Crossroads Decision: WGU MSITM or MSCSIA Grad Degree

[OgaLearner]

Great Degree hacking folks, good evening,

Just found out about this forum only today while trying to make up my mind between taking WGU's MSITM program or the MSCSIA one.(Found out about WGU's existence & their unconventional and cool CBE-style only just this past Tuesday night and completed my application package within 2days - fastest school program I have ever enrolled for in my life that didnt require refence letters, or annoying statement of intent letters as if me deciding to fork our cash to want to enroll in a masters voluntarily isn't enough intent that you truly want it but traditional universities are still stuck in the stone ages. I was completing my application while still conducting research to find out how accredited and real WGU was, and if the stories of the graduates are really true)

I have a BSc. in Computer Engineeing, with a decade of work experience in Tech, software, consulting, and telecoms. I currently lead projects as a Technical Project Manager for a Cybersecurity Operations team for over 1yr now.

I have had my sights set on doing my Masters for close to a decade now but either cost or the thought of simply maxing out my bachelors degree for as long as possible to see how far it'd take me in my career before I decide it's usefulness is done, and it's the right time to for me to get a Masters, is what has pushed me away from taking the next step all this while.

I am so rebellious that I've never taken an IT cert in my entire Tech career as I've never liked the concept of certifications when my work experience could vouch for me knowing how to get the job done well.

I'm in a humble spot right now and with my current foray into Cyber by nature of my job; managing all sorts of Cybersecurity projects and initiatives, and I am really evaluating if it's smart for me to pigeonhole myself into the Cybersecurity Tech domain and specialize in it and continue building myself as a Tech leader with a good Cybersecurity grounding, or if I should keep my options a bit more open and chart the course of the IT Management Masters @ WGU which I see has a project management course(even though the cert it offers is the CAPM, which is lesser than the actual offical PMP cert which is a lot more regarded in my role.)

Being that cost is one of the factors I consider, and i have zero Cybersecurity, project management or IT certifications and have done pretty fine for the over a decade in my career working for various enterprise firm across the world,

I don't want to spend the full 2yrs(4 terms) I would need if I intend on taking all the WGU required courses and passing the certs while taking the Cyber degree in WGU, and I can't speedhack it as I don't have any courses or Cyber certs that I can transfer over to speed up my completion time

My question would be, I would like to hear from mid-level, senior-level tech management individuals who have taken either or both programs and can help guide me on which program might make more sense long-term and how I can go about completing whichever masters degree I pick in 2 terms(max).

I can commit 10-15hrs/week to study and do the classes during the work week once I close from work and make 8- during the weekend. But I'd appreciate perspectives to look at this from and advice.

I saw WGU advertise e a $5,000 scholarship if I follow the Cybersecurity masters but I haven't read more t into it, and if the same scholarship applies to the MS IT Management.



NB: Apologies for the long first post, but I like to add color and context to my questions, so it paints the full picture of my scenario.