Suggested Alternative Names for ‘Noncredit’ Programs

Last week, following up on an excellent program by New America, I asked my wise and worldly readers if they had better names for noncredit programs than “noncredit programs.” It’s a term that doesn’t mean much to most people who aren’t already in higher ed, and it defines programs by what they are not. Surely, I mused, there must be a better way.

I had mentioned that “certificate” wasn’t ideal, because it’s misleading. Some credit programs have certificate programs in them; indeed, some certificates are comprised entirely of credit courses. Other certificates are redeemable, if that’s the word, for credits. (Certain IT certifications work that way.) If we start referring to noncredit programs as certificate programs, we’d foster confusion within the degree programs that include stackable certificates.

It quickly became clear that I should have qualified the question. Broadly speaking, “noncredit” programs fall into three major categories: adult basic education, workforce development and personal enrichment. ABE refers to programs like adult literacy or entry-level ESL. They’re meant to address illiteracy or to help recent immigrants learn or improve their English. Workforce development programs are meant to help prepare people for specific types of jobs. Sometimes they substitute for traditional degrees, although they’re also popular among career changers and among folks who need continuing education to remain current in their fields. The final category refers to courses that people take just for personal interest. They’re the “museum trip” classes that are often popular among retirees. (My mom takes some of these and reports that the good ones are great fun. Among her favorites were one on flower arranging and one on Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. At this point in her journey, she could give two hoots about getting credit hours.)

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