WGU IT Software Engineering Degree Plan
Software Engineering Degree Plan[edit]
Here is a Software Development 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
Advantages of a Software Engineering Degree[edit]
- Made for software engineers
- Easier and quicker than Computer Science degree, very little math required
- 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, starting with non-CS courses. Once those are completed, do CS courses leaving Java/Intro programming and Data Structures for last.
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.
General Education Requirements[edit]
| Course | Competency
Units Value |
Course
Provider |
Course Name | WGU Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composition: Successful Self-Expression | 3 | Sophia | English Composition I/II or Workplace Writing II | 3 |
| Introduction to Systems Thinking | 3 | |||
| Technical Communication | 3 | Study.com | English 305: Advanced Technical Writing | 3 |
| Ethics in Technology | 3 | |||
| American Politics and the US Constitution | 3 | Sophia | U.S. Government | 3 |
| Introduction to Physical and Human Geography | 3 | Sophia | Macro/micro econ, US History I/II, Intro to Psychology, Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| Applied Algebra | 3 | Sophia | College Algebra or Calculus I | 3 |
| Applied Probability and Statistics | 3 | Sophia | 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 | 2 |
| Totals | 30 | 27 |
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 | Computer Science 108: Introduction to Networking | 3 |
| Scripting and Programming - Foundations | 3 | Study.com or Sophia | Computer Science 115: Programming in Java,
Computer Science 109: Introduction to Programming Introduction to Java Programming |
3 |
| Web Development Foundations | 3 | Sophia | Introduction to Web Development | 3 |
| Business of IT - Applications | 4 | ITIL | ITIL Foundations Cert | 4 |
| Hardware & Operating Systems Essentials | 3 | CompTIA | A+ | 3 |
| Totals | 23 | 23 |
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 |
| Advanced Data Management | 3 | Study.com | Computer Science 303: Database Management | 3 |
| Front-End Web Development | 3 | CIW | HTML5 and CSS3 Specialist or Web Design Professional | 3 |
| JavaScript Programming | 3 | CIW | JavaScript Specialist | 3 |
| Java Fundamentals | 3 | |||
| Java Frameworks | 3 | |||
| Data Structures and Algorithms | 4 | Study.com | Computer Science 201: Data Structures & Algorithms
(Take Java first since the assignment is in Java) |
4 |
| Introduction to Python | 3 | Sophia | Introduction to Python Programming | |
| Business of IT - Project Management | 4 | Sophia | Project Management | 4 |
| Mobile Application Development | 3 | |||
| Cloud Foundations | 3 | AWS | AWS Cloud Practitioner
Note: is cheap, fast and easy to get. |
3 |
| IT Leadership Foundations | 3 | Sophia | Principles of Management | |
| Software Engineering | 4 | Study.com | Computer Science 307: Software Engineering | 4 |
| Software Design & Quality Assurance | 3 | |||
| Software Security & Testing | 3 | |||
| User Interface Design | 3 | Coursera or CIW | Google UX Design or User Interface Designer | 3 |
| User Experience Design | 3 | CIW | User Interface Designer | 3 |
| Back-End Programming | 3 | |||
| Advanced Java | 3 | |||
| Version Control | 1 | |||
| Total | 62 | 34 |
Non-Transferable Courses[edit]
| Course | Competency
Units Value |
Course
Provider |
Course Name | WGU Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Development Capstone | 4 | |||
| Totals | 4 | 0 |
Total Transfer Credit[edit]
| Course | Competency
Units Value |
Course
Provider |
Course Name | WGU
Transfer Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 30 | 27 | ||
| Core Courses | 23 | 23 | ||
| Additional Courses | 62 | 34 | ||
| Non-Transferable Courses | 4 | 0 | ||
| Total | 119 | 84 |
*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.