Hey folks, I teach management and accounting courses for a few universities and I have a question. First, the set-up. I'd like to qualify to teach quantitative analysis courses as well because I think it's a natural overlap. Having said that, I'd like to make my tuition count so I'm looking for a program that has industry value as well. I've found two programs that pique my interest because they have both academic and professional value: East Carolina has a graduate certificate in Lean Six Sigma -> http://www.tecs.ecu.edu/departments/technology_systems/graduate_programs/certificates/lean_six_sigma.html Arizona State University has a graduate certificate in Industrial Statistics with a focus in Six Sigma -> http://graduate.asu.edu/statistics/CertificateIndustrialStatisticsSixSigma.html In a perfect world, Arizona State would be my pick but they are PRICEY. East Carolina seems like a nice compromise BUT I worry that Six Sigma may be viewed as 'faddish' in a few years and not a good academic preparation for business statistics courses. Finally, there's Colorado State University's graduate certificate in Applied Statistics -> http://www.learn.colostate.edu/certificates/applied-statistics.dot. Because of the subject matter, I'm sure it would stand the test of time for course qualification but I'm not sure it would add much to my professional career outside of adjuncting. For you hiring types, what's the safest bet? I'm thinking the Colorado State program.
I find that this program is perhaps the best: http://www.tecs.ecu.edu/departments/technology_systems/graduate_programs/certificates/lean_six_sigma.html I have been teaching operations and statistics for a while, I wouldn't specialize only stats as you have a strong competition with people with PhDs in stats that are dime a dozen nowadays. As a business professional, your best bet is to specialize in operations in order to compete with the PhDs in stats as most business schools would rather hire a PhD in operations that can teach stats and operations than a PhD in stats that normally cannot handle business courses like operations. However, the preferred credential to teach operations at most business schools are engineering backgrounds with business. Many require PMP, SCM, PIM and other operations certifications also. I haven't seen too many accountants teaching operations but I'm sure that they are few out there. If you want to remain in the finance/accounting field but explore the quantitative part of it, there are quite few schools that offer mathematical finance. There is a very strong need for math finance specialist.
