Online degrees based on your skills and knowledge
Western Governors University, a non profit private university, features a competency-based approach that emphasizes mastery of essential skills and knowledge instead of accumulating credit hours. Progress toward your online degree is based on passing rigorous assessments that measure your skills and knowledge in your field of study. WGU’s programs are best designed (well suited) for people with at least one year or more of college completed.
With multiple degree programs in education, business, healthcare, and information technology, WGU’s rigorous yet flexible approach gives the university a unique advantage over other online programs. Here’s what the WGU advantage means to you:
- An online learning and assessment model that gives you flexibility and control over your education.
- A mentoring team committed to your success.
- A trusted quality education from the only university to have ever received accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions.
- Affordable tuition with the possibility of accelerated learning that equals lower costs for your education.
Challenging and efficient. These are the hallmarks of WGU’s competency-based approach. Learn more today!
Featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams in their "What Works" segment, WGU is the recipient of the USDLA 21st Century Award for Best Practices in Distance Learning for 2011, awarded in recognition of their success in expanding access to higher education.
Western Governors University is the only university to have received simultaneous accreditation by four regional accrediting commissions. Currently, WGU's "home" accrediting commission is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the same organization that accredits such leading institutions as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and other public and private colleges. WGU is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The WGU Teachers College is the only exclusively online university to receive NCATE accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). WGU’s Health Informatics program is now accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
WGU's Nursing programs are CCNE accredited.
Learn more today!B.A. in Science (5-12 Physics)
Physics teachers are in high demand! This program is ideal for someone who needs a bachelor's degree, wants to become a certified high school physics teacher, has completed at least one year of college, and can devote 15 to 20 hours per week to their studies.
The B.A. in Science (5-12, Physics) prepares you for secondary teacher licensure in high school physics. In this program, you'll learn and develop the skills and knowledge in general science, advanced physics, and teaching methods you need to become a highly qualified physics teacher. The program includes supervised practice teaching in an actual classroom setting and a home science lab—a perfect program for unlicensed substitute teachers, retired military, and career changers who feel the call to teach.
B.A. in Special Education (K-12)
This program is appropriate for teaching candidates seeking certification who have completed at least one year of college, can devote 15 to 20 hours per week to their studies, wish to earn endorsement in special education, and begin their careers in this high-demand field.
The B.A. in Special Education (PK-12) prepares you to effectively teach students with mild to moderate cross-categorical disabilities. Graduates become highly qualified special education teachers. Scholarships are available to those who qualify.
B.S. in Information Technology --Security
Become an expert IT security specialist. WGU's B.S. in Information Technology—Security program provides you with the latest IT security management skills that employers demand along with nine IT certifications. This program is ideal for someone who has IT security management experience, wants to specialize in IT security, has completed at least one year of college, and can devote 20 or more hours per week to their studies.
This flexible, accredited program incorporates nine IT certifications including the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®) Security Certification at an affordable cost (all certification fees are included in your tuition). You'll also complete coursework in operating systems, networks, databases, software, and project management. This is a perfect program if you already hold relevant IT certifications as you can use them to accelerate your degree, saving you time and money.
WGU is a member institution of the Microsoft IT Academy, incorporating Microsoft training curriculum, coursework, and certifications into our challenging, competency-based IT degrees. WGU was also recognized by TIME Magazine as the “best relatively cheap university you've never heard of” and featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams.
B.S. in Business --HR Management
WGU’s B.S. Business—Human Resource Management is ideal for the business or HR professional who already possesses some HR experience, wishes to move into HR management but needs a bachelor’s degree to do so, and can devote 20 or more hours per week to their studies.
This bachelor’s degree equips you with valuable skills and knowledge in all areas of human resources, including compensation and benefits, employee and labor relations, occupational health and safety, strategic management, and workforce planning and employment. This is a perfect program for HR professionals who need a degree, as well as career changers interested in a career in human resources.
Note: For students who meet the specific work experience requirements, WGU offers the Professional in Human Resources (PHR®) Certification Exam, administered by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI), as part of this degree program.