Information Session - Business and Leadership Programs

Key Concepts:

• Stanford Online: Platform for accessing free content, professional programs, and academic credit courses.
• Professional Programs: Fully online, self-paced courses focused on practical skills and career advancement.
• Academic Credit Courses: Actual Stanford campus courses taken online, leading to a Stanford transcript.
• All-Access Plan: One-time payment for a year-long access to all courses within a professional program.
• Digital Certificates: Awarded upon completion of professional programs or individual courses.
• Course Facilitators: Provide email support for professional program courses.
• Non-Degree Student: An individual taking credit-bearing courses without being enrolled in a degree program.
• Accredited Certificates: Collections of three to five credit-bearing classes that lead to a certificate upon completion.

1. Overview of Stanford Online Learning Experiences

• Three Main Categories:
  • Free Content: Lecture recordings, program previews, webinars, available on the Stanford Online website and YouTube channel.
  • Professional Programs: Detailed focus on leadership and business transformation, self-paced and fully online.
  • Academic Credit: Real Stanford classes taken online, with the same assignments and transcript as on-campus students.
• Choice Factors: Cost, time commitment, and learning preferences determine the best fit.
• Website and YouTube Channel: online.stanford.edu and Stanford Online YouTube channel offer extensive learning materials.

2. Professional Education Programs in Leadership and Business Transformation

• Three Programs:
  • Leading People, Culture and Innovation Program
  • Digital Transformation Program
  • Engineering Leadership Program
• Key Features: Fully online, self-paced, no application required, email support from course facilitators.
• Course Topics: Vary across programs, focusing on specific skills and career goals.
• Learning Objectives: Each program aims to enhance specific skills, such as leading innovation, executing digital transformation, or improving communication.
• Stanford Certificate: Earned upon completion of a program, adding value to LinkedIn profiles and resumes.

3. Engaging with Professional Programs

• All-Access Plan: One-time payment for a year of access to all courses within a program, allowing learners to revisit content.
• A La Carte Courses: Individual courses can be purchased for 60-day access, providing flexibility for specific skill development.
• Digital Credentials: Digital record of completion for individual courses and a digital program certificate for completing a full program.

4. Engineering Leadership Program Example

• Certificate of Completion: Requires successful completion of four courses within the program.
• Instructors: All courses are taught by Stanford faculty, sometimes with industry guest speakers.
• Course Structure: No prerequisites, recorded lectures, written exercises, multiple-choice final assessments, and email support.
• Course Example: Communicating with Confidence:
  • Eight-hour course, self-paced, with downloadable slide decks and transcripts.
  • Lectures divided into short video chunks (under 10 minutes).
  • Exercises include open-response and reflective questions, such as crafting an elevator pitch.

5. Credit-Bearing Courses: Taking Actual Stanford Classes Online

• Key Differentiator: Not self-paced; students join real Stanford classes and follow the same schedule as on-campus students.
• Commitment: Intensive, requiring 15-20 hours per week for a 10-week quarter.
• Opportunity and Challenge: Access to the same high-quality education as on-campus students, but requires significant time management.
• Course Enrollment: Apply and enroll on a course-by-course basis, with applications reviewed by the relevant department.
• Stanford Transcript: Earned upon successful completion of a course, just like on-campus students.
• Flexibility: No requirement to take a course every quarter.
• Target Audience: Professionals seeking to update skills, fill knowledge gaps, or try out graduate-level coursework.
• Certificate Programs: About 30 accredited certificates available, requiring completion of three to five classes within three years.

6. Business Content in Credit-Bearing Courses

• Focus: Geared towards leaders managing engineering teams or using technical skills for decision-making.
• Technical Management: Quantitative decision-making courses, such as Probabilistic Analysis and Stochastic Modeling, require a strong quantitative background.
• Traditional Management: Courses like Organizational Behavior and Accounting for Managers and Entrepreneurs.
• Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship: Courses like Global Entrepreneurship Without Borders and Entrepreneurial Management and Finance.
• Engagement: Interact with teaching teams via Zoom office hours and discussion forums.
• In-Person Exams: May require arrangements to take exams in person at a local testing center.

7. Application Process for Credit-Bearing Courses

• Application Components: Statement of purpose, personal information, professional and educational background, and transcripts.
• Review Process: Applications are reviewed by the relevant department upon enrollment in a course.
• Enrollment Period: Spring quarter enrollment closes on March 16th.

8. Additional Information and Resources

• Course Matrix: Provides a comparison of professional programs, including start times, time commitments, and pricing.
• Stanford Online YouTube Channel: Offers recordings of lectures and informational sessions.
• Program Previews: Available for professional programs, providing a taste of the course content and platform.
• Customer Service and Excellence Team: Available to answer questions and provide assistance.

9. Synthesis/Conclusion

Stanford Online offers a diverse range of learning experiences, from free content to professional programs and academic credit courses. The choice depends on individual needs, time commitments, and career goals. Professional programs provide flexible, self-paced learning focused on practical skills, while credit-bearing courses offer a rigorous academic experience with the opportunity to earn a Stanford transcript. The platform provides resources such as program previews, YouTube videos, and a dedicated customer service team to help learners navigate the options and make informed decisions.