average associates degree or a certificate of completion in the IT field I desire?

Question

I am a returning student, and dont want to waste any time, this time around. I did not complete my associates degree ten years ago, and I want to finish it, but should I, if it wil be a waste of time, especially since I have chosen a career interest in the IT field. Also would getting a Certificate of Completion be enough to get me started in the IT Networking field?

Answer 1

With no experience, don't spend your time on a degree just yet. Spend your time (and your money) on classes that prepare you to take the industry-standard certifications for your feild. Networking's a big topic. If you want to work with infrastructure (routers, switches, the way data gets from Point A to Point B) then study for Cisco. If you want to work with servers and systems (how the data is stored, and how it's used by the users) opt for Microsoft. If you want to work with the data itself (database design/administration, data mining, data warehousing) go for Oracle. Get the premier certifications--- for Microsoft, that's MCSE, not MCP or MCSA.

Employers in the IT industry these days are very reluctant to hire a candidate that has no experience, but they'll be more likely to take a chance on you if Microsoft (or Oracle or Java or Sun or whoever) says you know how the product works, as opposed to a degree. Even though a degree takes longer to earn, employers just don't trust it as endorsement that you're qualified if you don't have experience to back it up. If you already had experience, the degree would be the way to go as you'd earn a lot more money, but for an entry-level position for an inexperienced person, you will have a very, very hard time getting a job without being certified, no matter how many degrees you have.

Tuition reimbursement is a common benefit in IT in the US. You can take college courses that count towards your degree in anything you want, and your employer will pay you back a percentage of your tuition, provided you get good grades. So once you're working, take advantage of this benefit and finish your degree taking night classes.

Answer 2

Getting an associates degree will definitely pay off in the long run. You can find many accredited colleges that will apply "life experiences" towards a bachelors degree. Having an associates degree puts you that much closer. I think most recruiters for the IT field look at a college degree in a better way than having a certificate of completion. I'm not putting down anyone who gets a cert. of compl. It's just that a lot of people rank the education process as: ged, high school diploma, work experience, trade school, college, post college.

Answer 3

thus, bypass for the certificate. because it it actual that an associate's degree is about 60 semester hours, and also you've were given to take accepted training instructions like technology, math, english, and a certification software doesn't provide you a level, so that you in undemanding words ought to take the mandatory classes to be qualified. The above is misguided in that certification degree will be received in as low as 4 months (on-line), yet presented that the student is amazingly determined in his/her analyze. i am going to't say an HVAC degree will provide you more effective pastime opportunities, and that is misguided in saying a Bachelor degree in a while is an extra effective 60 semester hours. frequently, you'll pop out with an A.A.S, it really is an associate utilized technology degree. this way degree is geared heavily in route of the selected occupation (HVAC) and in no way a lot in route of a Bachelor degree. Many credit/classes are not any further transferred to a Bachelor degree because the degree is too heavily centred contained in the sciences. that is massive on your occupation yet no longer a lot for a larger degree. absolutely everyone with a B.S. degree is conscious why too many credit in a particular component of be taught are in simple terms wasted and do not count number in route of your degree. an same reason you are able to take and pay for 7 or 8 paintings classes yet in undemanding words 2-3 will count number in route of your degree. therefore the Bachelor degree will take more effective than 60 extra credit. this relies upon on your occupation decision, I doubt many HVAC Techs are going to have an income with an associate degree. if so, why no longer bypass for an engineering degree from the starting up? I easily have an AAS as my field required it (no longer HVAC). For HVAC, i extremely believe a certification is proper and low-priced. Don’t plan on getting an AAS degree, then turning that right into a B.S., it is going to take a ultimate quantity more effective money and time.

Answer 4

your college class credits from the past should be taken into consideration, and YES you need an associates to get a good job in the IT field, you will make more $