WGU IT Cybersecurity Degree Plan

From Degree Forum Wiki

Cybersecurity Degree Plan[edit]

Here is a Cybersecurity Degree plan for Western Governors University (WGU) as of approximately June of 2023. Please make sure that the suggestions are still valid before beginning to follow this plan.

The alternative credit courses were handpicked using experience from previous students as to what courses will be the easiest and quickest courses to take. In places with multiple courses listed, the first course is assumed to be the fastest/easiest course to take.

Doing Certifications at WGU vs Transferring Them In[edit]

Certifications are free at WGU, so it's optional if you want to pay the fees to transfer in certifications.

You would want to do certifications outside WGU if:

  • You wanted to maximize the 90 credits of transfer credits
  • You were trying to do a WGU degree in 1 term or few terms as possible

WARNING: THIS IS TOUGH DEGREE TO GET. I WOULD SUGGEST PAYING FOR SOME KEY CERTS SUCH AS CYSA+ and PENTEST+ TO PROVE YOU CAN HANDLE THE RIGOR OF THIS DEGREE

Advantages of a Cybersecurity Degree[edit]

  • Lots of certs, is sort of like an upgraded IT degree
  • Flexible degree that can be used for a large variety of careers such as coding or IT

Tips on Order in Which to Complete Courses[edit]

Start with Sophia, do English Composition first. Unfortunately, Sophia only allows 2 courses open at one time, so after you start English Comp, do a course that doesn't have any touchstones (written assignments). Once done with Sophia, start doing Study.com courses.

How Long Will It Take To Complete This Degree Once I Finish All the Alterative Credits?[edit]

How long to complete depends on various factors such as experience, time commitment, the efficiency of studying, etc. However, considering you spend at least 20 hours a week on your studies, completing this degree should take 1-2 terms. 

Source of Credit[edit]

This degree plan was made using this source to map out all the alternative credits.

https://partners.wgu.edu/

[1]Sophia ACE Guide

[2]Study.com ACE Guide

General Education Requirements[edit]

Course Competency

Units Value

Course

Provider

Course Name WGU Credit
Composition: Successful Self-Expression 3 Sophia English Composition I 3
Critical Thinking and Logic 3 Sophia Critical Thinking 3
Introduction to Systems Thinking 3
Introduction to Communication 3 Sophia Pubic Speaking, Workplace Communication, Business Communication 3
Ethics in Technology 3
American Politics and the US Constitution 3 Sophia U.S. Government 3
Applied Algebra 3 Sophia College Algebra 3
Applied Probability and Statistics 3 Sophia Foundations of Statistics, Introduction to Statistics 3
Health, Fitness and Wellness 4 Sophia Introduction to Nutrition 3
Natural Science Lab 2 Sophia Human Biology Lab, Introduction to Chemistry Lab, Microbiology Lab 3
Totals 30 24

Core Courses[edit]

Course Competency

Units Value

Course

Provider

Course Name WGU Credit
Introduction to IT 4 Sophia Introduction to Information Technology 4
Data Management - Foundations 3 Study.com or Sophia Computer Science 107: Database Fundamentals,

Introduction to Relational Databases

3
Network and Security - Foundations 3 Study.com or CompTIA Computer Science 108: Introduction to Networking, CySA+ 3
Scripting and Programming - Foundations 3 Study.com Computer Science 115: Programming in Java,

Computer Science 109: Introduction to Programming

3
Web Development Foundations 3 Sophia Introduction to Web Development 3
Business of IT - Applications 4 ITIL ITIL Foundations Cert 4
Totals 20 20

Additional Courses[edit]

Course Competency

Units Value

Course

Provider

Course Name WGU Credit
Data Management - Applications 4 Study.com Computer Science 204: Database Programming 4
Fundamentals of Information Security 3 Study.com Computer

Science 110 or

Computer Science 202

3
Introduction to Programming in Python 3 Sophia Intro to Python 3
Linux Foundations 3 LPI, CompTIA Linux Essentials, Linux+ 3
Business of IT - Project Management 4 Sophia Project Management 4
Cyber Defense and Countermeasures 4 Study.com or CompTIA Computer Science 331: Cybersecurity Risk Analysis Management, CySA+ 4
Digital Forensics in Cybersecurity 4 Study.com Computer Science 336: Network Forensics or 4
Introduction to Cryptography 4
Managing Cloud Security 4
Legal Issues in Information Security 4
Information Systems Security 4
Emerging Technologies in Cybersecurity 4
Managing Information Security 6
Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis 4 CompTIA Pentest+ 4
Networks 4 CompTIA CompTIA Network+ 4
Network and Security - Applications 4 CompTIA CySA+, CompTIA Security+ 4
IT Foundations 4 CompTIA CompTIA A+ 4
IT Applications 4 CompTIA CompTIA A+ 4
Total 71 45

Non-Transferable Courses[edit]

Course Competency

Units Value

Course

Provider

Course Name WGU Credit
IT Capstone 4
Totals 4 0

Total Transfer Credit[edit]

Course Competency

Units Value

Course

Provider

Course Name WGU

Transfer Credit

90 max

General Education Requirements 30 26
Core Courses 20 20
Additional Courses 71 45
Non-Transferable Courses 4 0
Total 122 91

*To copy this degree plan, hold down left mouse button, drag to select tables, then copy/paste (CTR+C/CTR+P) to Sheets or Excel.