There are two distinct ways to learn at IDEO U—cohort courses and self-paced. Each has a different structure and schedule:　

Cohort courses

Cohort courses run on a set calendar, with fixed start and end dates. Course learning is self-paced within those dates and requires approximately 4-5 hours per week over 5 weeks. Courses consist of videos, activities, assignments, access to course teaching teams, and feedback from a global community of learners.

Cohort courses also provide optional 1-hour video Community Conversations, held weekly by the teaching team. They occur during set times, which are released during the first week of the course, and set to accommodate as many time zones as possible.

Self-paced courses

Self-paced courses take between 1-8 hours to complete. We provide 90 days of access from the date of purchase, so you may spread your learning over multiple weeks, or refer back to it multiple times during your access period. Courses consist of a series of videos, activities, and small assignments.

Certificate programs are comprised of multiple courses and typically take 3-6 months to complete. Once you complete all required courses, you will be awarded a certificate of completion. There is no deadline for the completion of the programs and you do not have to purchase all required courses at the same time to be eligible for a certificate.

Explore different ways to deepen your learning and broaden your professional impact through our certificate programs here.