WGU - BS IT versus BS IT - Network Administration ?

I searched through the forum and read through a lot of terrific content, (thanks to everyone who utilizes this website, it's great to have access to all this information) but I was unable to find much related to decision I have at hand.

I have, after much deliberation and research, decided upon enrolling to Western Governors University (WGU); I'm stuck on trying to decide which Bachelors degree program I want to pursue. I know it should be a simple question of: which one interests me most? but I feel like they are all covering similar topics (and I may be incorrect) but it seems to me that the certifications you get are really the main difference between each option. Originally I though the Software emphasis would be best for me but after much consideration I've effectively narrowed it down to either the general non-specific BS IT or the BS IT - Network Administration.

I've come to this conclusion mainly by looking at the certifications offered by each emphasis. But let me give some background info:
I graduated ITT Tech back in 2008 for a Associates in IT - Computer Network Systems. I have been working for the past 2.5 years as an on-site contractor for a major shipping company doing level one over-the-phone technical support, which I have actually managed to learn a lot from on a low level as I am primarily dealing with PC issues, software issues, VPN, Blackberrys and stuff of that sort. I do not have any certifications. I felt that to move up into a better paying position (because I am likely overpaid for what I do) I need to get my bachelors and at WGU I figure I can knock out two birds with one stone and get some certs as well.

Basically I know I am sound for a at least a year and a half (no foreseen major changes in my life) at a job where I work 40-50 hours per week and I take only a handful of calls (so I have at least 40 hours a week at work I can study) plus no wife or kids so I think this is the best time for me to do it if I'm gonna do it.

So the question is: General IT or Network Admin or one of the others?

I see in the General IT I get all of the CompTIA certs (A+,Network+,Project+,Security+) along with a slew of the CIW certs (which I have heard are not greatly appreciated) and a bunch of the Microsoft MTA certs.

However in the Network Admin emphasis I get all of the CompTIA (less the Network+), only a few of the CIW certs, the MCSA and an MCTS, a few of the Microsoft MTA certs, and CCNA as well as CCENT

Now I am not the most versed in certifications, so I have been doing my darnedest to research these and figure out which ones are better for me so I can select a degree and move on with my enrollment process.

One of the main differences I see is the Network+ versus the CCNA. I'd like to complete my degree as fast as I can (1.5 years goal) so from what I've read the CCNA is not easy as it delves much more in depth and vendor specific than the Network+. However, I want to have what is going to be best in the long run and not necessarily take the easy way out so I'm really stuck on which one of these I feel is a better choice for me.

Also, I read that the MCSA is a great certification to have and it is only offered in the Network Admin degree along with the CCNA.

I know it sounds like I am leaning more towards the Network Admin degree which makes perfect sense, but not if it will require so much more studying/work/time/money to finish just to leave me with some extra certs that I may not NEED or that I could have gotten on my own time later down the road. For instance If I could just throw the MCSA onto the general IT degree then I'd be for it so does that mean I should just take the general IT degree and get my MCSA on my own?

What do you think? People with experience, new starters to WGU, graduates, completely uneducated opinions.. I am grateful for any insight!

Thanks for taking the time to read my post!

Edit:
I made this for my own benefit but it may help people who are less familiar with the WGU programs as well as people who might be looking into going to WGU:

Certification

General

Net Admin

Net D&M

Security

Software

CompTIA A+

X

X

X

X

X

CompTIA Network+

X

X

X

CompTIA Project+

X

X

X

X

X

CompTIA Security+

X

X

X

X

X

Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 6 Programmer

X

CIW Perl Specialist

X

CIW Web Design Specialist

X

X

X

X

CIW JavaScript Specialist

X

X

X

X

X

CIW Database Design Specialist

X

X

X

CIW Web Foundations Associate

X

X

X

X

X

CIW Web Development Professional

X

Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate MCSA

X

MCTS Windows 7 Configuration

X

X

X

MCTS Active Directory Configuration

X

MCTS Network Infrastructure Configuration

X

MTA Windows OS Fundamentals

X

X

X

X

X

MTA Windows Server Admin Fundamentals

X

X

MTA Web Development Fundamentals

X

X

X

X

X

MTA Software Development Fundamentals

X

X

X

MTA Database Administration Fundamentals

X

X

X

MTA Networking Fundamentals

X

X

X

X

MTA Security Fundamentals

X

X

X

X

Cisco Certified Network Associate CCNA

X

X

Cisco Certified Network Associate Security CCNA Security

X

Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician CCENT

X

X

Totals

15

14

13

15

18

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Comments

yoshiiaki

Hello, so going off purely what you stated and not assessing the requirements to the degrees myself (i'm being lazy here) I'd say go for Net Admin. CCNA>Net+, anything you learn in Net+ will be in CCNA, so if you really wanted it you could just walk in and get it anyday of the week. If you did Net+ you would then have to further study for the CCNA. If you were to take a traditional semester long course of CCNA, the first few weeks would be covering everything in Net+ then everything else would then move onto cisco stuff. Plus CCNA is seen as more valuable than Net+.
CIW vs MCTS: I have no idea how CIW would effect you, but I can't imagine them giving a bad effect, just not as good as a microsoft cert. People recognize that name. Getting a MCTS in Windows 7, or maybe 8 now if they are upgrading the test, would help stack onto the experience you already have, certainly putting you in a better position.

So if you want your degree as fast as possible, do General IT.
If you want to put yourself in a better position in the future, Network Admin.
If you have 40 hours a week at work alone to study,then 1. idk what they are paying you for but that sounds like an amazing job to be at while studying. 2. mix that with about 40ish hours outside of work and you'll get 80ish hours a week to study if you really want this down fast. With that much time you can certainly conquer Network Admin in a year and a half.

---
after you added your cool chart....wish I had one when i decided

So I did CIW Database design, didn't learn much. learned the basics of what a database is....but nothing revolutionary. and certainly nothing that I would really advertise unless asked upon. Again the windows 7 configuration will teach you alot. Even for those using and troubleshooting windows 7 on a daily basis. Unless you work with enterprise, which is what they test you on, you will learn a bit. But nothing really practical for a small company. Everything else is pretty much a wash. I guess the question is do you want to go to database, cause then the CIW will give you a little intro, or do you want to know more about windows 7 configuration. My guess is that if you use and troubleshoot windows 7 on a daily basis for a small company, if you took the test today you'd fail unless you know about all the enterprise/ultimate exclusive features and how to use and properly utilize them all. That's pretty much what I got out of the test. Was fun though.

KeithC

Your Associates from ITT Tech should cover most of the gen ed classes.

Since your basis for which degree program to take is = time

What I suggest is to spend half a week or less studying ciw - foundations exam then take the exam by registering with pearson vue or prometric(which ever one is closer)(congrats you earned 3CU more) then apply to WGU for the generic IT degree. (you won't have to "worry" about Cisco or Microsoft server exams [every degree just says the same thing anyway or use to...])

Get the degree and then pick which path you want to take. Then focus on those certifications for the path that interest you.

I would guess you may be able to finish in 6 months if you can stay focused and use those 40 hours a week towards studying otherwise two terms (one year) should be the goal.

WGU's policy if you decide to switch programs is only in-between terms. So if the degree program you select is not for you, you would have to wait to switch programs. I only mention this because I F'ed myself on my second term with only passing two classes thanks to a Microsoft server exam.

Raisin

KeithC wrote: »

What I suggest is to spend half a week or less studying ciw - foundations exam then take the exam by registering with pearson vue or prometric(which ever one is closer)(congrats you earned 3CU more) then apply to WGU for the generic IT degree. (you won't have to "worry" about Cisco or Microsoft server exams [every degree just says the same thing anyway or use to...])

I suggest you save yourself that half week and just take the test cold because it's really that easy. Also save yourself the $150 and get your test voucher from WGU. The nice thing about the CIW tests being so easy is that you can save them for the end of your term when time is short and you don't want the pressure of trying to tackle something difficult that you won't be able to finish before the term ends.

The basic IT degree is the way to go if you want to graduate fast. The other paths give you some nice certifications but it's going to take more time to finish. Think about it this way, if you end up taking another term to finish your degree that's going to cost you $3000. You can go get the CCNA on your own for much cheaper than that. Before you graduate use your student status to pick up the labsims for the Cisco and Microsoft certs for a huge discount, that's the same study material that WGU gives you for those tests. Then if you want you can get those certs without a gun to your head forcing you to cram everything into a 6 month term.

W Stewart

Since getting certs is part of your concerns I would say go for the network administration degree as well. You'll get the MCSA as well as the CCNA. If you were interested in security at all then I believe the security degree will get you the CCNA security but no MCSA. I would definitely consider one of those two degrees. you could get the certs yourself later on but why not have it covered in your tuition instead of paying out of pocket and it'll significantly cut down study time as well?

Raisin

That only makes financial sense if someone is picking up the tab for your tuition or you're confident you can complete the network admin degree in the same amount of time as the BSIT. Otherwise if you spend an extra term or two working on your degree that's going to be $3000-$6000 just to pick up the CCNA and MCSA. Test vouchers and study material for those exams are not going to come anywhere close to that price tag.

YouWill787

Thanks for all the feedback!

I typed a bunch of stuff out but then realized I was thinking out loud and that's boring so...upon reading back over this reply, I think I just answered my own question. However, I hope maybe this thread can benefit some other potential WGU student in a positive way. For them I'll give my simplified train of thought:

I was going to go for the IT - Net Admin to get the CCNA and the MCSA (because I figured more certs = more value) which would take about 1.5 years or 3 terms ($9000) since the CCNA is not easy and neither probably is the MCSA.
Instead I go for 1 year to get the general IT degree (since all the degrees say the same thing anyway) miss out on the CCNA and MCSA, but pick up the Network+ however only spend $6000, buy a couple books and prep for the CCNA and MCSA on my own time and take the exams for maybe $1000? Total cost ~$7000 which will save me $2k or more and take maybe the same amount of time.

Another question though. How possible might it be to complete the general IT degree in one term. Keep in mind I have no certs currently, but I can't start class until Feb 1st so in the meantime and I am studying the Security+, A+, and Network+ so I can hopefully take and pass those as soon as I start. I also have an associates from ITT which should take care of a lot of the gen ed classes and the sort. I have to assume it'll take me a year even though I have 40+ a week to prep, (actually I'd pin it more on maybe 9 months total but if it's over 6 months then its 2 terms and therefore 1 year)

demonfurbie

the gen it degree is the best degree they offer

most people who want do do cisco or microsoft like to pick the certs they take not always what wgu offers with the degrees

also time is money at wgu each day you spend on the degree is about 16usd a day, so the break even point on most certs is about 20 days (voucher and 1 good book/test engine) so if you think you can do the cert in under or at 20 days that cert is a good choice if not its best to get it after wgu

added note when you finish at wgu you still have access to books 24/7 that has alot of cert books for free

Raisin

A one term completion goal isn't inconceivable plenty of people on this board of done it. The advantage you have is that your associates will more than likely cover almost all of WGU's general education requirements. They were extremely generous with mine. It's possible that some of the IT classes you took could carry over too.

Try and do the MTA exams early because depending on your area Certiport can be a pain to schedule test dates.

KeithC

For you to finish the generic IT track in one term like I said depends on how much time you can put into studies which also means how much info you can cram into your head and remember it. The two java classes if you may have to take them could eat up a monthish if you can study while at work.

I don't know if trying to study for the Comptia exams to take all at once would be advisable, but if you can retain all that knowledge then go for it. I suggested to take the one CIW exam to save time and possible money. I'm not sure if things at WGU have gotten more efficient but you will need an interview with your get started mentor before classes can be added to your AAV. Along with the possibility it could take a a couple days for you to get your exam voucher at the beginning of February (which starts on a Friday). That could "eat" up the first week or more just waiting for a voucher. . .

For myself I use the split payment method for the full amount (I am unsure if you are going for any scholarships or even if you are paying out of pocket). So I pay $3090 a term that translates to my cost of $118.84 a week or $515 a month. The cost of the exams (5 total Comptia) at face value would be $1120 or using Pearson VUE early expatriation exams would cost $977. With WGU paying for just the vouchers (not counting learning material) you would have to complete one Comptia exam about 62.5% every week to "break even".

Well good luck with your decision.