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+--- Thread: 2026 Saylor CS302 Software Engineering and CS402 Computer Communications and Networks (/Thread-2026-Saylor-CS302-Software-Engineering-and-CS402-Computer-Communications-and-Networks)
2026 Saylor CS302 Software Engineering and CS402 Computer Communications and Networks - animuscerebri - 01-27-2026
Hi everybody,
I'd like to "reheat" the following two courses - looking again at their current exam conditions.
You can find some background on their difficulty from years ago here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-SAYLOR-CS302-Software-Engineering-TESU-transfer and https://www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/17d3slq/cs302_software_engineering_saylor_direct_credit/ and https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Passed-Saylor-CS402-Computer-Communications-and-Networks-on-second-attempt
- CS302: Software Engineering - ACE: https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pages/Course.aspx?org=Saylor+Academy&cid=af45427e-a28f-ee11-8179-00224805fa3a&oid=68099b28-9016-e811-810f-5065f38bf0e1
- CS402: Computer Communications and Networks - ACE: https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pages/Course.aspx?org=Saylor+Academy&cid=6a65bb94-a18f-ee11-8179-00224805fa3a&oid=68099b28-9016-e811-810f-5065f38bf0e1
Has anyone taken any of those two classes in the last year? And if yes, has anything changed about their exam conditions or are they still kinda "different" in comparison to their practice exams?
I think just trying them out for 5 bucks is not a big deal, but I'd like to know whether the questions asked are still extremely random or vague.
Thanks for any info.
Computer Communications and Networks
RE: 2026 Saylor CS302 Software Engineering and CS402 Computer Communications and Networks - FungiTao - 01-28-2026
Currently going through CS302 now and will provide an update on the exam conditions (in the next couple of days).
As for the content, it's still rife with mistakes unfortunately.
RE: 2026 Saylor CS302 Software Engineering and CS402 Computer Communications and Networks - animuscerebri - 01-29-2026
(01-28-2026, 09:27 AM)FungiTao Wrote: Currently going through CS302 now and will provide an update on the exam conditions (in the next couple of days).
As for the content, it's still rife with mistakes unfortunately.
Hi @FungiTao,
great for doing that! And thank you for your updates on this topic.
RE: 2026 Saylor CS302 Software Engineering and CS402 Computer Communications and Networks - FungiTao - 01-31-2026
Just took the exam (well, kinda...).
I had technical issues which I believe were from the proctor-side, and I've opened up a ticket with Saylor so that this doesn't count as an attempt and doesn't effect when I can re-take (I was booted off after 70 minutes).
In terms of questions, I was expecting worse tbh:
- A few questions where all choices seemed right, making it more a matter of opinion
- A considerable amount on UML diagrams, especially their connections and meanings
- Not noticeably harder than the certificate exam imo
Might need some recommendations for other BACS AOS UL courses if there is no light at the end of the tunnel...
RE: 2026 Saylor CS302 Software Engineering and CS402 Computer Communications and Networks - animuscerebri - 01-31-2026
(01-31-2026, 10:47 AM)FungiTao Wrote: Just took the exam (well, kinda...).
I had technical issues which I believe were from the proctor-side, and I've opened up a ticket with Saylor so that this doesn't count as an attempt and doesn't effect when I can re-take (I was booted off after 70 minutes).
In terms of questions, I was expecting worse tbh:
I only managed to get 61% but considering this was within an hour, I'll take it.
- A few questions where all choices seemed right, making it more a matter of opinion
- A considerable amount on UML diagrams, especially their connections and meanings
- Not noticeably harder than the certificate exam imo
Might need some recommendations for other BACS AOS UL courses if there is no light at the end of the tunnel...
Hi @FungiTao,
thank you for your updates.
Could you describe in detail what exactly where the technical difficulties? Did you take it on a Mac- or a Windows-based computer?
In total, you have 120 minutes for the direct credit exam. Thus, getting 61% within 70 minutes is pretty good. It looks like as if you had had more time, you would have probably passed it.
Which parts were more difficult in your opinion?
RE: 2026 Saylor CS302 Software Engineering and CS402 Computer Communications and Networks - FungiTao - 02-08-2026
@animuscerebri - Windows-based computer with their Chrome extension.
Re-took the exam today and got 69% lol, just needed one more right
Not going to waste any more time on Saylor courses. Frankly, their course content is horrendous and the multiple-choice questions are luck of the draw in terms of how ambiguous they are. I'd say the hardest area would be the questions where you either identify or solve a problem by choosing a correct tool (e.g. 'What is the purpose of software configuration management?').
Do you have any recommendations for TESU BACS UL AOS electives, that are in a similar format / time-frame for completion? The only ones I've seen so far are Google certs that look like they take at least a month to go through and the SAS programmer certificate which seems pretty useless if you haven't already done the prerequisite SAS course that comes before it.
RE: 2026 Saylor CS302 Software Engineering and CS402 Computer Communications and Networks - animuscerebri - 02-13-2026
Hi @FungiTao,
I'm sorry to hear that. This really sucks! I think you can try again, right? However, I'd understand if you don't feel like trying it anymore.
As for your question: "Recommendations for TESU BACS UL AOS electives"
I'm finishing these two Coursera certificates in order to find out what TESU will slot into the BACS AOS UL section, namely:
IBM Generative AI Engineering Professional Certificate, potentially 17 UL credits, but I don't believe they'll slot all into the BACS AOS UL section; ACE: https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pages/Course.aspx?org=IBM&cid=1e856155-18d2-f011-bbd3-000d3a329ecb&oid=6d532c35-75c4-ea11-a812-000d3a33232a
IBM AI Developer Professional Certificate, potentially 15 UL credits, but I don't believe they'll slot all into the BACS AOS UL section; ACE: https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pages/Course.aspx?org=IBM&cid=ef846155-18d2-f011-bbd3-000d3a329ecb&oid=6d532c35-75c4-ea11-a812-000d3a33232a
The good thing about both certificates is that they have an intersection: 5 courses are exactly the same in both certificates. This means that you do those 5 courses once and you can use them for the other certificate as well.
However, I started those certificates last year, but at an extremely slow pace, because I'm totally busy with work. I could knock them off rapidly, because I'm already working in that field. Thus, the topics are not difficult for me, but I also enjoy watching videos explaining certain topics from a different angle, but I probably get them done in 1-2 month(s) due to my current workload.
I hope this info helps so that you can finish off your UL requirements soon. Keep us updated about your progress!