Certificate Program vs. Actual Degree

[rogercbryan]

Certificate Program vs. Actual Degree

I’m going today to interview for a certificate program with a pretty well known university. I was wondering if anyone else on YE has taken the certificate program route? As an entrepreneur I seem to see more value in a web development and design certificate program then I do in an MBA. They both would take about the same amount of time (18-24 months / 2 days a week). The certificate program costs about ½ of the cost of an MBA (from a decent school).

Any thoughts?

[n/a]

if you are wanting to get into web design and development I really don't see any advantages to the MBA. If you plan on running your own company with a large staff of designers and coders working for you then I see more of a reason.

I think certificate programs are great in the design and web world. They are intense and only teach you want you need to know in that field (not other stuff you dont need to know right now).

Let me know how your interview goes!

I am planning on getting my MBA once I graduate with my current Grad degree. Simply because I plan on managing an ad agency and hiring art directors to responsible for the art content not myself. I plan to do more Managing hince the MBA

[rogercbryan]

I was not impressed with the interview today. The admissions person I spoke to knew very little about the program I wanted to take. They spent half the time talking about what it would cost... even though I told them I wasn't worried about that... they spent the other half of the meeting talking about their job placement service... even though I told them I wasn't worried about..

When I asked them to tell me about the University.. she told me... "It's Johns Hopkins.. what else do I need to say"... ummm... I would have liked for her to say something... idk..

I felt like I was at ITT and not at a major University... With that being said there is absolutely nothing wrong with ITT... its just not what I'm looking for...

[n/a]

man, sorry to hear it did not go well. Hopefully it was the interviewers lack of knowledge and know-how rather than the institution.

I guess keep looking around and perhaps ask to talk to someone that is head of the design program to see if they will set down with you for a few mins.

[camps764]

I can't speak for the University you spoke with but I know at my University there are a few differences between a certificate program and a full degree program. Each one has its positives and negatives. I'm assuming when you say "certificate program" that you're talking about half master's degrees?

Generally the certificate programs are designed for individuals who are already part of the work force and would like to supplement or bolster their resumes. Certificate programs offer a avenue for those of us who would like to pursue higher education but do not have the time/money for the full program right away. One of the big benefits of most certificate programs is that it gives you a partial degree and credits that can be later applied to a full master's degree.

Certificate programs are also a relatively new thing (at least at my University). So some employers may fail to see the actual value of someone who has completed one of these programs. They do give you extremely relevant and timely experience in a short amount of time.

I suppose it depends on if you plan on working for someone else eventually (I.E. Subcontracting) or if you plan to run your own business fully. The full title will probably help impress most potential employers but you will also probably have to take a few classes that don't really matter or pertain to what you are planning on doing.

Hope this helps a little and good luck! You can never go wrong with pursuing higher education!

Steve