SPAN 350 , Special Topics in Spanish Peninsular or Latin American Culture |
| SPAN 370 , Topics in Latinx Culture |
| SPAN 405 , Translating Language and Culture |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Students will be able to understand and communicate basic information and form questions and comparisons about topics beyond everyday activities in 2 languages other than English.
- (PLO2) Students use learned language skills to contextualize situational and cultural information to demonstrate an awareness of and sensibilities toward intercultural differences and similarities among communities, cultures, perspectives and practices in languages other than English.
Product Development in the Internet of Things
24/FA Start Date
Product Development in the Internet of Things provides students hands-on experience with creating smart devices using the principles of human-computer interaction (HCI), and user-centered design (UCD). Students will develop and prototype physical devices incorporating industry grade software and hardware such as the Raspberry Pi, Teensy, or ESP32 platforms to design reproducible, manufacturable, technical solutions which respond to and/or supplement human needs.
| Product Development in the Internet of Things (12 Credits) |
| Both of the following (8 credits): |
| CMPSC 100 , Computational Expression |
| CMPSC 200 , Computer Organization* |
| And one of the following (4 credits): |
| CMPSC 304 , Robotic Agents* |
| CMPSC 406 , Internet of Things |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Describe principles of user-centered design (UCD).
- (PLO2) Apply tools that integrate hardware and software consistent with best practices of human-computer interaction (HCI).
- (PLO3) Write and distribute documentation and hardware schematics with consideration of device reproducibility.
Programming with Web Technologies
23/FA Start Date
Programming with Web Technologies teaches students how to develop accessible, aesthetically pleasing, and well-organized websites and web applications. In addition to attaining the knowledge and skills needed to benchmark, maintain, and enhance websites, students who complete this microcredential will be able to design the user experiences and interfaces for compelling and dynamic web projects.
| Programming with Web Technologies (12 credits) |
| Take the following (4 credits): |
| CMPSC 302 , Web Design* |
| And any two of the following (8 credits): |
| CMPSC 100 , Computational Expression |
| CMPSC 101 , Data Structures |
| CMPSC 102 , Discrete Structures |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Structure web content using semantic and accessible HTML and CSS
- (PLO2) Develop web applications
- (PLO3) Perform automated testing of web content
- (PLO4) Deploy interactive web applications
- (PLO5) Use static site generators
Psychological Research Design and Analysis
25/FA Start Date
This microcredential equips students with the ability to design methodologically sound psychological research studies, applying principles of effective research design and ethical considerations. Students will develop proficiency in collecting and analyzing data using statistical methods and gain hands-on experience with statistical software such as JASP. They will learn to interpret statistical results accurately and draw valid conclusions, strengthening their analytical and critical thinking skills. Additionally, students will refine their ability to communicate research findings clearly, both in writing and verbally, preparing them to present complex data in accessible ways for academic and applied settings.
| Psychological Research Design and Analysis (12 credits) |
| Take the following courses (8 credits): |
| PSYCH 206 , Research Methods in Psychology* |
| PSYCH 207 , Statistical Methods in Psychology |
| Take one of the following (4 credits): |
| PSYCH 307 , Intermediate Statistics |
| PSYCH 370 , Tests & Measures |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Design and evaluate psychological research by applying principles of research methodology—including ethical considerations, reliability, and validity—to develop rigorous and ethical studies
- (PLO2) Use statistical software to analyze data and interpret the results to draw valid conclusions
- (PLO3) Communicate research findings effectively in both oral and written forms, demonstrating clarity, precision, and adherence to professional APA standards
Site Reliability Engineering
25/FA Start Date
Site Reliability Engineering develops students’ ability to manage large software systems with a focus on maintaining system reliability. Students who complete this microcredential will be able to develop and use intelligent monitoring tools to anticipate and address technical instability to prevent system failures.
| Site Reliability Engineering (12 credits) |
| Take the following courses (8 credits): |
| CMPSC 203 , Software Engineering* |
| CMPSC 303 , Artificial Intelligence* |
| Take one of the following (4 credits): |
| CMPSC 302 , Web Design* |
| CMPSC 404 , Applications |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Analyze software reliability and performance metrics using log analysis tools
- (PLO2) Design and implement automated systems intended to monitor and ensure software system uptime for critical software components
- (PLO3) Develop testing methods and protocols consistent with industrial best practices and industry-grade software tooling
Software Development
23/FA Start Date
Software Development introduces the knowledge and skills that students need to engineer, release, and maintain software implemented in the Python programming language. Students who complete this microcredential will have the demonstrated ability to make high-quality contributions to both the source code and technical documentation in software projects stored in GitHub repositories.
| Software Develoopment Requirements (12 credits) |
| Both of the following (8 credits): |
| CMPSC 100 , Computational Expression |
| CMPSC 101 , Data Structures |
| And one of the following (4 credits): |
| CMPSC 201 , Programming Languages |
| CMPSC 203 , Software Engineering |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Use the object-oriented programming paradigm
- (PLO2) Perform automated software testing
- (PLO3) Setup continuous integration and delivery of software
- (PLO4) Create technical documentation
- (PLO5) Release and maintain software
Software Performance Engineering
25/FA Start Date
Software Performance Engineering introduces the knowledge and skills that students need to design, implement, and deploy correct and efficient software. Students who complete this microcredential will have the demonstrated ability to conduct experiments that characterize a software system’s performance, pinpoint and resolve software performance bottlenecks, and optimize a system performance without compromising its correctness.
| Software Performance Engineering (12 credits) |
| Take the following courses (8 credits): |
| CMPSC 101 , Data Structures |
| CMPSC 202 , Algorithm Analysis |
| Take one of the following courses (4 credits): |
| CMPSC 303 , Artificial Intelligence |
| CMPSC 305 , Database Systems |
| CMPSC 400 , Operating Systems* |
Learning Outcomes
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Implement and use automated software tools that conduct performance benchmarks
- (PLO2) Analyze performance data to identify software performance bottlenecks and design, implement, and deploy solutions to solve performance problems
- (PLO3) Create and present technical reports that effectively characterize the performance of a software system
Tax Fundamentals
25/FA Start Date
The tax fundamentals microcredential provides a working knowledge of accounting fundamentals, tax law, and tax preparation. Students receive training and hands-on preparation experience by preparing individual tax returns and reviewing those returns over two semesters of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Internship. The first time the students take the internship, they are certified as Preparers, and the second time they are certified as Preparers/Reviewers.
| Tax Fundamentals (12 credits) |
| Take one of the following courses (4 credits): |
| ECON 285 , Fundamentals of Financial Accounting |
| ECON 286 , Fundamentals of Managerial Accounting |
| Take 8 credits of the following course (8 credits): |
| ECON 501 , Meadville VITA: Tax Internship |
Learning Objectives
Skills, competencies, and strengths gained:
- (PLO1) Demonstrate Knowledge of Tax Law and Accounting Fundamentals: Acquire a foundational understanding of tax law and accounting principles essential for accurate tax preparation and compliance.
- (PLO2) Develop Practical Tax Preparation Skills: Gain hands-on experience in preparing individual tax returns through participation in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) internship.
- (PLO3) Achieve Certification as a Preparer and Reviewer: Attain certification as a Tax Preparer during the first internship semester and as a Preparer/Reviewer during the second semester, showcasing advanced competencies in tax return preparation and review.
*Additional prerequisite not in micro-credential requirements.
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