WGU Here I Come - Starting BS IT Network Operations and Security

justdavey

Hi All,

Long time lurker, short time member here and I've been encouraged by the progress threads of some of the members here to start my own journey in WGU.

I was looking at the BS IT Security but have moved to the BS Network Operations and Security. Having been in both fields for approx 15 years I hope to knock it off inside of one term. If all goes well with credits & certs transferred I should start on November 1st.

I've got the following certifications that transfer into the program:

CCNA
CCNP
CCDA
CISSP
PMP
ITIL v3 Foundation ( it's mentionned in the course listings but not the transfer doc.. TBD)

I have some college and university classes in social sciences that will be evaluated and sent in to WGU. I hope I can knock off the humanities and geography classes. I haven't taken a (non stats) math or sciences class since high school. Most of my classes are in French to boot, so i'll be doing the College Composition classes, hopefully one of my foreign language classes will knock something out here.

Thanks to jibtech's thread, I signed up for ALEKS and knocked out in approx 40 hours of work through August. Thank goodness for the pre-assessments to save time through the learning modules.

• Intermediate Algebra
• College Algebra
• Pre-Calculus (will hopefully fill out the Intro to Stats)

Hopefully I don't have any math classes in my future.

Next steps:

• Working on the science classes through Straighterline
• Work will pay for getting the A+ and AWS exams and materials I may also try to get the CIW DB cert to hopefully knock off 2 other classes. DBs aren't my forte though and i'll be stretching things thin.

I'm hoping to keep the actual classes to a minimum and finish quickly. The only certs i'm looking at getting in-house would be the CCNA: Security and web development.

Thanks for reading and more news as it develops!

kohr-ah

Hey hey they finally renamed it to to something that makes sense!
Good luck! I graduated from there let me know if you have any questions

Legacy User

Good luck, thats what I did a bunch of CIW certs, CLEP exams, and straighterline courses before I started the WGU process. I transferred in my A.A.S in computer studies, CCNA, CCNA SEC, CCDA and transferred in 96 credits. I officially finished the Bachelors in 3 months at WGU but real time was 1yr and 1/2 but much cheaper without a time constraint.

Actually the BS Network Operations and Security sounds like a good program that can be relevant for netops/network security kind of work. Linux, CCNA,CCDA, CCNA Sec. I seen plenty of roles looking for junior guys with 1 year of experience, Bachelors in IT and CCNA but new graduates were encouraged to apply. A strong CCNA with a Bachelors can work their way into some place as long as they come off as confident and friendly in the interview.

Sorry to segway the OP but was not aware of the new program at WGU.

jibtech

Glad to hear my journey was helpful to someone else's process!

Make sure you check the number of credits you are transferring. You can only transfer up to 75% of the required credits, as you must take 25% of the total credits at WGU.

Also, if Pre-Calc doesn't qualify, the Intro to Stats through Aleks definitely does.

Good luck!!

jdancer

And if you are getting punked by SL science courses, you can take DSST non-lab science exams for credit.

DSST is offering a retake if you take an exam before September 30th. DSST | Get College Credit

jibtech

jdancer wrote: »

And if you are getting punked by SL science courses, you can take DSST non-lab science exams for credit.

DSST is offer a retake if you take an exam before September 30th. DSST | Get College Credit

That was what I did. Studied Astronomy for Dummies for about 2 days, then knocked out the DSST for Astronomy.

justdavey

The closest test center is 2.5 hours away in another country. I may look into it more closely as my drop dead date approaches and make a 'test day' out of it.

Thanks for the info

coreyb80

Congrats OP. I just switched to this program as of yesterday. I was in the Bachelors Network Emphasis and the certs were very lackluster compared to this program.

justdavey

Did the A+ 220-901 exam yesterday and passed. I realize not everyone started in computers by troubleshooting PCs and components, but... for a university level class, I still think this cert is low level. Just trying to remeber how to troubleshoot printers and what parts to put in PCs... I'm surprised it didn't ask to troubleshoot modem INIT strings and IRQs. Ahh the good old days.

220-902 up next. Seems more security focused from the material i'm reading.

justdavey

220-902 done - CompTIA A+ cert.. woohoo.. yay... fun...(Not)


Here my latest list of tranfer credit courses.

C463 Intermediate Algebra (ALEKS before Aug 31) 3
C278 College Algebra (ALEKS before Aug 31) 3
C100 Intro to Humanities (College Credit) 3
C255 Intro to Geography (College Credit) 3
C393 IT Foundations (CompTIA A+) 4
C394 IT Applications (CompTIA A+) 4
C172 Network and Security - Foundations (CCNP) 3
C178 Network and Secuirty - Application (CISSP) 4
C480 Networks (CCNA) 4
C176 Business of IT - Project Management (PMP) 4
C917 Network Design Foundations (CCDA) 4


Working on
Sciences and Composition at Straighterline
DB workshop CIW

Total Credits: 39/123

justdavey

Finished off Intro to Biology tonight on Straighterline. It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Debating whether to try the Lab portion. WGU has also updated the Network Operations and Security transfer guidelines and added ITIL Foundation to substitute the Business of IT - Applications class.

Total Credits: 46/123
Next up: College Composition I, II
Considering LPI Essentials cert
Looking at a December 1 enrollment.

yoba222

justdavey wrote: »

220-902 done - CompTIA A+ cert.. woohoo.. yay... fun...(Not)

Among certs you've earned such as the CISSP, CISM, PMP, and CCNP, your latest (and greatest) crown jewel is the A+.

Dakinggamer87

Good luck on your journey!!

justdavey

How else am I going to troubleshoot the printer or projector! Where is the cert for common sense?

justdavey

In an effort to procrastinate some more on the English Composition classes, I did IT fundamentals at Straighterline. 4 more CUs

To date on the transfers
C100 Intro to Humanities (College Credit) 3
C172 Network and Security - Foundations (CCNP) 3
C176 Business of IT - Project Management (PMP) 4
C178 Network and Secuirty - Application (CISSP) 4
C182 Introduction to IT (Straighterline) 4
C190 Introduction to Biology (Straighterline) 3
C255 Intro to Geography (College Credit) 3
C278 College Algebra (ALEKS before Aug 31) 3
C393 IT Foundations (CompTIA A+) 4
C394 IT Applications (CompTIA A+) 4
C463 Intermediate Algebra (ALEKS before Aug 31) 3
C480 Networks (CCNA) 4
C846 Business of IT - Applications (ITIL-F) 4
C917 Network Design Foundations (CCDA) 4

50/93 CUs

If I knew if Pre-Calculus at Aleks (before Aug 31st) could transfer for Intro to Stats it would help out. My advisor doesn't want to send my courses in for eval before everything is in.

Next UP: College Composition I & II
Certs: meh... Maybe LPI if I can skim through the material.
Still looking at Astronomy CLEP for end of month.


Still on December timeframe to start

justdavey

Long time no post. Finally got an eval at the start of Jan. Looking at March 1 start for BS: NOS

Was able to knock off 5 classes through Straighterline and do the Comptia cloud essentials and LPIC-1

Intermediate Algebra (ACE) 3
College Algebra (ACE) 3
Intro to Probability and Statistics (ACE) 3
Intro to Humanities (Straighterline Intro to Religion) 3
Integrated Physical Sciences (Straighterline Physics) 3
Introduction to Biology (Straighterline) 3
Intro to Geography (College Credit) 3
Introduction to IT (Straighterline) 4
IT Foundations (CompTIA A+) 4
IT Applications (CompTIA A+) 4
Network and Security - Foundations (CCDA) 3
Business of IT - Applications (ITIL-F) 4
Organizational Behavior andLeadership (Straighterline) 3
Fundamentals of InterconnectingNetwork Devices (CCNA) 6
Interconnecting Network Devices (CCNA) 6
Linux Foundations (LPI Linux Ess.) 3
Network and Security - Applications (CISSP) 4
Networks (CCDA) 4
Business of IT - Project Management (PMP) 4
Cloud Foundations (COMPTIA Cloud Ess) 3


I'm appealing Network Design Foundations - my CCDA wasn't applied for this.
Have CIW Web Foundation Associate (1D0-610) scheduled this week.

If everything gets accepted and I pass above I should be at: 79/123

stryder144

Did they give a reason for why the CCDA didn't transfer?

justdavey

My enrollment advisor seems to think it's an oversight as it was accepted for other classes. I appealed just in case.

--Dave

justdavey

My appeal was accepted. One less class. Also finished CIW 1D0-610 Web Foundations Associate to replace the Web Development Foundations class.

justdavey

Last post before I start (hopefully)

Did the CIW Database Design Specialist exam (1D0-541) and have sent off the CIW transcripts to the enrollment councilor. I think this will be the extent of my transfer credit. Considering everything gets accepted:

Intermediate Algebra (ACE) 3
College Algebra (ACE) 3
Intro to Probability and Statistics (ACE) 3
Intro to Humanities (Straighterline Intro to Religion) 3
Integrated Physical Sciences (Straighterline Physics) 3
Introduction to Biology (Straighterline) 3
Intro to Geography (College Credit) 3
Introduction to IT (Straighterline) 4
IT Foundations (CompTIA A+) 4
IT Applications (CompTIA A+) 4
Network and Security - Foundations (CCDA) 3
Business of IT - Applications (ITIL-F) 4
Organizational Behavior and Leadership (Straighterline) 3
Fundamentals of Interconnecting Network Devices (CCNA) 6
Interconnecting Network Devices (CCNA) 6
Linux Foundations (LPI Linux Ess.) 3
Network and Security - Applications (CISSP) 4
Networks (CCDA) 4
Business of IT - Project Management (PMP) 4
Cloud Foundations (COMPTIA Cloud Ess) 3
Network Design Foundations (CCDA) 3
Web Development Foundations (CIW) 3
Data Management - Foundations (CIW) 3

Also found out I could transfer in up to 75% of credits for the program - so 92

At this point i'm at 82/123 for the whole program. Not too shabby. Not sure an extra month would get me close to max with say the composition classes and the scripting at Straighterline.

More news as it comes.

devilbones

justdavey wrote: »

Last post before I start (hopefully)

Did the CIW Database Design Specialist exam (1D0-541) and have sent off the CIW transcripts to the enrollment councilor. I think this will be the extent of my transfer credit. Considering everything gets accepted:

Intermediate Algebra (ACE) 3
College Algebra (ACE) 3
Intro to Probability and Statistics (ACE) 3
Intro to Humanities (Straighterline Intro to Religion) 3
Integrated Physical Sciences (Straighterline Physics) 3
Introduction to Biology (Straighterline) 3
Intro to Geography (College Credit) 3
Introduction to IT (Straighterline) 4
IT Foundations (CompTIA A+) 4
IT Applications (CompTIA A+) 4
Network and Security - Foundations (CCDA) 3
Business of IT - Applications (ITIL-F) 4
Organizational Behavior and Leadership (Straighterline) 3
Fundamentals of Interconnecting Network Devices (CCNA) 6
Interconnecting Network Devices (CCNA) 6
Linux Foundations (LPI Linux Ess.) 3
Network and Security - Applications (CISSP) 4
Networks (CCDA) 4
Business of IT - Project Management (PMP) 4
Cloud Foundations (COMPTIA Cloud Ess) 3
Network Design Foundations (CCDA) 3
Web Development Foundations (CIW) 3
Data Management - Foundations (CIW) 3

Also found out I could transfer in up to 75% of credits for the program - so 92

At this point i'm at 82/123 for the whole program. Not too shabby. Not sure an extra month would get me close to max with say the composition classes and the scripting at Straighterline.

More news as it comes.

Why didn't you wait to do CIW Database Design Specialist exam until you started WGU? The exam would have been covered by tuition and you could have satisfied some credits in your semester. Any specific reason?

justdavey

devilbones wrote: »

Why didn't you wait to do CIW Database Design Specialist exam until you started WGU? The exam would have been covered by tuition and you could have satisfied some credits in your semester. Any specific reason?

2 reasons: My work reimburses certification training/testing and to remove a class in a quick way. I was also thinking of trying for the CCNA: Security but the price and material to study just didn't fit for the last month.

It's come a long way from just adding ACLs to a PIX. Can't believe how much ASDM is used for firewall administration. I'm just used to CLI for most operations. Although with ACI, FirePOWR and other platforms the CLI is slowly being removed from the equation. I'm thinking the class will be helpful to pass this.

justdavey

devilbones wrote: »

Why didn't you wait to do CIW Database Design Specialist exam until you started WGU? The exam would have been covered by tuition and you could have satisfied some credits in your semester. Any specific reason?

2 reasons: My work reimburses certification training/testing and to remove a class in a quick way. I was also thinking of trying for the CCNA: Security but the price and material to study just didn't fit for the last month.

It's come a long way from just adding ACLs to a PIX. Can't believe how much ASDM is used for firewall administration. I'm just used to CLI for most operations. Although with ACI, FirePOWR and other platforms the CLI is slowly being removed from the equation. I'm thinking the class will be helpful to pass this.

devilbones

justdavey wrote: »

2 reasons: My work reimburses certification training/testing and to remove a class in a quick way. I was also thinking of trying for the CCNA: Security but the price and material to study just didn't fit for the last month.

It's come a long way from just adding ACLs to a PIX. Can't believe how much ASDM is used for firewall administration. I'm just used to CLI for most operations. Although with ACI, FirePOWR and other platforms the CLI is slowly being removed from the equation. I'm thinking the class will be helpful to pass this.

Ok. Well just something to think about: If you are prepared enough to pass, you could have waited and knocked this out first. You would have satisfied some credits for your semester and you could have saved the training money from your company to cover an exam that is not part of your degree.

layer8problems

How does CCDA compare to CCNA in difficulty? I'm debating trying the CCDA prior to enrollment.

Would completing College Algebra in ALEKS automatically cover you for Intermediate Algebra requirement in WGU?

justdavey

layer8problems wrote: »

How does CCDA compare to CCNA in difficulty? I'm debating trying the CCDA prior to enrollment.

Would completing College Algebra in ALEKS automatically cover you for Intermediate Algebra requirement in WGU?

I thought the CCDA was more difficult at the time (almost 9 years ago) due to the different perspective on design vs operations. It kind of turned me off from going further and doing the CCDP. Didn't really see a use for it in what I was doing. If you like going into the whole equipment lifecycle and have a familiarity with most Cisco equipment this is for you.

I hear ALEKS is no longer recognized by ACE for college credit. If ever they recertify with ACE, your classes will be recognized. Until then it sucks that such an awesome way to get math lower level classes is shut. They still have the ACE page, but with a big notice at the top.

https://www.aleks.com/about_aleks/ace_credit

justdavey

I started at WGU today. Transferred in 84 of 123 CUs. Did the Orientation class. Met my mentor late last week and he's onboard for finishing this degree quickly. Many thanks to all the folks who documented their WGU journeys. It's made things much easier and encouraged me to jump in the WGU pool.

Passed
C168 Critical Thinking and Logic.

Remaining:
Intro to Communication C646
English Composition I C455
English Composiition II C456
Natural Science Lab C683
Scripting and Programming - Foundations C173
Spreadsheets C268
Principles of Management C483
Technical Communications C768
Designing Customized Security C299
Emerging Technologies C850
IT Capstone C769

justdavey

Latest Update: Passed Intro to Communications C646.
I've had nothing but good things for the interactions with the course instructors. The one's i've dealt with to date have been really helpful in pointing me in the right direction for readings and assignments. Not at all like at a B&M school where I would be tipsytoeing around profs and TAs during their availabilities due to their having to put up with teaching lowly undergrads. My student mentor is awesome as well thank goodness.

Next up:English Composition I - Finished task 1 and passed. Hoping to submit task 2 (of 4) tonight.

jamshid666

I started this program in December. I transferred in with 47 CUs and finished 11 CUs so far. Should have been able to finish more, but the first three months I was splitting time between WGU, Study.com, and preparing for the VMware VCP6-DCV exam. I have since put Study.com on hold and passed the VCP certification, so now it's time to accelerate my progress with WGU. I'm going to finish my last required class of the term this week, C172 Network and Security Fundamentals, and I still have 2 1/2 months left this term, so I'm going to add Network+ and Security+ to this term. If I finish them with enough time left, I'll also add Linux+.

justdavey

This is great progress considering all the rest. Good luck the rest of the way. I almost wish I'd have done more gen. ed. classes to get to the technical stuff faster.

jamshid666

Yeah, I'm happy to have transferred all of the general ed stuff into WGU, so I'm doing nothing but technical classes.