Skill Accelerator Badges
Professional development badges at Hood College.
The Skill Accelerator program offers a unique series of non-degree professional development badges.
A form of continuing education, digital badges are short, focused, competency-based credentials that provide in-demand skills, knowledge and experience. The Skill Accelerator program is designed for working professionals seeking to upskill and advance their careers without committing to the demands of a full graduate degree. Earning a Skill Accelerator badge is an educational achievement, which can show current and future employers that you are highly motivated to grow your career and dedicated to lifelong learning.
Most badges are offered online for convenience and flexibility. We offer badges in several focus areas, including business, computing, counseling and trauma, community and belonging, biotechnology and education. Topics range from finance, human resources, AI, data analytics, diversity in education and much more. Badges are offered at foundational, intermediate and advanced levels. Badges are stackable, and any badge can be applied toward a future master’s degree.
Badges are issued through Milestone™ and can be embedded on LinkedIn and similar online portfolios/resumes. Badges are verified and list the skills/competencies/credits acquired through completion of the course(s).
For information about per credit cost of badges, visit our Graduate Tuition and Fees page. Reduced pricing opportunities are available for business and organizational cohorts. Content can be tailored to your organization’s needs with cohort agreements. For more information, please contact skillaccelerator@hood.edu.
"Skill Accelerator badges have not only helped me highlight the skills I’ve gained throughout the cybersecurity M.S. program, but also serve as a tangible reflection of my progress."
-Anthony Lombardi, current student
Belonging
- Educational Philosophy in a Diverse Society (EDUC 582) | Summer II 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Research-Based Teaching, Learning and Assessment (EDUC 581) | Summer I 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Systemic Change for School Improvement (EDUC 584) | Summer I 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Teaching Diverse Learners in an Inclusive Setting (EDUC 561) | Spring 2025 (Registration opens November 11, 2024, for current students; November 18, 2024, for new students.)
Bioinformatics
- Leading Reproducible Research (BIFX 545) | Spring 2026
- Sequencing Analysis Practicum (BIFX 506)
Biomedical Science
- Ethics in Science (BMS 542) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
Bioscience Research and Education Center (BREC)
- Entrepreneurship for Scientists (non-credit) | June 26-27 | Register
Business
- Applied Generative AI (MGMT 573) | Summer II 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Business Analytics (MGMT 550) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Foundations of Accounting (MGMT 553) | Summer II 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Leadership and Organizational Behavior (MGMT 560) | Spring 2026
- Management Theory (MGMT 551) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Project Management (MGMT 569) | Spring 2026
Computing and Information Technology
- Elements of Computer Programming (CSIT 512) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Information Systems Security (CSIT/CYBR 555) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Introduction to Database Management Systems (CS 530)
- Network and Internet Security (CSIT/CYBR 534) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Telecommunications and Networking (CSIT/CYBR 548) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
Education
- National Board Certification Support 1: Content Knowledge (EDUC 539NBC1) | Summer II 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- National Board Certifications Support 2: Instruction Differentiation (EDUC 539NBC2)
- National Board Certification Support 3: Teaching & Learning Environment (EDUC 539NBC3)
- National Board Certification Support 4: Effective & Reflective Practitioner (EDUC 539NBC4) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
English and Communication Arts
- Multi-Genre Creative Writing Workshop (non-credit) | June 21-29 | Register
Environmental Biology
- Decision Analysis (ENV 599C)
- Introduction to Drone Technology (CS 599K) | Summer II 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
Mathematics
- Explorations in Geometry (MATH 501)
- Statistics (MATH 500) | Summer I 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
Wellness
- Developmental Perspectives in Thanatology (COUN 528) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Historical and Multicultural Perspectives in Thanatology (COUN 529) | Summer II 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Grief, Mourning and Bereavement (COUN 521) | Summer I 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
- Principles in Thanatology (COUN 523) | Fall 2025 (Registration opens April 14, 2025, for current students; April 21, 2025, for new students.)
Hood College Employee Training
- Bimodal Instruction Certification | Regularly offered January, May and August.
- Hybrid Instruction Certification | Regularly offered January and May.
- Online Instruction Certification | Regularly offered January, May and August.
The applicant should hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average (although some badges may require a higher GPA). Professionals applying for Skill Accelerator courses should enroll using the non-degree enrollment process.
Based on the applicant’s background, the program director may apply alternative criteria for approving enrollment into the badge course. With appropriate verification of successful completion, a badge may be retroactively awarded, up to one year after completion of the course.
What are digital badges?
Digital badges are non-degree credentials that provide focused skills, knowledge and experience.
What are the admission requirements for Skill Accelerator badges?
Anyone with a bachelor’s degree or higher can enroll in a Skill Accelerator badge course. (See Admission Requirements above for more details.)
What are the benefits of earning a Skill Accelerator badge?
Badges are a form of professional development. Current and future employers can easily verify the issuing organization, skills developed and industry standards achieved by earning a badge. Badges enhance a resume by providing additional details regarding the knowledge gained. With various focus areas, the Skill Accelerator badge program is an excellent option for professional development in fields like medicine/healthcare, education, business administration and military/defense.
What is the cost of enrolling in a badge course?
For information about per credit cost of badges, visit our Graduate Tuition and Fees page. Reduced pricing opportunities are available for business and organizational cohorts.
What does a badge look like?
When someone clicks on the badge icon, they will be directed to the Milestone platform to view the badge information. A badge description, criteria for earning the badge and aligned outcomes will be visible, providing the viewer verified insight into your learned skills. View a sample badge here.
How do I access my badge?
Badges are issued through Milestone. If you don’t have a Milestone account, an invitation to set up your free Milestone account will be emailed to you. You will also be given the opportunity to set up your account at the time your badge is awarded. All your earned badges will then be available through Milestone and accessible to you throughout you career, whether you complete future badges or not.
How do I share my badge on LinkedIn?
Earned badges can be accessed through your Milestone account and are available to be posted on your LinkedIn profile. The best way to display your badge is by adding it to the “Certifications” section of your profile for maximum visibility. Simply follow the step-by-step guidelines here.
Marcy Taylor | Skill Accelerator Program Coordinator
Tel: 301-964-4678
Email: mtaylor@hood.edu
Marcy Taylor is managing the launch of Hood College’s new Skill Accelerator badge program, which is designed especially for working professionals seeking to boost their credentials by earning verifiable badges.Recently retired from a long career in aerospace, Taylor is applying her program management skills to launch this exciting program.
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Taylor came to Frederick, Maryland, to attend Hood College. After earning a B.A. in chemistry (Class of 1981), she settled in Frederick to start her career in the aerospace industry, managing NASA, commercial and development projects that included designing, manufacturing and launching satellites, rocket motor development and the construction of a launch pad in Wallops, Virginia. She earned her MBA from Hood College (Class of 2000) and is also serving on the College’s Board of Associates.