Western Governors University

 

 

About WGU
Western Governors University was created in 1995 with the help and inspiration of 19 different United States governors who wanted to challenge conventional ideas about what higher education was. All of the programs available at WGU are completed through distance based online coursework.

 

A distance based education has nothing to do with quality. Institutions following this model offer the same high quality education that students expect from traditional universities and colleges, with one key difference. WGU recognizes that it often times isn’t feasible to devote years of your life to travel to a campus to earn an education. Beyond that, with the help of the internet, it isn’t necessary either. All the programs WGU offers are accredited by locally and nationally recognized accreditation services. Get the education you need and deserve from wherever in the world you happen to be.

 

Competency Based
Another fundamental way in which WGU challenges the normal conceptions of college is with its competency based fulfillment metrics. Traditional college is inefficient, measuring the success and learning of a student by the amount of time they sat in a seat. WGU abandons this requirement and gives students the opportunity to prove their knowledge and competency in their studies.

 

This means that if you are already trained in a subject that is a required part of a curriculum, you can simply take the necessary procedures to display this. If you successfully do this, you are then credited with this knowledge. By implementing a strategy like this, students no longer have to fulfill time requirements to get their degree. Instead, they simply have to show that they are capable and possess skills relevant to their field of study.

Education on Your Own Time
This system drastically cuts down on wasted time. A major benefit of this is that WGU charges per six months rather than per class. This allows students to learn as much or as little as they please in each six month block. Again, all classes and coursework are recognized locally and nationally. An education through WGU allows you learn skills and show your abilities to the world at your own pace, whether that is fast or slow.

WGU Online Teacher’s College

An online teaching degree is an excellent choice for anyone interested in becoming an educator or advancing a current career in education. For those who have not yet started a career, there are 8 different Bachelor level degree programs that can help get you started. Students will earn a degree in a subject of their choice, which will prepare them to complete post degree work that gets them their licensure to become a teacher. Students will focus on a particular subject, but with the understanding that the degree is to be leveraged towards teaching. This is important because it allows part of the education to focus on teaching abilities. Graduates will be well on their way to becoming an effective teacher.

 

For students who have completed their Bachelor's degree, the Post-Baccalaureate programs required to actually become a teacher are all offered through WGU as well. These are required programs if the student wishes to become a full-time teacher in a given subject.

 

Masters level programs are also available for those seeking to receive teaching licensure. These are designed for students who wish to earn a Master's Degree who have not yet become certified to be a teacher.

 

For prospective students who have already finished the required education to become a teacher, there are also multiple Master’s Degree programs available through WGU that can help advance your career by developing further skills and knowledge. These range from curriculum development skills to a more in-depth knowledge of a specific topic that the student may already be licensed in.
This is the full list of available specifications:

 

Bachelor of Arts Degree Programs:

- Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8)
- Special Education (K-12)
- Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- Science (5-9)
- Science (Chemistry, 5-12)
- Science (Physics, 5-12)
- Science (Biological Science, 5-12)
- Science (Geosciences, 5-12)

Online Teacher Licensure and Preparation (Post-Baccalaureate) Programs:

- Elementary Education (K-8)
- Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- Science(5-9 or 5-12)
- Social Science (5-12)

Online Master of Arts in Education with Teacher Licensure and Preparation Programs:

- Elementary Education (K-8)
- English (5-12)
- Mathematics (5-9 or 5-12)
- Science (5-9 or 5-12)
- Social Science (5-12)

Online Graduate Programs for Licensed Teachers:

- M.S. Curriculum and Instruction
- M.S. Special Education (K-12)
- M.S. Educational Leadership

M.A. English Language Learning/English as a Second Language (ELL/ESL) (PreK-12)
- M.Ed. Instructional Design
- M.Ed. Learning and Technology
- M.A. Mathematics Education (K-6, 5-9, or 5-12)
- M.A. Science Education (5-9)
- M.A. Science Education (Chemistry, 5-12)
- M.A. Science Education (Physics, 5-12)
- M.A. Science Education (Biological Science, 5-12)
- M.A. Science Education (Geosciences, 5-12)
- Endorsement Preparation Program in English Language Learning (ELL/ESL) (PreK-12)
- Endorsement Preparation Program in Educational Leadership

 

College of Business- Bachelor’s Degrees

The College of Business at WGU provides students with several options to develop the skills necessary to compete in an increasingly difficult business world.

For Undergraduates, many different specializations are available, depending on what the specific goals of the student are. While each degree provides students with the general knowledge required to be successful in today’s modern business environment, the specializations allow the student to develop and showcase specific skills relevant to their own ambitions.

 

These degrees can be valuable and utilized by both established professionals looking to advance careers or those who need the degree to open doors.

Available Bachelor of Science degrees and specializations include:

- Business Management
- Business Management (Healthcare)
- Business Management (Human Resource)
- Business Management (Information Technology)
- Sales and Sales Management
- Marketing Management
- Accounting

Online Master’s Degrees

 

For prospective students who are already established in the business world and who have already obtained a Bachelor’s Degree, WGU offers an MBA program that will help advance your career even further. The curriculum has been developed with oversight from experts and leaders from major institutions, corporations, and businesses thereby ensuring that the education and degree you receive is highly relevant to the modern business environment.

 

Vital skills will be taught including things such as management, leadership, accounting, marketing, and decision making. Strengthening these areas make graduates an attractive asset to those hiring.

 

Like the Undergraduate studies, there are specializations available for those pursuing an MBA. These include an MBA with a focus on information technology (IT) management and one with a focus on healthcare management.

 

Two additional Masters level programs are also available. The first is a Master of Science Management and Leadership program. This is designed to help students develop the skills necessary to be successful leaders of high performance groups and teams, whether the work is done for business, nonprofit, or government related reasons. These skills will help graduates drive innovation and productivity while furthering their career in the process.

 

The second is a Master of Science Accounting program. Graduates of this program are prepared for successful careers as either public or private accountants. Part of this program is preparation for the CPA exam, as well as the Certified Management Accounting (CMA) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) exams.

College of Information Technology

Bachelor of Science Information Technology Programs

These programs provide students with the framework and skills to enter a career in information technology or a related discipline. On top of simply learning skills, graduates also complete and receive certifications the industry recognizes that will contribute to the overall value of the degree, as well as the students long term job prospects.

 

While all students will receive a background in all of the relevant topics, specializations are also available. These include focusing on network, security, or software related issues.

 

Bachelor of Science Software Development

This program prepares graduates for development of a variety of different types of software, including things like mobile applications. This degree includes industry standard certifications at no additional cost to the student.

Bachelor of Science Health Informatics

Graduates of this program will be able to combine the principles of healthcare and information technology to create valuable health information systems. Credibility is added to the degree with the addition of valuable certifications at no extra cost.

Master of Science Information Security and Assurance

This program develops valuable skills in the realm of network, data, and communication encryption and protection. Graduates will be able to create and implement security systems of varying sizes.

Master of Science Information Technology Management

This program is designed with current IT professionals in mind who are looking to transition their career towards management. Graduates are able to succeed in a competitive market with a thorough knowledge of both IT and management techniques, skills, and principles.

College of Health Professions

B.S. Nursing

Two different Bachelor of Science degrees are available in regards to nursing. The first is for those who have not yet received their RN licensure. This program is only open to students from a select number of states.

 

The second is for students who have already been licensed as a Registered Nurse who would like to add to their existing base of knowledge. This degree will add to your skills as a nurse, while also making you more valuable to hospitals and business which should lead to salary increases.

 

M.S. Nursing

If you are currently a nurse and would like to advance your career, there are a variety of options available to you. Depending on what your career goals are, you can pursue one of several different specializations under the Master of Science Nursing degree program.

 

The two different programs offered are Education or Leadership and Management. The Education program prepares students to teach other nurses. The Leadership and Management program is for nurses who wish to take on a management role for their workplace. Both programs have two different versions, one for those who already have a B.S.N. and one for those who only have their R.N. certification.