Value of a grad certificate

[Ideas]

Personally, I feel like a candidate with 12+ grad level credits (and undergrad in something unrelated) seems more impressive to me than the candidate with an undergrad degree in the subject, especially if it was 18+ credits. Because I would assume that the person who could handle the grad level credits could have done all the undergrad ones. (For example Grad cert in finance + Bachelor's in anything, vs. Bachelor's degree in finance.)

Would that not be true in the hiring world, assuming they both had references, past experience, etc? What would be the reasons?

If I were hiring, the only reasons I think the Bachelor's is better is:
- I would assume the person who did the Bachelor's had planned out their career more carefully, for a longer period of time.
- I would assume since they have more years in the subject, they are less likely to tire of it.
- The grad certificate holder might be less likely to go do more schooling (that my company would have to pay for)?

[Thorne]

I'd love to know this as well. APU offers a bunch of certificate programs, some of which are really appealing to me (History, Homeland Security/Terrorism Studies/Intelligence Studies, Information Systems Assurance/Security) which cost around $6,500 when all is said and done.

I love to read and like to write, so programs like these are a good outlet for me to spend my "fun money" on as time passes. If they were to serve as good credentials for employers, that's just a bonus!

[Ideas]

I'd love to know this as well. APU offers a bunch of certificate programs, some of which are really appealing to me (History, Homeland Security/Terrorism Studies/Intelligence Studies, Information Systems Assurance/Security) which cost around $6,500 when all is said and done.

Most of those tie into your undergrad degree and certs

My question is mostly for the certs that don't tie in. I think it can help if they are related, but more specialized. Like someone getting an Psych degree then getting a cert in a specific branch like Educational Psych. But not getting a cert in just general Psych or in something unrelated.

[sanantone]

Most of those tie into your undergrad degree and certs

My question is mostly for the certs that don't tie in. I think it can help if they are related, but more specialized. Like someone getting an Psych degree then getting a cert in a specific branch like Educational Psych. But not getting a cert in just general Psych or in something unrelated.

Almost every certificate program can be used in an undergraduate or graduate degree program. Schools specifically design them that way. There are masters degrees in educational psychology, and there are masters degrees in psychology that let you have a focus or concentration in educational psychology. Certs can help with specialization or respecialization. Someone with a graduate degree in criminal justice might be interested in a graduate cert in homeland security. Someone with a graduate degree in political science or international relations may be interested in a graduate cert in intelligence studies or national security. Someone with an IT masters might be interested in a graduate cert in information assurance/security.

I've seen some advice on here that doesn't exactly match with the real world. There are some jobs with very strong preferences toward a certain major. There are some jobs with a requirement for a certain major. However, many, maybe even most, jobs are flexible. For example, there was a security specialist job open at a place I worked at as a contractor. The job ad clearly said that a bachelors degree in criminal justice or a related field was required. The person who ended up getting the job was a former FBI agent with a degree in mechanical engineering. I often see jobs that say that they want a degree in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and several other fields. Sometimes, the ad might include "related field." "Social science" is not a commonly listed major in job ads. However, I have not had issues with passing initial screening to get interviews. While HR professionals aren't typically the brightest, they know what social science is and that it's related to psychology and sociology.

Now, I did explain to someone that a BS in Natural Science is not going to get you a job over a BA in Biology. A BS in Natural Science may very well get someone a biology job, but it would be incorrect to assume that a natural science degree would be preferred over a biology degree just because the natural science degree is a BS and the biology degree is a BA.

[bjcheung77]

I'd love to know this as well. APU offers a bunch of certificate programs, some of which are really appealing to me (History, Homeland Security/Terrorism Studies/Intelligence Studies, Information Systems Assurance/Security) which cost around $6,500 when all is said and done.

I love to read and like to write, so programs like these are a good outlet for me to spend my "fun money" on as time passes. If they were to serve as good credentials for employers, that's just a bonus!

When the Grad Certificates reaches that amount, I usually recommend people to go for a Masters Degree instead.
Especially since they want to continue in IT/CyberSecurity, I tell them to go for the Hodges MIS or WGU MSCIA.

[Ideas]

When the Grad Certificates reaches that amount, I usually recommend people to go for a Masters Degree instead.
Especially since they want to continue in IT/CyberSecurity, I tell them to go for the Hodges MIS or WGU MSCIA.

Oh yeah, that's expensive. I was thinking of more like $2000, although a lot of certificates are $3000+ and some Masters' are under $4000.

[Thorne]

Oh yeah, that's expensive. I was thinking of more like $2000, although a lot of certificates are $3000+ and some Masters' are under $4000.

Could you shoot me a link to some of those $2-3,000 grad certs and $4,000 Master programs? I know about Patten, but they really only offer business, and I haven't been able to find many universities that offer degrees at such a low cost. The only ones I've found so far are WGU, Hodges, Patten, and one at Amberton (still about $4k for a certificate though).

[Ideas]

Could you shoot me a link to some of those $2-3,000 grad certs and $4,000 Master programs? I know about Patten, but they really only offer business, and I haven't been able to find many universities that offer degrees at such a low cost. The only ones I've found so far are WGU, Hodges, Patten, and one at Amberton (still about $4k for a certificate though).

Yeah the cheap degrees are mostly business. Some IT and education degrees, but I think most of the education ones need you to already be a teacher. They are the ones that you have to race to finish in 1 flat-rate term. I don't remember all of them but WGU, maybe Hodges, maybe Patten, maybe NAU, maybe U of Wisconsin. I think Capella can't be finished in 1 term, but I'm not sure.