Online degrees based on your skills and knowledge
At Western Governors University—a private, nonprofit, online university—your competence is the ultimate focus of every degree program. By emphasizing mastery of essential skills and knowledge as opposed to accumulating credit hours or seat time, WGU's innovative approach to online learning rewards focused, hard-working adult learners. Progress toward your degree is based on passing rigorous assessments (such as tests, projects, assignments, etc.) which measure your skills and knowledge in your field of study. We call it competency-based learning.
WGU offers over 50 degree programs in teacher education, business, information technology, and healthcare (including nursing). These programs are best suited for individuals with at least one year of college experience.
Note: In Indiana, Texas, and Washington, through partnerships with these states, WGU operates as WGU Indiana, WGU Texas, and WGU Washington respectively. Students who live in these states will receive information from and ultimately enroll in these state universities.
WGU's rigorous yet flexible learning model gives the university a unique advantage over other online programs. Here's what the WGU advantage means to you:
Flexibility and Affordability. Our competency-based approach to learning allows for extensive personalization of your degree program. With assessments determining your success instead of credit hours or seat time, you'll enjoy an education that can fit into your schedule. In most cases, you will access course material or study independently at the time and place you choose. Also, if you come into your program with years of knowledge and experience, you may be able to complete your assessments faster. Since you pay for tuition at a flat rate per six-month term, you're paying for the time you need to complete your assessments. The faster you finish your assessments, the more money you can save.
Credibility through Accreditation. WGU is regionally and nationally accredited. The Teachers College at WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission for the Accreditation of Teacher Accreditation (NCATE)—the first exclusively online teacher education institution to achieve this distinction. WGU's nursing programs are also accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE, One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036, 202-867-6791).
Commitment and Support. As a WGU student, you'll have the support of a team of mentors committed to your success. You will work with a dedicated student mentor as well as course mentors who will support you every step of the way through your degree program. You'll also interact with an online learning community of students in your same program, so you're never alone.
If you're an organized, independent learner willing to devote at least 20 hours a week to your studies, but require flexibility in time and place to complete your education, WGU could be the smart choice. As a nonprofit institution, WGU does not rely on state or federal funding and is not subject to review from funding agencies.
B.S. in Accounting (Online)
Whether you want to advance your accounting career in a corporation, nonprofit organization, or government entity, the Accounting program at WGU is an accredited and affordable education option. Through this program, you will get a broad education in general business skills as well as specialized training in cost accounting, tax accounting, auditing, and other critical areas. If you've completed at least one year of college, are a self-motivated learner and can devote 15 to 20 hours a week to your studies, the WGU Accounting program is for you.
B.S. in Business --HR Management (Online)
WGU's B.S. Business—Human Resource Management is ideal for the business or HR professional with 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 provides valuable skills and knowledge in all areas of human resources, including compensation and benefits, employee and labor relations, occupational health and safety and strategic management.
B.S. in Business --IT Management (Online)
When you want to incorporate your IT skills into a career in management, the Information Technology program at WGU is an accredited and affordable education option. Not only will you get the rigorous IT training you need, but you will get the communication and managerial skills necessary to manage both projects and personnel in customer service, data centers, tech support centers and more. If you want to advance your IT skills into management, have completed at least one year of college and are a self-motivated learner who can devote 15 to 20 hours a week to your studies, the WGU Information Technology Management program is for you.
B.S. in Business Management (Online)
Whether you want a management position in private business, a public corporation or the government, the B.S. Business Management program at WGU will prepare you with the business skills and knowledge you need. A perfect program for business managers or professionals who need their bachelor's degree, this program is ideal for a self-motivated learner who can devote 15 to 20 hours per week to their studies, and has completed at least one year of college.
B.S. in Marketing Management (Online)
If you're looking to start or advance your career in marketing, the Marketing Management program at WGU is an accredited and affordable education option. By preparing you in a wide variety of expertise, including strategic marketing, product management, promotion, pricing, distribution, sales, and more, this program will help you qualify for the career you want in marketing, sales, publicity or promotion.
If you have completed at least one year of college and are a self-motivated learner who can devote 15 to 20 hours a week to your studies, the WGU Marketing Management program is for you.
B.S. in Sales and Sales Management (Online)
WGU's B.S. in Sales and Sales Management will give you a competitive advantage in the marketplace as it equips you with the tools, techniques, and knowledge to excel in your profession. This online program offers flexible scheduling and is ideal for the sales professional who already possesses sales experience, and wishes to move into management but needs a bachelor's degree to do so. Students should expect to devote 20 or more hours per week to their studies. Two industry-recognized sales certifications are part of the curriculum: Action Selling Sales Skills Certification and CSE®--Certified Sales Executive. This program is well suited for people with at least one year of college completed.
M.B.A (Online)
This program is ideal for the self-motivated learner who already possesses significant 'real-world' experience, seeks in-depth knowledge in management and strategy, and can devote 15 to 20 hours per week to their studies. The Master of Business Administration prepares you for mid-level to upper-level management positions in business, industry, and non profit organizations. The program educates you in a number of critical areas, including distribution, financial reporting, analysis, communication, ethics, strategy, and leadership. A perfect program for the experienced business professional who seeks a credible degree program to achieve upward mobility.
M.B.A. --Healthcare Management (Online)
This program is ideal for the self-motivated learner who already possesses health care industry experience, seeks in-depth knowledge in management and strategy, and can devote 15 to 20 hours per week to their studies.
The MBA - Healthcare Management prepares you for mid-level to upper-level health care management positions. The program educates you in core business skills, essential industry knowledge, and advanced health care managerial expertise. A perfect program for the experienced health care administration professional who seeks a credible degree program and upward mobility.
M.B.A. --IT Management (Online)
This program is ideal for the self-motivated IT professional who already possesses significant "real-world" experience, seeks in-depth knowledge in management and strategy, has completed at least one year of college, and can devote 15 to 20 hours per week to their studies.
The MBA – Information Technology Management prepares you for mid-level to upper-level IT management positions in business, industry, and non profit organizations. The program educates you in core business skills, essential industry knowledge, and advanced IT managerial expertise. A perfect program for the experienced IT professional who seeks a credible degree program and upward mobility.
WGU is now a member of the Microsoft and Oracle IT Academies. These memberships offer unique integration of both Microsoft and Oracle learning resources into WGU's IT degree programs, affording WGU students the opportunity to learn using simulations, live labs, and proprietary software.
Accreditation
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). WGU is the first 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.