Small Private Online Course https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattsymonds/2019/12/07/moocs-make-way-for-spocs-in-the-global-education-of-tomorrow/#79e9ddfd43da
The SPOC courses I looked at were expensive. 4,000 USD for the collaborating course with Columbia University. While the edX course on a similar subject was 100 - 150 USD. A 5 class series leading to micro-master credentusl was around 1200 USD. Maybe there are SPOC's that are cheaper I didn't do an extensive search.
A "Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Data Science" in collaboration with Columbia University, is listed at $3,000 https://emeritus.org/diploma-programs/postgraduate-diploma-in-applied-data-science/overview/
SPOC Emeritus PG diploma with 5 classes - 5th class is a capstone project. Seems robust demanding PG Diploma with applied projects. Any academic credit awarded or this is a noncredit PG Diploma? Credential Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Data Science from EMERITUS. Here is one micro master's credential from the University of California SDX. The cost is $1260. https://www.edx.org/micromasters/uc-san-diegox-data-science Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) offers a pathway to credit for UCSanDiegox Data Science MicroMasters program certificate holders towards the completion of RIT’s Master of Science degree in Data Science. The MicroMasters program certificate will count as 30% of the full Master’s degree. Unlike the Emeritus credential, the micromasters credential is actually issued by UCSDx
Maybe the Micro-Master's should be validated and signed by Mr. SPOC. I suppose they demonstrate an achievement, but I just can't take fractional degree titles seriously. "Here are my Micro-Master's and my Mini-MBA. I'm extremely qualified for very small projects."
Okay, I chuckled. And I agree in that I've always disliked these misleading-seeming titles for certificates.
Same here, I also think they sound like a gimmick. A simple graduate certificate would do. Cursera has a better name as a MasterTrack™ Certificate They can add noncredit graduate certificates etc. But the other certificates are not an issue. I think what is called Professional Certificates which are a series of classes related to the same specialization.
For example Professional certificate from the University of Maryland. USMx and UMD's Agile Project Management Professional Certificate https://www.edx.org/professional-certificate/umd-usmx-agile-project-management