Hey everyone. I just wanted some opinions on undergraduate/graduate certificates. Are they worth it? Does it enhance your resume/cv? I completed a graduate certificate in public administration a few years ago, mainly to complete my master's in public administration. I just wanted opinions on their usage.
Certificates can be a good way to augment your degree and enhance your c.v. This is especially true if the certificate is in a related or an allied area of study than the degree. Additionally, certificates can be a means to gaining academic credit hours at the graduate level in a subject you want to teach but lack in your degree. I have used an undergraduate certificate in digital forensics to augment the bachelor degree in natural sciences/mathematics. I plan to take a similar approach with graduate studies.
I looked into the possibility of obtaining a certificate in administrative management and realized that (for me) I could just as easily complete the same core courses and simply convert them into an A.S. instead. To me, the additional degree may carry more weight than just the undergrad certificate.
[quoteI looked into the possibility of obtaining a certificate in administrative management and realized that (for me) I could just as easily complete the same core courses and simply convert them into an A.S. instead. To me, the additional degree may carry more weight than just the undergrad certificate.[/quote] Quite true. A certificate or an associate degree are both viable options depending upon an individual's situation. In some circumstances, an undergraduate AA might be of more utility than a graduate certificate.
Funny, I was just discussing this with someone in PM's the other day. I see grad certificates as an excellent way to "reinforce" your graduate degree and gain the necessary credit hours to teach a certain subject. For example, I'm seriously considering a grad certificate in security management/organizational security to complement my graduate degree in CJ; my degree program didn't really address any security issues, and that's becoming a hot topic in the post-9/11 world.
I think that's why I'm going for the Bachelor's in Security Management from Bellevue. Not only is it accelerated but I think it might help me move into the private sector (AKA Disney or other Theme Parks).
You could always get your Bachelor's in <insert fastest option here> and then go for the Master's in Security Management at Bellevue. Speaking of Bellevue, they're about the only RA school I was able to find which offers a graduate degree in Security, but not a graduate certificate.
