Who's Taking Nondegree Courses — and Why?
By Mark Lieberman, Inside Higher Ed
Most students enrolled in nondegree online programs already have degrees, and a minority actually want a credential, new data show. Alternative credentials pose an increasing threat to the supremacy of the traditional degree as the key that unlocks a career path. But available options and student preferences haven't solidified, and they're evolving so quickly that it can be difficult to keep track of the increasingly convoluted market. A new report published last month by two researchers from Columbia University's Teachers College aims to ground discussions of the nondegree landscape in some numbers rather than the speculation and hyperbole that often surrounds it.
https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2018/11/14/micromasters-and-specialization-programs-draw-mature-students