A MicroMaster is a graduate-level certificate program offered by some universities in cooperation with edX. Unlike a traditional master's degree, a MicroMaster generally consists of taught coursework with no research thesis requirement while, unlike a graduate certificate, a MicroMaster allows a student to transfer coursework toward credit for a traditional master's program should he or she later choose.
The first MicroMasters degree was offered in 2015 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in supply chain management. Students complete the coursework for the MicroMaster through distance learning and can use it as a standalone credential, or continue to earn a master's degree through one-semester of on-campus completion coursework at MIT. Other universities that offer MicroMaster degrees include the University of Queensland, Arizona State University, Thunderbird School of Global Management, and the University of Michigan.