Looking into WGU. Interested in some preliminary feedback.

[Thorne]

Thanks to some of the fine ladies and gentlemen here, I'm taking a good long look at WGU, specifically their BSIT-Security track . I was looking for some preliminary input on what will likely transfer and how many CUs are likely to be waived by WGU following an evaluation (already requested information, will apply in the next few days). My questions are as follows:

1) Will IT certs I earn prior to enrollment waive the related degree requirements? This page covering Transferable IT Certifications
The BSIT-Security page states that graduates will earn the following certs:

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNAÂ)
Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNAÂ Security)
CompTIA A+
CompTIA Network+
CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Project+
CompTIA Linux+
CIW Site Development Associate

I've already got my CCNA and CCNA Security, so ideally I could skip the related coursework. Additionally, CompTIA offers a 50% discount on examinations for students (or people with a *.edu email account, both groups I am a part of); this means that I could obtain the A+, Net+, Sec+, Linux+, and Project+ prior to enrollment for right around $900. Since A+ is two tests (two courses?) and Linux+ is two tests (two courses?), would these certifications altogether complete 7 classes for $900, or am I missing something critical?

WGU states that they won't accept any certifications for credit after the start of enrollment, which would give me an entire summer to complete four basic tests and three more complex tests.

2) Is there a comprehensive lists of what transferable IT certifications cover which CUs? The closest I found was here, listed under the Transferable IT Certifications page, but it doesn't mention the CUs that each cert covers. I've been studying for a few of the certs on this list for a few months now in my spare time, so this would be good information to have on hand.

3) Do I have to select the courses I'm going to take in the beginning of each term, or can more be added (or some be dropped) later on down the line? I'm not confident in my ability to do 30 CUs per term, but I want to try if it's possible.

Otherwise, I'm going to deal with the Enrollment department. I just wanted to get an idea of what I was in for first.


List of all credentials and credits:

Courses

ENGL 1301 - Composition I - A
MATH 1414 - College Algebra - A
GOVT 2305 - Federal Government (Fed. Const. and Topics) - A
HUMA 1301 - Introduction to Humanities I - A
SPCH 1311 - Introduction to Speech Communication - B
ITNW 1358 - Network+
ITCC 1371 - CCNA 1 (Introduction to Networks) - A
ITCC 1374 - CCNA 2 (Routing and Switching Essentials) - A
ITCC 2370 - Cisco CCNA Security - A
ITCC 2371 - CCNA 3 (Scaling Networks) - A
ITCC 2372 - CCNA 4 (Connecting Networks) - A
ITCC 2374 - CCNP Routing (Implementing IP Routing) - A
ITCC 2375 - CCNP Switch (Implementing IP Switching) - A
ITCC 2376 - CCNP TSHOOT (Maintaining and Troubleshooting IP Networks) - A
ITSY 2300 - Operating System Security - B
ITSY 2301 - Firewalls and Network Security - A
ITSY 2342 - Incident Response and Handling - A
ITSY 2341 - Security Management Practices (Capstone) - A
ITSY 2343 - Computer System Forensics - A
CPMT 1305 - IT Essentials I (PC Hardware and Software) - A
POFT 1329 - Beginning Keyboarding - A
ITMT 1370 - Configuring and Supporting Microsoft Windows 7 - A
ITMT 2370 - Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 - A
ITMT 2371 - Administering Windows Server 2012 - A
ITMT 2372 - Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services
ITSC 1316 - Linux Installation and Configuration - A
ITNW 2375 - VMware vSphere: Installation, Configuration, and Management - A

Certifications:

CCENT
CCNA
CCNA Security
CCNP

Degrees & Certificates

AAS in Information Systems Cybersecurity
AAS in Cisco Systems Computer Networking Technology
Advanced Cisco Systems Computer Networking Technology Certificate

[Ideas]

Well one thing is WGU covers the certification exam costs for you, in the fee they charge. So it's even cheaper than you thought, I guess! But you want to work quickly so you don't pay for more semesters than needed.

[jsd]

1) Will IT certs I earn prior to enrollment waive the related degree requirements? This page covering Transferable IT Certifications
The BSIT-Security page states that graduates will earn the following certs:

I've already got my CCNA and CCNA Security, so ideally I could skip the related coursework. Additionally, CompTIA offers a 50% discount on examinations for students (or people with a *.edu email account, both groups I am a part of); this means that I could obtain the A+, Net+, Sec+, Linux+, and Project+ prior to enrollment for right around $900. Since A+ is two tests (two courses?) and Linux+ is two tests (two courses?), would these certifications altogether complete 7 classes for $900, or am I missing something critical?

Yes, the courses associated with these certs will count as "transferred in," just as if you took them at some other college. Since CCNA is a higher level cert than the similar but lower-level Net+, I believe it will ALSO waive the lower course, but I am not 100% sure about that part. Check with an advisor. A+/Linux+, and CCNA are all two courses each, as you suspected.

One important caveat -- did you earn your existing certs within the past 5 years? even if you kept them current with CEs, they won't accept them if they're older than 5.

2) Is there a comprehensive lists of what transferable IT certifications cover which CUs?

Here is the transfer eval sheet for IT-Sec (doesn't work on mobile): https://partners.wgu.edu/TransferGuideli...curity.pdf

Here are the sheets for other IT programs, at the bottom of this page:
https://cm.wgu.edu/t5/Admission/Transfer...y/ta-p/155

3) Do I have to select the courses I'm going to take in the beginning of each term, or can more be added (or some be dropped) later on down the line?

You'll work with your mentor to add your first 12 CUs, the minimum, at the start. Once you finish those, you can ask for whatever more to be added one-at-a-time.

[Thorne]

Well one thing is WGU covers the certification exam costs for you, in the fee they charge. So it's even cheaper than you thought, I guess!

True, but it seems like I still have to take the objective competency exams before being approved for the cert test. Why waste time even enrolling in them if I can skip the requisite 21 CUs? Still food for thought, I just don't want to waste any time at all.

[Thorne]

Yes, the courses associated with these certs will count as "transferred in," just as if you took them at some other college

Sweet.

One important caveat -- did you earn your existing certs within the past 5 years? even if you kept them current with CEs, they won't accept them if they're older than 5.

Yes. The oldest one is ~2.5 years old.

Here is the transfer eval sheet for IT-Sec

Thanks! Not sure why I couldn't find it on the site, but that's life, eh?

You'll work with your mentor to add your first 12 CUs, the minimum, at the start. Once you finish those, you can ask for whatever more to be added one-at-a-time.

Good to know. Hopefully I can bang out at least 24 CUs a term, but 12 is easy enough to manage.

[jsd]

They don't make it easy to find, I had a similar question and a mentor sent me the page, so it was still in my bookmarks.

As far as the 12 CUs, I did those in about a month. You'll do fine since you already have a IT background.

[dfrecore]

I think I would recommend you not taking the certs ahead of time, since the certification exam is actually covered by the degree. It's really a waste of $900. I would instead spend the time and money taking the Gen Ed courses. That's a better use of your time.

I think some people managed to pass the easier certs right away in the degree plan, getting an easy number of credits early on. It can give you the motivation to get through, since you do more than you thought you'd be able to.

My husband is also looking at a WGU Cybersecurity degree, and is going to get his CISSP ahead of time. But, he's doing that because his work will pay for it, and he has something to talk about when he goes in for his annual review (he certainly wouldn't be done with his degree by that time, but he can get his CISSP completed). Plus, the degree program doesn't start until June, so he could start on it now even if he wanted to. Instead, we have sent in all of his transcripts and are doing all the other things necessary, and then he'll do any Gen Ed's that need to be done if any.

[ajs1976]

Taking things before starting at WGU is a factor of time and money. WGU $500 per month. If you complete the $900 worth of certs in a month, it is cheaper to do it while enrolled at WGU, but if it will take you 3 months, then that is $1500 while at WGU.

[Thorne]

I think I would recommend you not taking the certs ahead of time, since the certification exam is actually covered by the degree. It's really a waste of $900. I would instead spend the time and money taking the Gen Ed courses. That's a better use of your time.

This makes sense.

Taking things before starting at WGU is a factor of time and money. WGU $500 per month. If you complete the $900 worth of certs in a month, it is cheaper to do it while enrolled at WGU, but if it will take you 3 months, then that is $1500 while at WGU.

Good point. I'm honestly not sure if would take that long. I know I could get two of them without any real studying (maybe a week, if that), but the A+, Linux+, and Project+ are outside of my domain a bit.

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Looking at Gen Ed requirements (and referencing this page), I've come up with this list of SL courses (easiest to keep them all on one site if possible). If anything needs fixing (or if any brilliant ideas are had), please let me know.

WGU C463 (Intermediate Algebra) - StraighterLine MAT099 (Introductory Algebra)
WGU C456 (English Composition II) - StraighterLine ENG102 (English Composition II)
WGU C459 (Intro to Probability and Statistics) - StraighterLine MAT150 (Business Statistics) or StraighterLine MAT202 (Intro. to Statistics)
WGU C165 (Integrated Physical Sciences) - StraighterLine CHEM101 (General Chemistry I)
WGU C190 (Introduction to Biology) - StraighterLine BIO101 (Intro. to Biology)
WGU C683 (Natural Science Lab) - Uncertain. CHEM101L offers 1 credit, but C683 needs 2CUs. Options besides SL are fine as well.
WGU C255 (Introduction to Geography) or other Social Sciences course - StraighterLine USHIST101 (United States History I) **I took a Federal Government class at my local CC (GOVT 2305) which may cover this, my official transcript review will shed more light on this one**
WGU C168 (Critical Thinking and Logic) - Uncertain. Does StraighterLine PHIL101 meet this requirement? Just want to knock it out while I can rather than waiting to take it through WGU.
WGU C484 (Organizational Behavior) - StraighterLine BUS120 (Organizational Behavior)

[dfrecore]

Good point. I'm honestly not sure if would take that long. I know I could get two of them without any real studying (maybe a week, if that), but the A+, Linux+, and Project+ are outside of my domain a bit.

There are a few things you can do to really make sure that your WGU term makes the most sense. First, if you're worried that you'll spend too much time studying for and passing Linux+ and Project+, you can always buy (borrow) the books and read them in advance. I know there are some guides to help you pass these exams. So that's an easy fix.

The best thing to do, is after you get your eval from WGU, make a spreadsheet of all of the courses you need to take, and then estimate how long you think it might take you to pass the course through them, vs. how much it would cost to take the course another way. Most of the Gen Ed's are going to be easy to figure out, in that you will know how much they'll cost up front through one of the course providers we discuss (SL, Study.com, CLEP, etc.). You will just need to think it though and ask yourself "if I take this ahead of time, how much time will it free up during the term to take something in the major?" There should be sort of a break-even point in there somewhere.

My goal for my husband would be to whittle the courses needed down to what he thinks he can accomplish in a single term. It would be smarter for him to take more courses up front in many cases. For someone who has a lot more courses to take, it might make more sense to look at 2 terms. Or, stick with 1 term, and take as much as possible ahead of time, maybe even studying for a couple of courses in advance. Just to give you a head-start on those courses once you start the program.