Some Master’s Degrees Are the Second Biggest Scam in Higher Education

[aslhou]

Maybe one of these kind of certs could be what you were talking about?

https://online1.gsb.columbia.edu/chief-m...University

USD$ 28,000 for a 9 months non-credit cert from Emeritus & Columbia Business School.

https://emeritus.org/universities/columb...ess-school

That particular program is not a scam, nor are any of the Columbia programs leading to a CIBE (certificate in business excellence).
You get Columbia GSB alumni status including being listed in their alumni directory, ability to join local GSB clubs, and a lifetime columbia.edu forwarding email.
I'm actually completing mine right now 
You can also get 25% off each course (if you do the 9 courses instead of the single program) by using an MBA graduate's discount, or my discount once I have completed the program in late April.
I get that $16-17k for a certificate is a rip-off, but it's by far the cheapest Ivy League alumni status program.