What do you guys think of graduate certificates?

[Life Long Learning]

If I could afford it I would do some grad certs at Harvard.

The Harvard Kennedy School Executive Certificates are $8500 for 6-days at the college.  

• There are no formal educational requirements, but most admitted applicants have at least 10 years of experience.
  

The program fee includes tuition, housing, curricular materials and most meals.

[Ideas]

If I could afford it I would do some grad certs at Harvard.

Now that I've looked around more, I love the idea of a Harvard Extension grad cert which I first heard of from Cookderosa. The price isn't bad compared to some other top schools. One I saw was over $5500 per class. 

But I don't feel like the Harvard Ext certs match my area(s) of study. I wish they had one that was more similar to what I want. I think I would take a loan out for one, if possible.

[leland.kirk]

If I could afford it I would do some grad certs at Harvard.

Now that I've looked around more, I love the idea of a Harvard Extension grad cert which I first heard of from Cookderosa. The price isn't bad compared to some other top schools. One I saw was over $5500 per class. 

But I don't feel like the Harvard Ext certs match my area(s) of study. I wish they had one that was more similar to what I want. I think I would take a loan out for one, if possible.

Some of them do look fun and/or interesting, but it seemed like most of the classes I saw for them were either on campus or live video conferencing two days a week.

[Ideas]

Some of them do look fun and/or interesting, but it seemed like most of the classes I saw for them were either on campus or live video conferencing two days a week.

Absolutely, but I won't spend $11K if it doesn't relate to my career plan(s). That's too bad that some of them are hybrid/offline only 

[cookderosa]

If I could afford it I would do some grad certs at Harvard.

Now that I've looked around more, I love the idea of a Harvard Extension grad cert which I first heard of from Cookderosa. The price isn't bad compared to some other top schools. One I saw was over $5500 per class. 

But I don't feel like the Harvard Ext certs match my area(s) of study. I wish they had one that was more similar to what I want. I think I would take a loan out for one, if possible.

I'm all about getting the most bang for my buck. As you know, you can get some cheap/free "Harvard credit" through the medical school (professional development credit) and I've done a lot of those. I'm struggling to finish a 24-unit program now, but it was FREE as in ZERO dollars. (Opioid use/abuse/treatment program which has nothing to do with anything except I do have HEA health graduate credits, so if I were applying for a health teaching position, I'd include it).

Honestly, I haven't found a way to get a good ROI for a graduate *certificate* for myself. I have my master's in my field, so the only thing that I need are either 18 graduate credits in an additional teaching area (which I would/am price-shopping for and that doesn't always come in the form of a certificate, and if it does, I want a good name-brand) or MOOCs which I don't like to pay a lot for- but again, love those brand name programs like Harvard or Stanford.

IF I had a chance to earn a graduate certificate from a school well-recognized in my field that didn't cost a million bucks, I might do it, but I think you have to really look hard at this question because I don't think that the Average Joe knows the difference between a graduate certificate and a MOOC.

[Ideas]

As you know, you can get some cheap/free "Harvard credit" through the medical school (professional development credit) and I've done a lot of those.  I'm struggling to finish a 24-unit program now, but it was FREE as in ZERO dollars.  (Opioid use/abuse/treatment program which has nothing to do with anything except I do have HEA health graduate credits, so if I were applying for a health teaching position, I'd include it).

That's great. You do a lot and find bargains! 

I'd like to do some CME credits, but I'm struggling with how to explain them. One school said that you cannot earn CME unless you're a licensed medical professional. I believe you are, so it makes sense you'd do CME. If someone is not, I think they can still take the course, but then they did not earn CME, so I don't think the resume should say "CME". It seems misleading to me. Maybe I will say "continuing education courses".

But I also feel that if I show more than a couple, I will end up having to explain that yes they are just (free) online courses. That they won't believe someone actually enrolled at these schools. I think it works for someone like you with enough solid RA schooling and work experience. For me, I have other aspects of my resume which HR might wonder about, so I don't know if I want to also explain doing online courses.

IF I had a chance to earn a graduate certificate from a school well-recognized in my field that didn't cost a million bucks, I might do it, but I think you have to really look hard at this question because I don't think that the Average Joe knows the difference between a graduate certificate and a MOOC.

Average people, no, but I think if they saw foreign schools or many schools they would realize it was done online. Don't you think hiring professionals know about MOOCs by now? They've been gaining popularity for 10+ years.

I feel better about PD courses directly through a school. I'm hoping some of the better extension schools have a new course soon that I would like. I agree it's difficult. There's one I want to take, but why can't it cost a few thousand less!

[cookderosa]

As you know, you can get some cheap/free "Harvard credit" through the medical school (professional development credit) and I've done a lot of those.  I'm struggling to finish a 24-unit program now, but it was FREE as in ZERO dollars.  (Opioid use/abuse/treatment program which has nothing to do with anything except I do have HEA health graduate credits, so if I were applying for a health teaching position, I'd include it).

That's great. You do a lot and find bargains! 

I'd like to do some CME credits, but I'm struggling with how to explain them. One school said that you cannot earn CME unless you're a licensed medical professional. I believe you are, so it makes sense you'd do CME. If someone is not, I think they can still take the course, but then they did not earn CME, so I don't think the resume should say "CME". It seems misleading to me. Maybe I will say "continuing education courses".

But I also feel that if I show more than a couple, I will end up having to explain that yes they are just (free) online courses. That they won't believe someone actually enrolled at these schools. I think it works for someone like you with enough solid RA schooling and work experience. For me, I have other aspects of my resume which HR might wonder about, so I don't know if I want to also explain doing online courses.

IF I had a chance to earn a graduate certificate from a school well-recognized in my field that didn't cost a million bucks, I might do it, but I think you have to really look hard at this question because I don't think that the Average Joe knows the difference between a graduate certificate and a MOOC.

Average people, no, but I think if they saw foreign schools or many schools they would realize it was done online. Don't you think hiring professionals know about MOOCs by now? They've been gaining popularity for 10+ years.

I feel better about PD courses directly through a school. I'm hoping some of the better extension schools have a new course soon that I would like. I agree it's difficult. There's one I want to take, but why can't it cost a few thousand less!

I'm not licensed, and you're correct that for a specific professions, the type of credit / category matters - but all of mine have had an "other" option which I always select. My certificates from Harvard call it "AMA PRA Category 1 Credit" but on my resume it is under Professional Development- which is just what it is, I develop my skills in my profession on a regular basis. I don't put everything, and I don't go back beyond about the most current few. I have others mixed in there that are not this type of credit, they are in my field specifically, so it's all mixed together.

Regarding grad certificates, no, I don't think most people know what that is. In fact, I know I didn't even know what graduate school was until I was sitting in the required teaching license courses after I'd been hired to run a department. We had the option of selecting the credit for undergraduate or graduate credit, and I had to ask the lady sitting next to me what that was. HR who hires educated people might know, but I don't believe most people do.

[mudball]

So, I'm a little confused. There are classes at Harvardx were you can select different options, like undergraduate or graduate credit. Some of the classes are introductory classes. The prices are sometimes the same. Is the coursework the same, or is there additional work if you pick graduate credit? How is it differentiated on a transcript? How can they tell it is graduate credit, if, for example, the course number is CSCIE-50?

[cookderosa]

So, I'm a little confused. There are classes at Harvardx were you can select different options, like undergraduate or graduate credit. Some of the classes are introductory classes. The prices are sometimes the same. Is the coursework the same, or is there additional work if you pick graduate credit? How is it differentiated on a transcript? How can they tell it is graduate credit, if, for example, the course number is CSCIE-50?

Havard University has colleges within their university. https://www.harvard.edu/

When you're at the homepage, you can see a tab called "Schools" which shows you that Harvard has many schools within the university. One school is their Continuing Education college (aka Harvard Extension which also houses their summer school classes) Courses for college credit are offered there. They are undergraduate and graduate level credit, summer school offers some specifically for high schoolers too- but that tab takes you to where most of us are talking about when we talk about taking classes at Harvard for college credit. You'd use those for a degree through Harvard or your own college. http://www.dce.harvard.edu/

Separately, Harvard has the Medical School, which sponsors their Medical School Global Academy. These are online professional development courses that are NOT for college credit - they are professional development / continuing education and you would not use those for a degree. Most health professions require some amount of refreshment each year - so many hours toward review or new topics. That's what these are. NONE of these would count toward a degree, but could count as credits toward your license requirements or for personal enrichment.
https://globalacademy.hms.harvard.edu/courses

*note that some are free, but most are not. Some are archived to do anytime, many are attached to the calendar with a teacher/due dates.

[MisterE]

I think the idea of graduate certificates is actually pretty great.  

They give you a chance to show some continuing education / post-graduate work for less than the full commitment of time and money associated with a full graduate program.  They can also showcase some diversity in a professional portfolio.  Finally (as in my case), they can often count towards a masters so why not get the 'extra credit' along the way.  I will have the graduate certificate in Cyber Security from Harvard Extension School at the end of this semester which also marks the halfway point for me in the ALM in Information Management Systems.