How is the MBA Information Technology Management from WGU?

theitpro

Anyone currently taking it? Has it helped your career any?

srabiee

Good question. I'd like to know as well.

dannyky

I would be interested in this too.

aspiringsoul

I am interested as well. Might go for this after I complete the MS:ISA.

thegreatbelow

Yeah, I was curious if more certs are accepted.. or if any of the certs acquired for BS will transfer over again.. (if they are still current or within 5 years).

And the difficulty compared to the BS classes at WGU

matai

I'm starting the program May 1st.

Seems like a lot more people are going the MSISA route.

netsysllc

I will let you know when I get a new job I graduated in January

nelson8403

How was the material? I just finished my MSISA but I still have 18 weeks left in my term (finished my MSISA in 7 weeks)

I may try to take the MBA IT during this term but I kind of want to get an idea of the material.

netsysllc

Lots of papers and some business simulations, one is a group project for part of the capstone class

srabiee

What does the group project entail? That sounds very different from the BS and MS capstone projects.

hurricane1091

Update on this please? Started the BS: IT Security yesterday. Just kicking tires on what the future could hold.

cs8400

Curious about this as well. I'm early on in the MSITM program. Thinking about switching to an MSISA & MBAITM combo.

srabiee

I am also in the first term of the MS:ITM program and I am enjoying it. What is prompting you to want to change programs?

hurricane1091

srabiee wrote: »

I am also in the first term of the MS:ITM program and I am enjoying it. What is prompting you to want to change programs?

Can you explain the benefit of an MS over MBA? I've done my due diligence but still am left undecided. Seems like MBA for management but I don't know.

srabiee

It depends on the programs you want to compare, but basically I think you'll find that MS degrees are more technically focused and MBA degrees are more business focused. For example, the MBA will more than likely have finance, accounting, and marketing courses, whereas the MS may not have those. Instead, you will take more technically focused courses. It really depends on what you are interested in and where you want your career to go.

cs8400

srabiee wrote: »

I am also in the first term of the MS:ITM program and I am enjoying it. What is prompting you to want to change programs?

If I were to do just one it would be the MSITM. I guess in my mind a MSITM & MBAITM (2 management degrees) might be a bit redundant. Plus my BS is in Technical Management. So that would stick me with 3 management degrees. That's why I'm considering switching to the MSISA and pursuing the MBAITM next year, although I am more interested in the classes that the MSITM offers. Thoughts? Is having an MS and MBA overkill?

aspiringsoul

Personally, unless you really want to get on the Business/Financial side of IT, I don't see how an MBA would be relevant. I think your time might be better spent learning new technology since the field of Information Technology is so comprehensive and constantly changing.

I would rather invest my time by earning certifications and learning technology that is relevant to my job and career goals.

srabiee

I chose the MS:ITM because a more technically focused degree appeals to me at this point in my career (wanting to stick closely with engineering-related roles). I may go back and get an MBA at some time in the future if I want to make a transition to a more business management focused position, if necessary. I don't know how much a masters degree will help my career at this time, if at all, but it was goal I wanted to accomplish regardless.

Pishof

Srabiee, I'm considering applying for the WGU MS:ITM program.

Looks like you've over half complete from your signature. How has it been and would you recommend?

srabiee

My opinion on the WGU MS:ITM program is overall mixed at this point, but leaning towards the negative.

I cannot say that I would completely recommend this degree. The courses just seem to be too unfocused, some of the course material is downright useless, and frankly I'm pretty bored of it only halfway in. I did not have any of these issues with the WGU BS:ND&M degree. I would almost recommend a complete overhaul for this degree plan. At the very least, they need to include some objective assessments (exams), more technical courses, and stop relying solely on writing so many damned papers. And a certification or two wouldn't hurt either. As it stands, the degree is 100% performance assessments. (multiple 10+ page papers per course)

The course mentors are hit or miss. One of my course mentors oversees 4 of the courses in the program and she is phenomenal. She's always available, always willing to go above and beyond, and really helped me when I was struggling to complete a few of the assessments. Some of the other course mentors, especially the ones for the technical courses, have been extremely unhelpful. Form letter responses to email questions, never answer their phones during office hours, and 2 ~ 3 days turnaround time after leaving messages just to receive a response like "You might want to do a Google search on that." I've called Student Services and complained several times, but nothing really came of it. I felt completely on my own while working on those courses and was very frustrated by the situation. Again, never had that problem with the BS degree. Seems like because this particular degree plan is so unpopular, there just aren't enough resources assigned to helping the existing MSITM students along.

Don't get me wrong, I don't regret my decision to pursue an MS degree from WGU, it's just that I wasn't expecting the road to be so bumpy along the way. I'm pretty burned out already and can't wait to finish the degree so I can focus on other things. (VCP-DCV, MCSE:Exchange, MCSE:Private Cloud, etc)

Pishof

Thanks for the detailed feedback. I also had no issue with the B.S. IT program a couple years ago but fortunately never had to contact any course mentors.

A friend completed the M.S. ISA but I'm not interested in pursuing that field. I am interested in a few courses of the MS:ITM but others I really wouldn't look forward to. They are probably the same you don't care for.
I'm definitely not looking forward to an entire course load of writing papers but I expect that out of a masters program that isn't in practical research.

I really wish they had more M.S paths that are more IT architect level focused. I've looked at Dakota State and Illinois at Springfield programs but would have to take the GRE due to the "3.0 B Equivalent" of my WGU B.S.
A masters with WGU will also be significantly cheaper if I really focus and knock out the courses. Although I need to renew my MCSE and VCP next by 10/30/16 so I'm not sure if I can complete the program within 12 months.

I'm speaking with the enrollment adviser tomorrow but I'm still on the fence. I won't be looking to start until November.
I have my concerns they will axe this program like the previous Network Administration Masters. Maybe that would be for the best.

Do you mind sharing about how many hours a week you work on the courses?

srabiee

The MS Network Management degree was renamed to become the current MS IT Management degree, unless there was an even older MS networking degree that I'm not familiar with. The degree plan between the two are almost identical, except one or two classes were removed and all of the objective assessments were removed.

I agree, WGU needs to add another MS program, something in advanced system administration or virtualization, maybe even with an MCSE or VCP integrated into the program. I would be all over that. Their existing options are too limited, and the MS:ITM program has very few students enrolled from what I have read.

I spend anywhere from 15 to 30 hours per week working on assignments, depending on my motivation level. Average probably about 22 hours a week. I put in 30 ~ 35 hours a week on my BS program, but that one was so much easier and more enjoyable in comparison.

Pishof

I see, so it was restructured into the MS:ITM then. I really hope they add a more focused MS:IT in the near future.

One of the primary draws to WGU is the certifications and practical courses.
Imagine how popular a program would be offering coursework focused on the design & implementation of Data Center technologies. I'd love to see relevant performance courses mixed with VCP/VCIX, and a vendor neutral SAN course. MCSE:Private Cloud would fit in but I fear it'd require 5 tests alone.

Sounds like one could knock out the Master as is within a dedicated year. Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to dedicate myself fully to it just yet. I've decided to wait it out a year and accomplish some other goals first. Maybe there will be word of another Masters by then.

Thanks a lot srabiee.

ccnpninja

Thanks a lot for the input

jameslobato

hurricane1091 wrote: »

Update on this please? Started the BS: IT Security yesterday. Just kicking tires on what the future could hold.

Hey can you tell me what the curriculum is like for your BS program or just your experience so far. I'm considering WGU and Colorado Tech so I would really appreciate any info you can give about completing the course material etc.

goatama

jameslobato wrote: »

Hey can you tell me what the curriculum is like for your BS program or just your experience so far. I'm considering WGU and Colorado Tech so I would really appreciate any info you can give about completing the course material etc.

Take a look at the 200+ page sticky, it'll give you a pretty good idea: http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/52825-student-experiences-western-governors-university-wgu.html

JayLQue

How was the MSISA

nelson8403 wrote: »

How was the material? I just finished my MSISA but I still have 18 weeks left in my term (finished my MSISA in 7 weeks)

I may try to take the MBA IT during this term but I kind of want to get an idea of the material.