Graduate-Level Credits Backed by Regional WASC Accreditation

Our Academic Partnership: University of Massachusetts Global

To ensure that practicing educators receive the highest standard of professional recognition, Upward partners directly with the University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global).

Through this formal partnership, our curriculum is reviewed, credentialed, and transcripted by a prestigious, regionally accredited institution, ensuring your completed coursework is recognized by school districts and state licensing boards across the country.

Browse Graduate-Credit Courses

Only $240 TOTAL per 3-Credit Graduate Level Course

About UMass Global

The University of Massachusetts Global is a private, nonprofit institution dedicated to providing high-quality education to adult learners and working professionals.

Accreditation: UMass Global is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). This is the same regional accrediting body that oversees elite institutions such as Stanford, USC, and the University of California system.
A History of Trust: Formerly known as Brandman University and built upon a proud legacy of serving adult learners, UMass Global is part of the respected University of Massachusetts system, which is recognized globally for its academic rigor.

How the Credit & Transcript Process Works

Our partnership is designed to make the enrollment, grading, and transcripting process completely seamless for busy educators.

1. Curriculum Oversight

Every course offered by Upward has undergone a rigorous review process by UMass Global academic representatives. This ensures the coursework meets the post-baccalaureate academic standards required of graduate-level professional development.

2. Earning Graduate-Level Credits

When you enroll in a standard Upward course, you are registering for 3 graduate-level professional development semester hours (sometimes referred to as professional development units or continuing education credits).

Note: These credits are designed specifically for licensed teachers pursuing salary advancement, lane changes, or credential renewal. They are typically not applicable toward a brand-new, degree-seeking graduate program.

3. The Official Academic Transcript

Your academic record is maintained directly by the university. Upon successful completion of your course and our internal evaluation, your grade is submitted to the university registrar:

University Record: A permanent academic record is established in your name at UMass Global.
Official Ordering: You will order your secure, official transcripts directly.
Registry Verification: Your transcript is issued directly by the UMass Global Office of the Registrar, bearing the official university seal.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Unlike many other professional development programs that charge a separate, hidden "university recording fee" at the end of your course, our $240 flat rate is fully inclusive.

It covers your registration, all digital course materials, our evaluation, and the 3 graduate-level credits registered with UMass Global. (The only separate cost is the standard $7 transcript fee charged directly by the UMass Global registrar when you order your official copy).

The vast majority of public and private school districts in the United States accept graduate-level credits from regionally accredited institutions like UMass Global for salary lane changes and professional growth.

However, because every school district maintains its own local collective bargaining agreements and HR policies, we always advise using our District Pre-Approval Email Template to confirm acceptance with your principal or HR department before registering.

UMass Global records these courses under their 9000-series, which is the university’s official designation for post-baccalaureate, graduate-level professional development. These are official graduate-level academic records that establish a permanent graduate history at the university.

The 9000-series numbering is highly valued by school districts and state licensing boards because it explicitly verifies that the coursework meets the rigorous standards of graduate-level study, ensuring it aligns perfectly with state department of education requirements for salary advancement and license renewal.

No. When you enroll in a graduate-credit course through Upward, we process your registration details and securely transmit them to UMass Global to establish a student record.

This streamlined process allows you to begin your graduate-level coursework immediately while still securing a fully accredited, official registrar-issued transcript upon completion.

To ensure maximum compatibility with school district human resource policies—many of which do not accept "Pass/Fail" or "Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory" marks for salary advancement—all courses are evaluated on a traditional letter-grade scale (A–F).

These graduate-level grades will be permanently recorded on your official UMass Global academic transcript. However, because these 9000-series professional development credits are designed for continuing education rather than a degree-seeking program, they typically do not calculate into or impact a student’s cumulative undergraduate or graduate degree GPA.