Graduate Cert DL program - need help!

I have discovered this online-based school/program, however, I am little hesitant because I have never really heard anyone mention this school or its web-based programs.
The school is: Stevens Institute of Technology
The program is:
Online Graduate Certificate Programs
"Atmospheric and Environmental Science"

Is it a legit/accredited program/school?

Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Plus, how much weight does a Graduate Certificate holds by itself or towards a Masters' Degree?

http://www.webcampus.stevens-tech.edu/courses/
http://www.webcampus.stevens-tech.edu/courses/AES.html

Any hekp on this would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!

 

A little poking around their catalog gave me this link.

http://www.stevens.edu/catalog/intro.html#accred

I would say they are top notch. Can't give an opinion on your other questions. Ternahan

 

Stevens Institute of Technology is a very well known and respected engineering and technology school in New Jersey. It has been around as brick and mortor school for well over 100 years.

It has a strong (although pricey) DL program (that will contact you every term till h freezes over if you ask for information).

Reputation good, full accredtite (including ABET).

 

My cousin graduated from Stevens Tech with an engineering degree when he was 19 (smart dude). The last I heard he was a Major in the Air Force and very involved in the NASA program.

He always said Stevens Tech was comparable to MIT. I don’t know how true that is but I do know it is a very well respected school.

 

Intresting.....I thought these four courses in Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences would be a good start into some graduate studies...especially before I actually decided on a gradute school.

However, the intresting thing is that these four courses in Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences leads to a Graduate Certificate.

Which I have never heard before.

Obviously, it is not a full gradute degree...but what really is a "Gradute certificate"?
What weight does it hold? How is it viewed in the academic realm?
It is the equlivent of an Associates degree - but only in the gradute studies area?

If I complete this program and receive this Gradute Certificate in Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences...then decide on a gradute school will it look good,bad, ignored?

I am sure it may look impressive on a CV.

Jay

 

In general a certificate is awarded for completing a series of courses in some topic. Depending on the school and the the program this can either be e subset of a full degree (see: CSUDH MSQA http://www.csudh.edu/msqa/) or just a set of courses on a topic. Some schools will not accept courses in a certificate series for work towards the same program at the masters level others will.

One of the best definitions (and seems generally applicable) is from East Carolina: