The first step is to complete the online application
UH Energy will review your application to ensure that you satisfy the minimum requirements to register. For initial Badges, this means that you should either be:

• An Industry Professional - Priority is given to applicants from within the energy sector, with experience in upstream oil and gas operations
• A Student - Either in a graduate program, or a rising senior in a bachelor’s degree program in engineering, technology or business with an understanding of upstream oil and gas operations such as seismic, drilling and production

After we received your application, it will be reviewed by the admissions committee. They will notify you of their decision within two business days. If we are able to offer you a seat in the program, we will send you instructions for online payment. Your application will be accepted upon receipt of your payment.

Currently we only accept credit card payments.

The course is delivered online as a live synchronous delivery. Some of the lectures are prerecorded in segments of roughly 20 minutes each. The recorded segments are followed by live interaction with instructors in real time. The live interaction will be used to expand on some of the topics in the recorded lectures, and to resolve any misunderstandings and/or questions that that learners may have. Numerical examples will be solved using Orange software to illustrate the principles taught and students will have an opportunity practice solving problems using Orange software.

Yes. Each Badge is covered over two weeks. At the end of the first week, students will have an online multiple choice test for homework, and will have to achieve a passing grade to proceed to the next week. If one does not pass on the first attempt, one can review the course material and re-take the test as many times as one wishes. At the end of the second week, there will be a final exam for the Badge. One needs to get a passing grade to move on to the next Badge. The same rules for passing apply for the final as for the test held at the end of the first week.

If you miss a class, or a portion of a badge, the material will be available as recorded material, and you can view the recordings at your convenience. However, we strongly recommend that you attend the course synchronously, as the live interaction with instructors is an important instructional component.

No. However, the later badges build on the content of the earlier ones, so it is much preferred to take the badges in the specified sequence.

If you miss a badge, you may be able to register for the badge for delivery through asynchronous recordings, and you will have to complete and pass all of the homework and exams to earn the badge. The asynchronous (i.e., recorded) material will be available, and you can qualify by viewing the recordings and achieving passing grades on the tests. However, we strongly recommend that you attend the course synchronously, as the live interaction with instructors is an important instructional component. The same registration process and fees apply whether you participate in the course in real time, or if you only participate asynchronously.

Micro-credentials are certifications for mastery of specific topic areas or skillsets. To earn a micro-credential, you typically have to complete a certain number of activities, assessments, or projects related to the topic.

Digital badges (or ebadges) are a validated indicator of accomplishment, skill, quality or interest that can be earned in various learning environments. Digital badges are now commonly used as “digital transcripts,” and they can be incorporated in LinkedIn profiles. Many badge earners also display their badges through social media.

Use and Acceptance: Micro-credentials and digital badges are now widely accepted by employers as evidence of competency in specific skills. They have been in use for roughly ten years, notably in the IT arena, where IBM has been a leader. IBM needed to train personnel to support rapidly changing product needs. Rather than using extended training programs, they developed training for minimum skillsets, and deployed this through online media. They awarded micro-credentials to successful candidates and issued digital badges to certify the awards. Many other companies, large and small, are now using digital credentials, as are many academic institutions, including the University of Houston, Harvard, Cambridge, and a large number of other universities.

Students who have registered can withdraw from the course at any time. However, participants need to withdraw two days before start of classes to receive a refund. If you have paid for the Bronze bundle (all three badges) and would like to withdraw after completing a badge, you may do so two days before the start of classes for the next badge to receive a refund for the remaining badges.

If you cannot find the information you need on the webpage or in the other FAQs, please contact: uhenergy@uh.edu