MALIBU, Calif., and LANHAM, Md. – February 3, 2023 – Pepperdine University today announced a new partnership with edX, a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU), and its intent to launch the university’s first MicroMasters® program. This skills-based program will build on Pepperdine’s successful partnership with 2U to provide students with deep learning in a specific field and a flexible pathway for completing a master’s degree. Pepperdine’s MicroMasters program is expected to launch later this year.

MicroMasters programs are a series of introductory master’s-level courses that are career-relevant and support degree completion. Students who complete Pepperdine’s MicroMasters program on edX will be able to apply their MicroMasters program credential to one of Pepperdine’s existing master's degrees, already offered in partnership with 2U, once admitted and enrolled. Pepperdine's goal is to create more affordable, accessible pathways toward completion of these graduate degrees.

“Pepperdine’s partnership with 2U has enabled us to offer best-in-class online degrees in psychology, law, and business that expand opportunity for thousands of additional students, regardless of geography. The reach and open access of the edX platform allows us to expand that impact,” said Jay Brewster, provost and chief academic officer at Pepperdine. “Our plans to offer a MicroMasters program will not only make a rigorous Pepperdine education accessible to edX’s 48 million global learners, but also give students an affordable, stackable pathway to degree completion.”

2U currently supports 10 graduate degree programs at Pepperdine. Since the inception of the partnership in 2017, over 5,000 learners have enrolled in the programs.

“Our partnership with Pepperdine is a strong example of how we work together with our university partners to deliver high-quality online programs at scale,” said Andrew Hermalyn, president of partnerships at edX, a 2U company. “This expansion of our partnership underscores Pepperdine’s approach to research-backed, student-first online education and its overall commitment to evolving its offerings to meet the demand of today’s learners by offering flexible, stackable education pathways.”

For more information on Pepperdine’s online degrees and courses, visit www.pepperdine.edu/online.

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About Pepperdine University

Founded in 1937, Pepperdine University is an independent, Christian university located 30 miles west of Downtown Los Angeles in scenic Malibu, California. The University enrolls approximately 10,300 students across its flagship liberal arts school, Seaver College; the Caruso School of Law; the Graziadio Business School; the Graduate School of Education and Psychology; and the School of Public Policy. Pepperdine is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened for lives of purpose, service, and leadership. Follow Pepperdine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About edX

edX is the global online learning platform that exists to help learners everywhere unlock their potential. edX was founded by Harvard and MIT in 2012 to make the world’s best education available to everyone. Today, as a 2U, Inc. company (Nasdaq: TWOU), edX connects 48 million ambitious learners with the skills, knowledge, and support to achieve their goals. Together with the world’s leading universities and companies, edX offers thousands of free and open courses, professional certificates, boot camps, credit-bearing micro credentials, and undergraduate and graduate degrees. Discover purpose-built online programs in technology, business, healthcare, science, education, social work, sustainability, and more at edX.org.