From certificate to master’s: Stacking credentials for better career outcomes

Professionals today are looking for ways to stay competitive without putting their careers,  or their lives, on pause. Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University offers a solution designed for exactly that: a stackable credential model that lets learners start small, build skills and confidence, and then apply their progress toward a full Master of Global Management (MGM) or other advanced degrees.

According to Lena Booth, deputy dean of Thunderbird Academic Enterprise and professor of finance, the model is built on one key principle: flexibility with purpose. 

“Thunderbird offers several stackable credential models that provide flexible pathways for career advantages, allowing learners to build skills, earn credentials, and advance toward a master’s degree,” she explains. “Each step combines flexibility, inclusivity, and academic rigor, allowing learners to start small, achieve early success, and seamlessly continue toward a full Thunderbird/ASU master’s degree.”

A flexible pathway to a global degree

Thunderbird’s stackable structure allows learners to begin with shorter, focused credentials that can be applied directly toward a degree later. Booth outlines several options:

• Graduate certificate to master’s degrees: Thunderbird’s Graduate Certificate in Global Management, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation is a five-course, 15-credit program. Courses are taken alongside students in the Master of Global Management (MGM) or the online Master of Leadership and Management (MLM). Once completed, those credits can be applied directly to a master’s program.
• Micro-certificates to online master’s degrees: Beginning in spring 2026, Thunderbird will launch two three-course micro-certificates: AI, Analytics, and Fintech Innovations and Foundations of Cross-Cultural Leadership and Innovation. These micro-certificates can later count toward the online MLM degree.
• Executive education to master’s degrees: Participants in Thunderbird’s Executive Education programs can earn graduate credit for select short courses by completing additional academic assignments, then apply those credits toward the MLM degree.

Each of these pathways makes advanced education accessible to more learners around the world, including those studying through Thunderbird’s Najafi 100 Million Learners Global Initiative program.

Starting small, thinking big

For professionals hesitant to commit to a full master’s program, certificates offer a low-risk, high-reward entry point.

“Starting with a certificate gives professionals the opportunity to grow their skills and strengthen their expertise in a focused area without immediately committing to the time and cost of a full master’s degree,” Booth says. “It allows them to build confidence in their academic abilities while gaining practical, career-relevant knowledge that can be applied right away.”

Because certificate courses are part of Thunderbird’s master’s-level curriculum, learners don’t have to start over later. Every completed course is real progress toward a master’s degree.

This model also supports lifelong learning. Professionals can update their skills as industries evolve, explore new areas such as fintech or cross-cultural leadership, and then continue their education when the time and resources align.

Step by step toward global leadership

Booth emphasizes that the step-by-step structure of Thunderbird’s stackable model gives learners control over both pace and direction. 

“Learners can pause, continue, or stack additional courses as their schedules and goals evolve,” she says. “It allows them to customize their learning journey, balancing professional growth, personal development, and global career ambitions without needing to commit to a full master’s program all at once.”

For working professionals managing careers, family, and travel, this flexibility is invaluable. Many Thunderbird programs are available in online and hybrid formats, helping students continue advancing without relocating or interrupting their careers.

From upskilling to transformation

The career outcomes of Thunderbird’s stackable model reflect the depth of each stage. A certificate offers targeted, immediately applicable knowledge, which is ideal for professionals seeking to upskill or pivot into new roles. A master’s degree, meanwhile, provides a comprehensive framework for strategic leadership and global impact.

“Certificates are designed to deliver practical knowledge and targeted competencies that align with today’s fast-changing global workforce,” Booth notes. “In contrast, a master’s degree offers a more comprehensive and strategic learning experience that equips individuals for higher-level leadership roles, cross-cultural management, and long-term career transformation.”

This two-tiered approach makes Thunderbird graduates especially adaptable. They gain not only technical expertise but also the global mindset and strategic thinking needed to lead, innovate, and manage teams across industries and borders.

Staying agile in a changing world

Thunderbird’s stackable credentials are built for the modern career — one that doesn’t always follow a straight line. Professionals can build short, focused credentials to meet immediate needs while keeping the option open to pursue a degree later.

“Stacking credentials helps professionals stay flexible and adaptable as their careers and industries evolve,” Booth says. “This step-by-step approach supports lifelong learning, allowing professionals to update their expertise, explore new fields, or advance into leadership roles as opportunities arise.”

In a global marketplace driven by change, from technology to sustainability to cross-border collaboration, that adaptability is essential.

Seamless integration, recognized excellence

One of the most powerful advantages of Thunderbird’s model is how seamlessly credits transfer into degree programs. 

“Learners in the graduate certificate and micro-certificate programs take classes alongside students enrolled in the MGM or MLM programs,” Booth explains. “They are already completing coursework that satisfies part of the degree requirements.”

This intentional alignment ensures that every step in the journey builds toward the same high academic standard. Even advanced courses offered through the 100 Million Learners Initiative and Executive Education programs meet the same learning outcomes required by Thunderbird and the ASU Graduate College.

What employers see

For employers, graduates of Thunderbird’s stackable programs stand out not only for their education but also for the qualities that earned it.

“Employers value candidates who earn their degree through stackable credential programs because these graduates show motivation, flexibility, and a strong work ethic,” Booth says. “By earning certificates and then moving on to a master’s degree, learners prove they can set goals and achieve them step by step while managing work and other responsibilities.”

The result is a graduate who combines practical, job-ready skills with strategic global insight — a professional ready to lead teams, manage change, and navigate the complexities of a global economy.

Building a global future, one credential at a time

Thunderbird’s stackable credential model reflects the school’s broader mission: making world-class global management education accessible to learners everywhere, at every stage of life.

For Booth, the goal is empowerment. “Each step counts as real progress,” she says. “Learners can take breaks, move at their own pace, and still keep moving forward. It’s education that grows with you.”

Whether beginning with a single certificate or charting a path toward the MGM, Thunderbird students are building something lasting: a foundation for leadership, adaptability, and global success.

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