Competency-Based Education

EDUCAUSE LEARNING INITIATIVE | JUNE 2017

As explained in the ELI 7 Things You Should Know about Competency-Based Education, competency-based education (CBE) sets mastery of discrete knowledge and skills as the gate for learners to progress to more advanced content. As opposed to traditional education, which is based on fixed-length academic terms, CBE allows learners to move at their own pace, spending as much or as little time on each topic as necessary to demonstrate mastery. CBE challenges longstanding models of education while offering the possibility of improved student learning, shorter time to degree, and more transparency for employers.

Deconstructing CBE (2016)

This report describes a three-year study undertaken by Ellucian, Eduventures, and the American Council on Education to understand CBE and its potential for higher education. The report addresses the range of CBE activities, including profiles of CBE activity at several institutions, and presents the results of a survey conducted for the report.

Competency-Based Education in a Liberal Arts Context (2016)

Competency-based education represents a considerable disruption to traditional higher education, but the benefits of CBE for liberal arts institutions are not always clear. This article discusses the ways in which CBE can potentially be valuable—or even critical—for liberal arts education.

Hacking Competency-Based Education (2016)

Despite its potential to benefit higher education, CBE has not become as widespread as some have predicted. This article discusses the reasons why, and it speculates about where CBE might be headed, based in part on the growing role of competency-based assessments.

Master of Science in Education—Educational Design & Technology (2017)

Concordia University Online offers a master’s degree based entirely on competency-based education. The university touts the models as “producing superior graduates with a well-rounded understanding of their profession.”

A Guide to Using the Beta Credentials Framework (2016)

One limitation of CBE is the degree to which discrete competencies can be understood or transferred from one institution to another. This paper describes a framework designed to establish a common vocabulary so that competency-based credentials can be reasonably compared.

Alternative Credentials: Prior Learning 2.0 (2017)

This study examines the role of prior-learning assessment as a component of competency-based education, specifically for educational programs that focus on adult learners. The study examined programs at six colleges and universities that have established prior learning assessment programs.

AEI Series on Competency-Based Higher Education (2017)

The American Enterprise Institute has collected several resources into a collection that covers the motivations for CBE, competency-based assessments, regulatory environment, employer perspectives, student experiences, and research surrounding CBE.

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