Half way to a Master's degree with MCSE

Degrees of difficulty and experience.

Snippet:

• Is a Windows 2000 Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) worth half a masters degree? According to Charles Sturt University it most certainly is. Six of the standard Microsoft units are set to count toward a 12-unit Masters of Networking and System Administration award; and all you will need is five years' industry experience to apply, not an IT degree. ...
  
  "It is seen as a model which has great potential to be adopted around the world," boasts Dr John Messing, the senior lecturer running the course - even before its outline is finalised. Brazen as this may sound, he most probably is right.

Oh dear ...

 

Are you sure that 6 MCSE units equals 6/12 masters units?

Are you sure that it is not being regarded only as supporting the non-degree entry which also includes the work experience?

The norm in Australia is that the MCSE only partly meets the requirements of a VET Diploma in IT [12-18 months of work] - the MCSD doesn't even mee the Diploma requriements. The full Diploma only gets about 1 year credfit in an Australian bachelor IT degree.

Somemthign is very amiss or misunderstood/misdescribed here.

Peter French
ExNational GM IT&T Education [Divn of Powerlan Ltd]

 

Capella University do consider Cisco Certification like
CCIE and CCNP.

 

As what?

...as what in the conetxt of the requirements for a masters?

There are many parties who have read the article so we'll see what comes of it. I am on a national committee witht he director of another unit up there, who knew nothing of this - so we'll see what transpires.

CSU may have found the [im]perfect way to distinguish itself

 

• 
  
  Hmm, interesting. I am an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0 not Windows 2000. Would that count towards anything or is it the latest and greatest MCSE certification specific?
  
  -Paul Majkut

 

Re: As what?

Just read the e-mail i got from Capella and update yourself and resign from "national comittee". Do you know what it takes to get a CCIE?? It's not that simple as doing "MEd MAcc [UNE] "



With CCIE certification, you should be able to petition out 5 (the max.)networking courses:

Cisco Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) 20 TS8807 Network Technology

TS8818 Advanced Network Technology - Routing

TS8821 Advanced Network Technology - Switching

TS8822 Advanced Network Technology - Remote Access

TS8823 Advanced Network Technology - Troubleshooting

 

Re: Re: As what?

With the utmost respect, which I doubt you deserve, the "MCSE" is the qualification in question, not the CCIE, CISCO CCNP. Don't you understand the difference?

The MCSE is delivered in Australia in less than 1 year of VET studies at AQF5 level which leads to a Diploma of IT. This full Diploma, which requires more than the MCSE will get you 1 year off an undergraduate degree at most universities.

For your information I was the initial national GM of a group of 6 IT colleges which were set up as one of the largest national providers of the MCSE and MCSD. I do know where the qualification fits in the educational arena.

Your comments about my MEd and MAcc show the degree of your ignorance of formal educational qualifications and their requirements, so in a sense I do pity you. Your comment about getting off the 'national committee' is unnecessary and you neither know what the committee is for, its memebrship, or who makes the appointments.

In future, check your facts before you comment unless you wish to continue to reaffirm your ignorance of the respective topics, and the educational processes.

 

Peter,
I am a little confused. How are you NOT referring to CCIE and CCNP? He commented on Capella's credit for these certs and you replied to his message in regards to his comment on CCIE and CCNP. I'm sure I read this wrong...

Best Regards,
Bill

 

Yep.

 

The article about the CSU Masters degree reflated specifically to the MCSE - no other certification by Microsoft or anyone else. Our 'friend' moved off course ...

One other point on interest/concern, many masters degrees in IT currently offered in Australia are NOT masters degrees as far as [1] content or [2] entry is concerned ... they are undergraudate units 'repackaged' but I am not going to name the universities - just exercise due diligence because future employability may be an issue. They may mee the US reuqirements minimally, but they are not typical Australian level/content degrees. However, they sell well, particularly considering the exchange rate

 

Gert, I really appreciate your descriptive insight bud!

Peter,

I agree. I have seen some MSIT curriculums and it seems to look like an undergrad IT program that somehow was fitted to use in a masters degree program. As for MSCE certs, I can't see (no matter how technical it is) how they rate grad credit. If a US Navy sailor can't get more than a year's undergraduate credit for the Navy nuke program (I just see this being a little more technical than working with MS products), how can series of vendor tests qualify as graduate credit?

But then again, I am not an IT major nor am I in the field so, it may be far more technical then I ever imagined!

Best Regards,
Bill

 

I was at the Australian Consulate in NYC today to write a USQ exam. Also there was a woman who is doing the Charles Sturt Master's in Information Technology (not the Master's in Networking mentioned above). In discussion after the exams, she told me that MCSE and the like could also be used for credit in her program.

(Australian Consulate is an interesting place at exam time -- also there was a woman doing MBA at USQ and another doing a degree in International Relations at Deakin. Consulate staff busy setting up for some kind of upcoming election in Victoria.)

 

Interesting ...

There are some horrified people around after becoming aware of the CSU program and its qualifications for entry/advanced standing.

This sort of thing, where a vendor certificate which is not recognised as sufficient for a Vocational Education and Training [VET] Advanced Diploma [AQF6] that is Government prescribed, is deemed sufficent for advanced standing to a significant part of a Masters degree by a self accrediting university, will definitely 'sort' out the universities out here.

Soon people will be selecting their universities on what a university WILL NOT accept to deem the real quality and true academic level of the award. Incidentally that is one of the modus operandi that UNE works under - keep the quality and entry requiremtns high, keep the degree offerings simplified contained, and then they are not overburdened with average students lookingt for average/less than average degrees.

So it is a masters if it is a masters, and some really aren't - or are they?

Yes we have an election here in Victoria which will result in the present labour government being returned. the conservatives are so competent and efficient, that the bloke who would be treasurer if they got in, didn't live in the electorate where he said that he lived, and as he could not return mail sent to that address by the electoral commission, got struck off the voting roll

... well aware that you can't stand for election to State Parliament if you are not registered to vote...however, that unbelievable ommission should almost qualify him as being 'insane' enough to become a minister?

.. add to that he was a member of the same barristers chambers that Walsh of Brannagh was a member of!

... and he is a lawyer/senior counsel with a doctorate!

 

Peter,

You have also stated, at some length, that some (or all) of the MPacc degrees are repacked undergraduate programs. The MCSE (never mind the additional 6 courses), as I understand it, is a qualification that is close to the level of an accountant (based on average salary). While I agree this may not be a true master's program, as you have stated, it wouldn't be the time. So, I have one question. Why all the hand wringing?

Tony

 

?? ?? ??

1. All of the MAcc degrees are not repackaged undergraduate units, but most of them are. But they are designed to deliver to persons already graduated in another disclipline, the core accounting modules. The true masters degrees, commence with an approriate undergraduate accounting degree, and then seek to enable to participant to acheive some 'mastery' in an area or areas.

2. Since when have you been able to equate the academic value of a degree solely on remuneration? How would you then rate a research science degree?

3. The MCSE can be/equals only a part of an AQF 5 or 6 qualification - paraprofessional level. An accounting qualification requires a full bachelors degree and a subsequent further program of study - as much as 2,500 hours depending on the exit point. There is no comparison.

4. I am not handwringing - I am explaining or at least trying to. I am also employing and teaching people in this area. Frankly I don't really care, but a masters degree acquired this way will have limited utility. If all that people want is a piece of paper, and we could all be forgiven for coming to that conclusion frequently on this group, then take the short cut. If someone is seeking some reasonable degree of 'mastery', then ....

These types of degrees will set both the students and the providing institution apart from and in contrast to more rigorous programs and their graduates

 

And explaining well. Thanks, Peter.

 

Re: ?? ?? ??

Thank you Peter,
I was only asking questions, I didn't realize a bachelors degree was not required. I suppose I do not understand the Australian higher education system.
Thanks again,
Tony

 

I advise students and wanna-be faculty regularly.

Since most US colleges require a MS to teach a subject, I'm curious as to the acceptability of a CSU MS in the US.

Anyone in the US know?

Dave A