Is an academic certificate a degree for the purposes of "new" credits? Am I screwed?

[ItsNeverTheLionsYear]

I completed three online classes in C++ at Washtenaw Community College, which is one of two introductory programming sequences (Intro, Objects, Data Structures). Because I did this, I was automatically awarded their "Advanced Certificate in C++ Programming", a standalone academic certificate. I knew this going into it, and the extra credential was one of the reasons I chose to get my intro classes done this way. 

I was aware of the 24 new credit requirement for the BACS. I figured I could still meet the requirement, even with earning the certificate, under the assumption that I was earning an extra certificate, not an extra degree. Notably, TESU does not yet know that I earned the certificate, because I sent my transcripts from WCC as soon as the final grade for my last class was posted (which I do for all of my transcripts), but before WCC processed the auto award. I didn't bother to tell them because I didn't think it mattered.

I had not worried about this until recently, when I gathered my materials for my OMSCS application. My unofficial WCC transcript slaps a big ol' "Degree Awarded" above my "Advanced Certificate", replete with a "Degree Date" and everything. This has me worried that my assumption was wrong, and that certificates are degrees, somehow.

I can lose the 12 WCC credits being after my most recent degree, but I also completed my SDC and Sophia courses in the gaps between my WCC classes, and I'd lose those too, meaning I'd be down to 14 credits new to a degree. Since I have a first BA already, and already put in my OMSCS application, I would basically give up on the BACS entirely. If certificates are degrees, I certainly wouldn't want to be awarded the BACS in direct violation of TESU's policies (they can take it away and that would be embarrassing), but it would also suck if my semantic confusion means I messed up my course plan.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!