Career Launchpad Frequently Asked Questions

MSU Denver’s Career Launchpad provides fully online, self-paced, noncredit courses in a variety of topics. These short courses work as stand-alone education or as building blocks towards a certificate or degree. Students can take a noncredit course just because they want to learn more about a topic, courses can lead to a job in a high-demand field, or students can convert the course to credit and continue on to pursue a degree.

As of Spring 2024, there are sixteen courses offered:

• Advanced Manufacturing and Workplace Preparation
• Aging Services
• Foundations of Instructional Design
• Foundations of Translation and Interpretation
• Fundamentals of Oral Communication
• Fundamentals of Wedding Planning
• Health Navigation Fundamentals
• How to Change the World
• Human Trafficking
• Introduction to Addictions Counseling
• Introduction to Business
• Introduction to Construction Project Management
• Introduction to Cybersecurity
• Introduction to Journalism and Mass Media
• Introduction to Space Flight Operations
• Principles of Public Health

More courses are being added every semester.

In general, credit courses are designed for students who are interested in earning college units toward a degree. Students who take a credit course receive a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F) at the end of the semester.

Noncredit courses are classes intended for learners who want to gain a new skill, upgrade existing skills, or enrich their understanding about a specific topic. Upon completion, students will receive a grade of pass or no pass.

Career Launchpad courses are noncredit, but can be converted to credit that can count toward a degree.

There are no prerequisites required. Students do not need to hold a college degree nor have work experience.

No! Since this is a noncredit class, you do not need to complete a formal admissions application.

Yes! If you are a current MSU Denver student who is or has been enrolled in courses for the most recent spring, summer, or fall semester, please contact Brandy Schooler at [email protected] for instructions on how to register.

Each course costs $450, with a $35 transaction fee per payment. No books are required.

There are two steps to register for a Career Launchpad course:

1. Fill out the noncredit registration form on our website.
2. After registering, you will be prompted to pay for the course.

You are not registered for the course until payment is complete.

Many employers may pay for their employees to take courses. Payment can be made by the student and reimbursed according to your employer’s rules, or the employer can pay directly for the course on your behalf.

Discounts for multiple students from the same organization may apply. Please contact us for more information before registering.

You will receive an automatic receipt via email once you complete the registration and pay for the course.

Noncredit courses are not eligible for financial aid at MSU Denver.

Unfortunately, we do not offer course waivers based on education or experience.

• Registration opens in May
• Classes start – September 3
• Last day to register – September 10
• Classes end – November 3

• Registration opens in December
• Classes start – February 3
• Last day to register – February 10
• Classes end – April 4

Each course is eight weeks, entirely online, and delivered in a self-paced format. You will be allowed to work through the course material as quickly or as slowly as needed. The course material is asynchronous and does not require you to login at a certain time. You will access the course through Canvas Learning.

Students determine the amount of time needed to master the material provided in each module. The instructor assists students when needed.

After completing a Career Launchpad course, you will receive a certificate of completion and also a digital badge that will be embedded with the competencies learned. You can include this badge on your resume, LinkedIn page, social channels, portfolio, or share it with an employer.

Yes! To convert the noncredit class to three credits, you will need to complete additional course modules successfully. These modules, or Credit-By-Exam (CBE),  can be completed in the same semester you take the course. You will receive more information about the required steps once you are registered for the noncredit course.

Refund Policy: Students can receive a 100 percent refund minus a $35 registration fee if the course is dropped before the course start date. There will be no refunds after the course begins, but students can request a deferment (postponement) to the next semester.

To request a refund, email Brandy Schooler at [email protected]. If students request a refund within the policy timeframe, documentation does not need to be provided.

Deferment (postponement) Information: If a student is unable to complete a course due to unforeseen or extenuating circumstances (see below), the student will be offered a deferment of registration to the immediately following semester before a refund is issued. If the registration deferment is not a feasible option for the student, a refund will be given if the below documentation can be provided.

To request a deferment after a class begins, email Brandy Schooler at [email protected] with an explanation and the official documentation – see the list below (copies will be accepted).

Documentation examples

A refund will be automatically denied for the following reasons:

• Student stopped attending before the extenuating circumstance timeline and or never engaged with the course content.
• Disputing course material, grade, or instructor.

The process to convert a Career Launchpad course to three credits is through completing additional course modules called a Credit-By-Exam (CBE). Each courses’ CBE differs, but it could be an exam, research paper, etc. Eligibility is based on completing the course and instructor approval.

Each course is different, but on average you can expect to spend about 15 hours on the CBE modules. You have up to four weeks to complete it.

You must successfully complete the related course and receive instructor approval before you can take the CBE modules.

To qualify to register you must be close to completing the noncredit class. Then, follow these steps:
1. Email the CBE request to your instructor and Innovative and Lifelong Learning. Notifying requests must be made by the registration deadline (see below for exact date) or with the permission of the instructor.
2. Innovative and Lifelong Learning will send you the CBE form. Please complete, sign, and email to Allison Lemmertz, Assistant Registrar, Prior Learning Assessment, and copy Innovative and Lifelong Learning.
3. You will be emailed with a link to register and instructions on how to pay for the CBE.
4. You will be emailed the link to the CBE module and provided instructions on accessing the module.
5. You will have until the completion deadline (see below for exact date) to complete the CBE. When you have finished, email your instructor. Please send this email as soon as you have completed the CBE. If you cannot complete the exam before this deadline, you must email the instructor to request approval to complete it within a different timeframe.

Deadlines to complete the credit modules are:

Fall 2024 courses

• Registration opens – October 1
• Registration closes – November 16
• Credit-By-Exam must be completed – December 16

Spring 2025 courses

• Registration opens – March 4
• Registration closes – April 17
• Credit-By-Exam must be completed – May 17

The cost for the CBE is currently included in course tuition for all eligible students through Fall 2024. Eligibility is based on completing the course and instructor approval.