Program Overview

The exciting field of Cloud Computing has experienced explosive growth. This transformative technology has not only altered the way business operate, but it has also shaken up the traditional structure of the IT department and placed new demands on staff members who are faced with reinventing their own careers. With organizations rapidly moving their infrastructures and services to the cloud, jobs are growing at a breakneck pace, with many positions are left unfilled.

Gain an understanding of cloud technologies such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, OpenStack, and vSphere and how to leverage them to increase business productivity and effectiveness. In this Cloud Computing MicroMasters program, you will learn about Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS), Platform As A Service (PaaS), Software As A Service (SaaS), and other “X as a service” platforms. You will receive key foundational knowledge about legal and compliance issues, security and risk mitigation and how to follow industry standards and best practices. You will also gain hands-on experience in implementing, configuring and managing cloud technologies.

This applied, graduate-level program is designed for learners who want to enter or advance their careers in this exciting and well-paying field. IT professionals not already working with cloud technologies will gain a solid foundation while those with some cloud experience will gain a more in-depth understanding of other cloud technologies and other knowledge such as security, policy, and legal and compliance issues.

What you will learn

  • Cloud computing foundations and models
  • Types of cloud computing technologies (ie: AWS, Azure, IBM)
  • Methods for managing a cloud computing adoption/migration project
  • How to design a cloud computing infrastructure or service
  • Deployment and configuration of cloud computing systems
  • Insuring cloud security and mitigating risk
  • SaaS, PaaS and IaaS and other service platforms

Courses in this program

1
Cloud Computing for Enterprises

Course Details
Understand cloud computing technologies and how they can increase business productivity and effectiveness.

2
Cloud Computing Infrastructure

Course Details
Learn how to design, configure, and manage a cloud computing infrastructure.

3
Cloud Computing Engineering and Management

Course Details
Learn methods for managing cloud computing projects and build an understanding of the various risks and compliance issues involved.

4
Cloud Computing Security

Course Details
Learn how to identify security issues in the cloud and industry-standard techniques and procedures to prevent and mitigate risks.

Meet your instructors

Charif El MaMouni

Charif El MaMouni is a Cloud Computing professional with more than fifteen years experience in the Telecommunications and Finance industries with solid technical background in SDLC applied to DevOps, Automation and CICD, coupled with in-depth knowledge of public and private Cloud Infrastructure Architectures and Implementations. He holds a Master of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of Central Florida in addition to AWS Certified Solution Architect, DevOps Architect and PMP.

Jarrod Jordan

Mr. Jarrod Jordan is an Adjunct Faculty at University of Maryland Global Campus and Webster University and currently serves as a Cybersecurity Manager for the United States Army Cyber Protection Brigade (USACPB). His career spans over 18 years working in the Information Technology, Cybersecurity, and Intelligence industries. Mr. Jordan’s experiences as a practitioner extends throughout the Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community to include the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA).

Patrick Appiah-Kubi

Patrick is the Program Director of Cloud Computing and Networking at University of Maryland Global Campus. He has over 13 years on industry and teaching experience in networks and cloud computing.

Jeff Tjiputra

Dr. Tjiputra is the Chair of the Cloud Computing Architecture program at University of Maryland Global Campus. He has over fifteen years experience teaching computer and information technology courses including computer networking, cybersecurity, and cloud computing.

Program endorsements

The pace of today’s digital transformation requires us all to make a concerted effort to keep our technical expertise current. Programs like UMGC’s MicroMasters program in Cloud Computing are excellent opportunities for people seeking to stay ahead of the curve, learning about cutting-edge cloud and modular technology solutions that are required to excel in a modern, 24/7 environment.

Greg Wenzel , Executive Vice President for Booz Allen’s Digital Solutions group

For the second year in a row, cloud and distributed computing led LinkedIn’s annual list of the skills employers need most in candidates, outpacing statistical analysis and data mining. When I published the world’s 1st Doctoral Dissertation on Cloud Computing in 2011, I envisioned cloud computing revolutionizing the enterprise. The Cloud Computing MicroMasters is an efficient and targeted way for those interested in this career path to obtain the foundational knowledge and skills in the growing cloud computing field.

Jeff Daniels , Senior Manager, Lockheed Martin Corporation

The pace of today’s digital transformation requires us all to make a concerted effort to keep our technical expertise current. Programs like UMGC’s MicroMasters program in Cloud Computing are excellent opportunities for people seeking to stay ahead of the curve, learning about cutting-edge cloud and modular technology solutions that are required to excel in a modern, 24/7 environment.

Greg Wenzel , Executive Vice President for Booz Allen’s Digital Solutions group

For the second year in a row, cloud and distributed computing led LinkedIn’s annual list of the skills employers need most in candidates, outpacing statistical analysis and data mining. When I published the world’s 1st Doctoral Dissertation on Cloud Computing in 2011, I envisioned cloud computing revolutionizing the enterprise. The Cloud Computing MicroMasters is an efficient and targeted way for those interested in this career path to obtain the foundational knowledge and skills in the growing cloud computing field.

Jeff Daniels , Senior Manager, Lockheed Martin Corporation

FAQs

Is there any way to reduce the time needed to take and pass the four online courses?
No. To earn the MicroMasters program certificate you need to successfully earn a verified certificate in all four Cloud Computing MicroMasters program courses when they are scheduled and then, pass the final, comprehensive proctored exam. The courses are on an instructor-paced schedule rather than self-paced, so there is no way to reduce the time to complete them.

Who can take this course?
Unfortunately, learners from Iran and Cuba will not be able to register for this course. While edX has received a licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer courses to learners from these countries, our licenses do not cover this course. EdX truly regrets that US sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

How many credits will I be eligible for after completing the MicroMasters program certificate?
Learners who successfully earn the MicroMasters program certificate and are admitted into UMGC’s graduate school are eligible to earn up to 12 credits toward the Master’s degree (36 credits are required for graduation with the MS in Cloud Computing Architecture degree).

Who is the MicroMasters program intended for?
The Cloud Computing MicroMasters program is designed for individuals who want to develop theoretical and technical competencies required to design and manage cloud computing environment.

What is considered a passing grade in the MicroMasters program courses?
Students must achieve a grade of 80% or higher for a passing grade in each of the courses in the MicroMasters program.

May I take one of the courses even though I have not taken its prerequisite?
No. The program content and course projects are sequential allowing the learner to build on subsequent work. Completing the listed prerequisite courses is essential in order to be successful in the course work.

Will I earn a separate certificate for each course or just one for the entire MicroMasters program?
You will receive an individual verified certificate for each Cloud Computing MicroMasters program course that you pass as a verified student. Students passing the final capstone project review and all four Cloud Computing MicroMasters program courses on a verified track will receive a MicroMasters program certificate.

Along with the four Cloud Computing MicroMasters program courses and the final, comprehensive exam, are there any other requirements in order to be eligible for the UMGC Master’s Degree?
Yes. You need to be admitted to the Master’s program. The MicroMasters program certificate does not guarantee admission. The Learner will need to complete the application process to UMGC and meet all entrance requirements for The Graduate School. For more information visit: https://www.umgc.edu/admissions/admission-requirements/graduate-admissions.cfm

Do I need to be a verified student to earn the Cloud Computing MicroMasters program certificate?
Yes. If you are interested in the Cloud Computing MicroMasters program certificate, you must successfully pass and receive a verified certificate in each of the four Cloud Computing Program courses (CC605x, CC607x, CC615x, CC617x) as well as successfully pass the final, comprehensive proctored exam .

How long does a student have to apply to and complete the full UMGC degree?
To ensure that your program remains relevant and up-to-date, UMGC sets time limits for completing a program. Students have five (5) consecutive years from the start of the graduate degree to complete their degree. For students who start with a MicroMasters, their “time clock” begins on the date that they complete their last course in the MicroMasters program and receive their Verified Certificate. This means that students should apply to UMGC promptly to begin the degree and have as much time as possible to complete it.

Program Overview

Gain an advantage by learning the key business essentials through this comprehensive online MicroMasters program, covering all core management disciplines.

Understanding the managerial context of decision making is critical to being a successful manager. The MicroMasters program in management from the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, aims to provide the learner with the perfect learning pathway to develop core competencies across six management disciplines:

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Operations Management
  • People Management
  • Marketing
  • Business Strategy

Take advantage of the MicroMasters program certificate to rejuvenate your career or enhance your knowledge and program certificates by stepping into the campus at IIMB to complete an Advanced Management Programme on IIMBx.

What you will learn

  • An overview of business organizations and the role accounting plays in managing them.
  • Understand the role of operations management in a firm and develop the ability to structure and solve operations related problems.
  • Acquire a deeper understanding of the different aspects of people management.
  • An introduction to the systematic framework of marketing management and different approaches for marketing goods and services.
  • Master concepts and tools that are useful to managers for making financial decisions.
  • Understand the analytical approaches underlying strategy and competitive advantage.

Courses in this program

1
Operations Management

Course Details
Understand key aspects of business operations and lean management including capacity, productivity, quality, and supply chain.

2
People Management

Course Details
Learn to be a better manager by developing leadership and communication skills designed to turn first time managers into great team leaders.

3
Corporate Finance

Course Details
Learn the ideas, concepts and tools managers use to make the right financial decisions.

4
Strategic Management

Course Details
Learn how a manager or CEO develops a business strategy, including analyzing the market and creating competitive advantage.

5
Accounting for Decision-Making

Course Details
Learn how to read and interpret financial statements and manage costs to take informed business decisions.

6
Marketing Management

Course Details
Learn how to effectively apply marketing management theories and practices, including the marketing mix, through real-world business scenarios.

Meet your instructors

Ashok Thampy

Ashok Thampy is Professor of Finance at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore. He received his Ph.D. from Krannert Graduate School of Management, Purdue University. Prior to joining IIMB, he was at the Department of Finance, Bilkent University, Turkey. He has also held visiting positions at the Department of Economics at Santa Clara University, USA, and the School of Business, Economics and Law, at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. His research interests lie in the areas of Corporate Finance and Banking.

Ashis Mishra

Dr. Ashis Mishra is a faculty member in the Marketing Area at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB). Dr. Mishra teaches marketing management and retail management. His area of research involves Retail Productivity Analysis, Retail Atmospherics and Retail Consumer Behaviour. He has successfully developed and applied many quantitative models and business model frameworks in solving marketing/retailing-related problems. He has published over 10 papers in various national and international journals of repute. His current projects include ‘A Dynamic Model for Forecasting in Indian Retail Sector’, ‘Store Atmospherics as a Tool for Retail Productivity’ and ‘Technographic Segmentation of Indian Retail Consumers.’

Sai Yayavaram

Sai Yayavaram is an Associate Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, where he teaches Competition & Strategy and Strategy Content. He also conducts executive education programmes on strategic management and management of innovation for senior managers. He is a Ph.D. in Strategic Management from McCombs School of Business, The University of Texas at Austin and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. His research focuses on technology management, complexity and strategic rents and has been published in Administrative Science Quarterly, Strategic Management Journal, and Organization Science.

P D Jose

P D Jose is an professor at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, where he teaches core courses on Business and Corporate Strategy and several electives on sustainability. He is a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. He also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management from the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal and Bachelors in Physics from the Institute of Science, Bombay. He has taught classes on strategy and/or sustainability at a number of schools including Cardiff University Business School (UK); the School of Economics and Business at the University of Goteborg, Sweden; Indian Institute of Management at Kozhikode and Ahmedabad. He has also consulted with several government agencies, non-governmental, private sector and international organizations.

Vasanthi Srinivasan

Vasanthi Srinivasan is a Professor in the Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management Area. Her research interests are in the field of HRM. She has been extensively involved in designing and delivering Leadership Development Programs for Indian and international companies. Her prior experience in offering the MOOC course - Introduction to People Management motivates her to effectively harness technology for learning impact.

MS Narasimhan

Professor MS Narasimhan teaches courses on Management Accounting, Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance and Investments. His areas of interest include Management Accounting, Corporate Finance and Capital Markets. He is a member of the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India. He has also completed a study on Corporate Disclosure Practices in India, sponsored under the FIRE project. He has published several articles and research studies in national and international journals and financial newspapers.
B. Mahadevan - Pearson Advance

B. Mahadevan

B. Mahadevan is a Professor of Operations Management at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, where he has been teaching since 1992. He received his Ph.D. from IIT Madras. He was a visiting scholar at the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, in 1999–2000 and a retainer consultant to Deloitte Consulting LLP, USA, in 2001–2002. Prof. Mahadevan was one among the 40 nominated globally for the Economic Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Business Professor of the Year Award, 2012. He is a member of the editorial board of the Production and Operations Management Journal _and the International Journal of Business Excellence. He has published several of his research findings in _California Management Review, European Journal of Operational Research, Interfaces, Production and Operations Management Journal and International Journal of Production Research.

Rejie George Pallathita

Rejie is an Associate Professor in the Corporate Strategy and Policy area at IIM Bangalore. He is a Ph.D. from Tilburg University in The Netherlands. Professor Pallathitta’s interests are in the areas of Corporate Governance, Strategic Management and International Business. He has published papers in the Strategic Management Journal and the Journal of Business Research and has presented his research work at several international conferences.

What you will learn

  • To design VR applications with Unity 3D
  • How OpenGL works and is used to create realistic looking applications
  • To transform coordinate systems for 3D interactions
  • Hardware components for VR and how they work
  • What makes a VR application successful
  • How to create your own VR app
  • How to use this VR program to develop augmented reality (AR) applications

Program Overview

Virtual reality (VR) is one of the hottest emerging technologies in the entertainment industry today. Millions of VR devices have been sold in the US alone, but most software developers have no formal training on the technology. This Professional Certificate program will teach you what VR devices exist, how VR technology works, and how to write software, often called VR experiences, for it.

You will learn effective 3D interaction techniques to use VR applications, how to write VR applications in WebVR and Unity 3D, and what features make a VR application successful. You will also learn the required mathematics for successful VR applications and how computer graphics are rendered onto a screen.

The final course in this program will allow you to apply the material learned in the previous courses to create your own VR app.

This program will provide you with a strong foundation to develop VR apps in all areas VR is used, including entertainment and gaming. This VR program also provides a solid foundation for people who want to develop augmented reality (AR) applications.

Courses in this program

1
Computer Graphics

Course Details
Learn to create images of 3D scenes in both real-time and with realistic ray tracing in this introductory computer graphics course.

2
How Virtual Reality Works

Course Details
Learn how virtual reality technology works by writing simple VR programs with WebVR.

3
Creating Virtual Reality (VR) Apps

Course Details
Learn the tools and techniques to develop your own professional VR app in Unity 3D.

Meet your instructors

Jurgen P. Schulze

Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at UC San Diego Jurgen teaches computer graphics and virtual reality at UC San Diego. His research interests include applications for virtual and augmented reality systems, 3D human-computer interaction, and medical data visualization. He holds an M.S. degree from the University of Massachusetts and a Ph.D. from the University of Stuttgart, Germany. He spent two years as a post-doctoral researcher in the Computer Science Department at Brown University.

Ravi Ramamoorthi

Ravi Ramamoorthi is a Professor at the University of California, San Diego. He has taught computer graphics more than 10 times at Stanford, Columbia and UC Berkeley, and has been honored with a number of awards for his research, including the ACM SIGGRAPH Significant New Researcher Award and by the White House with the PECASE (Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers). He was a finalist for the inaugural edX Prize for Exceptional Contributions in Online Teaching and Learning.

Program Endorsements

At Qualcomm we are working on the next generation of mobile computing devices. Virtual and augmented reality are an important part of it. We value software developers with a strong foundation in 3D computer graphics programming and an understanding of virtual and augmented reality technology. It is my belief that candidates who successfully completed the edX Professional Certificate for Virtual Reality Application Development will be at an advantage when applying to Qualcomm’s computer graphics groups.

Ning Bi , Senior Director of Technology Computer Vision Systems, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

At Sixense Entertainment Inc. we need software developers with strong knowledge in the areas of computer graphics and virtual reality. Applicants who successfully completed the edX Professional Certificate for Virtual Reality Application Development will have a significant advantage.

Amir Rubin , CEO, Sixense Entertainment Inc.

At Qualcomm we are working on the next generation of mobile computing devices. Virtual and augmented reality are an important part of it. We value software developers with a strong foundation in 3D computer graphics programming and an understanding of virtual and augmented reality technology. It is my belief that candidates who successfully completed the edX Professional Certificate for Virtual Reality Application Development will be at an advantage when applying to Qualcomm’s computer graphics groups.

Ning Bi , Senior Director of Technology Computer Vision Systems, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

At Sixense Entertainment Inc. we need software developers with strong knowledge in the areas of computer graphics and virtual reality. Applicants who successfully completed the edX Professional Certificate for Virtual Reality Application Development will have a significant advantage.

Amir Rubin , CEO, Sixense Entertainment Inc.

Program overview

Safe water supply and hygienic water treatment are prerequisites for the well-being of communities all over the world. This Water XSeries, offered by the water management experts of TU Delft, will give you a unique opportunity to gain access to world-class knowledge and expertise in this field.

This 3-course series will cover questions such as: How does climate change affect water cycle and public safety? How to use existing technologies to treat groundwater and surface water so we have safe drinking water? How do we take care of sewage produced in the cities on a daily basis? You will learn what are the physical, chemical and biological processes involved; carry out simple experiments at home; and have the chance to make a basic design of a drinking water treatment plant

 

What will you learn

  • An understanding of the global water cycle and its various processes
  • The mechanisms of climate change and their effects on water systems
  • Drinking treatment and quality of groundwater and surfacewater
  • The major pollutants that are present in the sewage
  • The physical, chemical, and biological processes involved in water treatment and distribution
  • How urban water services function and the technologies they use

Program Class List

1
Urban Sewage Treatment

Course Details
Learn about urban water services, focusing on basic sewage treatment technologies.

2
Drinking Water Treatment

Course Details
Learn about urban water services, focusing on conventional technologies for drinking water treatment.

3
Introduction to Water and Climate

Course Details
Water is a crucial element in climate and for society. Find out about the latest engineering interventions for water management in rivers, coasts and the urban environment.

Meet Your Instructors

Caroline Katsman

Associate Professor, Oceans and Climate at Delft University of Technology
Caroline Katsman is Associate Professor in Physical Oceanography in the Environmental Fluidmechanics section of the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. Her research focuses on the large-scale ocean circulation and its role for climate. In 2014, she received a personal mid-career grant (NWO-VIDI grant) to study how ocean eddies govern the response of the ocean circulation to high-latitude climate change. Before coming to Delft she worked at KNMI (the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) as a climate researcher. Besides her scientific work on ocean warming and future sea level change, she advised the Dutch government on coastal defence policy strategies.

Nick van de Giesen

Professor in Water Resources Management at Delft University of Technology
Since July 2004, Nick van de Giesen has held the Van Kuffeler Chair of Water Resources Management of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. He teaches Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Management. His main interests are the modeling of complex water resources systems and the development of science-based decision support systems. The interaction between water systems and their users is the core theme in both research portfolio and teaching curriculum. Since 1 April 2009, he is chairman of the Delft Research Initiative Environment.

Herman Russchenberg

Professor in Atmospheric Remote Sensing at Delft University of Technology
Herman Russchenberg is engaged in intensive and extensive research into the causes of climate change. His own research involves investigating the role played by clouds and dust particles in the atmosphere, but he is also head of the TU Delft Climate Institute, established in March 2012 to bring together TU Delft researchers working on all aspects of climate and climate change. Russchenberg started out in the faculty of Electrical Engineering, conducting research into the influence of the atmosphere (rain, clouds) on satellite signals. After obtaining his PhD in 1992, he shifted his attention to the physics of water vapour, water droplets, dust particles, sunlight, radiation and emissions in the atmosphere. He is now based in the faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences.

Hubert Savenije

Professor of Hydrology, head of the Water Resources Section at Delft University of Technology
Prof. Savenije was born in 1952 in the Netherlands and studied at the Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands, where he obtained his MSc in 1977 in Hydrology. As a young graduate hydrologist he worked for six years in Mozambique where he developed a theory on salt intrusion in estuaries and studied the hydrology of international rivers. From 1985-1990 he worked as an international consultant mostly in Asia and Africa. He joined academia in 1990 to complete his PhD in 1992. In 1994 he was appointed Professor of Water Resources Management at the IHE (now UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education) in Delft, the Netherlands. Since 1999, he is Professor of Hydrology at the Delft University of Technology, where he is the head of the Water Resources Section. He is President of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences and Executive Editor of the journal Hydrology and Earth System Sciences.

Marcel Stive

Emeritus Professor of Coastal Engineering at Delft University of Technology
Marcel Stive studied Civil engineering at the Delft University of Technology, where he graduated in 1977 and received his doctorate in 1988. After graduating in 1977 Stive started working at WL-Delft Hydraulics, where he worked until 1992. In 1992 he became a professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain. In 1994 her returned to WL-Delft Hydraulics and at the same time began to work as a professor of Coastal Morphodynamics at the Delft University of Technology. Since 2001 Stive is a professor of Coastal Engineering at Delft University of Technology and he is the scientific director of the Water Research Centre Delft since 2003.
 

Luuk Rietveld

Professor of Urban Water Cycle Technology at Delft University of Technology Luuk Rietveld is professor of Urban Water Cycle Technology at Delft University of Technology. After finalizing his studies in Civil Engineering at Delft University of Technology in 1987, he worked, until 1991, as lecturer/researcher in Sanitary Engineering at the Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique. Between 1991 and 1994, he was employed at the Management Centre for International Co-operation, and since 1994 he has had an appointment at the Department of Water Management of Delft University of Technology. In 2005, he defended his PhD thesis entitled "Improving Operation of Drinking Water Treatment through Modelling".

Doris van Halem

Associate Professor, Sanitary Engineering at Delft University of Technology Doris van Halem is Associate Professor within the Department of Water Management, section Sanitary Engineering of Delft University of Technology. Her research has an international orientation with an emphasis on understanding natural processes for development of innovative, sustainable water technologies. As Scientific Director of TU Delft Global Drinking Water Programme, Dr. van Halem is in charge of drinking water research with and in the Global South. She graduated from Delft University of Technology in Civil Engineering and Geosciences with a cum laude MSc degree (2007). In 2011 she completed her PhD research (with honours) on subsurface iron and arsenic removal for drinking water supply in Bangladesh. Currently she supervises BSc, MSc and PhD students, in their studies towards development of new, smart drinking water solutions.  

Anke Grefte

Project Manager, Open, Online and Blended Education for the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences at Delft University of Technology
Anke Grefte is Project Manager, Open, Online and Blended Education for the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology. She graduated from Delft University of Technology in Civil Engineering with a master’s thesis entitled "Behaviour of particles in a drinking water distribution network; test rig results". For this thesis Anke was awarded the Gijs Oskam award for best young researcher. In November 2013, she finished her Ph.D. research on the removal of Natural Organic Matter (NOM) fractions by ion exchange and the impact on drinking water treatment processes and biological stability.

Jules van Lier

Professor, Sanitary Engineering at Delft University of Technology
Jules van Lier is full professor of Environmental Engineering and Wastewater Treatment at the Sanitary Engineering Section of Delft University of Technology and has a 1 day per week posted position at the Unesco-IHE Institute for Water Education, also in Delft Jules van Lier accomplished his PhD on Thermophilic Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment under the supervision of Prof. Gatze Lettinga (1995) at Wageningen University. Throughout his career he has been involved as a senior researcher / project manager in various (inter)national research projects, working on cost-effective water treatment for resource recovery (water, nutrients, biogas, elements). His research projects are focused on closing water cycles in industries and sewage water recovery for irrigated agriculture. The further development of anaerobic treatment technology is his prime focus. In addition to university work he is an Executive Board Member and Scientific Advisor to the LeAF Foundation; regional representative for Western Europe Anaerobic Digestion Specialist group of the International Water Association (IWA); editor of scientific journals (e.g Water Science Technology and Advances in Environmental Research and Development); member of the Paques Technological Advisory Commission; and member of the Advisory Board of World-Waternet, Amsterdam.
Merle de Kreuk - Pearson Advance

Merle de Kreuk

Associate Professor, Sanitary Engineering at Delft University of Technology
Merle de Kreuk is a wastewater Associate Professor at the Sanitary Engineering department of the Delft University of Technology. Her research focus is on (municipal and industrial) wastewater treatment systems and anaerobic processes, aiming to link the world of Biotechnology to the Civil Engineering, as well as fundamental research to industrial applications. Her main research topics are hydrolysis processes in anaerobic treatment and granule formation and deterioration. Merle’s PhD and Post-Doc research involved the development of aerobic granular sludge technology and up scaling the technology from a three litre lab scale reactor to the full scale Nereda® process®. The first application of aerobic granular sludge technology in the Netherlands was opened in May 2012, and currently many more installations are being built, due to its compactness, low energy use and good effluent characteristics. Her previous work experience also involved the position of water treatment technology innovator at Water authority Hollandse Delta on projects such as the Energy Factory in which 14 water authorities cooperated to develop an energy producing sewage treatment plant.

Program Overview

This MicroMasters program is a mix of theory and practice: you will learn algorithmic techniques for solving various computational problems through implementing over one hundred algorithmic coding problems in a programming language of your choice.

No other online course in Algorithms even comes close to offering you a wealth of programming challenges that you may face at your next job interview. To prepare you, we have invested thousands of hours designing challenges as an alternative to multiple choice questions that you usually find in MOOCs. We believe in learning through application, especially when it comes to learning algorithms.

For each algorithm you develop and implement, we have designed multiple tests to check its correctness and running time — you will have to debug your programs without even knowing what these tests are! It may sound difficult, but we believe it is the only way to truly understand how the algorithms work and to master the art of programming.

What you will learn

  • Understand essential algorithmic techniques and apply them to solve algorithmic problems
  • Implement programs that work in less than one second even on massive datasets
  • Test and debug your code even without knowing the input on which it fails
  • Formulate real life computational problems as rigorous algorithmic problems
  • Prove correctness of an algorithm and analyze its running time

Program Class List

1
Algorithmic Design and Techniques

Course Details
Learn how to design algorithms, solve computational problems and implement solutions efficiently.

2
Data Structures Fundamentals

Course Details
Learn how to design algorithms, solve comLearn about data structures that are used in computational thinking – both basic and advanced.putational problems and implement solutions efficiently.

3
Graph Algorithms

Course Details
Learn how dynamic programming and Hidden Markov Models can be used to compare genetic strings and uncover evolution.

4
NP-Complete Problems

Course Details
Learn about NP-complete problems, known as hard problems that can’t be solved efficiently, and practice solving them using algorithmic techniques.

5
String Processing and Pattern Matching Algorithms

Course Details
Learn about pattern matching and string processing algorithms and how they apply to interesting applications.

6
Dynamic Programming: Applications In Machine Learning and Genomics

Course Details
Learn about data structures that are used in computational thinking – both basic and advanced.

7
Graph Algorithms in Genome Sequencing

Course Details
Learn how to use algorithms to explore graphs, compute shortest distance, min spanning tree, and connected components.

8
Algorithms and Data Structures Capstone

Course Details
Synthesize your knowledge of algorithms and biology to build your own software for solving a biological challenge.

Meet your instructors

Pavel Pevzner

Ronald R. Taylor Professor of Computer Science
The University of California, San Diego

Daniel Kane

Assistant Professor,
Computer Science and Engineering & Dept. of Mathematics
UC San Diego

Alexander S. Kulikov

Visiting Professor
UC San Diego

Michael Levin

Chief Data Scientist
Yandex.Market

Neil Rhodes

Lecturer
UC San Diego

Phillip Compeau

Assistant Teaching Professor
Carnegie Mellon University

Program overview

Engage and inspire students through technology.

Learn how to create enhanced learning opportunities using the latest tools and techniques to connect with today’s digital-first students.

Our unique approach to instructional design focuses on understanding learning theory, blending traditional instructional design models with rapid prototyping and data analytics to create online courses. You will gain hands-on experience developing and publishing online courses using the edX platform.

This Instructional Design and Technology MicroMasters program will provide the knowledge and skills needed to capitalize on one of the fastest growing areas of education – online teaching and learning. This program will prepare you to create engaging and active learning, using digital pedagogy, emerging technologies and data analytics.

Through this program you will learn how to design captivating learning experiences for students who want mobile learning opportunities that are collaborative and accessible, while advancing your knowledge of educational theory.

What you will learn

  • Understand contemporary learning theories to develop online learning experiences
  • Apply instructional design models to the development of online learning experiences
  • Select, evaluate or design digital media to support learning
  • Identify, evaluate, and integrate emerging technologies to support online learning
  • Design an implementation process for online learning experiences
  • Apply data mining techniques to the design and evaluation of learning experiences

Program Class List

1
Instructional Design and Technology: Learning Theories

Course Details
Explore emerging learning theories and interactive technologies to create engaging experiences for today’s connected students.

2
Instructional Design Models

Course Details
Explore traditional and current instructional design models as you develop your own outline of an online course.

3
Instructional Design: Digital Media, New Tools and Technology

Course Details
Explore the design, development and use of digital media and emerging technologies to support online teaching and learning.

4
Instructional Design Course Evaluation & Capstone Project

Course Details
Develop your Instructional Design & Technology MicroMasters capstone project while you learn course evaluation models to assess the impact of design on the learning environment.

Meet Your Instructors

LeAnn Derby

Associate Collegiate Professor, Learning Design and Technology at University of Maryland University College
Dr. Derby holds a doctorate in education, teaching and learning from The Ohio State University and has over eleven years’ experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, leading curriculum design for blended learning environments and working with faculty development. She uses her background in pedagogy, paired with technical expertise of hardware and software, to teach graduate courses on topics of instructional design, leading educational technology change, and designing multimedia learning environments. Her research interests include adaptive learning and online teaching and learning.
Doug Brtek - Pearson Advance

Doug Brtek

Associate Professor, Learning Design and Technology at University of Maryland Global Campus Doug Brtek has 15 years of experience of online course design, professional development, and performance evaluation across the corporate learning and development and higher education fields. He has facilitated professional development workshops on a variety of topics including course development, online learning strategies, technology based learning tools, online facilitation, and adult learning theory. Currently, Doug works within the academic and corporate entities and provides consultation on learner analysis, technology implementation, and learning management system configuration. Doug’s educational accomplishments include a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Nebraska, a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology and Adult Learning from Bellevue University, and a Doctorate Degree in Education Technology from Northcentral University.

Randy Hansen

Professor and Program Chair, Learning Design and Technology at University of Maryland University College
Dr. Randy Hansen is a professor and program chair, Learning Design and Technology at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC). Randy’s research interests include innovative online instructional design, technology’s role in engaging learners in the learning process, and design of effective professional learning experiences. In 2015 Dr. Hansen was selected by the Center for Digital Education’s as a Top 30 Technologists, Transformers and Trailblazers. In 2016, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) awarded him a Making IT Happen award. In 2018, Dr. Hansen was recognized by UMUC with the President’s Award for outstanding work and contributions to the university. Currently, Dr. Hansen servers as a member and Treasurer for the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Board of Directors.

Program overview

Innovation. Creativity. Strategic thinking. In the past year, more than 279,000 job postings have listed these skills. Another 239,000 mention design thinking.*

Why has design thinking become one of the most sought-after skills? Employers are looking for problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, and analytical skills to enhance the capabilities of their employees to lead their companies into a successful future. Design thinking was developed out of the processes used by designers including user understanding and user experience, however, its application may be used to address non-product oriented problems as well –from innovating new product or service possibilities to implementing procedural change, or identifying a new strategic direction for the company.

In the Design Thinking MicroMasters program, you will learn how to use the design thinking process to solve problems creatively, collaboratively and empathetically. Earning the MicroMasters program certificate will equip you with knowledge of the processes and techniques used to solve problems and innovate in the workplace.

* Source: Burning Glass Technologies

What you will learn

  • User-centered research skills to gain user empathy through interviews and observations
  • Strategies to understand user context to identify and verify business problems
  • Ideation and visualization techniques to generate targeted and creative solutions
  • Methods for evaluating and applying user feedback from testing models and prototypes to identify preferred solutions

Courses in this Program

1
Design Thinking Capstone

Course Details
Demonstrate the knowledge and skills gained during the Design Thinking MicroMasters program.

2
Design Thinking Fundamentals

Course Details
Learn how a user-centered approach and design thinking principles inspire innovative ideas to create desirable solutions.

3
Design Thinking: Empathizing to Understand the Problem

Course Details
Learn how to identify and understand product or business problems through active listening, empathy and user-focused research.

4
Design Thinking: Ideation, Iteration and Communication

Course Details
Learn how ideas transform into solutions through iteration and validation along with best practices for communicating your solution to stakeholders.

5
Design Thinking: Prototyping and User Testing

Course Details
Learn the importance of prototyping and user testing solutions before going to market and how to assess and evaluate solutions post-launch.

Meet Your Instructors

Melissa Dawson - Pearson Advance

Melissa Dawson

Assistant Professor, Industrial Design at Rochester Institute of Technology
Melissa Dawson is an Assistant Professor of Industrial Design in the College of Art & Design at RIT. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses focusing on soft product design, including bag design, functional apparel design, and soft toy design. She previously taught as an adjunct professor at RIT and University of Minnesota – St. Paul campus. She received her B.S. in Textiles & Apparel from Cornell University and an M.S. in Textile Design from Philadelphia University (now Jefferson University). Before returning to academia, Melissa spent many years working as a designer in the textile & apparel industry: designing prints and jacquard knits for Polartec LLC, infant bedding and accessories for Kids Line LLC, and prints, color palettes, and engraver files for Target Corporation. Her work experience at a textile mill, as a vendor, and at a retail company provided the invaluable opportunity to understand the soft product design industry from all sides. Melissa is an avid knitter, who also enjoys weaving, spinning, crochet, dyeing, felting, embroidery, bobbin lace, sewing, cross-stitching, and any other fiber-related activity she can get her hands on.
Mike Johansson - Pearson Advance

Mike Johansson

Principal Lecturer, School of Communication at Rochester Institute of Technology Mike Johansson is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Communication at Rochester Institute of Technology where he teaches courses in Advertising, Public Relations and Social Media. He was one of three faculty who jointly developed RIT’s first 9-credit critical thinking class, “The Meaning of Things in Three Objects.” The initial offering of the class in Spring 2017 displayed measurable growth in students’ critical thinking skills over the 15-week course. Prior to joining the RIT faculty in 2009, Mike spent more than 25 years in media companies in the United States and abroad. He maintains a lifelong interest in critical thinking and problem solving and includes weekly exercises in his classes to encourage creative thinking. A mentor once noted “Mike doesn’t think outside the box, he doesn’t recognize that the box ever existed.” Mike received two fellowships to the Poynter Institute and also served as a Digital Journalism fellow at University of California, Berkeley. He has a master’s degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.
Lorraine Justice - Pearson Advance

Lorraine Justice

Dean Emerita, Professor of Design at Rochester Institute of Technology Dr. Justice worked on digital media products for 10 years before joining academia. She obtained her master’s degree and PhD at The Ohio State University, where she also taught Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and Design Research courses. She was the Director of Design at Georgia Tech for six years and a co-author for the Encyclopedia of Distance Learning. After Georgia Tech, she became the Dean of the School of Design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Under her leadership, the school became one of the top four design programs in Asia. Dr. Justice is a Fellow of the Industrial Designers Society of America and has been named one of the top 40 designers by I.D. Magazine. She is an active member of the TED community and gave talks at both TEDx Hong Kong in 2009 and at TEDU in Long Beach in 2010. Currently, she serves on the editorial board for five design journals, advisory boards for universities and companies, and consults internationally for industry and government.
Jennifer Englert - Pearson Advance

Jennifer Englert

Adjunct Professor, Industrial Engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology Jennifer Englert, PhD, has led user experience, human factors, and user interface design projects for 20 years. She is currently a User Experience Researcher in the UX Research and Analytics group at Paychex, and an adjunct professor at RIT. She teaches the master’s-level capstone class in the Industrial Engineering department, and taught Introduction to Qualitative Policy Analysis in the Public Policy department at Rochester Institute of Technology. She has also lectured and coached student teams for RIT’s Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Englert’s work has focused on a broad range of topics, including business processes, healthcare, privacy, customer care, production printing, digital packaging, consumer imaging, space shuttle mission control, video and consumer analytics, and the future of work. She has done this work as a user interface designer and researcher at Microsoft, Apple, NASA, Kodak, Xerox, PARC, and Conduent Labs. Dr Englert is the co-author of 21 patents and over 40 book chapters and peer-reviewed papers. She has also coached two Odyssey of the Mind teams for the last 7 years. Her teams have created hand-made vehicles, props, costumes, and performances, and have advanced to the state and world tournaments multiple times. Dr. Englert received her BA in Psychology from Angelo State University, and her MS and PhD in Cognitive Engineering from The Ohio State University, where she also worked as a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer.
Dan Harel - Pearson Advance

Dan Harel

Adjunct Professor, Industrial Design at Rochester Institute of Technology Dan is a professional industrial and furniture designer. His 30+ years hands-on career has focused on consumer and commercial design innovation, and on research related to home and workplace of the future. At Eastman Kodak Company, Dan focused on inspiring a vision for future user experiences through design innovation, understanding consumer needs and trends and defining new strategic business opportunities for the company. He is the inventor or co-inventor of over 20 US and international patents relating to digital imaging, wireless communication networks, digital display systems and metadata. Dan’s roles at RIT include teaching advanced studio courses with focus on design thinking, user experience and multidisciplinary collaborations. He is the recipient of the Edline M. Chun Award for Outstanding Teaching and Service in the College of Imaging Arts & Sciences (2016). In addition, Dan leads the IdeaLab at the RIT’s Simone Center for Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship, working with clients such as Al Sigl and Rochester Regional Health with prime focus on medical and access technology problem areas. At Studio 930 design consultancy, Dan serves as an overall project advisor to the multidisciplinary student teams and as an administrative manager ensuring student needs are met and all projects advance according to plan.