“It Looks Like this Course is Turning Toward a Degree”: Rethinking Professional Education with a Blended MicroMasters Program

This mixed-methods study examines the experiences of students participating in a professional MicroMasters and blended graduate program that admitted students based on performance in the MicroMasters. We found that the MicroMaster program attracted a cohort of highly qualified mid-career professionals who were looking for more flexible alternatives to traditional graduate programs. These findings suggest that MicroMasters programs may be an effective way of expanding access to professional graduate education.