DIGITAL LEADERSHIP
Learn the skills and perspectives of digital leaders
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN?
- Develop an experimental capability to drive business outcomes
- Harness data to improve business decisions
- Lead people and teams in dynamic environments
- Transform your business model to succeed within digital disruptions
- Develop platform based strategies for growth and innovation
Program Overview
What does it take to win in today’s digital economy? How do you deal with the disruption caused by digital technologies, evolving business models and a changing workforce?
Digital leaders are in high demand as business increasingly relies on digital technologies. These leaders are tech savvy, data driven and are able to inspire teams to engage in rapid experimentation that drives transformation and business outcomes.
Given the scale of digital disruptions, the skills and perspectives of digital leaders are now required in every industry and job function: from operations to HR; accounting to product development; marketing to strategy.
In this Digital Leadership MicroMasters program, you will develop the knowledge and capabilities to lead organizational change and transformation. You will gain hands on experience in understanding and articulating:
- Strategies to drive and transform your business in the digital economy;
- How to drive business value through experimentation;
- Development of platform based strategies for growth;
- Negotiation and management of digital transformation projects;
- Effective people and team management strategies;
The MicroMasters program concludes with two courses that leverage object oriented thinking, and data analytics for designing, running, assessing and adapting strategic experiments that lead to more innovative products and business processes that expand market growth.
Expert instruction: 5 graduate-level courses
COURSES IN THIS PROGRAM
4–6 hours per week, for 6 weeks
Strategies for driving business success in the new digital economy.
Learn how you can design, launch, monetize and compete in a networked platform market.
Develop a new leadership mindset and the leadership skill sets required to lead digital transformation in your organization.
Learn how to apply principles of experimentation at the technical, organizational and strategic levels of your business to drive digital innovation.
Learn how to lead your firm to make better business decisions using analytic methods and create competitive advantages from data.
What is a MicroMasters Program?
MicroMasters programs are a series of graduate level courses from top universities designed to advance your career. MicroMasters program certificates showcase deep learning and in-demand skills to employers and can help you get started on a path toward completing an advanced degree.
How to Earn a MicroMasters Program Certificate
To earn the program certificate, learners must complete and successfully earn a verified certificate in all five MicroMasters program courses.
From Program Certificate to a Master’s Degree
MicroMasters programs are designed to offer learners a pathway to an advanced degree and can count as credit toward completing a Master’s degree program. Learners who successfully earn this MicroMasters program certificate may apply for admission to a Master’s program, and if accepted, the MicroMasters program certificate will count towards the degree.
You can combine your MicroMasters program certificate with on-campus work at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business to earn a Master of Science in Digital Technology (MSDT) degree. Learners who successfully earn the MicroMasters program certificate are eligible to apply to the MSDi program with no need to take the GMAT or GRE test. Learners who have earned a MicroMasters program certificate would be credited for 8 academic units (32 units are required for graduation with the accelerated Master of Science in Digital Technology (MSDT) degree).
The MicroMasters program certificates and MicroMasters courses open other avenues of opportunity at Questrom School of Business. You can pursue our full-time Master of Science in Digital Innovation (MSDi) graduate degree program. Your MicroMasters program certificate waives 25% of the degree requirement making this an exciting seven-month program. Or you may want to consider combining a MicroMasters course with our Questrom Executive Leadership Center programs. It’s up to you!
Find out more about opportunities through Questrom Digital.
- Average salary for leadership positions in the IT industry is $101,020. (SOURCE: Burning Glass)
- Immediate career opportunities include: Project Managers, Team Leads, Program Managers, First time managers, Mid-career professionals, Process Leads, Entrepreneurs
- Longer term career prospects include roles such as Director for Business Development, Customer Experience, HR, Operations, Business Strategist, etc.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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 BUx MicroMasters course that you complete as a verified learner. If you complete all the five courses in a MicroMasters program in the verified track, you will receive a MicroMasters program certificate.
What other opportunities at Boston University Questrom School of Business do learners have upon completion of BUx MicroMasters courses?
A learner may combine one relevant course from the BUx MicroMasters programs with two programs in the Boston University Questrom School of Business Executive Leadership Center (ELC). Currently, the two programs being offered as part of this initiative are the Mini MBA for Tech Executives and Technology & Change. The BUx MicroMasters course and the two ELC programs may be taken in any order. By completing the two programs and a relevant BUx Questrom Digital MicroMasters course, a student would then receive a certificate in digital technology from the Questrom School of Business Executive Leadership Center.
Does completion of this MicroMasters program guarantee admission to the Questrom School of Business Master’s degree program?
No. The Learner will need to complete the application process to the Questrom School of Business in order to be considered. For more information, visit: http://www.bu.edu/questrom/executive-education/digital.
What is considered a passing grade in the MicroMasters program courses?
The final grade in each course is just one component in the admissions decision to the MSDi Program. Although the passing grade in each course is 67%, we encourage learners to aspire to a score of 90% or higher. This is only a suggestion and does not guarantee admission to the MSDi. Grades in the MicroMasters courses are only one of the indicators we will take into consideration when reviewing applicants. We are interested in applicants’ experience, their potential and ability to write and speak as well as to think critically, among other factors. We hope that you do your best in each of these courses and enjoy your learning experience!
Along with the requisite set of five MicroMasters program courses, are there any other requirements in order to be eligible for the Questrom School of Business Master’s in Digital Innovation Degree?
Yes. You need to be admitted to the Master’s program. The MicroMasters program certificate does not guarantee admission. It does allow us to look at a more expanded track record for each applicant. The Learner will need to complete the application process to the Questrom School of Business in order to be considered. For more information, visit: http://www.bu.edu/questrom/executive-education/digital.
How will having the MicroMasters program certificate change the admissions process for the master’s degree program at Questrom School of Business?
Having the MicroMasters program certificate provides the admissions committee with significant insight into a learner’s capabilities through the completion of five online courses. Obtaining a MicroMasters certificate does not guarantee acceptance to the MSDi program. All that is guaranteed is the opportunity to apply to the standalone MSDi program. Without the MicroMasters certificate, prospective students can only apply to the joint MBA-MSDi program. Learners enrolled in either of the BUx MicroMasters programs can apply for the MSDi program before completing all the five courses and receiving their MicroMasters certificate, but only after completing at least three courses in a MicroMasters program. Applications will be due March 1, 2019 for the Summer 2019 enrollment. Admissions for the Summer 2019 start will be provisional, subject to satisfactory completion of a BUx MicroMasters program by May 6th, 2019. Final acceptance will be granted after completion of a MicroMasters program.
May I take one of the courses even though I have not taken its prerequisite?
Completing the listed prerequisites or ensuring equivalent understanding of the knowledge of the prerequisites is strongly recommended in order to be successful in the course work.
Will I be able to get more than one MicroMasters program certificate?
Yes, if you complete all the seven courses offered within both MicroMasters programs (QD501x, QD502x, QD503x, QD504x, QD505x, QD601x and QD602x) and receive verified certificates in each, you will be issued two MicroMasters certificates, one in Digital Leadership and another one in Digital Product Management. However, please note only one of these two certificates may be used towards your application for the Masters in Digital Innovation Program (MSDi) at the Boston University Questrom School of Business.
Do I need to take these courses in a specific order?
No, these are standalone courses, they may be taken in any order, as long as you have sufficient background (indicated on the registration page for each course). For learners with minimal background, we strongly recommend that you take these courses in ascending order of the course numbers. Please note that courses will start at different dates.
Do I need to be a verified student to earn the MicroMasters program certificate?
Yes. If you are interested in the MicroMasters program certificate, you must successfully complete, and receive a verified certificate in, each of the five MicroMasters program courses either for Digital Leadership (QD501x, QD502x, QD505x, QD601x and QD602x) or for Digital Product Management (QD503x, QD504x, QD505x, QD601x and QD602x).
Is there any way to reduce the time needed to take and pass the five online courses?
-
No. To earn the MicroMasters program certificate you need to successfully earn a verified certificate in all five MicroMasters program courses when they are scheduled. The courses are on an instructor-paced schedule rather than self-paced, so there is no way to reduce the time to complete them.
-
Which institution offers the verified certificate?
-
I’m a verified student who could not complete the course. Can I request a transfer of my verification status to a subsequent run of the course?
-
Who can take this program?
Which Institution offers the verified certificate?
Certificates are issued by edX under the name of Boston University and are delivered online through edx.org.
I’m a verified student who could not complete the course. Can I request a transfer of my verification status to a subsequent run of the course?
No, unless you were unable to complete the course due to extreme circumstances (e.g. a natural disaster event or a major health/medical issue). Should a request for a refund be approved, a learner will receive a coupon towards a future course run of equal or lesser value. Each course team will evaluate and make a decision for each case. We do not guarantee that your request will be approved.
Who can take this program?
Unfortunately, learners from one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this program: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this program in all locations. EdX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.