Free IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity (12 cr) and Data Analytics (8 cr) Via UoPeople

[Jonathan Whatley]

The IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate and IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate are now free to the general public though a partnership between IBM and University of the People.

SkillsBuild Cybersecurity is ACE recommended for 12 undergraduate credits total: 3 lower Fundamentals of Cybersecurity, 3 upper Technology Management, 3 upper Cybersecurity Analysis, 3 upper Threats and Incident Response.

SkillsBuild Data Analytics is ACE recommended for 8 undergraduate credits total: 3 upper Data Analytics I, 3 upper Decision-Making and Critical Thinking, 2 lower Statistics.

Here’s the Student Guide. Students have up to one year from the day they register for the respective certificate to complete that certificate. “If not completed within that timeframe, you will be automatically removed from the program. You may re-apply. However, your previous progress will not be saved, and you will need to restart the program from the beginning.”

To access the program, you fill out a short Application to University of the People, which will include creating a UoPeople account. In the drop-down menu for your “Academic Field/Major,” you choose “IBM SkillsBuild.” Then you choose either the Cybersecurity or the Data Analytics certificate – there’s no option here for both at once – as your choice to start first. You enter basic personal information including address and date of birth, but you are not asked questions pertaining to applying for a degree program like your academic background, transcripts, etc.

After creating your main UoPeople student account for portal.uopeople.edu, you will access the SkillsBuild course via my.uopeople.edu (Moodle). A link on my.uopeople.edu will send you to keyskill-clms.comprehend.ibm.com where the course is hosted.

Watch your Spam folder; some initial emails from different addresses at UoPeople were sorted there in my email.

Graduates receive Credly badges and are graduates of the IBM SkillsBuild certificate, not of UoPeople. Graduates are invited but under no obligation to apply to an undergraduate degree at UoPeople and then to apply to transfer the SkillsBuild credit there.

[homeschoolmom1]

Great find. FYI: minimum age 16 years old.

[wow]

That's really cool! I wonder if I can apply if I'm already a UoPeople student. Maybe I'll try during break.

[Kalas]

Ironically, I don't think these credits can be applied to any UoPeople degrees, unless there is a general elective requirement for a bachelor's these would fulfill. I didn't see the classes these would cover listed in the CS or IT degree requirements. I'm assuming 2 credits of Statistics wouldn't be enough to get you out of the UoPeople Statistics class.

Still worth doing for free. I'm going through the Data Analytics track now. I did the first 3 (of 13) modules and the first (of 8) capstones in about 2 hours, so the 60some hours it's supposed to take can probably be cut in half for most people.

[wow]

Ironically, I don't think these credits can be applied to any UoPeople degrees, unless there is a general elective requirement for a bachelor's these would fulfill.

Yes, I took it to mean they could be applied toward gen eds. They are pretty flexible in the electives they will take for those. The credits don't seem to align with any core courses in the majors, though.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

The IBM SkillsBuild Cybersecurity Certificate and IBM SkillsBuild Data Analytics Certificate are now free to the general public though a partnership between IBM and University of the People.

SkillsBuild Cybersecurity is ACE recommended for 12 undergraduate credits total: 3 lower Fundamentals of Cybersecurity, 3 upper Technology Management, 3 upper Cybersecurity Analysis, 3 upper 3 Threats and Incident Response.

SkillsBuild Data Analytics is ACE recommended for 8 undergraduate credits total: 3 upper Data Analytics I, 3 upper Decision-Making and Critical Thinking, 2 lower Statistics.

Here’s the Student Guide. Students have up to one year from the day they register for the respective certificate to complete that certificate. “If not completed within that timeframe, you will be automatically removed from the program. You may re-apply. However, your previous progress will not be saved, and you will need to restart the program from the beginning.”

To access the program, you fill out a short Application to University of the People, which will include creating a UoPeople account. In the drop-down menu for your “Academic Field/Major,” you choose “IBM SkillsBuild.” Then you choose either the Cybersecurity or the Data Analytics certificate – there’s no option here for both at once – as your choice to start first. You enter basic personal information including address and date of birth, but you are not asked questions pertaining to applying for a degree program like your academic background, transcripts, etc.

After creating your main UoPeople student account for portal.uopeople.edu, you will access the SkillsBuild course via my.uopeople.edu (Moodle). A link on my.uopeople.edu will send you to keyskill-clms.comprehend.ibm.com where the course is hosted.

Watch your Spam folder; some initial emails from different addresses at UoPeople were sorted there in my email.

Graduates receive Credly badges and are graduates of the IBM SkillsBuild certificate, not of UoPeople. Graduates are invited but under no obligation to apply to an undergraduate degree at UoPeople and then to apply to transfer the SkillsBuild credit there.

I wonder what the differences are between the same name offerings on Coursera for their "Professional Cert"s and the credits offered on there.

[Seeker42]

That's really cool! I wonder if I can apply if I'm already a UoPeople student. Maybe I'll try during break.

One student received a response saying there is a fee attached, and that current students cannot take it.


IBM SkillsBuild Certificate Update : UoPeople

[Jonathan Whatley]

One student received a response saying there is a fee attached, and that current students cannot take it.

IBM SkillsBuild Certificate Update : UoPeople

That response does not say there is a fee attached to the IBM SkillsBuild program. That OP is a current UoPeople student in a different program. They have an assessment fee due forthat program. There are no apparent assessment fees for IBM SkillsBuild via UoPeople.

[Kalas]

UoPeople sent me an email congratulating me on finishing the course when I haven't even started the final capstone yet. That...doesn't seem right. Task successfully failed.

[bjcheung77]

Hmm... There is a difference between the two programs offered by Coursera vs IBM, I've signed up for the SkillsBuild previously... I wonder if there are changes in this program vs the other one I signed up for.