Certificate Or Degree

Professional or graduate certificates give people very specific skills usually in a short period of time by focusing solely on that one skill.

Certificate or degree. It certification and degree. Many students enter the continuing education arena with the belief that an associate degree program and a certificate program are the same thing. In this sense you may be getting a certificate for completing an individual course or receiving a certificate of completion for a certification program. In general an associate degree is a very broad term encompassing a varied educational platform.

In comparison a degree program carries a title an associate bachelors or masters for instance and can prepare you for a variety of short and long term jobs and career paths. For many positions in the it field today the answer may be. Common majors for undergraduate degrees are computer science information science. These two educational paths are designed to expose students to a specific field or skill set that can help broaden their knowledge in that subject area.

The details on degrees. Generally speaking certificates offer bite sized pieces of education that usually provide practical workplace skills in a short period of time. In the first sense a certificate is a document issued to a person completing a course of study not leading to a diploma. An accredited diagnostic medical sonography certificate usually involves 2 3 years of study and typically includes an extensive clinical internship which can last as long as 8 months.

A certification and a degree combined may qualify you for a career path in which either one by itself wont suffice. You are probably most familiar with associates and bachelors degrees. For instance a diploma of nursing is offered as an alternative to an associates degree or bachelors degree. This diploma program is only offered at hospitals with specialty programs that provide training.

Certificate programs generally take place at a technical or vocational school rather than a college or university. While associate degree programs may prepare a student to obtain certification in their chosen area or career field it is not the same thing as a certificate program. Having a certificate vs. Degree also may limit upward mobility in the career path you choose to pursue.

Meanwhile college degrees provide a larger educational base and take a bit longer to complete. A bachelors degree in a computer related field usually is required for management positions although employers often prefer a graduate degree especially an mba with technology as a core component.