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 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.

I see what you mean, but Stanford's decision doesn't have to do with its reputation; it has to do with what employers want. Unless one plans to become a licensed engineer and work in engineering, ABET accreditation doesn't have much value. Also, a lot of schools don't bother with earning ABET accreditation for their graduate programs even though they have it for the undergraduate counterparts.

Edit: There are a few exceptions. USPTO makes it easier to qualify for the patent bar if your bachelor's in CS is ABET-accredited.

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Oh, you're not looking at an MS in Computer Science; you're looking at an MSE. They accept non-engineering degrees that don't fall under ABET's scope.

https://engineering.purdue.edu/ProEd/app...egree/dual

Yeah, I mean I know it's probably not absolutely required, but the advice on here tends to be pick a goal and work back from it. An abet accredited CS degree is more helpful for me to get into a masters program like Purdue's. I have no personal attachment to ABET and no opinion about it's quality. I'm just working back from what my end goal may be, and ABET would make me more likely to get into a good masters if I go that route. I get what you mean about employer value, but for academics it does matter because that's the kind of thing that schools like Purdue look at when screening applicants. Their pages for MS mention ABET in several places, so I know it's something that they look at.