Google Partners with 4 Universities to Offer First-Ever Specializations to Complement Its Career Certificates

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 10/18/22

Google announced it is partnering with Columbia University, the University of Michigan, Arizona State University, and the University of Illinois' Gies College of Business to offer new industry specializations in growing fields to complement its Google Career Certificates. These specializations are designed for those in continuing education programs and will give them additional skills in high-demand fields.

Offered on the Coursera online learning platform, the specializations include construction management, public sector data analytics, financial analysis, and sustainability analysis. Courses were reviewed for industry applicability by companies in the Google Career Certificates employer consortium, such as Ford and Verizon. Upon completion, learners earn a certificate that can be shared with prospective employers.

"Google is thrilled to offer Google Career Certificate graduates additional pathways to great jobs through our collaboration with some of the world's leading universities," said Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, in a statement. "These new courses provide a unique opportunity for people to learn from experts at Google and renowned university faculty to learn the skills needed for growing industries."

"ASU, together with Google, is reimagining how we serve learners from all backgrounds and stages in life who are looking for career advancement opportunities," commented Maria Anguiano, executive vice president of Learning Enterprise at Arizona State University. "This career education program is driven by learner and industry needs for sustainability skills that are backed by robust academic expertise. Now, individuals don't have to choose between learning from world-renowned scholars and gaining job skills that can be applied immediately at work. They can do both and succeed on their own terms."

The new offerings are part of the Grow with Google program. Started in 2017, it now includes 8,500-plus partner organizations and has helped more than 9 million Americans grow their skills in high-growth fields such as data analytics, digital marketing and e-commerce, among others. Google Career Certificates do not require a degree or experience and can be completed within 3-6 months of part-time study, the company said.

Read more about the Grow with Google program here.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

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