WGU IT Cybersecurity Degree Plan

Cybersecurity Degree Plan

Here is a Cybersecurity Degree plan for Western Governors University (WGU) as of approximately December of 2021. 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

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

Use this It Certification Exams Equivalent Guide to find certifications that will transfer to this degree program.

Advantages of a Software Development Degree

• Lots of certs, is sort of 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

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?

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

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

https://partners.wgu.edu/

General Education Requirements

Course	Competency Units Value	Course Provider	Course Name	Course Id	WGU Credit
English Composition I	3	Sophia	Foundations of English Composition, English Composition I	SOPH-0019, SOPH-0015	3
English Composition II	3	Study.com or Sophia	English 105: College Composition II or English Composition II (It takes a long time to grade papers at Sophia which is why Study.com is recommended)	SDCM-0089 SOPH-0030	3
Critical Thinking and Logic		Study.com	Humanities 201	SDCM-0243
Technical Communication	3	Study.com	English 305: Advanced Technical Writing or Business 113	SDCM-0058, SDCM-0052	3
Introduction to Communication	3	Sophia	Communication at Work, Pubic Speaking	SOPH-0034, SOPH-0024	3
Ethics in Technology	3
American Politics and the US Constitution	3	Study.com	Political Science 102: American Government	SDCM-0042	3
Introduction to Geography	3	Sophia	US History II (Lots of other options from Sophia)	SOPH-0025	3
Applied Algebra	3	Sophia	Foundations of College Algebra, College Algebra	SOPH-0018, SOPH-0001	3
Applied Probability and Statistics	3	Sophia	Foundations of Statistics, Introduction to Statistics	SOPH-0017, SOPH-0005	3
Integrated Physical Sciences	3	Sophia	Environmental Science	SOPH-0016	3
Totals	33				30

Core Courses

Course	Competency Units Value	Course Provider	Course Name	Course Id	WGU Credit
Introduction to IT	4	Sophia	Introduction to Information Technology	SOPH-0023	4
Data Management - Foundations	3	Study.com or Sophia	Computer Science 107: Database Fundamentals, Introduction to Relational Databases	SDCM-0212, SOPH-0047	3
Network and Security - Foundations	3	Study.com	Computer Science 108: Introduction to Networking	SDCM-0213	3
Scripting and Programming - Foundations	3	Study.com	Computer Science 115: Programming in Java, Computer Science 109: Introduction to Programming	SDCM-0199, SDCM-0214	3
Web Development Foundations	3	Sophia	Introduction to Web Development	SOPH-0043	3
Business of IT - Applications	4			-
Totals	20				16

Additional Courses

Course	Competency Units Value	Course Provider	Course Name	Course Id	WGU Credit
Data Management - Applications	4	Study.com	Computer Science 204: Database Programming	SDCM-0218	4
Fundamentals of Information Security	3	Study.com	Computer Science 110 or Computer Science 202	SDCM-0215, SDCM-0200	3
Business of IT - Project Management	4	Sophia	Project Management	SOPH-0013	4
Cyber Defense and Countermeasures	4	Study.com	Computer Science 331: Cybersecurity Risk Analysis Management	SDCM-0222	4
Digital Forensics in Cybersecurity	4	Study.com	Computer Science 320: Digital Forensics or Computer Science 336: Network Forensics or Computer Science 335: Mobile Forensics	SDCM-0231, SDCM-0234, SDCM-0233	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
Networks	4
Network and Security - Applications	4
IT Foundations	4			-
IT Applications	4			-
Total	65				19

Non-Transferable Courses

Course	Competency Units Value	Course Provider	Course Name	Course Id	WGU Credit
IT Capstone	4
Totals	4				0

Total Transfer Credit

Course	Competency Units Value	Course Provider	Course Name	Course Id	WGU Transfer Credit
General Education Requirements	33				30
Core Courses	20				16
Additional Courses	65				19
Non-Transferable Courses	4				0
Total	122				65

*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.