2nd Bachelors or Grad Cert??

[natshar]

Work in education and have no desire to be a teacher and don't want certification. Have a bachelors in unrelated field.  Looking to get a SPED related degree that can be done without taking years. Competency based is the main format I want. (degree might even free to me with some small scholarships and potential reimbursement thorough work)

My options I found:

WGU BS Educational Studies: https://www.wgu.edu/online-teaching-degr...ogram.html
*with my prior degree and credits I have all gen eds done about 40% degree is complete
I did some research and I feel pretty confident with my experience I do all the degree in one term probably.
Cost: $3825 for 6 months

OR

UMPI Grad Cert in SPED: https://www.umpi.edu/yourpace/academic_p...grad-cert/
https://catalog.umpi.edu/preview_program...7&poid=835

It's only 12 credits.
$2450 for an 8 week term (not sure I'd finish in one term, but even two terms wouldn't be bad)

Idk whats better a 12 credit graduate certificate or a second bachelors degree. What do you guys think?? What's more marketable?

[Heartstrings]

I would say the certificate. I have worked as a services coordination specialist working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My visits were 15 mins or less. You say you don't want to work in education, what exactly would you do with a SPED degree? I would work with schools and SPED teachers are overworked and put in situations where their safety may be at risk. Even with my 15 min visit I got physically attacked by a client once. I can only imagine a full work day.

[natshar]

I would say the certificate. I have worked as a services coordination specialist working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. My visits were 15 mins or less. You say you don't want to work in education, what exactly would you do with a SPED degree? I would work with schools and SPED teachers are overworked and put in situations where their safety may be at risk. Even with my 15 min visit I got physically attacked by a client once. I can only imagine a full work day.

Edited. I do want to work in education but not as a teacher and I have no interest in getting a degree that requires teacher certification. Sorry should have clarified. I want to work with people with disabilities (already do this) but not as a formal sped teacher.

[jg_nuy]

It feels like you would get more bang for your buck from the certificate, particularly because you are not looking to be a teacher and want to continue working with people with disabilities. The four courses seem to drive at that:

SED 505 - Understanding The Individual Education Program (IEP)
SED 510 - Data-Driven Decision Making in Education
SED 515 - Collaboration and Critical Conversations in Special Education
SED 520 - Executive Functioning in Special Education

[bjcheung77]

Graduate credit is more worth it in the long run, just like the "freebie" from ASU, those 15 credits are now worth $3K in fees...