Digital Badges
Digital Badges
A digital badge is issued to a student upon successful completion of a set of courses, program, or other competencies. Students earn badges for a variety of accomplishments on their own or as their work towards a degree. The benefits of earning a digital badge are to exemplify skills and achievements earned to employers, colleagues, and peers.
At Middle Tennessee State University badges are awarded through our partner Parchment and are available to students by setting up an account with them. Students who earn a badge will be sent an email from Parchment to claim it. Once claimed you can add it to your existing Parchment account, or you will be prompted to create an account if one has not already been established. Students can then save all their badges in one place to include on a résumé, share on social media, or attach to a transcript.
Listed below are the current badges offered by MTSU to students who meet the listed requirements. Faculty or staff who would like to propose a new digital badge for your area may do so here: Digital Badge Proposal Form. For more information about badges, please reach out to the MTSU Registrar’s Office at [email protected].
MTSU Digital Badge Offerings
Badge Title: Career Leadership
Description of Badge: The Career Leadership badge is awarded to students who demonstrate initiative in preparation for their careers by completing the six-step Career Action Plan. Recipients attend skill-building events, conduct research and interviews, and develop informed career goals.
Required Courses or Competencies: Curricula focus on these 6 competencies:
- Self-Assessment
- Career Investigation
- Skill Building
- Career Goal Setting
- Principles of Job Search and Networking
- Career Navigation
Outcomes: Students will gain exposure to the necessary leadership skills to acquire a job in their chosen field, thrive in that job, and manage their career path going forward.
Badge Title: Certified Business Relationship Builder
Description of Badge: This badge aims to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to create a strong and impactful professional brand, enhancing their career prospects and networking abilities.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Attend all required events and workshops.
- Submit a completed LinkedIn profile checklist.
- Submit an elevator pitch video.
- Submit a reflection paper.
Outcomes:
- Students will create and submit an elevator pitch video that applies the principles learned in the program. They will analyze the effectiveness of their elevator pitch videos and LinkedIn profiles in conveying their professional identity.
- Students will grasp the significance of building a professional brand in the context of their future careers and create a strong online presence on LinkedIn, which represents the culmination of their branding efforts.
- They will understand the principles of effective networking and how it contributes to career success. Students will evaluate their networking experiences and the value of networking in their career development.
Badge Title: Daniels Center Service Distinction
Description of Badge: The Daniels Center Service Distinction is awarded to military affiliated students who engage in service to their communities on and off campus and exhibit preparation for professional life postgraduation.
Required Courses or Competencies: Badge earners are those students who have:
- Met with MTSU’s military career counselor or employer search agent to explore employment opportunities, job placement, and/or graduation plans regarding professional aspirations.
- Joined the BRAVO Chapter of the Student Veterans of America at MTSU, which provides community, mentorships, and networking opportunities for all military connected students.
- Completed at least 100 hours of volunteer work/peer mentoring in a single academic year as tracked by BRAVO.
Outcomes: Students will foster a stronger, healthier campus community through peer mentoring while implementing the military ideals of selflessness, honor, and integrity. They will help incoming military affiliated students navigate the transition to MTSU and serve as a positive example. They will be able to network with military friendly businesses and organizations through volunteer work, establishing connections that could lead to career opportunities.
Badge Title: Dean’s List
Description of Badge: The Dean’s List is an honor granted to undergraduate students each semester whose academic efforts earn them special recognition. The honor is granted to full-time undergraduate students in each semester they earn at least a 3.5 GPA in their courses. This recognition is noted on the student’s official university transcript for each semester it is earned, and the Dean’s List is posted to the university’s website at the conclusion of each semester. Students may earn the Dean’s List honor multiple times for each semester they meet the requirements.
Required Courses or Competencies: Undergraduate students must obtain a 3.5 semester GPA or higher and earn at least 12 semester hours to be awarded the Dean’s List designation.
Badge Title: Empowered Lifelong Digital Learner
Description of Badge: The Empowered Lifelong Learner badge signifies that students have essential skills to live better digital lives, from critically analyzing information to confidently navigating online spaces as responsible information consumers and digital citizens.
Required Courses or Competencies: Throughout a 12-week semester, students will complete self-paced modules focusing on a key competency:
- Apply Critical Information Evaluation Techniques
- Detect and Mitigate Digital Misinformation and Common Persuasive Traps
- Implement Information Management Strategies and Critical Ignoring Skills
- Cultivate Digital Well-being and Conflict Resolution Skills
- Embrace Digital Citizenship
Outcomes: Students will learn lifelong skills to effectively manage and utilize complex information sources, tools, and platforms to improve their personal and professional lives.
- Critical Thinking and Information Evaluation Skills for making informed decisions that guide personal and academic success.
- Digital Wellness Skills for managing information overload and stress reduction.
- Career Readiness Skills for functioning in workplaces that rely on data-driven decision-making and literacy.
- Digital Citizenship Skills for becoming active and informed members of society.
Badge Title: Engage Certified Graduate Program
Description of Badge: This honor is conferred upon graduate students who demonstrate the ability to make meaningful connections across learning experiences and engage in sustained reflection about the knowledge, skills, and abilities they gained in their program of study.
Required Courses or Competencies: Recipients complete at least two Engage designated graduate courses requiring engaged learning and submit a polished ePortfolio presentation containing developed reflections. Students’ ePortfolios explore potential applications of disciplinary knowledge in their continued study or future career paths.
Outcomes: Students will use integrative thinking and reflection to demonstrate the ability to make connections across multiple contexts and educational experiences.
Badge Title: Engage Graduation Distinction
Description of Badge: The Engage distinction is conferred upon graduating seniors demonstrating the ability to use integrative thinking and reflection to connect learning experiences. Recipients submitted an ePortfolio showcasing the knowledge and skills they gained at MTSU.
Required Courses or Competencies: Recipients completed at least four Engage designated courses requiring engaged learning and submitted a reflective ePortfolio while maintaining a minimum 2.75 GPA.
Outcomes: Students will use integrative thinking and reflection to demonstrate the ability to make connections across multiple contexts and educational experiences.
Badge Title: EXL Scholar Graduation Distinction
Description of Badge: The EXL Scholar Distinction is conferred upon graduating students who have successfully completed the required experiential learning (EXL) courses, service activities, and capstone ePortfolio course.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Develop an experience-based knowledge of their disciplines and demonstrate the ability to apply theories and concepts to practical problems.
- Engage in systematic reflection and demonstrate the ability to critically examine their experiences and to create connections between those experiences and disciplinary knowledge.
- Make contributions to their communities and learn the value of making these contributions. Develop as individuals including understanding the needs of others, learning cultural awareness, and appreciating the differences in others.
- Demonstrate managerial skills including planning, organizing, researching, problem solving, and communicating.
- Demonstrate leadership skills including ability to direct others, interpersonal skills, and teamwork.
Outcomes: Students will be able to integrate their learning experiences within a course, across courses and disciplines, within their personal and professional lives, and within the global context.
Badge Title: Global Engagement
Description of Badge: Badge holders have earned education abroad experience and academic credit from one or more of MTSU’s education abroad programs. Learners have also acquired sufficient international outlook and multicultural competency through relevant coursework and immersion into a culture outside the United States during their career at MTSU.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Travel abroad and earn a minimum of 3 credit hours through one or more programs at MTSU.
- Complete GS 3010 – Education Abroad: Reflection and Application OR make a public paper or poster presentation about their education abroad experience at an academic or public forum.
- Complete 6 additional hours of course credit from courses selected from an approved list or courses with significant global focus approved by the department.
Outcomes:
- Apply knowledge and cross-cultural experiences earned from their travel in their lives.
- Appreciate and relate to cultures other than their own.
- Gain multicultural competency through immersion into another culture.
Badge Title: HackMT
Description of Badge: The HackMT badge is awarded to any individual participating in the annual HackMT 36-hour hackathon. The event gathers software developers, visual designers, programmers, and computer/data science students from local universities and professionals from local industry to form teams to invent new web platforms, mobile apps, and electronic gadgets over 36 high-intensity, uninterrupted hours.
Required Courses or Competencies: Recipient must be an individual who is registered for the event, participates, and completes the 36-hour hackathon team project. This event culminates in a live demonstration/project expo that is judged by our industry partners. Each badge recipient must work on a new software project and have it designed, coded, tested, and reviewed by external judges by the end of the 36 hours.
Outcomes: The interaction between industry partners and MTSU students as well as other university students during HackMT offers business and industry the opportunity to observe the knowledge and skill sets of the students. Additionally, the interaction between industry and students facilitates networking between students and business partners, while supporting the business goal of attracting and retaining new talent to our region.
Badge Title: Introduction to Quantum Computing
Description of Badge: This badge is awarded to students who have successfully completed the Introduction to Quantum Computing course. It signifies that the badge holder has a solid foundational understanding of quantum computing principles and practical skills with IBM Qiskit, a leading platform for quantum programming and simulation. Badge holders have demonstrated proficiency in core quantum concepts, including qubits, superposition, entanglement, and quantum gates, as well as hands-on experience in designing, programming, and executing basic quantum circuits. They are also familiar with fundamental quantum algorithms, preparing them for entry-level roles in quantum technology and research.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Complete PHYS 2270 or PHYS 3350 with a grade of C or better.
- Complete a capstone project using IBM Qiskit.
- Join the Quantum Computing (IBM) LinkedIn group.
- Attend one meeting of the MTSU Quantum Computing Club.
Outcomes: Badge holders will have completed a hands- on project or assessment using IBM Qiskit, demonstrating their ability to program, run, and execute quantum circuits on a quantum simulator or actual quantum hardware. This practical experience reflects competencies similar to those recognized by IBM’s Qiskit certifications, including proficiency in building, troubleshooting, and analyzing quantum circuits.
Badge Title: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
Description of Badge: Badge holders have acquired the skills and techniques needed to lead the Lean Six Sigma process improvement methodology and move an organization towards operational excellence. They have expertise in the DMAIC method and know how to implement, interpret, analyze, and perform Lean Six Sigma methods.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt
- Lean
- Six Sigma
- Organizational Change
- Quality Management
- Change Management
- Quality Improvement Tools
- DMAIC
Additional Requirements (if any): Badge holders have passed Lean Six Sigma Green Belt content exams as part of their training.
Badge Title: Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
Description of Badge: Badge holders have acquired the skills and techniques needed to execute the Lean Six Sigma process improvement methodology and practice and move an organization towards operational excellence. They have the knowledge to execute improvement projects and work effectively as a member of a process improvement team working within an environment supporting Lean Six Sigma.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- MGMT 6760
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
- Lean
- Six Sigma
- Organizational Change
- Quality Management
- Change Management
- Quality Improvement Tools
Additional Requirements (if any): Badge holders have passed Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt content exams as part of their training.
Badge Title: Music Industry Foundations
Description of Badge: This badge recognizes the student’s completion of foundational coursework, participation in key seminars, and engagement with industry-
related extracurricular activities within the Music Industry program. The recipient has developed an understanding of the essential aspects of the music industry, including professional practices, networking, problem-solving, and critical thinking through active engagement in seminars and collective activities. Additionally, the recipient has maintained a strong academic standing and completed a reflective paper on their learning experience.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- MUS 2690 – Foundations in Music Industry
- MUS 4360 – The Music Industry Professional
- MUS 2680 – Music Industry Seminar (2 semesters)
- Participation in the Music Industry Collective (2 semesters)
- Reflective Writing: Students will submit a reflective writing assignment detailing their personal and professional growth throughout the program
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
Outcomes:
- Demonstrate an understanding of music industry structures, roles, and revenue models.
- Build a professional network and engage with other music industry professionals.
- Exhibit the ability to critically reflect on personal growth, industry challenges, and future career impact.
- Develop essential career skills, such as problem- solving, and collaboration.
- Create a portfolio of industry-related projects.
Badge Title: Musical Ensemble Excellence
Description of Badge: This badge recognizes the achievement and dedication of non-Music major students who actively participate in a School of Music ensemble over the course of four semesters. The badge is awarded to students who commit to enhancing the school’s musical community while developing their performance skills, teamwork, and musical understanding. Recipients demonstrate a passion for music and collaboration, contributing to the diversity and vibrancy of the school’s ensembles while also cultivating valuable non-musical skills such as communication, leadership, emotional intelligence, and adaptability.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Active participation in a School of Music ensemble for four semesters (all MUEN courses are included)
- Participation in at least one formal performance or recital per semester as part of the ensemble
- Reflective Writing: Students will submit a reflective writing assignment detailing their experiences
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
Outcomes:
- Develop advanced ensemble performance skills while honing communication and interpersonal skills.
- Build confidence through public performances, taking on leadership roles through dedication and responsibility.
- Foster a deeper appreciation for music and empathy through active, long-term involvement.
- Enhance critical thinking by solving ensemble challenges and adapting to a variety of challenges.
- Engage in reflective practice to assess personal development in music and beyond, including time management, stress relief, and social connections.
Badge Title: Project Management
Description of Badge: Badge holders have acquired the skills and techniques needed to deliver projects on time and within budget. Learners have the knowledge to develop the scope of a project, including estimating and cost-benefit analysis, project scheduling and planning, managing risk, quality assurance, and change control.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Project Management
- Project Planning
- Risk Management
- Change Control
Additional Requirements (if any): Badge holders have passed Project Management content exams as part of their training.
Badge Title: Scholars Academy
Description of Badge: The Scholars Academy is a program for first-time, first-year students that assists with a smooth transition to college and acclimation to MTSU. It is designed to serve all students, with a special emphasis on the needs of first-generation students and those who would benefit from enhanced support. Recipients of the Scholars Academy badge are those who have completed the program requirements and persisted through their first two years of college.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Register for at least 12 hours in program of study each semester and maintain good academic standing.
- Attend at least one Scholars Academy Team Meetup the first semester.
- Meet with the Scholars Academy staff for a check-in at least once per semester.
- Attend one or two MTSU events each semester.
- Register for at least 12 hours in student’s program of study each semester while staying in good academic standing.
- Attend at least one seminar/workshop or enrichment activity each semester.
- Join at least one student organization in the first year.
Outcomes:
- Academic Benefits: Better preparation for college-level courses and support of academic advising.
- Long-Term Benefits: Increased likelihood of graduation, earlier decision on major/career, and peer mentor opportunities.
Badge Title: School of Music Service Excellence
Description of Badge: This badge is awarded to Music majors who foster community engagement, promote growth of the School of Music and recognizes service through dedicated involvement in concert attendance, volunteer efforts in Music-sponsored events, and support of recruitment and concert production activities. The recipient has gone beyond academic requirements to contribute meaningfully to the school’s mission.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- MUS 1010 – Recital Attendance (6 semesters)
- Volunteer Service (25 hours total): Support for School of Music events, including recruitment, auditions, student visits, concerts (setup, ushering, breakdown), educational outreach, and professional organization events
- Concert Production: Supporting technical and logistical aspects of concerts (setup, ushering, breakdown)
- Service to the Profession: Participating in community service activities, educational outreach, or professional music organization events sponsored by the school
- Reflective Writing: Students will submit a reflective writing assignment detailing their experiences
Outcomes:
- Demonstrate dedication through regular concert attendance and active volunteer participation in music- related events.
- Gain practical experience in concert production, event management, and logistics through volunteer service.
- Help recruit and expand the School of Music through outreach and student events.
- Enhance professional skills through learning to manage time, working collaboratively, and engagement.
- Build a strong network of peers and professionals while fostering a spirit of collaboration within the School of Music.
Badge Title: Trauma-Informed Professional Practice
Description of Badge: The MTSU Professional Counseling Program Trauma-Informed digital badge is a credential that signifies a student’s proficiency and expertise in trauma-informed care and practice. The badge demonstrates that the student has achieved the core competencies and skills required for trauma-informed professional counseling practice.
Required Courses or Competencies: Students must complete the coursework to obtain the Ed.S. in Professional Counseling.
Outcomes: The outcomes below ensure that graduates of the Professional Counseling program are well- prepared to provide compassionate, effective, and culturally sensitive support to individuals who have experienced trauma:
- Understanding Trauma
- Assessment Skills
- Trauma-Informed Interventions
- Cultural Competence
- Ethical and Legal Considerations
- Professional Competence
- Self-Care and Resilience
- Program Evaluation
Badge Title: True Blue Core: Mind, Body, and Wellness
Description of Badge: This badge includes courses that explore the interconnectedness of factors shaping human behavior, cognition, health, and well-being. These courses have been strategically selected to provide a multidimensional understanding of the mind-body connection and the meaning of wellness. Together, these courses offer a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between mind and body, preparing students to critically engage with complex issues and navigate the complexities of being human.
Required Courses or Competencies: Students will explore interdisciplinary approaches to mind, body, and wellness and apply this knowledge to their personal and professional development. After completion of at least four courses from the Mind, Body, and Wellness Blueprint options, students choosing to complete the badge will submit responses to a short survey wherein they connect what they have learned in their Blueprint courses to their personal and professional development. A list of courses can be found at truebluecore.mtsu.edu/blueprint.
Outcomes: Learners will gain a multidimensional understanding of the mind-body connection, critically analyzing factors influencing behavior, cognition, health, and well-being. This badge equips students to navigate complex wellness issues through an integrated, interdisciplinary approach.
Badge Title: Undergraduate Research Distinction
Description of Badge: The Undergraduate Research Distinction badge recognizes students who have achieved excellence in undergraduate research or creative activity through active engagement, mentorship, and a scholarly or artistic contribution to their academic discipline.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Successful completion of an Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity grant project.
- Poster presentation or creative performance at one of the MTSU’s signature events: Fall Open House, Scholars Week, or Summer Research Celebration.
- Active participation in the Student Organization for the Advancement of Research (SOAR).
- Endorsement from the student’s faculty mentor.
Outcomes: Students will make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge through their research or creative activity.
Badge Title: Urban and Regional Planning Scholars Program
Description of Badge: The Urban and Regional Planning Scholars Program badge is awarded to students who
have completed the Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning Scholars Program. This nine-month research and engagement program targets urban and regional challenges in Middle Tennessee.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Researching and identifying problems affecting Middle Tennessee
- Fine-tuning researchable ideas and research questions
- Creating a conceptual framework and completing a literature review
- Gathering data and analyzing findings
- Writing a final research paper
- Presenting a research paper and poster
Outcomes: Students who complete the COE-URP Scholars Program have developed applied research skills, collaborated with community stakeholders and experts, and proposed solutions to urban and regional challenges.
Badge Title: Writing Center Tutor
Description of Badge: The Writing Center Tutor Badge recognizes tutors who have successfully completed at least two semesters as tutors in the Margaret H. Ordoubadian University Writing Center. These tutors have demonstrated a commitment to student success, a knowledge of written communication, and an ability to work in a collaborative environment.
Required Courses or Competencies:
- Work for at least two semesters as a tutor in the writing center.
- Attend at least one writing center orientation.
- Participate in peer/staff meetings.
- Receive positive observations from peers and/ or administrators for both semesters.
- Develop a written tutoring philosophy.
- Tutor face-to-face, online live chat, and asynchronous document drop sessions.
- Write a reflective essay on experiences as a tutor.
Outcomes: Students who earn this badge will gain professionalism in the workforce, advancement in communication skills, and experience as professional educators.
For more information, please contact [email protected] with any questions
