Skip to main content
Students photographed in the classroom.

Distributed Computing Graduate Badge

Badge Image

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.

Visit the program website for more information.

Program Overview

The College of Computing's distributed computing badge (not a degree or certificate) is designed to prepare students in the following areas:

  • Describe how TCP/IP enable the Internet to function.
  • Set up network firewalls.
  • Evaluate different virtualization architectures.
  • Understand issues posed by distributed systems such as clock synchronization, naming, and consistency.
  • Write a web-based application.

Why Earn a Digital Badge at Grand Valley?

  • Badges document knowledge, skills, and competencies you've gained through various learning and professional development opportunities.
  • Pursuing a badge, either in continuing education or while completing a degree, can enhance your education.
  • Digital badges can be displayed on social media, websites, and in emails.
  • Completing a badge is an opportunity for you to highlight particularly marketable and desirable skills to potential employers.

Career Insights

This tool shows an overview of potential career opportunities for this major. Actual salaries, employment opportunities, and job titles may change over time.

Admissions

Completion of a Bachelor's degree, and evidence of object-oriented programming skill is required for admission. You must submit an official transcript from your baccalaureate degree granting institution. To start your application, click here

For current GVSU students:

  • Declare your badge via myBanner. Login to Banner Self-Service, click on Student, Student Records, Add a Certificate or Badge to your Program, Select the appropriate badge from the drop down list, and click Submit.
  • Speak with the appropriate badge coordinator to ensure criteria are being met. You will be able to track your progress toward the badge in myPath as well!
  • Once you are done with the requirements, apply to receive the badge via myBanner.
  • Once the completion of your badge has been verified, the badge will be posted to your student record and will be viewable on your transcript. In addition, your digital badge will be posted on Credly.com.

Location & Format

Classes for the program are on the Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus.

Format:
  • Face To Face

Coursework

The distributed computing badge is comprised of three courses (nine credits). Classes are offered on Pew Campus in downtown Grand Rapids.

Required courses:

  • CIS 654 - Computer Networking
  • CIS 656 - Distributed Systems
  • CIS 658 - Web Architectures

Admission Requirements

For general requirements for graduate admission, visit Grand Valley State University’s admission section of the online catalog.

If you have additional questions, please contact our graduate admissions office.

For More Information

College of Computing

Dr. Robert Adams, Ph.D.
C-2-100 Mackinac Hall
(616) 331-2060
[email protected]
gvsu.edu/computing