Computing Fundamentals
Graduate Badge
Allendale • Grand Rapids • Face to face • Hybrid • Low Residency • Online • 6 Credits
The need for the Graduate Badge in Computing Fundamentals stems from the increasing demand for professionals with computing expertise across industries.
Overview
The Computing Foundations badge is designed to provide graduate students with a broad introduction to the diverse domains of computing, including computer science, cybersecurity, health and bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and human-centered computing. By exploring these fields, students gain foundational knowledge and exposure to different career pathways, empowering them to identify the domain that best aligns with their skills, interests, and professional goals. This badge serves as a gateway to deeper study and specialization in the rapidly evolving world of computing.
There is an increasing demand for professionals with computing expertise across industries. Emerging fields that utilize these skills are:
- Artificial Intelligence.
- Cybersecurity.
- Software Engineering.
- Human-Centered Computing.
For degree-seeking master's students, this badge provides a structured entry point into advanced computing, helping them build the foundational knowledge needed to succeed in specialized graduate coursework. For non-degree-seeking students, it offers an opportunity to gain marketable technical skills without the immediate commitment of a full degree program.
A digital badge, or badge, is a record of achievement that recognizes a student's completion of a coherent and meaningful academic experience. GVSU offers both credit and non-credit bearing badges as digital credentials. Credit-bearing badges include anywhere from 0.5 to 15 academic credits and may include additional noncredit criteria. Credit-bearing badges are also posted to the academic transcript.
Scholarships
Grand Valley State University offers a wide variety of merit-based
scholarships. For information on all of the scholarships that are
available to students, please visit Scholarships at GVSU.
Grand Valley offers myScholarships
(a scholarship matching tool) to help admitted students match
with GVSU scholarships, as well as external scholarship opportunities.
myScholarships will prompt you to answer questions to help match you
to scholarships for which you might qualify.
High-Tech Labs
The College of Computing offers modern, wellequipped computing facilities across both the Valley and City campuses, with specialized labs for coursework, research, and general student use. You’ll have access to Linux labs, Mac labs, hybrid Windows/Linux environments, networking and cybersecurity labs, and highperformance computing resources.
Student Organizations
Getting involved and staying engaged with our vibrant campus community help you make the most of your Grand Valley experience. Attending student life events, joining a student organization, or participating in campus recreation opportunities are all fantastic ways to maximize your college years:
You can find computing specific organizations here.
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