WGU IT Cybersecurity Degree Plan
Cybersecurity Degree Plan
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
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
- 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
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.
General Education Requirements
| 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
| 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
| 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
| Course | Competency
Units Value |
Course
Provider |
Course Name | WGU Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT Capstone | 4 | |||
| Totals | 4 | 0 |
Total Transfer Credit
| 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.