Western Governors University Questions and Answers / Threads related to WGU

jcundiff

cptpizza wrote: »

I am curious as to what would happen if you got the cert on your own after you started. CompTIA does not allow you to take the same exam after you have already passed it. That said it would be a waste to do it after since they give you the exam vouchers.

Thats funny, I have re-taken both A+.Project +, and Network+ in the last two months for WGU... I held all three already, they just werent taken in the last 5 years. So, I am not sure where you are getting your information from on this topic

eatthemuffin

cptpizza wrote: »

I am curious as to what would happen if you got the cert on your own after you started. CompTIA does not allow you to take the same exam after you have already passed it. That said it would be a waste to do it after since they give you the exam vouchers.

CompTIA doesn't allow you to take the same version of the same exam. So if you have passed Security + SY0-401 then you can not take SY0-401 again. However when SY0-501 (or whatever it will be called) comes out you can take that version of Security +

https://certification.comptia.org/testing/test-policies/comptia-certification-retake-policy

eatthemuffin

Oh and from what I was told by my enrollment counselor, if you were at a job that required you to get A + and your job paid you to get it after you started WGU, once you got to the A + classes you'd just enroll in the class and subsequently turn in your cert.

v1ral

Just got my evaluations done for the BS IT - Network Admin. I was able to transfer 73/122 credit for the degree. Can someone give me a rough estimate on how fast I can finish 49 credits? I do have a full time job. I noticed that getting the MCSA Server cert will satisfy Operating Systems I & II, Network Reliability and Fault Tolerance, and Server Administration classes. Will getting the MCSA Server 2012 cert satisfy 20 credits?

Classes I need to take are:
IT Foundations (4)
IT Foundations (4)
Operating Systems (6)
Business of IT -Project Management (4)
Data Management -Applications (4)
Operating Systems I (4)
Operating Systems II (4)
Network Reliability and Fault Tolerance (6)
Server Administration (6)
Spreadsheets (3)
IT Capstone WrittenProject(3)

jcundiff

i did 39 last semester, it really depends on you but 2 semesters ?

Danielm7

v1ral wrote: »

Can someone give me a rough estimate on how fast I can finish 49 credits? I do have a full time job.

Nope, not trying to be harsh but no one can tell you what you're capable of. You might have tons of experience, you might have none. You might having amazing retention and incredible study skills, or, you might have terrible time management and bad test anxiety. See where I'm going with this? We've all seen the question a ton of times, it's not that no one wants to help, but no one can really accurately answer what you can do on your own. Buckle down, do the best you can, everything will fall into place.

reddishB

1.I'm financially cleared finally but havent received a webcam from WGU yet.I remember enrollment counselor mentioning about webcam.When should I expect it?

2.I see my degree plan on my portal and I'd like know if I have to follow their recommendation about which course order to follow OR can I take any course I want without following any particular order.


3.Is there an online community where I can chat with other students in my program on WGU site?

Danielm7

reddishB wrote: »

3.Is there an online community where I can chat with other students in my program on WGU site?

Check the WGU subreddit reddit.com/r/wgu I've seen talk there about a slack channel for WGU IT students.

Rylee1246

reddishB wrote: »

1.I'm financially cleared finally but havent received a webcam from WGU yet.I remember enrollment counselor mentioning about webcam.When should I expect it?

2.I see my degree plan on my portal and I'd like know if I have to follow their recommendation about which course order to follow OR can I take any course I want without following any particular order.


3.Is there an online community where I can chat with other students in my program on WGU site?

Camera shows up during first month. You can also take finals at a testing center. You can choose your own schedule but it needs to be approved by the mentor. 12 to 14 credits is required per semester minimum unless it is last semester. You finish your initial classes then you can accelerate.

newjack

Did the infosec WGU degree help them in their career in anyway?

tjwhite3

I am planning to enroll in the BS-IT program at WGU eventually. I have a question. If I transfer in MAT101 (College Algebra) from Straighterline, I understand that this would satisfy the College Algebra course at WGU. Would it also satisfy Intermediate Algebra, since that is a 'lower' class? Or would I still have to take that? I have seen conflicting answers. Thanks!

CISSPorBust

Does WGU have a minimum number of credits/certifications you need to take with them?

PJ_Sneakers

Yes, they do. I don't think you can transfer in more than 75%, or something like that. It's very reasonable.

Ryan9764

I have couple of questions about the course work at WGU. I had a buddy that went there and he told me that all he did was essays. Well, I know that what you do in college but when I went to DeVry, we did virtual labs. I really like doing virtual labs and kindred hands on exp. Well my question is that. Is all you do is essays? Even in the IT courses?

JamesKurtovich

I haven't had a single essay. I transferred in with English credits. I did have to write two 3-5 page papers for Humanities though.

mgeoffriau

That really depends on the program. I'm enrolled in the MSCSIA program, and there are plenty of papers.

Ryan9764

Oops let me rephrase my wording. I mean 3-5 page reports. I wondering if there any virtual laps? I probably going for cyber security.

coreyb80

Finally received my Cleared to Start email and I will begin on 6/1. Going for my BS in Network Administration. I'm excited.

CISSPorBust

Which is better to get Bachelor of Science Cybersecurity and Information Assurance or Bachelor of Science Information Technolog - Security?

lodis86

I've been reading about this school.

Does WGU actually verify if you passed your certifications when you send them a copy of your report?

SoCalGuy858

lodis86 wrote: »

Does WGU actually verify if you passed your certifications when you send them a copy of your report?

Yes - either through PDF copy of a transcript or via an online verification link.

SoCalGuy858

CISSPorBust wrote: »

Which is better to get Bachelor of Science Cybersecurity and Information Assurance or Bachelor of Science Information Technolog - Security?

A question like this can only - truly - be answered by you. Take a look at the degree plans and resulting certifications and ask yourself if their respective contents are aligned with your career objectives. They're certainly similar, but definitely have their differences.

As a personal take on the matter, as soon as the BS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance opened up, I jumped at moving over from the BSIT: Security specifically because the curriculum is more aligned with where I'd like to be professionally.

MorbidBit

Hi All
I've been working as web developer for the last 7 years with an A.A.S in Software Development. I'm thinking about getting a B.S in Software Development at WGU and probably a M.S after the B.S. However, I found the certifications offered by the program nowadays, no so attractive to me; Currently the program offers:
Comptia A+, Comptia Project+, CIW Site Development Associate, CIW User Interface Designer, CIW Advanced HTML5 and CSS Specialists. I already have A+/Network+
To me, seems like those CIW are so basic front end stuff, which I don't know if they are worthy. I would like to read comments from others who has going down this path and see what else this program offers in terms of software development.
I know before they offered Oracle Java Certs, but seems like no anymore.

On the other hand, I was looking the curriculum and certifications offered by B.S Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, and they look pretty interesting; I understand they are different paths, however software development can be applied on Cybersecurity as well. All depends of the job and role when working professionally.

My intend is grow professionally as software engineer and not switch career to Network administrator or something similar. However getting good knowledge on networks, cybersecurity and developing software applied to it, could be a good key. I would like to read comments from cybersecurity people as well.

Thanks in advance

MorbidBit

roninkai

Is anyone else working on their capstone for the MSISA at WGU? If so, I'd love to chat about your experience thus far. Maybe we can exchange tips. I just submitted the prospectus. Now, trying to figure out how much of that thing carries over to the written report. That part is a little confusing in my opinion. I dont have much time. I hope to get this done in 10 days, but yikes!

markulous

dragonsden wrote: »

Is anyone else working on their capstone for the MSISA at WGU? If so, I'd love to chat about your experience thus far. Maybe we can exchange tips. I just submitted the prospectus. Now, trying to figure out how much of that thing carries over to the written report. That part is a little confusing in my opinion. I dont have much time. I hope to get this done in 10 days, but yikes!

I just finished the MSISA in April. A good amount does carry over, but there's still quite a bit to do on your written report.

PJ_Sneakers

dragonsden wrote: »

Is anyone else working on their capstone for the MSISA at WGU? If so, I'd love to chat about your experience thus far. Maybe we can exchange tips. I just submitted the prospectus. Now, trying to figure out how much of that thing carries over to the written report. That part is a little confusing in my opinion. I dont have much time. I hope to get this done in 10 days, but yikes!

Check out PBC's post regarding this in my WGU thread:
http://www.techexams.net/forums/jobs-degrees/123061-pjs-wgu-progress-thread-mscsia-start-date-august-2016-a-2.html#post1068875

Very helpful!

roninkai

I found what you were talking about. Looks like it should help. Thank you!

Cert Poor

Rylee1246 wrote: »

Camera shows up during first month. You can also take finals at a testing center. You can choose your own schedule but it needs to be approved by the mentor. 12 to 14 credits is required per semester minimum unless it is last semester. You finish your initial classes then you can accelerate.

I got a question on the webcam they send you. What's it used for (besides final exams)? Is it turned on if you take any exams from home so they can proctor you, or do you use it to have 1-on-1 meetings with your mentor like in a Skype meeting? (Or are the mentor meetings just over the phone?)

Cert Poor

I have another question on transfer credit. On the WGU transcript, does it specifically list the college the course transferred from?

Like... "College Algebra satisfied by MATH101 College Algebra from ABC University Fall 2006"

Some of my past college transcripts aren't my best work, so I'm trying to go for a clean slate/fresh start with WGU and want the WGU transcript as "clean" as possible, even if I transfer in a ton of classes.

Danielm7

Are you concerned about someone asking to see your transcripts after you graduate?