BSCCAZR_Azure
BSCCAZR_Azure
BSCCAZR_Azure
Progress through a degree program is governed not by the amount of time you spend in class but by your
ability to demonstrate mastery of competencies as you complete required courses. Of course, you will
need to engage in learning experiences as you review competencies or develop knowledge and skills in
areas in which you may be weak. To help you acquire the knowledge and skills you need to complete
your courses and program, WGU provides a rich array of learning resources. Your program mentor will
work closely with you to help you understand the competencies required for your program and to help you
create a schedule for completing your courses. You will also work closely with course instructors as you
engage in each of your courses. As subject matter experts, course instructors will guide you through the
content you must master to pass the course assessments.
The benefit of this competency-based system is that it enables students who are knowledgeable about a
particular subject to make accelerated progress toward completing a degree, even if they lack college
experience. You may have gained skills and knowledge of a subject while on the job, accumulated
wisdom through years of life experience, or already taken a course on a particular subject. WGU will
award your degree based on the skills and knowledge that you possess and can demonstrate—not the
number of credits hours on your transcript.
Accreditation
Western Governors University is the only university in the history of American higher education to have
earned accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions. WGU's accreditation was awarded by
(1) the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, (2) the Higher Learning Commission of the
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, (3) the Accrediting Commission for Community and
Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and (4) the Accrediting Commission
for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The university’s
accreditation status is now managed by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
(NWCCU), which reaffirmed WGU’s accreditation in February 2020. The WGU Teachers College is
accredited at the initial-licensure level by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
(CAEP) and by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). The nursing
programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The Health
Information Management program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health
Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College of Business programs are
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
Students vary widely in the specific skills and information they need to learn. For example, some students
may be highly knowledgeable in a particular subject matter and would not need to engage in new learning
opportunities. Other students may find that portions of the program require them to learn new information
and that they need to take an online class or participate in a study module to acquire the knowledge and
skills needed to fulfill program competencies in that area. Some individuals may be able to devote as little
Upon your enrollment, you will be assigned a program mentor—an expert in your field of study who will
provide you with regular program-level guidance and support from the day you start until the day you
graduate. Your program mentor will set up regular telephone appointments (weekly at first) with you,
which you will be expected to keep. The mentor will review program competencies with you and work with
you to develop a plan and schedule for your coursework. Your program mentor will serve as your main
point of contact throughout your program—helping you set weekly study goals, recommending specific
learning materials, telling you what to expect in courses, and keeping you motivated. In addition to regular
calls, your program mentor is available to help you resolve questions and concerns as they arise.
You will also be assigned to a course instructor for each course. Course instructors are subject matter
experts who will assist your learning in each individual course. When you begin a new course, your
assigned course instructor will actively monitor your progress and will be in touch to offer one-on-one
instruction and to provide you with information about webinars, cohort sessions, and other learning
opportunities available to help you acquire the competencies you need to master the course. Your course
instructor can discuss your learning for the course, help you find answers to content questions, and give
you the tools to navigate the course successfully. In addition, you will communicate with course
instructors by posting in the online learning community and participating in live discussion sessions such
as webinars and cohorts.
For many of the courses at WGU, you will be required to complete performance assessments. These
include reports, papers, presentations, and projects that let you demonstrate your mastery of the required
competencies. A separate group of faculty members, called evaluators, will review your work to
determine whether it meets requirements. Evaluators are also subject matter experts in their field of
evaluation. If your assessment needs further work before it “meets competency,” these evaluators, who
review your work anonymously, will provide you with evaluation feedback to help you demonstrate
competency and allow you to advance.
The learning resources in each course are specifically designed to support you as you develop
competencies in preparation for your assessments. These learning resources may include reading
materials, videos, tutorials, cohort opportunities, community discussions, and live discussions that are
guided by course instructors who are experts in their field. You will access your program community
during your orientation course to network with peers who are enrolled in your program and to receive
continued support through professional enrichment and program-specific chats, blogs, and discussions.
WGU also provides Student Services associates to help you and your program mentor solve any special
problems that may arise.
Orientation
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The WGU orientation course focuses on acquainting you with WGU’s competency-based model, distance
education, technology, and other resources and tools available for students. You will also utilize WGU
program and course communities, participate in activities, and get to know other students at WGU. The
orientation course must be completed before you can start your first term at WGU.
WGU does not waive any requirements based on a student's professional experience and does not
perform a "résumé review" or "portfolio review" that will automatically waive any degree requirements.
Degree requirements and transferability rules are subject to change in order to keep the degree content
relevant and current.
Remember, WGU's competency-based approach lets you take advantage of your knowledge and skills,
regardless of how you obtained them. Even when you do not directly receive credit, the knowledge you
possess may help you accelerate the time it takes to complete your degree program.
WGU requires that students make measurable progress toward the completion of their degree programs
every term. We call this “On-Time Progress,” denoting that you are on track and making progress toward
on-time graduation. As full-time students, graduate students must enroll in at least 8 competency units
each term, and undergraduate students must enroll in at least 12 competency units each term.
Completing at least these minimum enrollments is essential to On-Time Progress and serves as a
baseline from which you may accelerate your program. We measure your progress based on the courses
you are able to pass, not on your accumulation of credit hours or course grades. Every time you pass a
course, you are demonstrating that you have mastered skills and knowledge in your degree program. For
comparison to traditional grading systems, passing a course means you have demonstrated competency
equivalent to a “B” grade or better.
WGU assigns competency units to each course in order to track your progress through the program. A
competency unit is equivalent to one semester credit of learning. Some courses may be assigned 3
competency units while others may be as large as 12 competency units.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is particularly important to students on financial aid because you
must achieve SAP in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid. We will measure your SAP quantitatively
by reviewing the number of competency units you have completed each term. In order to remain in good
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academic standing, you must complete at least 66.67% of the units you attempt over the length of your
program—including any courses you add to your term to accelerate your progress. Additionally, during
your first term at WGU you must pass at least 3 competency units in order to remain eligible for financial
aid. We know that SAP is complex, so please contact a financial aid counselor should you have additional
questions. *Please note: The Endorsement Preparation Program in Educational Leadership is not eligible
for federal financial aid.
Courses
Your Degree Plan includes courses needed to complete your program. To obtain your degree, you will be
required to demonstrate your skills and knowledge by completing the assessment(s) for each course. In
general there are two types of assessments: performance assessments and objective assessments.
Performance assessments contain, in most cases, multiple scored tasks such as projects, essays, and
research papers. Objective assessments include multiple-choice items, multiple-selection items,
matching, short answer, drag-and-drop, and point-and-click item types, as well as case study and video-
based items. Certifications verified through third parties may also be included in your program. More
detailed information about each assessment is provided in each course of study.
Learning Resources
WGU works with many different educational partners, including enterprises, publishers, training
companies, and higher educational institutions, to provide high-quality and effective learning resources
that match the competencies you are developing. These vary in type, and may be combined to create the
best learning experience for your course. A learning resource can be an e-textbook, online module, study
guide, simulation, virtual lab, tutorial, or a combination of these. The cost of most learning resources are
included in your tuition and Learning Resource Fee. They can be accessed or enrolled for through your
courses. Some degree-specific resources are not covered by your tuition, and you will need to cover
those costs separately. WGU also provides a robust library to help you obtain additional learning
resources, as needed.
Mobile Compatibility:
The following article provides additional details about the current state of mobile compatibility for learning
resources at WGU.
Student Handbook article: Can I use my mobile device for learning resources?
Standard Path
As previously mentioned, competency units (CUs) have been assigned to each course in order to
measure your academic progress. If you are an undergraduate student, you will be expected to enroll in a
minimum of 12 competency units each term. Graduate students are expected to enroll in a minimum of 8
competency units each term. A standard plan for a student for this program who entered WGU without
any transfer units would look similar to the one on the following page. Your personal progress can be
faster, but your pace will be determined by the extent of your transfer units, your time commitment, and
your determination to proceed at a faster rate.
Changes to Curriculum
WGU publishes an Institutional Catalog, which describes the academic requirements of each degree
program. Although students are required to complete the program version current at the time of their
enrollment, WGU may modify requirements and course offerings within that version of the program to
maintain the currency and relevance of WGU’s competencies and programs. When program
requirements are updated, students readmitting after withdrawal from the university will be expected to
re-enter into the most current catalog version of the program.
IT Fundamentals
Introduction to IT
Introduction to IT examines information technology as a discipline and the various roles and functions of the IT department
as business support. Students are presented with various IT disciplines, including systems and services, network and
security, scripting and programming, data management, and business of IT, with a survey of technologies in every area and
how they relate to each other and to the business.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner explains different computer hardware and networking technologies and their developments.
● The learner describes fundamental data management functions in databases.
● The learner identifies components of software and its relation to operating systems.
● The learner identifies computer hardware components.
● The learner describes the structure, function, and security associated with networks.
● The learner describes the basics of programming languages in software development.
● The learner describes the role of the IT department in IT infrastructure management, disaster recovery, and business
continuity processes.
● The learner evaluates ethical concerns in information technology.
IT Applications
IT Applications introduces skills in identifying operating systems and their configurations and in implementing security
principles across devices and networks. Learners will also gain skills in troubleshooting software, security, and malware
issues, and in implementing basic operational procedures in documentation, change management, compliance, and
communication. The course will introduce basic disaster recovery and business continuity procedures, scripting basics, and
remote access technology solutions. The course prepares learners for the CompTIA A+ Core 2 certification exam.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner identifies operating systems and their configurations.
● The learner implements security principles across devices and networks.
● The learner troubleshoots software, security, and malware issues.
● The learner implements basic operational procedures in documentation, change management, compliance, and
communication.
● The learner implements basic disaster recovery and business continuity procedures.
● The learner identifies scripting basics.
● The learner identifies remote access technology solutions.
IT Foundations
IT Foundations provides learners with an understanding of personal computer components and their functions in a desktop
General Education
Applied Probability and Statistics
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. No
prerequisites are required for this course.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The graduate applies the operations, processes, and procedures of fractions, decimals, and percentages to evaluate
quantitative expressions.
● The graduate applies the operations, processes, and procedures of basic algebra to evaluate quantitative expressions,
and to solve equations and inequalities.
● The graduate evaluates categorical and quantitative data pertaining to a single variable using appropriate graphical
displays and numerical measures.
● The graduate evaluates the relationship between two variables through interpretation of visual displays and numerical
measures.
● The graduate evaluates the relationship between two quantitative variables through correlation and regression.
● The graduate applies principles and methods of probability-based mathematics to explain and solve problems.
Applied Algebra
Applied Algebra is designed to help you develop competence in working with functions, the algebra of functions, and using
some applied properties of functions. You will start learning about how we can apply different kinds of functions to relevant,
real-life examples. From there, the algebra of several families of functions will be explored, including linear, polynomial,
exponential, and logistic functions. You will also learn about relevant, applicable mathematical properties of each family of
functions, including rate of change, concavity, maximizing/minimizing, and asymptotes. These properties will be used to
solve problems related to your major and make sense of everyday living problems. Students should complete Applied
Probability and Statistics or its equivalent prior to engaging in Applied Algebra.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner interprets the real-world meaning of various functions based on notation, graphical representations, and
data representations.
● The learner applies linear functions and their properties to real-world problems.
● The learner applies polynomial functions and their properties to real-world problems.
● The learner applies exponential functions and their properties to real-world problems.
● The learner applies logistic functions and their properties to real-world problems.
● The learner analyzes graphical depictions of real-world situations using functional properties.
● The learner verifies the validity of a given model.
Ethics in Technology
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. This course has no prerequisites.
This course covers the following competencies:
Technical Communication
Technical Communication introduces skills in editing professional communications, evaluating the impact of professional
etiquette in digital environments, and in creating artifacts that are persuasive, informational, and research-based. The
course also introduces skills in delivering multimedia presentations using professional verbal communication skills.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner edits corporate communications for proper grammar and punctuation.
● The learner evaluates the impact of business etiquette and communication in digital environments.
● The learner creates technical artifacts that are persuasive, informational, and research based.
● The learner delivers presentations with professional verbal communication skills and multimedia.
Operating Systems
Linux Foundations
Networks
Networks
Networks introduces skills in configuring networking components and a network infrastructure. Learners will gain skills in
optimizing network operations for availability, performance, and security, and in troubleshooting network issues. The course
prepares learners for the CompTIA Network+ certification exam. Network and Security - Foundations is a prerequisite for
this course.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner configures networking components.
● The learner configures a network infrastructure.
● The learner optimizes network operations for availability, performance, and security.
● The learner troubleshoots network issues.
● The learner implements network security techniques.
Business of IT
Business of IT - Applications
Business of IT - Applications examines Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL®) terminology, structure, policies,
and concepts. Focusing on the management of information technology (IT) infrastructure, development, and operations,
learners will explore the core principles of ITIL practices for service management to prepare them for careers as IT
professionals, business managers, and business process owners. This course has no prerequisites.
IT Leadership Foundations
IT Leadership Foundations is an introductory course that provides students with an overview of organizational structures,
communication, and leadership styles specific to information technology in organizations. It also introduces students to
some of the power skills that help make successful IT professionals, including time management, problem solving, and
emotional intelligence. Students in this course explore their own strengths and passions in relation to the field. There are no
prerequisites for this course.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner selects appropriate influential leadership strategies for workplace situations.
● The learner communicates ideas, opinions, and information suitable for various professional settings.
● The learner reflects on the emotional reactions of self and others in a variety of professional situations.
● The learner recommends strategies for decision-making in team environments.
Web Development
Web Development Foundations
Web Development Foundations introduces students to web design and development using HTML, XML, and Cascading
Style Sheets (CSS), the foundational languages of the web. This course also covers how to troubleshoot problems using
developer tools and integrated development environments commonly employed in web development. There are no
prerequisites for this course.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner creates the structure of basic web documents using HTML and XML.
● The learner implements web page formatting and interface aesthetics using CSS
● The learner resolves software problems in web development environments with debugging tools.
Networking
Python for IT Automation
Python for IT Automation covers the fundamentals of the Python language and its features to control program flow, inform
decisions, and automate IT tasks and processes. The course emphasizes a systematic approach to solving problems and
the application of programming logic to administer secure, scalable, and resilient IT networks and systems.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner applies Python principles and syntax to manage variables, data structures, and operators and to perform IT
tasks.
● The learner creates Python scripts using control structures to automate system tasks.
● The learner integrates Python scripts, modules, packages, and libraries to automate networking tasks and processes.
Data Management
Data Management - Foundations
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. No prerequisites are required for this course
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner explains attributes of databases, database tables, and structured and associated query language (SQL)
commands.
● The learner determines how to run queries for creation and manipulation of data in relational databases.
● The learner defines primary and foreign keys in data normalization.
IT Cloud
Information Assurance
Introduction to Cryptography
Introduction to Cryptography introduces skills in applying cryptography principles in alignment with organizational and
information security guidelines. Students will determine requirements and techniques for cryptanalysis. This course builds
skills in implementing encryption methods with symmetric and asymmetric algorithms.
This course covers the following competencies:
● Begin your course by discussing your course planning tool report with your instructor and creating your personalized
course plan together.
● The learner applies cryptography principles in alignment with organizational and information security guidelines.
● The learner implements encryption methods with symmetric and asymmetric algorithms.
Student Services team members also assist with unresolved concerns to find equitable resolutions. To
contact the Student Services team, please feel free to call 877-435-7948 or e-mail
studentservices@wgu.edu. We are available Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.,
Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., mountain standard time. Closed Sundays.
If you have inquiries or concerns that require technical support, please contact the WGU IT Service Desk.
The IT Service Desk is available Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Saturday and
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., mountain standard time. To contact the IT Service Desk, please call
1-877-HELP-WGU (877-435-7948) or e-mail servicedesk@wgu.edu. The support teams are generally
closed in observance of university holidays.
For the most current information regarding WGU support services, please visit “Student Support” on the
Student Portal at http://my.wgu.edu.