Wichita State University continues to develop a number of new courses for working professionals through its online badge program.

Badges are self-paced, online courses conveniently designed for students not currently seeking a degree but instead looking to develop new skills and gain new competencies related to their job. They can also be stacked over time and applied toward degree completion.

The new offerings range from topics such as “Beginning Jazz Improvisation” to “The Skeletal Muscle as an Endocrine Organ.” Go to http://wichita.edu/badgescatalog to see a full list.

WSU's badge program started in 2015 with one badge. With more than 60 badge offerings now, the program continues to meet community and industry demand.

Workforce education is among one of the highest priorities in today's higher education landscape. At Wichita State, that includes empowering working individuals with for-credit education that meets employer needs and matches the schedule of a busy life.

Unlike other online nondegree courses, WSU's badges are tied to credit hours and are subject to all Higher Learning Commission regional accreditation standards.

Badge coursework is part of a student's permanent academic record and will appear on an official transcript. Licensed professionals can also earn contact hours toward relicensure, as well as college credit. Courses are taught by experienced faculty who are subject matter experts.

The courses provide a structure that allows WSU to work with employers to develop curriculum specific to industry needs. This key distinction allows employers to know that the information learned in a badge course is valuable and relevant.

When a student completes a badge course, it can be shared on social media, such as on LinkedIn, and displayed on a digital resume with a link for employers / potential employers to see the details of that course.

Learn more about badge courses, including scholarships

The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential educational, cultural and economic driver for Kansas and the greater public good. Wichita State is a doctoral research university enrolling nearly 15,000 students and offering 59 undergraduate degree programs in more than 150 areas of study in seven undergraduate colleges. The Graduate School offers 45 master's and 12 doctoral degrees that offer study in more than 100 areas. Wichita State's Innovation Campus is an interconnected community of partnership buildings, laboratories and mixed-use areas where students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs and businesses have access to the university's vast resources and technology. For more information, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wichitastate and Facebook at www.facebook.com/wichita.state.