Understanding Graduation Requirements at Western Governors University

A bachelor's degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study typically lasting two to six years, but that length of time can be shorter depending on the institution and academic discipline. Bachelor's degree programs, both bachelor of science and bachelor of arts, are designed to put students on the path toward their career by educating them in their field of interest and opening them to new ideas through general education courses. Western Governors University (WGU) is an online university that has gained prominence for its competency-based education model. This article delves into the graduation requirements at WGU, exploring the unique aspects of its academic approach and what students need to do to earn their bachelor's degrees.

The Value of a Bachelor's Degree

A bachelor's degree program provides two essential purposes to aspiring professionals. First, these programs are designed to provide a student with a well-balanced education and the skills necessary to pursue a specific career field. Second, a bachelor’s degree also shows future employers that the job candidate has the discipline, commitment, drive, and communication skills necessary to commit to completing their education, which translates positively to the workplace. Seeing a bachelor’s degree on an applicant’s résumé gives the employer peace of mind that the candidate has proven credentials in their field of study and that they are already aware of the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in the role. Americans with a bachelor's degree earn a weekly average of $1,305, which equates to an annual salary of $67,860 per year. This is nearly twice as much as workers who possess a high school diploma as their highest level of education. Not only will you earn more with a bachelor’s degree, you’ll also experience better job security.

WGU's Competency-Based Education Model

Every student’s journey to graduation is unique, which is why WGU utilizes a competency-based model for programs. Students who already have a solid foundation of knowledge on a certain subject can finish more quickly. With no set class times or log-in times, students can complete coursework and assessments with more flexibility whenever works best for their schedule, potentially finishing their degree faster to save time and money. A bachelor's degree program typically takes 120 semester hours, spread over four years, to complete, but that time can vary depending on the program and the student, especially for those pursuing their bachelor’s degree online. At WGU, students are required to complete a minimum course load each term, but there is no maximum. Instead, they are encouraged to take as many courses per term as they’re comfortable with and move through the coursework as quickly as they’re able to demonstrate mastery.

Time to Completion

A bachelor's degree at a traditional, on-campus school usually takes four years to complete, but there are alternatives that allow you to finish your degree more quickly. WGU’s online bachelor’s degrees empower students to move through their coursework at the pace that works best for their schedules and lifestyles. From enrollment to graduation, WGU students often complete their degrees in less than just two years. A student generally must complete 120 semester units or credits to earn a bachelor of arts (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.) degree.

Benefits of Earning a Bachelor's Degree

There are many benefits to getting a bachelor's degree. Holding an undergraduate degree in a field that you’re interested in makes you eligible for higher salaries, increased job options, and new and fulfilling life experiences. Even better, a bachelor’s degree will help you get jobs and networking opportunities that will provide the foundation for the rest of your career and future promotions. Is it worth it to get a bachelor's degree? Sometimes it can be confusing to know if a bachelor's degree is the right path for you. However, statistics and research show the great value that a bachelor's degree can add to your life. Research shows that 35% of job openings require at least a bachelor's degree. If you don't have a degree, you're limiting yourself to only about 30% of jobs available in the United States. Stats show that when you earn a bachelor's degree you can expect your yearly salary to increase about $29,000 per year. There are many professions where you won't even be considered unless you have a bachelor's degree, so by completing one of our online bachelor’s programs you're opening the door to more job listings, and entire professions. For example, if you want to become a teacher you'll have to earn a bachelor's degree to be qualified.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) vs. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Bachelor of Arts degrees and Bachelor of Science degrees are equivalent in most ways, and neither is considered more reputable. In most cases, Arts bachelor's degrees are focused on the social sciences including education, history, foreign languages and so on. In contrast, Science bachelor's degrees tend to more focused on the science and technology fields like math, engineering, and programming. Despite the similarities between the two types of degrees, one of them may fit your needs better. For example, the admissions departments of colleges accepting students into some types of advanced degrees may consider one of them to be preferrable. Many colleges offer the choice between earning a BS or a BA even for the same type of degree with only slight differences between the two programs.

Choosing the Right Online Bachelor's Degree

You can create a ranking system to help you determine which online bachelor's degree is the best fit for you. While it's tempting to try and find an existing degree ranking system that will tell you what degree to earn, in reality every person will have a unique online bachelor's degree program that will be best for them. Narrow down your field of interest. Do you want to be a teacher? Do you want to be a nurse? Are you more interested in business or technology? Ask yourself what your dream job is. What is your dream profession? Is it to become a high school principal, or to design video games? Research educational requirements for your dream career. If you want to be a teacher, you'll need to pursue teacher licensing programs. If you want to become a marketing manager, you'll need a business degree in marketing! It's important to get specific. For example, if you want to be a teacher, what kind of subject and grade do you want to teach? This will influence your options available for relevant degree programs. If you want to go into information technology, do you want to be doing the coding or managing teams? Make a list of possible degree programs. Talk to professionals. Make a ranking list. Create a list of the best degree programs for your dream career, ranking them from your top pick down.

Enrollment and Term Structure at WGU

WGU enrolls new students at the beginning of each month, launching a new term for those students. A term at WGU is 6 months long. You can start when you’re ready, rather than rushing (or waiting) for fall or spring enrollment.

Specific Program Requirements and Examples

B.S. Computer Science

Earn your bachelor’s degree in computer science from WGU and increase your earning potential, job security, and opportunities for advancement. Designed with input from industry experts, this program has received ABET-accreditation. WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. Tuition charged per term-rather than per credit-helps students control the ultimate cost of their degree. If you don't have a bachelor's degree and are looking at furthering your education in computer science you can pursue an accelerated bachelor's AND master's degree program. Earning an online ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, designed by industry experts, combines theoretical depth and technical know-how. This program enhances the practical knowledge you have gained through experience and certifications. This program focuses on the skills you need to become a linchpin in your organization. In addition to core IT skills, the program focuses on algorithms and data structures, artificial intelligence and robotics, database and information retrieval, human-computer communication, numerical and symbolic computation, and more. The B.S. Computer Science degree program is an all-online program that you will complete by studying and working independently with instruction and support from WGU faculty. You will be expected to complete at least 13 competency units each 6-month term.

Courses in the B.S. Computer Science Program

Health, Fitness, and Wellness: Focuses on the importance and foundations of good health and physical fitness-particularly for children and adolescents-addressing health, nutrition, fitness, and substance use and abuse.

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Applied Probability and Statistics: Is designed to help students develop competence in the fundamental concepts of basic statistics including: introductory algebra and graphing; descriptive statistics; regression and correlation; and probability. Statistical data and probability are often used in everyday life, science, business, information technology, and educational settings to make informed decisions about the validity of studies and the effect of data on decisions. This course discusses what constitutes sound research design and how to appropriately model phenomena using statistical data. Additionally, the content covers simple probability calculations, based on events that occur in the business and IT industries.
Calculus I: This course guides candidates to apply theoretical concepts of calculus to real-world situations, demonstrating a developing mathematical mindset. This course focuses on limits, derivatives, integrals, and differential equations; it also prepares students for Discrete Mathematics.
Discrete Mathematics I: Helps candidates develop competence in the use of abstract, discrete structures fundamental to computer science. In particular, this course will introduce candidates to logic and proofs; Boolean algebra and functions; set theory; finite and infinite sequences and series; and relations, graphs, and trees. The course emphasizes applications in computer science. Calculus I is a prerequisite for this course.
Discrete Mathematics II: Addresses abstract, discrete, computational methods used in computer science. In particular, this class introduces searching and sorting algorithms; big-O estimates; number theory and cryptography; recursion and induction; counting and advanced counting techniques; discrete probability; and modeling computation. This course emphasizes applications in computer science.
Introduction to Communication: Connecting with Others: This course will focus on communication in the professional setting, and present material from multiple vantage points, including communicating with others in a variety of contexts, across situations, and with diverse populations.

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Composition: Successful Self-Expression: In this course, you will focus on four main topics: professional writing for a cross-cultural audience, narrowing research topics and questions, researching for content to support a topic, and referencing research sources.
Constitution: Examines the evolution of representative government in the United States and the changing interpretations of the civil rights and civil liberties protected by the Constitution. This course will give candidates an understanding of the powers of the branches of the federal government, the continual tensions inherent in a federal system, the shifting relationship between state and federal governments, and the interactions between elected officials and the ever-changing electorate.
Ethics in Technology: Examines the ethical considerations of technology use in the 21st century and introduces students to a decision-making process informed by ethical frameworks. Students will study specific cases related to important topics such as surveillance, social media, hacking, data manipulation, plagiarism and piracy, artificial intelligence, responsible innovation, and the digital divide.
Introduction to Systems Thinking and Applications: Provides learners with the skills required to engage in a holistic systems-based approach to analyzing complex problems and solutions. This course introduces the foundational concepts and principles of systems thinking and provides opportunities to use a systems thinking approach to analyze and evaluate real-world case studies. The course will culminate with using systems thinking to develop a solution to an authentic complex problem.
Data Management Foundations: Offers an introduction in creating conceptual, logical and physical data models. Students gain skills in creating databases and tables in SQL-enabled database management systems, as well as skills in normalizing databases.
Data Management - Applications: Covers conceptual data modeling and introduces MySQL. Students will learn how to create simple to complex SELECT queries, including subqueries and joins, and how to use SQL to update and delete data.
Linux Foundations: Prepares learners for the LPI Linux Essentials certification, and is an introduction to Linux as an operating system as well as an introduction to open-source concepts and the basics of the Linux command line.
Web Development Foundations: In this course you will learn about web design and development using HTML and CSS.
Scripting and Programming - Foundations: Introduces programming basics such as variables, data types, flow control, and design concepts. The course is language-agnostic in nature, ending in a survey of languages, and introduces the distinction between interpreted and compiled languages. Learners will gain skills in identifying scripts for computer program requirements and in using fundamental programming elements as part of common computer programming tasks. Learners will also gain an understanding of the logic and outcome of simple algorithms.
Software Engineering: Introduces the concepts of software engineering to students who have completed the core courses in programming and project management. The principles build on previously acquired concepts, switching the emphasis from programming simple routines to engineering robust and scalable software solutions. This course does not cover programming, but it provides an overview of software engineering processes and their challenging nature, focusing on the need for a disciplined approach to software engineering.
Introduction to Computer Science: Introduces learners to the field of computer science and its essential concepts. In this course students will explore, among other topics, programming basics through language-agnostic pseudocode, computational thinking and problem-solving, algorithms, hardware, and social and ethical considerations in the field.
Advanced AI and ML: Provides an opportunity for students to exercise their knowledge and skills in the design and development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solutions for real-world business problems. Through a hands-on project, students delve into the design and execution planning stages.
Data Structures and Algorithms I: Covers the fundamentals of dynamic data structures, such as bags, lists, stacks, queues, trees, and hash tables with their associated algorithms. This course discusses object-oriented design and abstract data types as design paradigms. The course emphasizes problem-solving and techniques for designing efficient, maintainable software applications.
Data Structures and Algorithms II: Explores the analysis and implementation of high-performance data structures and supporting algorithms, including graphs, hashing, self-adjusting data structures, set representations, and dynamic programming. The course also introduces students to NP-complete problems. The course discusses how to use Python techniques to implement software solutions for problems of memory management and data compression. This course has two prerequisites: Data Structures and Algorithms I and Discrete Math II.
The Practical Applications of Prompt: Introduces learners to generative artificial intelligence (AI). This course aims to allow learners to gain skills for writing effective prompts and develop more effective conversations with artificial intelligence. Practical Applications of Prompt will lead learners to explore why prompt engineering is necessary. The course also aims to help learners, regardless of background, increase prompt fluency, which is fluency in using prompt effectively.
Operating Systems for Computer Scientists: Focuses on the intricacies of operating systems. This comprehensive course for computer science students covers core principles such as processes, threads, memory management, and file systems, providing students with insights into CPU scheduling algorithms, deadlock handling, and system performance optimization. Additionally, the course delves into security mechanisms, addressing common threats and preventative measures.
Introduction to AI for Computer Scientists: Provides an overview of critical terminology and key concepts for artificial intelligence (AI). The course explores the history and evolution of AI, elements of code, and the process for understanding algorithmic approaches to AI. The course presents topics of bias, ethical issues, and security concerns.
Artificial Intelligence Optimization for Computer Scientists: Guides students through the implementation and optimization of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for various applications. Through extensive research, students will explore different AI approaches and determine the most applicable solutions for specific scenarios. Practical, hands-on exercises will enable students to implement and rigorously test AI solutions, thus honing their skills in optimizing AI models for enhanced performance and efficiency. Additionally, this course delves into creating data assumptions and interpretations that are crucial for predictive analytics and future data forecasting. Finally, students will adapt and extend AI solutions to address diverse application scenarios, ensuring their readiness to tackle real-world challenges in AI optimization and deployment.

Teacher Licensure Programs

Some programs, such as those leading to teacher licensure, have specific requirements including in-classroom observation and a term of full-time student teaching. Examples include chemistry, geosciences, physics, and math teaching degree programs.

Nursing Prelicensure Program

Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin to enroll in this program. This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years.

WGU Academy and Admission Requirements

A degree from WGU can make all the difference in your life’s trajectory. WGU’s mission is to help as many people as possible obtain the quality education they desire. WGU is committed to decreasing the barriers to starting school. To be considered for enrollment into a bachelor's degree program, applicants must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent. Anyone can enroll in a WGU academy course, bundle, or certificate as long as they meet the prerequisite requirements. Enrolling in any of WGU Academy's courses or certificates means you will meet WGU's degree program admission requirements. Once you complete the required transferable course with a "pass" grade, you will need to clear any remaining non-academic WGU requirements, including sending transcripts from other colleges and any other special pre-enrollment steps.

Transfer Credits

College credits are generally required in order to earn a degree from a college or university. Depending on the type of degree you’re pursuing, you’ll need to complete a certain number of credits with passing grades in order to graduate. To put it simply, college credits, sometimes called “competency units”, are the units of measurement used to gauge the amount of coursework a student has completed. One credit typically corresponds to one hour of classroom time per week over the course of a semester. For example, a three-credit course will usually meet for three hours per week over the course of a semester. It’s also important to distinguish between earned credits and attempted credits. “Attempted credits” refers to all the courses you take during your time in college, regardless of whether or not you pass the class. For example, let’s say you take five classes that are each worth three credits and you fail two of them. You will have attempted to earn 15 credits but only earned 9 credits. In addition to taking courses related to your major, you will also be required to complete what are known as “general education” or “core” classes. These are designed to provide you with a well-rounded education and typically include classes in English, math, history, science, and foreign language. The cornerstone of your degree will come from taking courses specific to your major field of study. The number of required major courses varies by school and program, with most students completing between 10 and 20 courses in their major field. An associate degree typically requires around 60 credits or 20 courses, give or take a few depending on the school and program. On average, it takes two years to earn an associate degree. If you attend school full-time and take on the traditional credit load, then you should be able to graduate in two years with an associate degree. A bachelor's degree typically requires around 120 credits. This means that if you're taking a full course load of four to five classes per semester, you'll need to be in school for about four years in order to earn your degree. Some students transfer college credit from AP or IB courses in high school or take summer classes to graduate sooner. Of course, you can always speed up the process with WGU’s competency-based education (CBE) model. This model allows you to move quickly through your courses, using your past experience or understanding to help you show mastery of the material and accelerate courses. Most undergraduate courses are worth three credits each, though this can vary depending on the school and the type of course. For example, labs and other specialized courses tend to be worth more credits than traditional lecture courses. A master's degree is an advanced academic degree earned after completing a bachelor's degree. In order to earn a master's degree, students must complete between 30 and 60 credits. These credits include both core-required courses and electives. In addition to coursework, most master's programs also require students to complete either a thesis or a capstone project in order to graduate. The number of credits required for each student may vary depending on their departmental requirements. Some schools, programs, and master’s degree types allow students to complete their degrees in as little as one year, while others may take up to four years. WGU students pursuing a master’s degree benefit greatly from completing courses at their own pace with 24/7 online access to learning materials and assessments. As a result, a master’s degree is obtainable in less time than at a traditional university. The number of credits that you can transfer will depend on a variety of factors, including the type of institution you’re transferring to and the type of degree you’re pursuing. Typically, students can transfer up to 60 credits from a two-year college and 90 credits from a four-year college. However, it’s important to note that even though some colleges have flexible credit transfer policies, there are still some with strict policies in place. For example, some colleges only accept credits from schools that are accredited by a certain accrediting body. Each potential transfer receives an individual transfer evaluation to review completed courses and determine how they transfer over to WGU.

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