+- Online Degrees and CLEP and DSST Exam Prep Discussion (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb)
+-- Forum: Specific College Discussion (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Forum-Specific-College-Discussion)
+--- Forum: WGU - Western Governors University Discussion (https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Forum-WGU-Western-Governors-University-Discussion)
+--- Thread: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan (/Thread-WGU-SW-Dev-Degree-Plan)
WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - davewill - 07-12-2018
My son (30) is considering a career change into web development. He currently has a BSBA in Marketing and Accounting, and has been working in marketing for a few years. I tried to put together a degree plan for him for WGU's Software Dev program. I figure he can take the initial programming courses at SL and find out whether this is going to be his cup of joe without making a big commitment. I figure at that time we can also discuss whether CS would fit him better, but right now that's too much to consider.
If someone could look this over and see if I've made a mistake or missed an opportunity I'd appreciate it. Also, if someone knows the exact courses at SL and Sophia that would be helpful.
RE: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - quigongene - 07-12-2018
Intro to IT: can be satisfied by CLEP
Scripting and Programming - Foundations: MTA Software Dev
Web Development Foundations: MTA HTML5 and CSS
Network and Security - Foundations: MTA Networking Fundamentals
The MTA exams are a joke, cheaper than SL and there's free online training from Microsoft:
https://mva.microsoft.com/
Also, Data Management - Foundations can be covered with MTA Database Fundamentals
https://partners.wgu.edu/TransferGuidelines/IT/Bachelor%20of%20Science%20in%20Software%20Development.pdf
Tech Communication: Tech Writing DSST
RE: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - davewill - 07-12-2018
Is the online training from Microsoft sufficient for someone who has no background? I'm willing to tutor him, obviously, but he's starting this from scratch. It's going to be important that he really learn this stuff, not just check a box.
RE: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - quigongene - 07-12-2018
(07-12-2018, 01:52 PM)davewill Wrote: Is the online training from Microsoft sufficient for someone who has no background?
I have a pretty extensive background, so hard to speculate on this. I did learn a lot with the HTML5 MVA though. The DB and Networking MTAs I took cold.
You do have to ask how much will be learned via a SL course, though.
RE: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - sanantone - 07-12-2018
From my personal experience, it's not good to just take easy IT certification tests with little to no study if you eventually need to learn the skill anyway. After passing two CIW exams with very little study, I planned to take the JavaScript exam after very little study. I wouldn't have known how to program in JavaScript. I passed a VB.NET CSU Global CBE, and I can't program one line. It's fine to take the test for cheap credits, but it's imperative to learn more than what it takes to pass an easy exam. I never want to code or program, so I don't care.
RE: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - davewill - 07-12-2018
(07-12-2018, 02:15 PM)quigongene Wrote: I have a pretty extensive background, so hard to speculate on this. I did learn a lot with the HTML5 MVA though. The DB and Networking MTAs I took cold.
You do have to ask how much will be learned via a SL course, though.
At least there's actual coursework and assignments that are graded. You know whether you're scraping by or really learning the material. The other choice, which I mentioned to him, was clearing these at the local CC, which is very cost effective in CA, but not as accelerated.
RE: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - MrBossmanJr - 07-12-2018
How do you take MTA exams? I wanna knock some of these certs off.
RE: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - davewill - 07-12-2018
(07-12-2018, 02:18 PM)sanantone Wrote: From my personal experience, it's not good to just take easy IT certification tests with little to no study if you eventually need to learn the skill anyway. After passing two CIW exams with very little study, I planned to take the JavaScript exam after very little study. I wouldn't have known how to program in JavaScript. I passed a VB.NET CSU Global CBE, and I can't program one line. It's fine to take the test for cheap credits, but it's imperative to learn more than what it takes to pass an easy exam. I never want to code or program, so I don't care.
Yeah, it looks like Network & Security - Foundations isn't a course at SL. The guy who's spreadsheet I cribbed from must have intended that you would get the cert, maybe by using the SL prep course. I also couldn't locate an external Data Management - Applications type course at Sophia like he listed. Software Engineering isn't in the transfer guide, so that answers my question mark on that one.
Here's my updated spreadsheet.
RE: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - quigongene - 07-12-2018
(07-12-2018, 02:59 PM)MrBossmanJr Wrote: How do you take MTA exams? I wanna knock some of these certs off.
https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/Microsoft/MTA/Certify
RE: WGU SW Dev Degree Plan - bluebooger - 07-12-2018
I wouldn't take all those courses from outside sources (Sophia, Straighterline, CLEP or MTA exams)
I would only take one MTA exam or one Straighterline to satisfy WGU admission requirements and to make sure software development was something I'd be interested in
the WGU tuition includes exam fees for Microsoft and Oracle exams -- so you basically take the exams for free once you've paid the WGU tuition
this https://www.udemy.com/the-web-developer-bootcamp/ is supposed to be one of the best web dev courses out there
he won't get any credit for it, but it will certainly tell him if SD if for him or not