Western Governors University Questions and Answers / Threads related to WGU

Nobylspoon

Hi all. I'm planning to start on the MSISA in December. My company is paying the tuition so I am getting the necessary paperwork completed. Can someone tell me what the recommended first course will be. Also, what the course number and credit hours are for that course?

Thanks!

MagnumOpus

Signing up for WGU as we speak. Would anyone be so nice enough to grant me a referral code?

Thanks in Advance,

Jack2

Well down to the last 16 units ..Starting a new term on Nov. 1st Can't wait to be completed with this journey in my life!!

ajs1976

What is the most credits anyone has transferred into WGU?

Is there a cap on the number of credits you can transfer? I'm assuming everyone has to complete the education without borders, technical writing, and capstone courses.

Ivanjam

@ajs1976 - gunbunnysoulja above transferred in 82 CU. I have seen someone on these forums transfer in 96 CU (I forgot who it was).

Thexzeno

It security track here i come!

was wondering if anyone has a referral code i could have or is it possible for me to speak with the counselor to see if he has one?

DoubleNNs

There's a thread in the forums here for WGU referral codes.

PurpleIT

ajs1976 wrote: »

What is the most credits anyone has transferred into WGU?

Is there a cap on the number of credits you can transfer? I'm assuming everyone has to complete the education without borders, technical writing, and capstone courses.

I transferred 90.

Tech writing and the Capstone are WGU specific and I seem to recall one or two others that are the same way so while you may be able to transfer more than 90, I don't think it will be too many more.

Mccaula718

I had a few questions about the IT Masters programs. I just got my b.s. in Computer Information Technology from UMUC and have began looking into online masters programs. WGU seems to be a good option, but I have a few questions for those who received the IT M.S. or are working on it.

Certifications:
The MS in Information Security and Assurance seems to be the only one where you get credit for certs. While i'm not against that degree, I was looking more into the M.S. Information Technology—Network Management program as I would like to be a Network Engineer. I have my CCNA and CEH so I that should eliminate two classes from the Info Sec and assurance degree. Since I have those certs, do I simply submit them and not have to take the course at all?

Course tests:
Other than the Cert courses, are you simply just reading the material and taking one test at the end? If that is so, do you get to take the test multiple times? From my view of this school, reading a couple books and then taking only one test seems like it would be challanging to know exactly what pieces to study.

Papers:
I read that some courses require papers, how long do they usually need to be?



Any and all information would be appreciated from those with experience. I don't really know what to expect with this school, as I completed my undergrad elsewhere.

Bigmacattack7

Does anyone have experience with WGU and the transference of SMART or ACE transcripts? I am speaking with an admission counselor Monday but I am just curious on their stance on how much they usually allow. The "Big 3" are pretty lenient and it knocks out most of the generals if you don't have them finished already. Thanks!

drfager

Im sure this has been covered in 138 pages but can someone give me the quick overview? Their degrees are basically based around certifications, and if you get those certs in 1 year or 3 years time from enrollment, you then get you B.A.? And all certs you already have expired or current, count toward the requirements?

stryder144

drfager wrote: »

Im sure this has been covered in 138 pages but can someone give me the quick overview? Their degrees are basically based around certifications, and if you get those certs in 1 year or 3 years time from enrollment, you then get you B.A.? And all certs you already have expired or current, count toward the requirements?

You can transfer up to 25% of your credits through certs already obtained, but they must be five years old or younger. This isn't a cert only type of program, though. For instance, you will have two English Comp classes, math, science, humanities, etc. Otherwise, they couldn't be regionally accredited. They seem to have a good BSIT program, reputation-wise.

drfager

stryder144 wrote: »

You can transfer up to 25% of your credits through certs already obtained, but they must be five years old or younger. This isn't a cert only type of program, though. For instance, you will have two English Comp classes, math, science, humanities, etc. Otherwise, they couldn't be regionally accredited. They seem to have a good BSIT program, reputation-wise.

So to complete the tech curriculum, you get the stated vendor certifications (CIW, Cisco, MS etc.) and then you have to complete the online classes for English, math etc.?

Whats the fastest anyone has gotten a degree? Some of those MS fundamental certs could be completed in a month a piece. Im not sure about CIW certs. Seems like the basic non-tech courses would be the only thing that would prevent breezing through the degree.

DoubleNNs

The funny thing is, I'd probably breeze thru all the non-IT courses. But it's my lack of experience in IT that would cause me to take my time on the tech courses.

Some people have finished their degree in as little as 1 term (6 months) - but that's usually after transferring in a sizable amount of credits and having a lot of experience that allowed them to certify fast.

colemic

Mccaula718 wrote: »

I had a few questions about the IT Masters programs. I just got my b.s. in Computer Information Technology from UMUC and have began looking into online masters programs. WGU seems to be a good option, but I have a few questions for those who received the IT M.S. or are working on it.

Certifications:
The MS in Information Security and Assurance seems to be the only one where you get credit for certs. While i'm not against that degree, I was looking more into the M.S. Information Technology—Network Management program as I would like to be a Network Engineer. I have my CCNA and CEH so I that should eliminate two classes from the Info Sec and assurance degree. Since I have those certs, do I simply submit them and not have to take the course at all?

Course tests:
Other than the Cert courses, are you simply just reading the material and taking one test at the end? If that is so, do you get to take the test multiple times? From my view of this school, reading a couple books and then taking only one test seems like it would be challanging to know exactly what pieces to study.

Papers:
I read that some courses require papers, how long do they usually need to be?



Any and all information would be appreciated from those with experience. I don't really know what to expect with this school, as I completed my undergrad elsewhere.

My understanding is that the net management track is specifically geared toward the management side of the house, as opposed to the technical engineering side... the MSISA might be a better fit for you, since it is more technical and practical in nature, and less management. JMO

ratchoke

Anyone from Washington go to WGu and transfer their degree into an MS degree such as University of Washington or Seattle University?

Danielm7

ratchoke wrote: »

Anyone from Washington go to WGu and transfer their degree into an MS degree such as University of Washington or Seattle University?

I think your best bet is to just call the two schools and tell them what you are planning and ask if they have any issues with it. Being accredited I doubt there would be an issue but it's always good to check for yourself to make sure.

ratchoke

I already sent an email because of the timeframe the question came up. Also going to call. Was just hoping someone had real exp with it when trying. Because, last thing i want is a lazy admissions worker just saying, yes because they didnt really want to verify. Because when i was looking into RIT i got two different answers and it made me uneasy.

Ivanjam

A couple of questions to WGU students who started a new term on November 1:

(1) Do you have any course listed under "my courses" on your WGU home page?
(2) What term do you have listed in the "term progress" box?
(3) Are any new tasks available in Taskstream?

Thanks!

Mccaula718

Can anyone comment on the average time put forth for each M.S. ISA each course? I know some take longer than others, but just a general average.

Also average time for the Capstone(thesis)

Hypntick

@mccaula718 That's going to be really rough to estimate based on experience, and writing ability. I know I write faster than others and have a bit of experience in most of the classes offered, so for me the non-cert based classes took no more than 1 week per, that includes the Capstone. YMMV of course.

ratbuddy

LarryDaMan wrote: »

I am not bashing, because I'll be doing the MSISA is December, but does that even sound right to you? Does anything that is worth having/learning only take a week? Some people even spend less than a week on these "courses". So, the classes which required an actual certification took more time. Why? Isn't that an indictment on the testing/requirements of standard non-certification WGU courses? People get offended and defend WGU tooth and nail, but it honestly does feel like buying a piece of paper when entire degrees are completed in 6 months or 1 year (by people working full-time) doesn't it?

I'm happy to check the master's degree box and to make some cash going to school while depleting my remaining GI Bill benefits, but really if it looks like a joke and sounds like a joke and walks like a joke.... I'm just saying.

I got something like 85% on two preassessments for WGU. Does that mean I should wait some arbitrary period of time before taking the exams, just so it seems legit? Hell no. There are plenty of B&M schools that are happy to charge thousands of dollars to learn stuff you already know. Not interested, thanks.

LarryDaMan

ratbuddy, I deleted my post, because I realized it could turn into an ugly debate. You should burn through your degree as fast as you want to or can, who I am to judge? I for one, will not feel a terribly great sense of accomplishment at a place where most people are capable of going so fast, because it doesn't seem like anything that easy is worth very much. My two cents and maybe an old school out-dated way of thinking.

JoJoCal19

LarryDaMan wrote: »

ratbuddy, I deleted my post, because I realized it could turn into an ugly debate. You should burn through your degree as fast as you want to or can, who I am to judge? I for one, will not feel a terribly great sense of accomplishment at a place where most people are capable of going so fast, because it does seem like anything that easy is worth that much. My two cents and maybe an old school out-dated way of thinking.

Just so you or anyone else with the same viewpoint knows, I looked at WGU's MSISA and am still even set with a Jan 1 start date, but I decided to give Iowa State's program a chance. Well that was almost $4k wasted. It's AWFUL. It is the perfect example of why the tenured professor system is broken. The courses are a joke in how they are set up and run (the material is tough and no joke for the most part, even if it's all technological theory crap), the Blackboard setup is a joke and the Blackboard setup used by my then community college for my AA was set up far nicer, and the teaching is a joke to be honest. I mean my wireless architecture professor spends the entire time reading his PP slides, which the PP slides also happen to be our actual book. Yes printed and bounded PP slides as my grad level book. Amazing.

At least with my BS in Business Admin at UF, I learned a chit ton and it was a very grueling and useful degree. The Iowa State program is awful and it was like stepping into the stone age compared to UF. I will HAPPILY do the WGU MSISA and teach myself a lot more valuable information, and not have to overpay to watch professors read poorly put together PP slides.

LarryDaMan

So UF was good and Iowa State is not, you live in Florida, did you attend UF in person? If so, maybe you prefer in-person learning. Or maybe UF is just better than Iowa State. These were just my opinions, with most things in life you get out what you put in, and taking 4 days to complete a "Master's" level course seems counter-intuitive to that principle.

Mccaula718

Hypntick wrote: »

@mccaula718 That's going to be really rough to estimate based on experience, and writing ability. I know I write faster than others and have a bit of experience in most of the classes offered, so for me the non-cert based classes took no more than 1 week per, that includes the Capstone. YMMV of course.

OMG a week!? That's pretty crazy. I already have 2 of the 3 certs so that's awesome. The capstone is definitely going to take me more than a week for sure though. You said you write fast, but how long are the typical papers?

Hypntick

LarryDaMan wrote: »

ratbuddy, I deleted my post, because I realized it could turn into an ugly debate. You should burn through your degree as fast as you want to or can, who I am to judge? I for one, will not feel a terribly great sense of accomplishment at a place where most people are capable of going so fast, because it doesn't seem like anything that easy is worth very much. My two cents and maybe an old school out-dated way of thinking.

I won't take it wrongly I assure you. To the point of being able to complete classes in a week with a full time job, the degree itself was also a full time job, generally 8 or more hours of my day were spent writing and researching. Could I have gone slower? Absolutely, but i'm paying 3k every 6 months and wanted to get the best bang for my buck.

As for the mention of most people being capable of going fast, last I read (and this may not be accurate) the graduation rate is around 21%. Granted this is for all of the degree programs offered, not just the graduate level programs, as I would imagine those rates would be higher. If you look at the folks on this forum who have gone to WGU and through the various programs, they're for the most part extremely self motivated and already have experience in their respective industries.

Since the education is competency based, if you know the subject, you can prove it and pass the class. I think that's where you get the people that are able to pass so swiftly and so easily, they know the subject already and can write/test with a high degree of prior knowledge. At any rate, just wanted to offer my thoughts on it, and no offense taken.

JoJoCal19

LarryDaMan wrote: »

So UF was good and Iowa State is not, you live in Florida, did you attend UF in person? If so, maybe you prefer in-person learning. Or maybe UF is just better than Iowa State. These were just my opinions, with most things in life you get out what you put in, and taking 4 days to complete a "Master's" level course seems counter-intuitive to that principle.

I attended UF online, however their online business courses are the same as on campus, and I could either sit live or watch the recorded lecture. The only difference between their online BSBA and non-online was that I did not have to travel to campus if I did not want to, and took proctored exams instead.

And yes, UF is just better than Iowa State, in every regard. And I compared them on a completely objective basis, looking at enrollment, advising, rules and procedures, online learning environment, classes, instructors, etc. UF wins out on every regard. ISU actually seems like it's more on the level of the community college I attended for my AA, when comparing everything listed previously. Maybe things are different for on-campus students at ISU, I dunno. I'll be knocking out my MSISA at WGU to have some more resume candy, but then I'll be doing my MBA at UF down the road.

SephStorm

Does anyone not see videos in their courses? I have not seen one yet... no error or video box, and I haven't seen them in the code on the page, but I think they are hiding their code anyway... please need an answer asap.

zeroth

SephStorm wrote: »

Does anyone not see videos in their courses? I have not seen one yet... no error or video box, and I haven't seen them in the code on the page, but I think they are hiding their code anyway... please need an answer asap.

That's happened to me before. There should be an option to download the video, at least there was in my case. I had the same symptom as you, no error, no video, just an empty space.

On another note, I'm having a slight problem with my mentor and I know others here have received good advice on these matters. Long story short, my 3rd term started 11/1, I had my AAV Request Form in well before that, and it still hasn't been approved. There were some changes we discussed on my weekly call, and I submitted the revised form immediately afterwards. That was Monday. Still nothing. E-mails haven't been answered either.

I know I can still work on a course even if it's not part of my AAP. The thing is though, I want to schedule the exam. I wanted to do it this Saturday (BOV1) but obviously that's probably not an option at this point. So now it's going to be next week at the earliest.

I'm not sure if I should contact someone else, try my mentor again, or how I should proceed.