Advancing IT Careers: How Moraine Valley Community College Aligned Its Curriculum with Microsoft Azure Certification

Cloud technologies have dramatically transformed operational and innovation strategies across industries, and Moraine Valley Community College (Moraine Valley) recognized both the urgency and opportunity for its students to master these skills. Partnering with Workcred, the Higher Learning Commission, and the League for Innovation in the Community College, Moraine Valley pioneered a curriculum overhaul to prepare students to become certification-ready for Microsoft Azure, one of the most in-demand platforms in the IT ecosystem.

The Importance of Microsoft Azure Certifications

Microsoft Azure certifications serve as globally-recognized credentials that validate an individual’s cloud computing skills, from foundational knowledge to advanced architecture and security expertise. By embedding certification-aligned content into the academic experience, Moraine Valley empowers students to excel in a competitive job market and address regional IT workforce needs.

Practical Curriculum Alignment

The college developed a three-course series as part of a Certification + Degree (C+D) pathway to help prepare computer and local area networks (LAN) students to take the related Microsoft Azure certification exams while pursuing their associate of applied science degree:

LAN 125 – Microsoft Azure Fundamentals: Provides an overview and introduces the core concepts necessary for the Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification, including cloud principles, resource management, and networking basics.
LAN 225 – Microsoft Azure Administration: Focuses on managing cloud services, scaling virtual environments, and configuring Azure identities and storage solutions, aligning with the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) certification exam.
LAN 235 – Microsoft Azure Security Technology: Addresses the implementation and management of Azure security configurations, policies, and defense strategies required for the Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) certification.

From Planning to Implementation

With project grant funds, Moraine Valley invested in instructional innovation, faculty development, and student support tailored specifically for the selected Microsoft Azure certifications, based on three pillars:

Curriculum Mapping: Faculty analyzed Microsoft’s official certification blueprints and updated course syllabi to match skill domains and exam weightings.
Hands-on Labs and Bootcamps: Students participated in intensive bootcamps, both instructor-led and self-paced, that integrated practice labs modeled after real-world scenarios tested on the exams.
Certification Support Infrastructure: Moraine Valley established a dedicated support network offering test vouchers, retake guarantees, and sessions with credentialed trainers.

Instructor Development and Student Achievement

Faculty professional development played a crucial role in developing this pathway. Grant funds were used to have instructors participate in official certification training, ensuring classroom instruction reflected exam content and best practices. Support for underrepresented students grew through scholarships, vouchers, and flexible learning options.

As students progress through the pathway from LAN 125 to LAN 235, they gain stackable badges and microcredentials, which encourages continued certification achievement and career mobility. In addition, efforts with employer outreach further validated the credentials and increased alumni employment rates.

Collaboration and Impact

Moraine Valley’s approach was defined by collaboration. The college shared best practices and lesson plans with peer institutions and certification organizations. Moraine Valley also used advisory board feedback to prompt continual updates to course material, which accelerates graduate readiness and helps close workforce skill gaps.

Lessons Learned

Recommendations for other community colleges and IT skill-building organizations include:

Start with industry and certification body input
Invest in having faculty earn the certification
Integrate exam practice into academic courses
Continuously update curriculum to reflect evolving competencies assessed on the certification exams
Support diverse learners with financial and academic resources

Sustaining Success

IT certifications are constantly evolving to keep pace with new technologies and industry demands. Through this partnership with Workcred, Moraine Valley built an adaptive, student-centered pathway that demonstrates how equitable, innovative curriculum alignment should enable every student to be not only be prepared for certification exams, but empowered for rewarding careers in cloud computing.