CIS/CS Certificates

[camjenks]

I believe OP just want to aim as wide as he can since he is not sure what he want's to do. He just needs to make sure he tailor his resume correctly I guess.

Listing multiple BA's, associate and certs might come off weird and not very focus (especially since he is very young). Sometimes multiple fields can come off as a plus, but junior positions are often very focused in a specific field, altho OP experience seems to be he was doing some jack of all trade IT position not sure that apply to most fields.

Then, he should choose one or the other. Getting an undergraduate certificate and associate's in the same field doesn't add breadth. It's redundant. 

I have a good knack for computers and Computer Science-y stuff, and I'm thinking it would be a good idea to get a credential in that area to add to my resume (especially since I'm wanting to learn a couple programming languages anyway), but I'm wanting some feedback on which one. I already have a double-major BA planned so adding a CS area of study isn't an option (maybe down the road), and I don't want to do a second capstone which rules out a BSBA-CIS (not that I think a bachelor's in computers is really necessary for me anyway). So I'm thinking that my options are:

Undergrad Certificate in Computer Information Systems
Undergrad Certificate in Computer Science
ASNSM in Computer Science

The ASNSM would probably be the easiest to get since it seems like they count pretty much any computer-related course there (the What-If tool is even showing that my Excel class would count there). But based on how easy it is to get, I'm guessing it wouldn't really add anything to my resume. And I know someone on here who works as a hiring manager has stated that they see an Undergrad Certificate as more impactful than an associates since it requires some UL courses.

The next easiest to get would be the CIS certificate, for three reasons: 1) No need to take Data Structures, 2) I already have the CLEP InfoSystems, which I'm assuming fills the Intro to CIS requirement for that certificate, and 3) The content more closely matches what I've learned from my experience.

The CS certificate wouldn't be particularly hard given that I need to rack up graded credits anyway, so I would just take it Data Structures at a CC instead of another class. Wouldn't cost me extra $ and in terms of time it would only cost me the time it takes to replace the course I would've taken at the CC with another alt-credit class.

So I guess my main questions are these:
1) How much, if any, advantage is there in getting a CS certificate instead of CIS?
2) Could it be worth doing two of the above three? There could be quite a bit of overlap if I planned it right, but would it just be redundant or would having both Computer Science and Computer Information Systems add something to my resume?

I am a hiring manager (well, when I'm not taking time off to finish my degree) and as such, I don't see a lot of value in undergrad certificates unless they significantly add breadth to a candidates resume. And even then, I don't see them as any different than an associates degree in impact. A second bachelor's degree is more impactful, assuming it is different but complementary to the first degree.

Regardless of which approach you take, a second credential won't add additional impact over a bachelor's degree unless it adds value. It must suggest additional ways you can add value to the company as an employee, otherwise it adds nothing to the first degree.

The CIS or CS cert may add value if you can show how it makes you better in doing the job you're applying for. For example, if you're working in customer service in a software company, the CS or CIS degree may add value to show you can also help troubleshoot IT related issues in addition to account issues.

If you want to add real impact to your resume, add a grad certificate or a masters degree that complements your bachelor's.

As a hiring manager, what do you think about Graduate Certificates? Something a little past the bachelor level but not as expensive/time intensive as a masters. I have been in IT for a few years as a systems administrator, and I REALLY enjoyed python in my CS course, so I've been pondering the possibility of going toward more of a developer role or maybe DevOps that would combine my current job with more programming. I like the problem solving aspect of the programming. I also have that to some extent in my current role, but I don't like that my current career path will probably always have me client facing and doing favors for people when their kid messes up their ipad to keep my bosses happy. It just gets old.

I'm already too far down the path to earning my BSBA in CIS to switch gears now, and I don't really see any cheap options for a decent (abet accredited) CS degree.

I think my dream would be to get something like this MS+MBA that's a partnership between IU Business School and Purdue (https://engineering.purdue.edu/ProEd/pro...ee-mse-mba). That would only be if I land a job that's going to pay for it, and Purdue wants an abet accredited bachelors to get into the program. I'm kind of thinking that a good graduate certificate along with recommendations might be enough to get me into the program without an actual ABET CS bachelors. But I'm also just considering what would be advantageous for career advancement, regardless of academic requirements.

Any thoughts??

Why do you need an ABET-accredited master's in CS? Some of the top CS programs, such as Stanford, have chosen to forego ABET accreditation because they've found it doesn't add any value to their students searching for jobs.

Yeah, obviously a school like stanford can rely on its reputation. I mentioned abet accreditation because a masters program that I may want to do in the future lists it as a requirement.