General
What are noncredit programs on edX and Coursera?
UC Berkeley’s noncredit programs—historically known as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)—are fully asynchronous online courses offered on the edX and Coursera platforms. These programs are designed for non-matriculated learners seeking personal or professional development, and allow participants to engage with high-quality Berkeley content at their own pace and on their own schedule. Courses typically consist of short video lectures, minimal readings, quizzes, discussion forums, and auto-graded assignments.
Are noncredit programs on edX and Coursera free for learners?
All noncredit programs on edX and Coursera are free to audit, in keeping with Berkeley’s commitment to educational access. Learners can access video lectures, readings, and discussion boards at no cost. However, learners who wish to earn a certificate of completion or unlock premium features (such as graded assessments) must pay a fee. These fees vary by course and platform, but are significantly lower than traditional online courses.
Who can enroll in noncredit programs? Is there an application process?
Anyone with an internet connection can enroll in UC Berkeley’s noncredit programs on edX and Coursera—no application or prior affiliation with the university is required. These programs are open-access and self-paced, making them accessible to global learners regardless of educational background, location, or professional experience.
Can I offer a noncredit program on a platform other than edX or Coursera?
No. At this time, UC Berkeley only has formal agreements in place with edX and Coursera to offer noncredit programs. These agreements ensure compliance with federal accessibility requirements under Title II, that any revenue generated is appropriately shared with academic units, and that roles and responsibilities among faculty, the university, and the platform provider are clearly defined. Offering a course outside of these approved platforms could create legal, financial, and compliance risks for both the university, academic units, and individual faculty members.
How are noncredit programs different from credit-bearing online courses or Berkeley Extension programs?
Noncredit programs do not offer UC Berkeley academic credit and are not part of a degree or certificate program restricted to UC Berkeley undergraduate or graduate students. They are designed for non-Berkeley learners seeking personal or professional development and are offered entirely asynchronously online. In contrast, Berkeley Extension programs may offer academic credit and are typically oriented toward continuing and professional education; they may also include synchronous components.
Who can develop noncredit programs at UC Berkeley?
Noncredit programs may be proposed by UC Berkeley faculty, academic staff affiliated with campus departments or research centers, and student-led groups that have previously offered their course as a DeCal. Student-led proposals must come from an ASUC-approved student organization that is affiliated with the campus and has an active account with the LEAD Center. All proposals must have a sponsoring academic unit, and student groups are also required to have a faculty sponsor.
Is there a review or approval process to offer a noncredit program?
All noncredit program proposals undergo a review process coordinated by Research, Teaching, and Learning (RTL) within the Division of Undergraduate Education. Proposals are evaluated for format suitability, operational feasibility, financial readiness, and enrollment potential. Final approval is determined by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. All proposals must have a sponsoring academic unit, and student-led proposals must also have a faculty sponsor. If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please contact teaching@berkeley.edu to schedule a consultation.
What are the advantages of offering a noncredit program on edX or Coursera?
Noncredit programs on edX and Coursera offer Berkeley faculty a powerful platform to amplify the reach and impact of their teaching and research. These programs advance the university’s public service mission by making high-quality educational content accessible to learners around the world, regardless of background or location. For faculty, they offer a way to share expertise with tens of thousands of learners, strengthen scholarly visibility, and experiment with innovative teaching practices.
Course Development Costs and Course Revenue
How much does it cost to develop a noncredit program?
Costs vary depending on course complexity and production quality, but most professionally developed noncredit programs cost $90,000 per course. Costs may be higher for larger courses or those aiming for high-end, studio-quality production. This estimate includes instructional design, media production, and project management. Costs may be lower for units that use a “DIY” approach—e.g., filming and editing their own videos—but this can affect course quality and learner experience. RTL connects course teams with third-party vendors who offer cost-effective, high-quality services to support the development of impactful online courses.
Does RTL provide funding for the development of noncredit programs?
RTL does not provide direct funding for course development. Academic units are responsible for covering the full cost of developing and maintaining their noncredit programs. However, RTL supports course teams by providing program management services, connecting faculty with trusted third-party vendors, and ensuring compliance with federal and state accessibility requirements as well as other relevant regulations. In some cases, RTL may help faculty to identify potential sources of external funding, such as grants or donor support, particularly for mission-aligned open educational content.
How much do edX and Coursera charge for hosting noncredit programs on their platforms?
There are no fees for hosting programs on edX or Coursera. Instead, both platforms retain a percentage of course revenue in exchange for providing core services such as platform hosting, enrollment management, marketing, credentialing, and technical support. edX retains 40% of course revenue, while Coursera retains 50%. The remaining revenue is distributed according to UC Berkeley’s internal revenue-sharing model.
Do noncredit programs generate revenue?
Noncredit programs on edX and Coursera can generate revenue through certificate fees or subscription-based models, but financial performance varies widely by course. Low-enrollment courses may generate only a few thousand dollars per year, while high-demand courses in fields like data science and software engineering can generate significantly more—up to $400,000 per year in exceptional cases. At UC Berkeley, however, even the highest-performing courses in recent years have generated less than $100,000 annually, with most bringing in under $30,000 per year. These figures reflect gross revenue before the platform takes its share.
How is revenue distributed within UC Berkeley?
After the platform retains its share of course revenue the remaining revenue is divided as follows: 60% goes to the sponsoring academic unit, 31% is retained by Research, Teaching, and Learning (RTL) to cover program management overhead, and 9% goes to central campus as the Administrative Full Costing (AFC) fee. Sponsoring academic units are responsible for determining how their portion is allocated internally, including how much revenue is shared with the lead faculty member(s) and/or student group.
Course Design and Maintenance
What course topics are appropriate for noncredit programs?
Noncredit programs can cover a wide range of subjects, but strong proposals typically fall into one of two categories: (1) content with broad appeal and professional relevance (e.g., data science, software development, IT, business, finance, marketing, healthcare), or (2) open educational content that reflects Berkeley’s academic excellence and public service mission. Berkeley’s recent noncredit programs can be found here
Am I required to work with an instructional designer to develop my noncredit program?
You are not required to work with an instructional designer when developing a noncredit program, but doing so is strongly recommended. Instructional designers can help adapt your teaching for an online, asynchronous audience of lifelong learners and ensure your course reflects best practices in structure, pacing, and learner engagement—particularly for platforms like edX and Coursera. They can also save you considerable time by streamlining the development process and minimizing the need for trial and error. RTL can connect you with trusted third-party instructional design vendors who have experience supporting UC Berkeley faculty.
Can I use course capture videos from my in-person courses?
While it may be possible to adapt selected material, recordings of in-person lectures rarely meet the production and pedagogical standards expected on platforms like edX and Coursera. Common issues include video framing that places the instructor far from the camera, visuals that are difficult to see, and interactions with in-room students that don’t translate well for an online audience. Noncredit programs are designed for asynchronous learners and typically require concise, studio-style videos (5–8 minutes) with clear visuals, clean audio, and a direct-to-camera approach. RTL can help you evaluate existing material and recommend options for re-recording or adapting content to meet online best practices and accessibility requirements.
What are my responsibilities once the course is online?
All noncredit programs must have an instructor of record who is responsible for ongoing course oversight. This includes responding to support tickets related to course content (e.g., broken links, grading errors, or unclear instructions) that are not technical issues with the platform itself. While these courses are self-paced and do not require active teaching, instructors are expected to ensure the course remains functional, accurate, and accessible throughout its run.
What role can my undergraduate or graduate student teaching assistants play?
Student assistants can support many aspects of course maintenance. This may include monitoring discussion forums, responding to learner questions, reviewing support tickets, and fixing content issues. Some responsibilities of the instructor of record can be delegated to student assistants; however, the instructor of record remains ultimately responsible for course oversight and ensuring that the course meets UC Berkeley’s academic standards and accessibility requirements.
Accessibility
What are the accessibility requirements for edX and Coursera courses?
All noncredit programs must comply with UC Berkeley’s accessibility policies and federal legal requirements. Under the Consent Decree with the U.S. Department of Justice, courses must meet WCAG 2.0 AA standards through April 23, 2026. Beginning April 24, 2026, courses must meet WCAG 2.1 AA standards, in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These standards apply to captions and transcripts, alternative text for images, screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, and document formatting. For full details, see Berkeley’sWeb Accessibility Procedures
Who is responsible for ensuring that my noncredit program is accessible?
Accessibility compliance is the responsibility of the course team, including faculty, staff, and students developing noncredit programs. This includes ensuring that all videos have captions, images include alt text, documents are formatted for screen readers, and all course elements meet WCAG standards. RTL supports course teams by providing accessibility guidance, coordinating QA reviews, and connecting you with third-party vendors for remediation services—but ultimate responsibility for compliance rests with the course team.
How can I learn more about making my noncredit program accessible?
UC Berkeley offers a range of resources to help you understand and meet accessibility requirements. Most employees are required to complete the How to Comply with the Web Accessibility Procedures training, available through UC Learning Center for university staff and faculty. This training is tracked and provides a foundation in essential accessibility practices. The Digital Accessibility Program also offers a variety of video tutorials to help you learn how to make your digital content accessible. For a more in-depth introduction, the W3C/WAI Digital Accessibility Foundations course—a free, four-week online offering from the creators of the WCAG standards—is highly recommended. UC Berkeley employees also have free access to LinkedIn Learning, which offers targeted courses such as PDF Remediation (5 hours) and Advanced Accessible PDFs (6 hours).