Choosing between a graduate certificate or a master's degree all depends on your goals and what you need to get there. A graduate certificate will typically cost less — because you're taking fewer courses. At Southern New Hampshire University, some of graduate certificates are only 4 classes, meaning you could possibly finish the program in 20 weeks sometimes even less. A certificate could also help you learn just the skills you're looking for. If you have one particular goal in mind, and developing the know-how would only take you a few courses to master, then it makes perfect sense to enroll in a certificate program.
However, a master's degree is never a bad option. It looks excellent on your resume, and some positions require that level of education just for consideration. And while you think you may only want to learn specific knowledge about a topic, you may be surprised how handy your additional classes may come in.
That's because a master's degree offers a specialized curriculum for a deep dive in the topic. Plus, depending on your schedule, a master's may not take all that long to complete. Many graduate programs at SNHU can be completed in as few as 15 months.
There's always another option: Choose both! A number of SNHU's certificate programs stack into a master's degree , meaning once you finish a certificate program, you're well on your way to earning that graduate degree. Learn more about the different cost, time and benefits of certificates vs degrees.
According to a survey from the U. Bureau of Labor Statistics, those who have earned a certificate or another kind of license make up a significantly larger percentage of the U. This makes sense — a certificate, especially when combined with a college degree, shows dedication to learning and improving your skills. With this in mind, earning a certificate may help you work toward advancing your career. Some employers even pay for employees' certificate programs, particularly if the skills or certificate gained are important to the job.
If you've been working hard and want to be able to do more or something different, an online certificate — like those offered at Southern New Hampshire University — could help you take that step and earn your employer's approval, too. SNHU offers certificates in areas like project management, finance, human resources, marketing and more.
All earned credentials are resources to list on your resume. You worked for the skills and knowledge that comes with the certificate — it shows dedication and motivation for improving yourself and your abilities. Especially if you earned this certificate while employed, it shows you can effectively balance responsibilities from multiple parts of your life without sacrificing quality.
Earning certificates can be great additions to your resume to show employers your skills more clearly. Saying you're good at something is one thing, but having a skill certified by an accredited university is a great asset. In addition to being able to add the certificates to your resume, some certificates have the added bonus of preparing you for an additional certification — giving you even more opportunities to build up your resume.
The program includes a course that satisfies the educational requirement for the credential. Another example is the Graduate Certificate in Six Sigma. The program puts you in an excellent position for the Six Sigma Black Belt certification exam — and the potential to put you in a better place for manufacturing, engineering, operations and executive positions. No matter what certificate you decide to pursue, it's definitely a piece of your resume that can help you stand out.
Complete your certificate on campus or online. Dedicated advising. From day one, you can count on support from dedicated academic and career advisors.
Student support. Take advantage of tutoring and tech support. Online On Campus. Gain an Edge with a Certificate Getting a certificate from an accredited, respected college like Southern New Hampshire University is an achievement to be proud of.
Some MOOC providers focus on specific fields or industries. For example, Kadenze focuses on creative technology, art, and music, while LinkedIn Learning emphasizes business and IT skills development. While individual universities cannot match MOOC providers in terms of the quantity of online certificate courses offered, higher education institutions offer greater access to course instructors and collaboration with classmates.
Colleges also provide better student resources, with dedicated staff to help learners achieve academic success and career goals. When using platforms like Coursera or edX, make sure you have clear objectives in mind. If you want to earn transfer credits, prioritize MOOCs offered through partner universities in your country. If your main goal is pursuing an entry-level career, consider taking courses that lead to certification from corporate partners like Microsoft and IBM. Adam Sanders is the director of Successful Release , an organization dedicated to helping individuals leaving prison find financial and professional success.
Prior to founding Successful Release, he spent a decade working in finance and product management for major financial technology companies. I've always had a strong desire to continue growing and expanding my expertise and skill set. However, working full time really limits my ability to pursue educational opportunities, especially those that happen on campus. My company also reimbursed the tuition costs for relevant courses and certificates.
The combination of these factors made an online certificate program a logical choice. There are a lot of opportunities out there and many topics to explore. I wanted more formal education on creating and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within an organization. There are a number of schools that provided relevant certificates, but I felt that Stanford was a leader in this area and had a well-regarded program.
I learned a lot that was directly applicable to my career working for a large company and later on starting and leading an organization myself. It was also a great way to demonstrate my own commitment to innovation and led to many great opportunities to share what I learned with my coworkers. I've been able to share what I learned with many of my coworkers, and it has definitely improved my personal performance.
I've been able to apply many of the ideas and skills I learned over the past few years. I do think it helped my personal brand a bit.
Online learning isn't for everyone. It requires a lot of discipline to watch long recorded lectures after a tiring day of work.
You also miss out on the relationships and interaction you get when taking classes on campus. I felt like the program I took was formatted well, and support was easy to come by. Everything was laid out well and easy to understand. I have connected with other students through LinkedIn and other online forums. This program attracted people from all over the world, and many students wanted to connect and share their experiences.
First, do everything you can to get your employer to pay for it. Certificate programs can be expensive, and having your employer sponsor you makes it a lot easier to commit to. Second, do a lot of research to ensure that the time commitment is worth your while. Between lectures, homework, projects, and testing, certificate programs often require a lot of time to complete.
If you're working full time while also pursuing a certificate, it can be exhausting. Third, consider the brand of the organization you're receiving the certificate from.
This brand is going to be attached to your name throughout your career, so there are many benefits to a quality brand. The value you receive from a certificate program can vary widely.
For many people, they are a great idea. For others, these programs aren't worth the time and money. Do your research first. Due to their diversity, certificate programs can help students work toward several different goals. For experienced professionals, graduate certificates in K educational leadership or IT strategic planning can open the door to management positions.
Quality is subjective based on your academic interests and career objectives. Leadership and project management certificate programs are popular because they teach transferable skills, including those related to conflict resolution, financial planning, and strategic thinking. IT programs are also popular — especially programs that help learners achieve professional certification from companies like Microsoft and Cisco. Salary potential varies based on factors like a worker's skill level, experience, location, and industry.
However, healthcare, technology, and business careers dominate the Bureau of Labor Statistics' list of the most lucrative occupations. As such, online certificate programs that help professionals advance in these fields may lead to lucrative opportunities. Go to certificate.
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