CareerPLUS FAQs

What makes CareerPLUS micro courses unique?

• The Personal Touch. CareerPLUS micro courses are led by local expert facilitators who engage with you (virtually) throughout the course and provide you with detailed personalized feedback, advice, and resources.  The facilitator serves as a mentor who is there to guide you in applying the course concepts to your life and work and to help you learn from and network with other course participants. Our micro course facilitators include local business and community leaders, entrepreneurs, and Clarke University faculty and staff.
• Flexible Pathway Options Tailored to You. You can take a micro courses as stand-alone courses, stack three micro courses to earn a digital badge, and/or count digital badges toward an online degree from Clarke University.
• Learning that’s Relevant and Applicable to the Workplace. Throughout the micro course, you will respond to discussion prompts to apply your learning to your personal or professional life and to demonstrate the competencies you have gained throughout the course. The discussion prompts in some micro courses are structured in such a way that you will have the opportunity to solve issues that you are facing at work, create a product that will help you be more efficient or effective in the workplace, and/or analyze data that can inform your work. The facilitator will respond to all of your discussion prompts and you will have the opportunity to view the responses of other course participants, as well.

How much time do I need to spend on the micro course?

You can complete the 15 hours of course content whenever it works in your schedule between the course start and end dates (typically an 8-week timeframe). There are no deadlines (except to complete the course by the designated end date), so you can work your way through the course content in the morning, during the day, or at night – you get to choose!

Is there homework?

No, there is no homework in the traditional sense. However, to ensure that you can apply the concepts you learn throughout the course, you will need to respond to the required discussion prompts at the end of each learning unit.

Are there tests?

There are quizzes (5-15 multiple choice questions) at the end of each learning unit. You must achieve a score of 80% or higher on each quiz to unlock the next unit and/or complete the micro course, but you will have unlimited attempts to achieve the minimum quiz score. There is no final comprehensive test for the micro course.

Do I get a grade on the micro course?

No, you do not get a grade upon completion of the micro course.

Do I have to buy textbooks for a CareerPLUS micro course?

No; the interactive content is shared directly within the course. You will have access to everything you need.

What do I get as a result of completing a micro course?

Upon successful completion of a micro course, you will receive a Certificate of Completion and a graphic to post on your resume, LinkedIn profile, or other social media account. Most micro courses also stack towards a digital badge or online degree pathway at Clarke University.

I have never taken an online course before; will I be able to easily navigate this course?

Yes, our online courses are very simple to navigate. If needed, we can provide you with additional assistance to ensure that you are able to access and navigate the course.

I do not have regular access to wifi or a laptop/PC. Can Clarke’s Institute for Professional Excellence help with this?

Yes, please contact us at careerplus@clarke.edu.

Will micro course participants come away from the micro course with any handouts or materials that they can reference after the micro course closes?

Yes, you will receive an electronic handout that summarizes the resources (including hyperlinks) referenced in the micro course.

Can I complete this micro course on my phone or tablet?

Yes. However, while most if not all CareerPLUS micro course content will be viewable on smartphones or tablets, Clarke University highly recommends that you have access to a reliable computer for all CareerPLUS micro courses to ensure the best experience.

Where do I access my transcript for CareerPLUS micro courses?

You may view your CareerPLUS transcript for non-credit bearing micro courses and badges under “Registration History” on your CareerPLUS online account.

How many micro courses are equivalent to a 3-credit course?

Typically, three micro courses are equivalent to a 3-credit course.

Am I considered a “Clarke student” if I take a micro course or pursue a badge?

No, CareerPLUS students who are taking only non-credit micro courses or badges will technically not be considered “Clarke students” unless they are admitted to pursue a degree program. This means that you will not be given a Clarke email account nor a Clarke student ID card or library access.

What is the registration deadline for micro courses?

The registration deadline is 24 hours after the micro course start date (i.e. 11:59 p.m. on the 2nd day of the month) or 24 hours after you first register for the micro course, whichever is later.

What is the withdrawal deadline for micro courses?

The withdrawal deadline is 24 hours after the micro course start date (i.e. 11:59 p.m. on the 2nd day of the month) or 24 hours after you first register for the micro course, whichever is later.

Badges

What exactly is a badge?

A badge is a digital credential that proves and visually displays your learning in a way that is easily shared and verified online. Unlike a typical transcript, a badge can be easily shared with and understood with others. You can share your badge on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or you can add a link to your badge on your resume, email signature, or on a website. By clicking on a badge, employers and others can see the badge description, issue date, and criteria you had to meet to earn the badge, so they can verify that you have the skills you say you have.

A CareerPLUS badge is composed of three CareerPLUS micro courses and is issued securely through the Badgr platform. While CareerPLUS badges are not credit-bearing, they have been designed to align with credit-bearing Clarke University courses allowing them to be converted to academic credit that count toward an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree for individuals who apply and are admitted as degree-seeking students at Clarke.

What are some benefits of earning a CareerPLUS badge?

A CareerPLUS badge will provide you with a rich, verifiable, and secure digital credential that provides a visual representation of your accomplishment and verifies your learning experience around a particular 21st-century workforce skill(s). A badge can be linked to professional and social media accounts and noted on your resume to prove your competency in essential skill areas. CareerPLUS badges are also aligned with credit-bearing Clarke undergraduate courses, allowing badges to be converted to academic credit through a process called Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) for individuals who apply and are admitted as a degree-seeking student at Clarke.

What are the badge options?

Click here for information about CareerPLUS badges.

Which micro courses are in a badge? 

Click here to view which micro courses make up a CareerPLUS badge.

How do I convert my badge to college credit toward a degree from Clarke University?

Click here for more information on how to convert your CareerPLUS badge into college credit.

Where do I retrieve my badge after it has been earned?

Within 30 days of earning your badge, you will receive an email with a link to retrieve your badge on Badgr. Badgr will store all of your badges in one place and will allow you to access or share your badges at any time. If it has been more than 30 days since you earned your badge, please email careerplus@clarke.edu.

How do I share my badge on social media?

Click here for instructions on how to share your badge on social media.

Am I considered a “Clarke student” if I pursue a badge?

No, CareerPLUS students who are taking only non-credit micro courses or badges will technically not be considered “Clarke students” unless they are admitted to pursue a degree program. This means that you will not be given a Clarke email account nor a Clarke student ID card if you are only taking micro courses or badges (and not credit-bearing courses).

Am I eligible for federal financial aid or scholarships if I take a micro course or pursue a badge?

No, since micro courses and badges are non-credit-bearing, you are not eligible for financial aid. If/when you decide to become a degree-seeking student and take credit-bearing courses, you may be eligible for financial aid.

Degree-Seeking Pathway

Can I earn college credit through prior learning experiences, such as my job or trainings I’ve participated in?

Yes, Clarke University provides students an opportunity to earn college credit for documented learning that has taken place outside of the traditional classroom setting through a process called Prior Learning Assessment (PLA). Visit our webpage for more information.

How do I convert my micro courses to badges and/or credit to count toward a degree?

Designated CareerPLUS micro courses and/or badges are aligned with credit-bearing Clarke undergraduate courses, allowing micro courses or badges to be converted to academic credit through a process called Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) after an individual has been admitted as a degree-seeking student at Clarke. Visit our webpage for more information.

How do I apply to get a Bachelor of Applied Studies degree from Clarke through the CareerPLUS program?

Click here to learn more about the CareerPLUS degree-seeking application process.

Will I be able to take all courses online if I decide to pursue my Bachelor of Applied Studies degree from Clarke?

Yes, CareerPLUS degree-seeking students will take all online, asynchronous courses to earn their degree.

Am I eligible for financial aid if I pursue a degree through the CareerPLUS program?

Yes, if you become a degree-seeking student and register for at least one credit per term, you may be eligible for the federal Pell grant. If you register for at least six credits per term, you may also be eligible for federal loans. Financial aid eligibility is determined through the completion of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). When federal and institutional aid does not provide enough funding to meet all educational expenses, another option available to students is to secure a private loan through a private lender.

How do I register for a credit-bearing course at Clarke?

Those wishing to pursue a CareerPLUS bachelor’s degree must first apply and be accepted to the CareerPLUS Bachelor of Applied Studies (BAS) degree program. If you have already been admitted as a Clarke CareerPLUS degree-seeking student, you will register for courses in CU Hub. You will receive instructions for registering for a credit-bearing course after you are admitted as a degree-seeking student.