The SCM MicroMasters courses are delivered online-only, providing learners with maximum flexibility in their schedules.
Key Points:
- Pre-Recorded Video Content: All course videos are pre-recorded, allowing learners to access and view them at any time once released. Learners are not required to log in at specific times to view the course content.
- Pre-Recorded Instruction Material: All course instruction materials are pre-recorded, and instructor interaction primarily takes place through discussion forums or course email. Some courses may also feature live events where instructors and guests appear on video for interactive sessions.
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Course Availability and Deadlines: Course content becomes available only after the start date of a course session. Course content, including lecture videos & text, and Coursework, is generally released on a schedule unique to each course—often weekly (see special note about SC0x below).
Each piece of Coursework has a strict due date. Coursework cannot be submitted for credit after its due date. - In-Course Discussion Forums: Each course has dedicated discussion forums where learners can engage with instructors and fellow learners. The course TA team regularly monitors these forums to provide support and address queries.
- SC0x Supply Chain Analytics: This course serves as a reference for the entire SCM MicroMasters Program. Unlike its other courses, SC0x is Flexibly-Paced, which means that all Course Content and Coursework except for the Final Exam are available to all learners as soon as a course session starts and may be completed in any order and at any time before the testing period at the end of the session. The course's Final Exam is available only during a specific testing period at the end of the session, determined by the SCM team.
- SC1x, SC2x, SC3x, and SC4x: These courses are Instructor-Paced, which means that when a session starts, its comprehensive syllabus, deadlines, and requirements are provided in the first week of each course (the orientation week). Afterward, course content is released in batches on a weekly schedule.
- Course Exams: Final exams in all five courses—and midterm exams in SC1x-SC4x—are structured as Timed Exams, available for learners to complete within a 48-hour window after their release, set at the beginning of the course session. Once started, learners must complete their exam within a specified time limit—typically two and a half hours (150 minutes).
Please Note: Specific details and deadlines may vary between courses. Learners are responsible for understanding the specifics of their course sessions, so it is vital to refer to the course materials and syllabus provided in each course session.
To learn more about the benefits of this course structure, please consider this piece from The Curve - Ask MIT Experts: Understanding the Advantages of Asynchronous Learning.