Curing the Common Curriculum

Professional degree programs in higher education are increasingly under fire on matters of quality, proficiency, and cost. To address these issues and anticipated controversies, the authors of this chapter provide context to the process of developing a micro-credentialing system at the central university level at Florida International University (FIU) and how it was adapted at its medical school as an innovative tool for developing medical student skill sets. Through a use-case, the authors highlight examples of common challenges identified within professional degree programs, how they were addressed at FIU's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine using the centralized micro-credentialing system, and the planning and implementation stages of a formalized micro-credential program in undergraduate medical education. Finally, the authors discuss the potential for micro-credentials to supplement or replace dual degree programs, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, and influence the future of entrustable professional activities of professional practice in medical education.