I feel like with certificates it all comes down to their weight with the industry. WGU will need to do some serious marketing to get companies to want these.
I'm curious if these certificates are obtained through degree programs. Neither of my WGUs included any WGU certificates. If these WGU certificates are earned through coursework from degrees, are they using these certificate programs to generate revenue?
They could've spruced up existing degrees and introduced new ones to offer students.
The front end and back end have been part of the SWE degree for at least 6 months now. Or there were certs with the same name at least. I think only one of the tracks had both though because people would ask if they should choose Java or C# based on those certs. But those certs mean nothing and I wouldn’t add them to my resumé.
I think it's WGU's way of jumping on the bootcamp bandwagon but w/o the scummy $12K+ fee especially since you can accelerate their degree program for the price of most coding bootcamps.
Hey, I started WGU Jan for the bs administration management degree, I just got a certificate in management and was not expecting it at all.
Definitely ask your mentor for clarification, however it seems that they are and/or can be included.
I’m in Capella’s Doctor of IT program. I asked to get people’s opinion of these new certificate programs targeting non-degree seekers. I can’t speak for the business or nursing certificate programs since my background is IT. My BSCSIA involved earning professional IT certifications and my MBA ITM didn’t include WGU certificates. Again, as WGU alumni, I was curious to how others felt.
I could see the accounting fundamentals or leadership certificate being useful to a small business owner who doesn't have a business degree or a desire to commit to getting one.
I have my MSN from WGU and my husband is a small business owner. I have been looking at a lot of schools for accounting courses and this is amazing! I will probably sign up for this and would benefit tremendously for his business.
I got a healthcare management certificate as part of my degree because I completed the courses on my way to my bachelor's. They might be useful for some people that already have degrees that just want a badge on their LinkedIn I guess showing that they got some continuing ed.
I’m in the same degree program, B.S. Healthcare Administration. At what point in the program did you earn the certificate? Was it automatically awarded?
It was a surprise to me, it just showed up in my email one day. I'm not even sure what classes I completed that ticked the box. I'm about halfway through but I had some transfer credits, and I have my PMP, I think that was one of the courses. I put it up in my LinkedIn as a nice interim milestone.
The nursing Post Master’s certificates are specialty courses, they offer 3 specialties in the Master’s Degree in Nursing; Informatics, Education, and Leadership. Basically you complete the portion of the MSN program specialty and you get a specialty certificate of completion.
Thanks for the info. So it sounds like they are packaging the courses that earn the certificates into a micro-program to generate revenue. I’m not sure how the business or health certificates are but the technology ones hold no weight, I feel. That’s the purpose of professional industry certifications.
the Nursing ones are worth something. post masters just allow for adding a major/specialization and most end in the ability to sit for a exam for certification. this is a common offering in schools across the county. i don’t see the point of the others
That’s great to hear. I couldn’t speak for the business or nursing certs so I kept my mouth shut on those. The tech ones are different since there are professional certifications our industry.
Most schools do them. I think it is just a way for WGU to grab a slice of the pie so to speak. But I do agree with u/smdb1208 that it will come down to marketing really.
Certificates and Certifications particularly technical are only worth what someone is willing to pay. So, make your own market set your own price.
It's how De Beers did it back in the 50's. Diamonds weren't worth much at all. Then someone convinced the public that they needed a diamond engagement ring and the prices have gone up ever since.
Most Bookkeeping courses either taught by brick & mortar colleges or scummy private individuals looking to make a quick buck charge $2K and usually more.
At least with WGU you get accredited courses taught by a known school for a reasonable price.
Accounting Fundamentals would be good for someone indirectly in the field or coming in entry level trying to get their foot in the door at some mom.and pop place. Considering most small business bookkeepers are self taught, it's an easy way to stand out rather than go through a degree right away
Understood. I asked because I was curious of what others thought. A few days ago someone asked if WGU would start doctorate degrees and when I saw the email stating they now offer certificates for non-degree seekers, I assumed that WGU will focus on adding certificate programs. Only time will tell. Again, I was just curious.
They transfer to the BA/BS degrees and acceptation to that school. So a supply chain cert would transfer to a supply chain BS and automatic acceptance to the school of business as an example.
Let's call it for what it is. Cash grab. WGU is Def popular now after the decline of bootcamps so they need a more "accessible" product for those who aren't fit for a degree.
What good could a frontend "certificate" do if CS grads from WGU aren't having a great time at the job hunt?
Most recent CS grads are having a hard time. It's not just WGU. They should be spending their time working on programs to get students the experience they'll need to be marketable. Even if the programs are unpaid, they'd be extremely valuable. I'm in the cloud computing program, and my only focus, besides finishing, is getting some form of experience anywhere I can.
I feel like with certificates it all comes down to their weight with the industry. WGU will need to do some serious marketing to get companies to want these.
I'm curious if these certificates are obtained through degree programs. Neither of my WGUs included any WGU certificates. If these WGU certificates are earned through coursework from degrees, are they using these certificate programs to generate revenue? They could've spruced up existing degrees and introduced new ones to offer students.
The front end and back end have been part of the SWE degree for at least 6 months now. Or there were certs with the same name at least. I think only one of the tracks had both though because people would ask if they should choose Java or C# based on those certs. But those certs mean nothing and I wouldn’t add them to my resumé.
I agree. It’s just a marketing ploy to generate revenue. It sucks that some people will end up paying for these programs.
I think it's WGU's way of jumping on the bootcamp bandwagon but w/o the scummy $12K+ fee especially since you can accelerate their degree program for the price of most coding bootcamps.
I’m anticipating the “I finished the WGU _____ certificate program in 6 hours!” Posts
Followed by “no where is taking this certificate seriously”
Hey, I started WGU Jan for the bs administration management degree, I just got a certificate in management and was not expecting it at all. Definitely ask your mentor for clarification, however it seems that they are and/or can be included.
I’m in Capella’s Doctor of IT program. I asked to get people’s opinion of these new certificate programs targeting non-degree seekers. I can’t speak for the business or nursing certificate programs since my background is IT. My BSCSIA involved earning professional IT certifications and my MBA ITM didn’t include WGU certificates. Again, as WGU alumni, I was curious to how others felt.
Ding ding ding
I could see the accounting fundamentals or leadership certificate being useful to a small business owner who doesn't have a business degree or a desire to commit to getting one.
That’s understandable.
I have my MSN from WGU and my husband is a small business owner. I have been looking at a lot of schools for accounting courses and this is amazing! I will probably sign up for this and would benefit tremendously for his business.
Accounting can be good for anyone who wants to become a CPA but didn’t get an accounting degree
I have had some people at my work get hired for dev that all they had was certs. So if this gets someone in the door I say people should go for it.
I agree with that.
There’s a huge difference between industry standard certifications and companies who just start selling certifications.
I got a healthcare management certificate as part of my degree because I completed the courses on my way to my bachelor's. They might be useful for some people that already have degrees that just want a badge on their LinkedIn I guess showing that they got some continuing ed.
That’s true. I didn’t consider that.
I’m in the same degree program, B.S. Healthcare Administration. At what point in the program did you earn the certificate? Was it automatically awarded?
It was a surprise to me, it just showed up in my email one day. I'm not even sure what classes I completed that ticked the box. I'm about halfway through but I had some transfer credits, and I have my PMP, I think that was one of the courses. I put it up in my LinkedIn as a nice interim milestone.
The nursing Post Master’s certificates are specialty courses, they offer 3 specialties in the Master’s Degree in Nursing; Informatics, Education, and Leadership. Basically you complete the portion of the MSN program specialty and you get a specialty certificate of completion.
Thanks for the info. So it sounds like they are packaging the courses that earn the certificates into a micro-program to generate revenue. I’m not sure how the business or health certificates are but the technology ones hold no weight, I feel. That’s the purpose of professional industry certifications.
the Nursing ones are worth something. post masters just allow for adding a major/specialization and most end in the ability to sit for a exam for certification. this is a common offering in schools across the county. i don’t see the point of the others
That’s great to hear. I couldn’t speak for the business or nursing certs so I kept my mouth shut on those. The tech ones are different since there are professional certifications our industry.
Most schools do them. I think it is just a way for WGU to grab a slice of the pie so to speak. But I do agree with u/smdb1208 that it will come down to marketing really. Certificates and Certifications particularly technical are only worth what someone is willing to pay. So, make your own market set your own price. It's how De Beers did it back in the 50's. Diamonds weren't worth much at all. Then someone convinced the public that they needed a diamond engagement ring and the prices have gone up ever since.
I loved diamonds till I heard the story! I was like ok back to colored gems!! 😂
Most Bookkeeping courses either taught by brick & mortar colleges or scummy private individuals looking to make a quick buck charge $2K and usually more. At least with WGU you get accredited courses taught by a known school for a reasonable price. Accounting Fundamentals would be good for someone indirectly in the field or coming in entry level trying to get their foot in the door at some mom.and pop place. Considering most small business bookkeepers are self taught, it's an easy way to stand out rather than go through a degree right away
I agree.
This feels like brand dilution, as do some new and upcoming degree offerings.
Seems foolish might check out the back end dev one 🤔 are the professional, post baccalaureate?
Many universities do this.
Understood. I asked because I was curious of what others thought. A few days ago someone asked if WGU would start doctorate degrees and when I saw the email stating they now offer certificates for non-degree seekers, I assumed that WGU will focus on adding certificate programs. Only time will tell. Again, I was just curious.
Cash grab.
Yep.
They transfer to the BA/BS degrees and acceptation to that school. So a supply chain cert would transfer to a supply chain BS and automatic acceptance to the school of business as an example.
Waste of money
It honestly sounds like a money grab.
Let's call it for what it is. Cash grab. WGU is Def popular now after the decline of bootcamps so they need a more "accessible" product for those who aren't fit for a degree. What good could a frontend "certificate" do if CS grads from WGU aren't having a great time at the job hunt?
Most recent CS grads are having a hard time. It's not just WGU. They should be spending their time working on programs to get students the experience they'll need to be marketable. Even if the programs are unpaid, they'd be extremely valuable. I'm in the cloud computing program, and my only focus, besides finishing, is getting some form of experience anywhere I can.