WGU to launch new accelerated bachelors to masters degree

[MNomadic]

I didn't get the email yet but here's a Reddit Post on it. Apparently, WGU is planning to offer an accelerated path to get BSIT and MSITM starting in June. I'm guessing they'd skip some of the redundant undergrad courses like project management and technical communication in favor of the grad courses on the same topic. The tuition wasn't listed but it may be a good opportunity for some to get a 2 in 1 degree.

[sacredrain]

I didn't get the email yet but here's a Reddit Post on it. Apparently, WGU is planning to offer an accelerated path to get BSIT and MSITM starting in June. I'm guessing they'd skip some of the redundant undergrad courses like project management and technical communication in favor of the grad courses on the same topic. The tuition wasn't listed but it may be a good opportunity for some to get a 2 in 1 degree.

It is actually 4 set courses from the BSIT/MSITM degree that overlap, that students will take. Students will have to graduate from the BSIT program first and at the end of their term, they will enter the MSITM program and have 4 less classes to complete.  The tuition will be the same for a 6 month term. The only issue is that you cannot work on any other courses in the MSITM program, other than the four overlapping courses at the same time as the BSIT degree.

[ss20ts]

That's a problem for those who complete more than 4 courses in a term. 4 courses in 6 months really isn't much.

[sacredrain]

That's a problem for those who complete more than 4 courses in a term. 4 courses in 6 months really isn't much.

You can still complete more than 4 courses a term in the BSIT program. The only overlap in the BSIT and MSITM program is the 4 courses that a student will take that will transfer to the MSITM courses. Basically a student in the accelerated program would have to spend 2 terms minimum at WGU, which is not making some students happy who are accelerating. Because even if you complete your BSIT degree quickly, say you enroll in the BSIT degree in June 2022 and your term is scheduled to end July 2022, but you finish up your courses and degree before July 2022. You would still have to wait until August 1, 2022 to begin the remaining courses in the MSITM program, which means another term at WGU.

[ss20ts]

WGU needs their $$$$$

[LevelUP]

Looks like a good deal.

Currently, you could get a PMP cert, then transfer that into the master's degree. Then some other technical communication cert but that cert isn't very popular.

So getting 4 courses knocked out beforehand will make the master's easy to get in one term.

[bjcheung77]

If I am reading these message posts correctly... Seems like a good deal, if you can complete the degree with these 4 overlapping courses, it'll be lesser work and provide a higher chance of completing both degrees in two terms instead of dragging onto a third term. Is there someplace where we can see which 4 courses are overlapping? Hmm...

[ss20ts]

Looks like a good deal.

Currently, you could get a PMP cert, then transfer that into the master's degree. Then some other technical communication cert but that cert isn't very popular.

So getting 4 courses knocked out beforehand will make the master's easy to get in one term.

You have to be eligible for the PMP exam. Lots of folks aren't After taking a PM course pretty much everyone should be eligible for the CAPM exam though.

[MNomadic]

If I am reading these message posts correctly... Seems like a good deal, if you can complete the degree with these 4 overlapping courses, it'll be lesser work and provide a higher chance of completing both degrees in two terms instead of dragging onto a third term.  Is there someplace where we can see which 4 courses are overlapping? Hmm...

Nothing's officially mentioned but if I had to guess, it would be; project management, technical communications, and emerging technology since they all have pretty direct analogs between degrees and then replacing either principles of management or organizational behavior and leadership with one of the several grad offerings in either management or leadership.

MSITM Course list and transfer guidelines
BSIT Course list and transfer guidelines

WGU needs their $$$$$

I don't really see why this comment would make sense. Before this, WGU still required you to wait for a new term to start your grad degree(likely a requirement for federal financial aid), so maintaining that system would only make sense. The grad tuition is slightly more than undergrad tuition so this makes it much more likely to finish the grad degree in a single term by reducing the need to retake redundant classes(and time is money so...). The potential savings is mostly just relevant for the hyper accelerators out there who are outliers. 

Hypothetically, if someone finished the BSIT in a single term and followed that up with the accelerated MSITM in a single term, they'd still finish up with one of the cheapest RA bachelors and masters out there.

[ss20ts]

WGU needs their $$$$$

I don't really see why this comment would make sense. Before this, WGU still required you to wait for a new term to start your grad degree(likely a requirement for federal financial aid), so maintaining that system would only make sense. The grad tuition is slightly more than undergrad tuition so this makes it much more likely to finish the grad degree in a single term by reducing the need to retake redundant classes(and time is money so...). The potential savings is mostly just relevant for the hyper accelerators out there who are outliers. 

Hypothetically, if someone finished the BSIT in a single term and followed that up with the accelerated MSITM in a single term, they'd still finish up with one of the cheapest RA bachelors and masters out there.

The comment was because WGU wants their $$$ from the students. That's how they stay in business. From what I'm reading elsewhere many people are disappointed that they can't accelerate and are stuck paying for at least 2 terms - 1 undergrad and 1 grad. Seems like they thought it would be a true BS/MS program where both degrees are completed at the end and they could do both in 1 term.