Contact Us
Doctoral Skill Development Tracks
Doctoral students can choose a track and access the full module roster included in each. Click the + symbols below to learn more about the modules included in each track.
Masters students can review the modules below the tracks and identify which they would like to participate in through the registration form.
Building Skills Beyond Academia
Modules include:
- Project Management Frameworks & Tools
- Communication Strategies for Project Managers
- Financial Literacy for Your Professional Career
- Identifying & Articulating Transferable Skills
Cultivating Self-Awareness & Well-Being
Modules include:
- Daily Activities to Improve Your Mental Health
- First-Gen PhD Success (optional)
- Managing Stress, Pressure, and Burnout
- Pushing Back Against Overwork
Developing Academic Writing Skills
Modules in this track include:
- Writing Abstracts
- Revising & Editing Strategies
- Editing for Others: 猫咪社区app Feedback & Peer Review
- Confronting Writing Challenges
- Conference Posters & Presentations
Developing Research Skills
Modules include:
- Authorship & Publication
- Basics of Grant Applications
- Cultivating Discipline-Specific Skills
- Literature Reviews
- Review & Research Articles
- Documenting & Organization Research & Writing
- Integrating Sources & Research into Writing
Honing Job Search Skills
Modules include:
- Developing & Maintaining a Professional Network
- Writing a Resume
- Writing a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Writing a Cover Letter
- Writing a Diversity Statement
- Navigating the 猫咪社区app Job Search for International Students
- Conducting Informational Interviews
- Requesting (or Composing) a Recommendation Letter
- Negotiating Job Offers
Preparing for Your Dissertation
Modules include:
- Dissertation Planning
- The Dissertation Prospectus/Proposal
- Writing Abstracts
- Literature Reviews
- Revising & Editing Strategies
- Receiving & Incorporating Feedback
Professional Skills for Workplace Success (Level 1)
Modules include (at least four must be completed):
- Public Speaking
- Communicating with a Broad Audience
- Facilitating Effective Meetings
- How to Have Difficult Conversations
- The Elevator Pitch
- When to Ask Your Boss for Help
Professional Skills for Workplace Success (Level 2)
Modules include:
- Mastering Verbal Communication
- Advocating for Yourself
- Imposter Syndrome: What it is & How to Overcome it
- Leading With Emotional Intelligence
- The Art of Managing Up
- Building Conflict Resolution Skills
Supporting Diverse, Equitable, & Inclusive Enviornments
Modules include:
- The Foundations of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
- Understanding & Respecting Cultural Differences
- How to Be an Ally for Diversity and Inclusion
- Inclusive Pedagogy
Ready to register? .
听
Complete Modules List
Advocating for Yourself | Facilitating Effective Meetings | Pushing Back Against Overwork |
Authorship & Publication | Financial Literacy for Your Professional Career | Receiving & Incorporating Feedback |
Basics of Grant Applications | How to be an Ally for Diversity & Inclusion | Requesting (& Composing) a Recommendation Letter |
Building Conflict Resolution Skills | How to Have a Difficult Conversation | Review & Research Articles |
Communicating with Broad Audience | Identifying & Articulating Transferable Skills | Revising & Editing Strategies |
Communication Strategies for Project Managers | Imposter Syndrom: What is is & How to Overcome it | The Art of Managing Up |
Conducting Informational Interviews | Inclusive Pedagogy | The Dissertation Prospectus/Proposal |
Conference Posters & Presentations | Integrating Sources & Research Into Writing | The Elevator Pitch |
Confronting Writing Challenges | Leading with Emotional Intelligence | The Foundations of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion |
Daily Activities for Mental Health | Literature Reviews | Understanding & Respecting Cultural Differences |
Developing & Maintaining a Professional Network | Managing Stress, Pressure, & Burnout | When to Ask Your Boss for Help |
Discipline-Specific Skills | Mastering Verbal Communication | Writing a Cover Letter |
Dissertation Planning | Navigating the 猫咪社区app Job Search for International Students | Writing a CV |
Documenting & Organizing Research & Writing | Negotiating Job Offers | Writing a Diversity Statement |
Editing for Others: 猫咪社区app Feedback & Peer Review | Project Management Frameworks & Tools | Writing a Resume |
Ensuring Success: First-Gen Students in Doctoral Programs | Public Speaking | Writing Abstracts |
听
Definitions
- Microcredential: A series of modules, courses, or lessons focused on a specific topic and typically completed outside of a formal classroom setting. A microcredential let employers, networks, classmates, and faculty know that an individual has developed proficiency in a chosen area.
- Badge: The culmination of, and visual representation that, an individual has completed the requirements for a microcredential.
- Lesson: 听A topic area relevant to the microcredential being earned.
- Module: A series of lessons to be completed that are similar or related in their content.
- Track: The set of modules that, when completed in total, will earn an individual their microcredential and badge.
- Certificate or degree program vs. microcredential: The primary differences between a certificate or degree program and a microcredential are cost (microcredentials through this program are offered to current AU graduate students free of charge), length of time needed to complete studies (our badges can be earned in as little as a weekend), and microcredentials do not earn an individual academic credit towards their degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in this program?
Any graduate student at AU can complete modules(masters and doctoral students) or tracks (doctoral students only) and earn recognition for the achievement.
Is there a cost to participate?
At this time, there is no cost to review content included in the program. There may be a cost to receive the microcredential and badge in the future but that has not yet been determined.
When do these classes meet?
There are no formal meeting times to complete the modules. All content is presented asychronously, meaning it can be completed on your own time at your own pace.
Which platforms will I need to use?
Registration and all evaluations use . Module content is housed on the platform. Badges and certificates will be awarded through .
Interested students will complete a registration form linked on this site and be added to the Articulate system by the OGPS team. Students will complete their requested modules, complete evaluations and knowledge checks through Qualtrics, and then be awarded their certiciate and badge through Parchment.
How do I access the modules?
After you've received confirmation from the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies that you've been registered, visit this link to sign in and/or reset your password and access the modules: . If you still need to register, .
How was the content included in the modules created?
Most of the content included in this program was created through an NSF grant by Boston University through their . The nature of the grant led BU to share their content, free of charge, with universities across the U.S. Content can be adapted and amended by the universities so content is relevant to their students. The content presented in this program was adapted and amended by Andrew Toczydlowski in the Office of Graduate & Professional Studies.
What does earning the microcredential for each track entail?
Each track contains several modules that, when completed, will broaden your understanding of the topic area. Tracks take between two and three hours to complete but can be completed at your own pace. Modules within each track contain "Pause & Consider" sections which are activities designed to help you reflect on your own experiences related to the content.
Will I receive academic credit for completing content?
No, this program is designed to complement classroom learning with skill development opportunities asked for by doctoral students.
Can these modules take the place of coursework?
No. These modules are meant to complement your academic work, not to replace. The knowledge gained through this program is meant to provide a broad overview on certain topics where as coursework delves more deeply into content.
Will successful completion of a track display on my transcript?
No. Upon completion you will receive a badge to display on social media platforms like LinkedIn and a certificate to highlight your achievement.
How and when will I receive my badge and certificate?
The piece of the process has not yet been finalized but more details will be provided to those who successfully complete their track.