For learners who want to engage in more than just a course, but less than a full degree program, Thomas College has created a number of opportunities to earn a Specialization in a specific field. Specializations combine a variety of courses from the College’s non-credit online and in-person course catalogs. Upon successful assessment of all required courses, participants will be awarded a specialization badge that memorializes their achievement.
Agile/Innovation
This 5-course hybrid online and in-person program provides the participant with a myriad of instruction on the foundational elements of agile and innovation methodologies, as well agile and innovation theory and philosophy. The program is developed in such a way as to have individuals receive the background elements of agile and innovation provided in the online MindEdge courses with the more applicable and experiential elements of agile and innovation explained in the live taught workshop style HAIBI course. As this is a program with a wide range of courses included, it covers topics from conventional project management, waterfall, stage gate, the principles of lean, agile leadership, introduction to agile methodologies, SCRUM, innovation practices and innovation tools for employees and leadership.
Participants interested in receiving a badge for this skill must first successfully complete the required courses identified from both the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation (HAIBI) and the MindEdge online course catalog. The required courses are as follows:
- Integrating Agile into a Waterfall Environment (1628)
- Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers (615)
- Innovation in Teams and Organizations (325)
- Introduction to Critical Thinking (322)
- Lean and Agile Process Improvement (HAIBI)
Leadership
This 4-course hybrid online and in-person program provides the participant with a myriad of instruction on the foundational elements of leadership practice and methodology, as well as leadership theory and philosophy. The program is developed in such a way as to have individuals receive the background elements of leadership provided in the online MindEdge courses with the more applicable and experiential elements of leadership explained in the live taught workshop style HAIBI course. As this is a program with a wide range of courses included, it covers topics from leadership styles, leadership practices, leadership theory, influence without authority, persuasion, how to manage change, how to instill confidence in employees, how to overcome resistance to change to more advanced principles like how to lead an organization in difficult times and crisis, how to develop empathy and how to develop servant leadership qualities.
Participants interested in receiving a badge for this skill must first successfully complete the required courses identified from both the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation (HAIBI) and the MindEdge online course catalog. The required courses are as follows:
- Introduction to Leadership (312)
- Leading and Managing Change (38)
- Leadership Assessment (1151)
- Leadership Symposium (HAIBI)
Management
This 6-course hybrid online and in-person program provides the participant with a myriad of instruction on the foundational elements of management practice and methodology, as well as management theory and philosophy. The program is developed in such a way as to have individuals receive the background elements of management provided in the online MindEdge courses with the more applicable and experiential elements of management explained in the live taught workshop style HAIBI courses. As this is a program with a wide range of courses included, it covers topics from Emotional Intelligence and its importance, how to deal and manage difficult people, influence without authority, how to resolve conflict in the workplace, the principles of a win-win negotiation, everyday management practices to more advanced principles of how human behavior shapes the workplace, how to engage in effective communication measures, organizational dynamics, working in teams and effective work flow management.
Participants interested in receiving a badge for this skill must first successfully complete the required courses identified from both the Harold Alfond Institute for Business Innovation (HAIBI) and the MindEdge online course catalog. The required courses are as follows:
- Emotional Intelligence (1491)
- Handling Workplace Conflict (1067)
- Introduction to Negotiations (44)
- Managing People (321)
- Supervision I – Introduction (HAIBI)
- Supervision II – Intermediate (HAIBI)
Registration Information
MindEdge courses are evergreen, meaning that they are always available–pre-developed, self-paced and accessible online.
HAIBI courses are offered periodically within our professional development program series and are not always offered each semester. As such, interested participants must check our non-credit professional development course catalog to see when this course is being offered.