What would be a more academically acceptable name for a cluster of four courses? In higher education, we know what is a major or a minor.  What do we call it when there are only a cluster of courses, say 9-12 credit hours in the same discipline that is not part of a major like concentration or emphasis?  The intent is to make them available to non-majors to broaden their credentials. In some professional disciplines like education or social work, the name 'endorsement' may make sense.  In other areas, is there a name that is both intuitive and academically sound?
Such mini-programs are sometimes called certificates.

Certificate programs are sometimes meant to be completed stand-alone, often by students who are not enrolled in a degree program but are looking for continuing education in a particular area, e.g. to help with their career.  However, they can also be taken on top of a bachelor's or graduate degree. They often consist of just a few courses.

As an example, you can read about my own institution's Certificate in Music Technology, which consists of 12 credit hours.