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Expanding access to higher education through the DEDP MicroMasters
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Photo: Matthieu Alexandre | J-PAL
Since its inception in 2017, MIT and J-PAL’s online MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Development Policy (DEDP) has engaged thousands of learners from over 210 countries. The courses in the DEDP program are taught by leading economists from the MIT economics department and are based on courses taught on campus, offering learners everywhere a world-class learning experience.
As the number of DEDP learners grows, J-PAL is engaging with universities to provide learners with more ways to benefit from the program. Through university partnerships, we are providing opportunities for students to gain academic credit for their MicroMasters coursework and further their graduate education at universities across the world.
What is the MicroMasters credential in DEDP?
The MicroMasters in DEDP is an online educational program that equips learners with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing low- and middle-income countries and the world’s poor. Through a series of five online courses and proctored exams building up to a full credential, learners will gain a strong foundation in microeconomics, development economics, and probability and statistics, while engaging with cutting-edge research in the field.
What is a pathway university?
Pathway universities are select schools and programs that grant university credit to DEDP MicroMasters credential holders for their online MicroMasters coursework, accelerating students’ pursuit of a Master’s degree in a related field. Each pathway university operates independently, with their own rules and regulations regarding course credit.
What are existing DEDP pathway university options?
- The American University in Cairo (Egypt) - Master’s Degree in Economics in International Development
- Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (Mexico) – Master’s in Applied Economics
- American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyz Republic) – Master’s of Science in Economics
- Laweh Open University College (Ghana) - Master’s of Business Administration; Master’s of Science in Development Economics
- Bethel University (USA) – Master’s of Business Administration
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) - Master’s in Data, Economics, and Development Policy
- Covenant University (Nigeria) – Master’s of Economics
- Rochester Institute of Technology (USA) – Master’s Program in Professional Studies
- Doane University (USA) - Master’s Degree in Business Administration
- Royal Roads University (Canada) – Master’s of Business Administration in Executive Management
- Deakin University (Australia) - Master’s of Public Health; Master’s of Health Economics; Master’s of Nutrition and Population Health
- Sasin School of Management - Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) – Master’s of Business Administration
- Harvard Extension School (USA) – Master’s of Liberal Arts (ALM) in Extension Studies
- University of San Francisco (USA) - Master’s of Science in Applied Economics; Master’s of Science in International and Development Economics
To learn more about pathway universities and view webinar recordings about each program, please visit the DEDP website.
What are the benefits to pathway universities?
Pathway opportunities benefit both learners and partner universities. For our learners, pathways bridge the gap between online learning and higher education. Through the pathway programs, learners can leverage the MicroMasters credential to apply to local universities and fast-track a pursuit of a Master’s degree. With the low cost of our online courses and the flexibility of course timing, the MicroMasters serves as an accessible structure for an accelerated Master’s degree.
For university partners, the MicroMasters provides a useful metric for applicant review. The credential and course grades help universities identify and admit high-performing learners to their programs.
How do learners apply to partner universities?
Learners interested in pursuing a Master’s degree from a pathway university can begin by enrolling in the MicroMasters in DEDP. Learners must earn the full credential, which consists of passing both the online course and the proctored exams of five out of six available courses.
Once completed, learners can review the list of pathway universities and identify program(s) of interest. Each individual university and program has a unique application and path for leveraging the MicroMasters towards their Master’s degrees, so the DEDP team recommends reviewing the criteria and requirements carefully.
If you have any questions regarding the MicroMasters, please contact micromasters-support@mit.edu. If you have any questions regarding particular universities or programs, please contact the corresponding program director using the links online.
