B.S. Information Technology — everything the community knows, everything WGU gives you, and every CEU you can squeeze out of it.
Community-sourced from r/WGU, r/WGUIT, r/WGU_Accelerators, and official WGU + cert-body documentation. Compiled August 2026; transfer data updated October 2026 from WGU’s official Transfer Pathways data.
☕ Buy me a coffee — this guide is free and always will be; coffee funds the updates when WGU changes the catalog again.
⚠️ Read this first — what this guide is, and what it isn’t
This is an independent, privately created and maintained guide. It is not produced, reviewed, endorsed, or authorized by Western Governors University in any way.
A large portion of it is community-derived — real students’ posts, course writeups, completion reports, and screenshots of their own degree plans — combined with publicly available official documentation. Community reports can be out of date, specific to one student’s catalog version, or simply wrong. And this program in particular is a moving target: BSIT is mid-way through a major curriculum overhaul that is still rolling out through 2026, transfer-credit articulations changed in March 2026, and tuition changes annually.
Treat everything here as a starting point for a better conversation with WGU — not as an authoritative answer. Before you make any decision that costs money or time (enrolling, buying external coursework, transferring credit, sitting an exam, planning a term), confirm it directly with:
- WGU Admissions / your Enrollment Counselor — wgu.edu/admissions (use the contact options on that page) — for anything about admission, transfer credit, or cost.
- Your Program Mentor — the authority on your degree plan, your catalog version, and which courses you personally need. This matters more than usual right now, because two BSIT students can be on genuinely different course lists this year.
- The official program guide — BSIT program guide.
Every section below links its sources so you can verify anything yourself. Where something is community-reported rather than officially confirmed, it’s labeled as such. If you find something wrong, please say so — corrections make this better for everyone behind you.
⚠️ Catalog note — the single most important thing on this page: BSIT is in the middle of a major curriculum overhaul, and the capstone has been removed entirely. Rollout is staggered and mentor-mediated — some students got the new plan around April 2026, others as late as August 2026. If a writeup you find online mentions C777 (Web Development Applications) or a required IT Capstone Written Project, it’s describing the old plan. This guide reconstructs the current structure from real students’ transfer-eval printouts and WGU’s own live transfer tool. Companion guides: BSCSIA Field Guide · MSCSIA Field Guide.
Official pages: Program page · Program guide · Program guide PDF · IT bachelor’s comparison
The shape of it: 35 courses, 110 competency units (CUs) per the current program guide (Catalog 202604; WGU’s transfer tool lists the same 35 courses as Catalog 08-2026). 6-month flat-rate terms, competency-based. Minimum full-time pace 12 CU/term. WGU’s own stat: 61% of graduates finish within 39 months — the longest typical completion among WGU’s IT bachelor’s degrees, though that figure predates the overhaul, and community numbers suggest the redesign is compressing it meaningfully.
Cost: $3,925 tuition + $200 resource fee = $4,125 per 6-month term (Jan 1 2026 rate, confirmed unchanged in the Oct 1 2026 tuition table — always check current). At the 39-month pace (~7 terms) that’s ≈$28,875. You pay per term, not per course.
Rollout is staggered by student/mentor through 2026 — not a single hard cutover date. It’s opt-in at a term boundary for current students; new enrollments increasingly land in the new plan by default. From a student’s own transfer-evaluation printout (the most current data available):
Removed:
| Code | Course |
|---|---|
| C777 | Web Development Applications |
| C268 | Spreadsheets |
| C948 | Technical Communication |
| C954 | Information Technology Management |
| C962 | Current and Emerging Technology |
| C783 | Project Management |
| C769 | IT Capstone Written Project — the capstone itself |
Added / replaced:
| Code | Course | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E005 | Business Productivity Software | |
| D685 | Practical Applications of Prompt Engineering | |
| D388 | Fundamentals of Spreadsheets and Data Presentations | replaces C268 |
| E006 | Digital Transformation in the Enterprise | |
| E012 | Information Technology Management and Leadership | replaces C954 |
| D318 | Cloud Applications | → CompTIA Cloud+ |
| E011 | Technical Communication | replaces C948 |
| E015 | Project Management | → CompTIA Project+, replaces C783 |
| E010 | Foundations of Programming (Python) | |
| D522 | Python for IT Automation | the hard one — see Section 7 |
⚠️ Code correction: the E011 / E012 / E015 codes above came from one student’s mid-2026 transfer printout. WGU’s own transfer data for the current BSIT uses D339 Technical Communication, E008 Technology Management, D822 Technology Governance, and D324 Business of IT – Project Management instead. The official list below is authoritative.
One student’s read on the “why”: the program is “moving away from web dev” toward Python, cloud, and AI content — mirroring the same shift in BSCSIA’s catalog.
Net effect on pace: a student who went from 16 old-plan courses remaining to 18 new-plan courses remaining still reported a clear win, because average per-course completion time dropped enough that the larger course count finishes faster — “the new plan just cut my potential graduation time by 6+ months.”
The standard path from WGU’s BSIT program guide, with each course’s code from WGU’s own transfer data:
| # | Code | Course | CU | Term | Built-in cert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E004 | Introduction to IT | 3 | 1 | — |
| 2 | E005 | Business Productivity Software | 3 | 1 | — |
| 3 | D246 | Influential Communication through Visual Design and Storytelling | 3 | 1 | — |
| 4 | C458 | Health, Fitness, and Wellness | 4 | 1 | — |
| 5 | D773 | Technology and Ethics: Emerging Trends and Society | 3 | 2 | — |
| 6 | D265 | Critical Thinking: Reason and Evidence | 3 | 2 | — |
| 7 | D336 | Business of IT – Applications | 4 | 2 | → ITIL 4 Foundation |
| 8 | D270 | Composition: Successful Self-Expression | 3 | 2 | — |
| 9 | D459 | Introduction to Systems Thinking and Applications | 3 | 3 | — |
| 10 | D324 | Business of IT – Project Management | 4 | 3 | → CompTIA Project+ |
| 11 | C955 | Applied Probability and Statistics | 3 | 3 | — |
| 12 | D685 | Practical Applications of Prompt | 2 | 3 | — |
| 13 | D281 | Linux Foundations | 3 | 4 | → LPI Linux Essentials |
| 14 | D316 | IT Foundations | 4 | 4 | → CompTIA A+ (Core 1) |
| 15 | C963 | American Politics and the US Constitution | 3 | 4 | — |
| 16 | E006 | Digital Transformation in the Enterprise | 2 | 4 | — |
| 17 | D388 | Fundamentals of Spreadsheets and Data Presentations | 3 | 5 | — |
| 18 | E007 | Agile Methodology | 3 | 5 | — |
| 19 | D317 | IT Applications | 4 | 5 | → CompTIA A+ (Core 2) |
| 20 | E008 | Technology Management | 3 | 5 | — |
| 21 | E009 | Web Design Fundamentals | 3 | 6 | — |
| 22 | D315 | Network and Security – Foundations | 3 | 6 | — |
| 23 | C957 | Applied Algebra | 3 | 6 | — |
| 24 | D318 | Cloud Applications | 3 | 6 | → CompTIA Cloud+ |
| 25 | D426 | Data Management – Foundations | 3 | 7 | — |
| 26 | D325 | Networks | 4 | 7 | → CompTIA Network+ |
| 27 | D339 | Technical Communication | 3 | 7 | — |
| 28 | C683 | Natural Science Lab | 2 | 7 | — |
| 29 | D198 | Global Arts and Humanities | 3 | 8 | — |
| 30 | D329 | Network and Security – Applications | 4 | 8 | → CompTIA Security+ |
| 31 | E010 | Foundations of Programming (Python) | 3 | 8 | — |
| 32 | D822 | Technology Governance | 3 | 8 | — |
| 33 | D427 | Data Management – Applications | 4 | 9 | — |
| 34 | D522 | Python for IT Automation | 3 | 9 | — |
| 35 | D282 | Cloud Foundations | 3 | 9 | → AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner |
| Total | 110 |
Certs (8 built in): CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Project+, Cloud+; LPI Linux Essentials; ITIL 4 Foundation; AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner. Plus four free CompTIA stacked credentials once you hold the prerequisites: IT Operations Specialist (A+ + Net+), Cloud Administration Professional (Net+ + Cloud+), Secure Infrastructure Specialist (A+ + Net+ + Sec+), Secure Cloud Professional (Sec+ + Cloud+).
Same degree, three very different journeys. The variable that matters most isn’t how fast you study — it’s how much you clear before you ever start paying WGU tuition.
gantt
title BSIT - three realistic paths from day zero to diploma
dateFormat YYYY-MM-DD
axisFormat %b %Y
todayMarker off
section A. Traditional
Apply and enroll :a0, 2026-09-01, 30d
Term 1 :a1, 2026-10-01, 180d
Term 2 :a2, after a1, 180d
Term 3 :a3, after a2, 180d
Term 4 :a4, after a3, 180d
Term 5 :a5, after a4, 180d
Term 6 :a6, after a5, 180d
Term 7 :a7, after a6, 180d
section B. Max transfer
External coursework prep :b0, 2026-09-01, 270d
Transcripts and enroll :b1, after b0, 45d
Term 1 :b2, after b1, 180d
Term 2 :b3, after b2, 180d
section C. Fully accelerated
Certs plus external sprint :c0, 2026-09-01, 120d
Transcripts and enroll :c1, after c0, 45d
Term 1 - finish :c2, after c1, 100d
| Path | Who it fits | Pre-enrollment work | Terms paid | Wall-clock | Approx. tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Traditional | New to IT, working full-time, no transfer credit | None | ~7 | ~42 months | ≈$28,875 |
| B. Max transfer | Willing to spend 9 months on Sophia/Study.com first, or holds an associate degree | ~9 months external (~$900–1,300 in subscriptions) | ~2 | ~22 months | ≈$8,250 + subs |
| C. Fully accelerated | Already holds most CompTIA certs, or real IT experience + hard discipline | 4-month sprint: certs + external courses | 1 | ~9 months | ≈$4,125 + subs |
The honest read: Path C isn’t dramatically shorter in wall-clock time than Path B — but it costs a seventh of Path A, because WGU bills by the term. The pre-enrollment months are the cheapest months of your degree.
This is the richest data set in any WGU program, from a thread with 36 detailed replies:
| Time | Circumstances |
|---|---|
| 3 months (May 1 – Jul 31) | Heavy Sophia/Study.com prep; only 16 WGU courses left under the new plan |
| 4 months | ~75% pre-cleared via Study.com + Sophia + StraighterLine; held every relevant cert except ITIL |
| 7 months | Full-time job, minimal days off — “buckle up and go hard” |
| 2 terms, relaxed | 11 years IT experience, all CompTIA certs already held, pre-cleared everything possible on Sophia |
| ~1.5 years | ⭐ The realistic working-adult benchmark, appearing repeatedly |
| 9 mo + 13 days | 80 credits (66%) via Study.com over 9 months, then the remaining 40 CU at WGU in 13 days |
| 3.5 years | Zero prior experience, full life outside school |
| 4 years (×2 reports) | Military transitions + multiple jobs + kids; or repeating Python and a networking cert |
| 6 years | Retook the Python course and CCNA twice |
The most-quotable pacing comment in the thread:
“Study.com saves money more than time since it caps around 75%/90 credits. WGU floor is 12 CU/term so 10 terms at minimum pace. Once gen-eds clear, most working students land 3 to 5 courses a term, sometimes 2 on rough terms, 6+ when transfer credit carries you.”
All of these people graduated. Every one is a legitimate finish.
(Program page) High school diploma/equivalent plus ONE of:
No ACT/SAT required.
| Rule | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Can you transfer credit after enrolling? | No. “WGU does not award transfer credit after the student’s initial term start date.” | Undergraduate Transfer Credit policy |
| Maximum transfer? | 75% of the program (~90 credits). You must complete ≥25% at WGU. | Same policy; also stated on WGU’s partner transfer tools |
| Minimum transfer grade? | C- or better in most cases | Same policy page |
| Certification/coursework recency? | Within the past 5 years — “For transfer, certifications must have been earned within the last five years.” | WGU transferable certifications page; also every WGU transfer-pathway page |
| Transcript deadline? | Official transcripts received by the 5th of the month before your start date. WGU aims to finish the evaluation within about two weeks of your last transcript arriving. | WGU Transfers FAQ |
| Courses that must be taken at WGU? | Python for IT Automation, Business Productivity Software, and Digital Transformation in the Enterprise. WGU notes Business Productivity Software can be completed at WGU before you enroll in the degree. | WGU’s transfer guidelines on its Transfer Pathways site (pulled October 2, 2026) |
Plan around rule #1 above all others. It turns “I’ll knock out some Sophia courses once I’m settled” into a $4,125 mistake. Independent students confirm it plainly: “I’m pretty sure WGU won’t let you transfer in credits once you’re already enrolled” → “Yes, they don’t.”
Sophia Learning and Study.com are third-party, self-paced, ACE-accredited platforms sold as flat monthly subscriptions. Complete their courses, send transcripts to WGU before you enroll, and they land on your degree plan as “Requirement Satisfied.”
The platforms:
| Platform | Cost | Concurrency | WGU-specific page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophia Learning | $99/mo, $299/4mo, or $799/yr (pricing) | No published cap | WGU College of IT portal — WGU-branded, live course map |
| Study.com | College Saver $95/mo (2 courses at a time); Pro $235/mo (3 at a time) (pricing) | 2–3 concurrent | Study.com → WGU · BSIT-specific page |
| StraighterLine | $99/mo + per-course fee | Varies | WGU School of Technology page |
This comes straight from WGU’s own Transfer Pathways data, the agreements WGU publishes with each platform, pulled October 2, 2026. It is the authoritative source; the platforms’ own marketing pages lag behind it. Official pages: Sophia → BSIT · Study.com → BSIT. Re-check them before you buy, because WGU updates these agreements every few weeks.
WGU will apply up to 46 CU from Sophia and up to 50 CU from Study.com for this program (WGU’s own figures). Each WGU course can only be cleared once, so mixing platforms doesn’t stack past what the courses are worth.
| WGU course (CU) | Sophia course(s) | Study.com course(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to IT (3) | Introduction to Information Technology (SOPH-0023) | Computer Science 102 · Business 109 |
| Influential Communication through Visual Design and Storytelling (3) | Visual Communications (SOPH-0009) | — |
| Health, Fitness, and Wellness (4) | Introduction to Nutrition (SOPH-0063) · Health, Fitness, and Wellness (SOPH-0080) | Health 101 · Nutrition 101 |
| Technology and Ethics: Emerging Trends and Society (3) | — | Philosophy 104 |
| Critical Thinking: Reason and Evidence (3) | Critical Thinking (SOPH-0065) | Humanities 201 |
| Composition: Successful Self-Expression (3) | English Composition I (SOPH-0015) · English Composition II (SOPH-0030) · Workplace Writing I (SOPH-0050) · Workplace Writing II (SOPH-0049) | English 104 · English 105 |
| Business of IT – Project Management (4) ⚠️ carries CompTIA Project+ | Project Management (SOPH-0013) | Business 311 · Business 112 |
| Applied Probability and Statistics (3) | Introduction to Statistics (SOPH-0005) | Statistics 101 · Business 212 |
| American Politics and the US Constitution (3) | U.S. Government (SOPH-0071) | Political Science 102 |
| Web Design Fundamentals (3) | Introduction to Web Development (SOPH-0043) | Computer Science 104 |
| Network and Security – Foundations (3) | Introduction to Networking (SOPH-0068) | Computer Science 108 · Computer Science 304 |
| Applied Algebra (3) | College Algebra (SOPH-0001) · Calculus I (SOPH-0060) · Precalculus (SOPH-0069) | Math 101 · Math 103 · Math 104 · Math 105 · Math 301 |
| Data Management – Foundations (3) | Introduction to Relational Databases (SOPH-0047) | Analytics 103 · Computer Science 107 |
| Technical Communication (3) | Business Communication (SOPH-0059) | English 305 |
| Natural Science Lab (2) | Human Biology Lab (SOPH-0067) · Introduction to Chemistry Lab (SOPH-0070) · Microbiology Lab (SOPH-0075) · Anatomy and Physiology I Lab (SOPH-0072) · Anatomy and Physiology II Lab (SOPH-0082) | Biology 101L · Chemistry 111L · Chemistry 112L · Biology 107L · Biology 201L · Biology 202L · Physics 111L · Science 101L · Physics 112L |
| Global Arts and Humanities (3) | Art History I (SOPH-0006) · Visual Communications (SOPH-0009) · Art History II (SOPH-0029) · Ancient Greek Philosophers (SOPH-0027) · Introduction to Ethics (SOPH-0020) · Approaches to Studying Religions (SOPH-0008) · Business Ethics (SOPH-0076) | Art 103 · Art 104 · English 101 · English 102 · English 103 · English 301 · English 310 · Humanities 101 · Philosophy 301 · Philosophy 102 · Philosophy 103 · Social Science 108 · Business 108 · Business 310 · Business 318 |
| Data Management – Applications (4) | — | Computer Science 204 · Computer Science 303 |
⚠️ Must be taken at WGU (no transfer source at all): Business Productivity Software (3), Digital Transformation in the Enterprise (2), Python for IT Automation (3).
Not offered on either platform (take at WGU, or clear with a certification or prior college credit; see the next section): Business of IT – Applications, Introduction to Systems Thinking and Applications, Practical Applications of Prompt, Linux Foundations, IT Foundations, Fundamentals of Spreadsheets and Data Presentations, Agile Methodology, IT Applications, Technology Management, Cloud Applications, Networks, Network and Security – Applications, Foundations of Programming (Python), Technology Governance, Cloud Foundations.
Two things worth knowing. Sophia’s Introduction to Python Programming does not clear Foundations of Programming (Python). WGU’s agreement notes that course can’t take Sophia or other ACE credit (Jan 2026), though a regular college Python course still can. And the ⚠️ rows carry a built-in certification voucher, so clearing them on a platform means giving up that free exam.
Want to see it all at once? The WGU Degree Blueprint planner uses this same data. Tick what you have and what you plan to take, and it totals your transfer CUs, flags the cap, and writes your mentor roadmap.
Corrections to earlier versions of this guide. Earlier drafts mixed WGU’s tool with Sophia’s marketing portal, and WGU’s data disagrees with the portal on three points. Sophia’s U.S. Government transfers (it clears American Politics and the US Constitution). So does Sophia’s Introduction to Networking (it clears Network and Security – Foundations) and Sophia’s own Health, Fitness, and Wellness. Earlier tables also left out Data Management – Foundations (Study.com Analytics 103 / Computer Science 107), Technology and Ethics (Study.com Philosophy 104), and the Sophia routes for Influential Communication, Web Design Fundamentals, and Technical Communication.
| Path | Cost | Best for | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLEP | $97/exam + test-center fee | College Composition, College Algebra, American Government, Humanities, Natural Sciences | clep.collegeboard.org/clep-exams |
| DSST/DANTES | $100/exam | Principles of Statistics (CLEP has no statistics exam), Ethics in Technology, Technical Writing, Computing and IT | getcollegecredit.com/dsst-exams |
| JST (military) | Free | WGU accepts Joint Services Transcripts as official transcripts for CLEP/DANTES | WGU policy |
⚠️ ACE-recommended military credit is dicey for onward transfer (community-reported). Get an actual evaluation rather than assuming a listed equivalency holds.
BSIT publishes an unusually long explicit list of transferable certifications (official list):
WGU’s official cert → course mapping for BSIT (from WGU’s transfer guidelines, pulled October 2, 2026). A cert has to have been earned within the last 5 years. Several certs are listed for more than one course; confirm the final result with your Enrollment Counselor.
| Certification | WGU course(s) it’s listed for |
|---|---|
| CompTIA A+ | IT Foundations, IT Applications |
| CompTIA Tech+ | Introduction to IT |
| CompTIA Network+ | Networks, Network and Security – Foundations |
| CompTIA Security+ | Network and Security – Applications, Network and Security – Foundations |
| CompTIA CySA+ | Network and Security – Applications, Network and Security – Foundations |
| CompTIA PenTest+ | Network and Security – Applications, Network and Security – Foundations |
| CompTIA SecurityX (CASP+) | Network and Security – Applications, Network and Security – Foundations |
| CompTIA Cloud+ | Cloud Applications |
| CompTIA Linux+ | Linux Foundations |
| CompTIA Project+ | Business of IT – Project Management |
| Google IT Support Professional | Introduction to IT |
| AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner | Cloud Foundations |
| Google Cloud Professional (any listed track) | Cloud Applications |
| LPI Linux Essentials / LPIC | Linux Foundations |
| Red Hat RHCSA / RHCE / RHCA | Linux Foundations |
| ITIL 4 Foundation (active) | Business of IT – Applications |
| PMI PMP or CAPM | Business of IT – Project Management |
| PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner) | Agile Methodology |
| Cisco CCNA | Networks, Network and Security – Applications, Network and Security – Foundations |
| EC-Council CEH | Network and Security – Applications, Network and Security – Foundations |
| GIAC GSEC, GCED, GCIA, or GSE | Network and Security – Applications, Network and Security – Foundations |
| CIW Site Development Associate or Advanced HTML5 & CSS3 | Web Design Fundamentals |
| Database: CIW DB Design, Azure DP-300, or Oracle DB Foundations | Data Management – Foundations, Data Management – Applications |
The standout: a Cisco CCNA is listed for three courses (Networks, Network and Security – Applications, and Network and Security – Foundations), which confirms the Reddit claim earlier versions of this guide flagged as unverified. A Security+ is listed for both Network and Security courses.
Went to a community college, or trained with a national partner (ACI Learning, Per Scholas, Microsoft Software & Systems Academy, IBM, and others)? Look your school up on WGU’s Transfer Pathways site: pick your state or National Agreements, then your school → School of Technology → BSIT. The table there tells you exactly which of your credits transfer.
Starts are the 1st of every month. Work backwards:
| When | Do |
|---|---|
| 9–12 months out | Start Sophia/Study.com. Cheapest phase of your degree. |
| ~90 days out | Scholarship window opens. Request all transcripts (WGU has a free transcript-gathering service). |
| 60 days out | Finish external coursework. Order transcripts sent to WGU. |
| 5th of month before start | Official transcripts must be received (WGU Transfers FAQ). Evaluation takes ~2 weeks after the last one arrives, so aim earlier. |
| 15th of month before | Admission requirements finalized. |
| 22nd of month before | Payment/financial aid finalized. |
| Before start | “Commit to Start” → orientation → first mentor call (bring your roadmap). |
Your Program Mentor controls which courses get opened, how fast, and whether extra courses get added mid-term (which are free — you already paid the flat term rate). Students who show up to that first call with a written plan consistently report a different relationship than students who show up with questions.
Copy the block below, fill in the blanks, and email it to your mentor before your first call. Then use it as the standing agenda for weekly check-ins.
WGU BSIT — Student Roadmap
Name: Student ID:
Program start date: Target graduation:
Program Mentor: Prepared:
────────────────────────────────────────────────
1. MY SITUATION
────────────────────────────────────────────────
Hours/week I can realistically commit: hrs
Work schedule / constraints:
Prior IT experience:
Certifications I already hold (+ date earned):
Credits transferred in: CU of 110
Courses remaining: of ~35
FIRST QUESTION FOR MY MENTOR:
Am I on the OLD BSIT plan or the NEW (post-overhaul)
plan? If old, can I switch, and what changes if I do?
(The new plan removes the capstone and C777.)
────────────────────────────────────────────────
2. MY TARGET PACE
────────────────────────────────────────────────
I am aiming for the ______________ path:
[ ] Traditional — ~7 terms, steady, low burnout risk
[ ] Max transfer — ~2 terms after heavy pre-clearing
[ ] Accelerated — 1 term, requires prior certs/experience
CUs I intend to complete this term: CU
(WGU minimum full-time is 12 CU/term)
Courses I want opened THIS TERM, in order:
1. ______________________ target complete: ____
2. ______________________ target complete: ____
3. ______________________ target complete: ____
4. ______________________ target complete: ____
5. ______________________ target complete: ____
────────────────────────────────────────────────
3. WHAT I'M ASKING YOU FOR
────────────────────────────────────────────────
[ ] Open my next course as soon as I pass the current one
— I understand added courses cost nothing extra.
[ ] Confirm my catalog version and flag any course where
what I read online won't match my actual plan.
[ ] Tell me which courses in MY plan have the longest
average completion times so I can front-load them.
[ ] Specifically: where does D522 (Python for IT
Automation) sit in my plan, is it currently an OA or
a PA, and what's the current pass rate/advice?
[ ] Hold me accountable: if I miss two weekly targets in
a row, tell me directly rather than letting it slide.
────────────────────────────────────────────────
4. WEEKLY CHECK-IN FORMAT (5 minutes)
────────────────────────────────────────────────
• Last week's target: Hit? Y / N
• This week's target:
• Blocked on:
• Next course to open:
• Exam scheduled:
────────────────────────────────────────────────
5. CERT EXAM CALENDAR (schedule EARLY — seats fill)
────────────────────────────────────────────────
A+ Core 1 target date: ______
A+ Core 2 target date: ______
Network+ target date: ______
Security+ target date: ______
Cloud+ target date: ______
Project+ target date: ______
ITIL 4 target date: ______
Linux Essentials target date: ______
AWS Cloud Prac. target date: ______
NOTE: CompTIA enforces a 14-day wait after two failed
attempts on the same exam. Never schedule a first
attempt in the final 3 weeks of a term.
────────────────────────────────────────────────
6. RISKS I'M FLAGGING NOW
────────────────────────────────────────────────
Courses I expect to be hardest for me:
Weeks I'll be unavailable (travel, work crunch, family):
My personal early-warning sign that I'm falling behind:
Why this works: it converts the mentor relationship from reactive (“how’s it going?”) to operational. For BSIT specifically, the catalog question at the top is genuinely important right now — two students starting the same month can be on different course lists.
Skip this if you’re a WGU alum; read it twice if you’re new.
Competency-based, flat-rate terms. Pass/not-yet, no GPA. A term is 6 months and costs the same whether you finish 8 CUs or 40+. Courses added mid-term once you clear your scheduled ones are free.
Three kinds of faculty:
Two kinds of assessment:
Academic integrity — know exactly where the line is. (Official policy)
Study materials, yes. Assessment materials, no.
With the program mid-overhaul, per-course writeups for the new codes are still thin. This section leans on the most recent available threads and flags where coverage doesn’t exist yet.
Each course below links its official catalog description — the page in WGU’s public Institutional Catalog PDF (August 2026) where that course’s real WGU-authored description lives (pp. 265–330 is the full course-description index, alphabetized by code). Catalogs reissue every few months and codes/pages shift — if a link or page doesn’t match what you see, WGU has published a newer edition; check wgu.edu/about/institutional-catalog.html for the current one.
IT Foundations / IT Applications → CompTIA A+ (Core 1 & 2). (WGU Catalog: D316 & D317, p. 285) The first cert wall. Free prep that works: Professor Messer A+ 220-1201 and 220-1202 — complete, free, current.
Networks (D325) → CompTIA Network+. (WGU Catalog: p. 285) Free prep: Professor Messer N10-009. Foundational — budget real time if you haven’t touched networking.
Network and Security – Applications (D329) → CompTIA Security+. (WGU Catalog: p. 285) One of the harder stretches without a security background — and the most valuable cert to hold for CEU purposes after graduation (Section 12). Free prep: Professor Messer SY0-701.
Cloud Applications (D318) → CompTIA Cloud+. (WGU Catalog: p. 285) New to the current catalog; limited deep writeups yet.
Cloud Foundations (D282) → AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner. (WGU Catalog: p. 283) Generally approachable. AWS Skill Builder’s free tier has solid CLF-C02 prep, and AWS Educate gives you free hands-on labs.
Business of IT – Project Management (D324) → CompTIA Project+. (WGU Catalog: p. 285) Some accelerators route around this via Sophia/Study.com if they don’t value Project+ — just make sure you’re still taking Business of IT – Applications for ITIL.
Linux Foundations (D281) → LPI Linux Essentials. (WGU Catalog: p. 283) Approachable, especially with command-line exposure. Build the home lab beforehand.
Business of IT – Applications (D336) → ITIL 4 Foundation. (WGU Catalog: p. 286) One of the lighter cert courses.
Official course description: p. 296
The single most-flagged hard course in the post-overhaul catalog. Direct community quote: “worst class I’ve taken so far… spent an entire term on it and still failed miserably.” Currently OA-based, with a persistent (unconfirmed) rumor it may convert to a PA — check the current format with your instructor before building a term plan around it.
Do not schedule this into a rushed or heavily-loaded term. If you’re aiming for a one-term finish, this is the course most likely to break that plan.
Prep that helps: your Udemy access (Angela Yu’s “100 Days of Code” is the community pick), plus building something real in your home lab rather than just watching videos. Consider PCEP (~$69) as a forcing function — see Section 9.
Official course description: p. 325
More approachable than D522 — foundational syntax and concepts rather than automation-focused, higher-stakes material.
Official course descriptions: E005/E006/E007 p. 325 · D388 p. 290 · E008, D339, and D822 are in the same catalog’s course-description index (pp. 265–330)
Business Productivity Software, Digital Transformation in the Enterprise, Agile Methodology, Technology Management, Technical Communication, Technology Governance, and Fundamentals of Spreadsheets are largely new or renamed. Note that Business Productivity Software and Digital Transformation are two of the three courses that can’t transfer. Almost no community writeups exist for these specific versions yet — if you take one, consider being the first writeup on r/WGUIT.
Removed from the current catalog entirely — not in the August 2026 Institutional Catalog’s course-description index, so there’s no live page to cite. If you’re still on the old catalog, this has a long-standing reputation as the most disliked course in the program (“pure garbage,” “worst class I’ve taken”) — though difficulty varies wildly: one grad with a web background did it in 2 days, others took a full month. Removed from the new catalog entirely.
Confirmed removed (C769) — also not in the current catalog’s course-description index, so no page to cite. For context if you’re on the old plan and still facing it: former students describe it as a multi-part, staged writing project — tedious rather than genuinely difficult. No replacement requirement has been reported.
WGU includes 8 certifications. Several more certs test material your coursework already covers — and if you’re taking the program slowly and learning properly, adding one or two for $0–$150 is the highest resume-value-per-dollar move available.
⚠️ Verify prices before you pay. CompTIA raised most exam prices June 1, 2026, and promos expire. Every price below links to its official source.
| Cert | Issuer | Cost | Pairs with | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet NSE 1, 2, 3 / FCF | Fortinet | Free — training and certificate | Network and Security – Foundations | fortinet.com/training-certification |
| Google Cloud skill badges | Free via Skills Boost | Cloud Foundations | cloudskillsboost.google/arcade |
❌ Correction on a widely-repeated tip: ISC2’s “One Million Certified in Cybersecurity” program — which gave a free CC exam and training — closed to new enrollments on May 20, 2026 (official announcement). Existing code holders can test through Dec 31, 2026. New students now pay $199 + $50/yr. Older guides still call it free — they’re out of date.
BSIT is the only one of WGU’s three cyber/IT programs that includes AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner. That’s a real advantage, because of how AWS’s benefits work:
The permanent benefit: pass any AWS certification — including the CLF-C02 your tuition already covers — and you get access to a 50%-off voucher toward your next AWS exam, plus a Credly badge and exam-lounge perks. (Official AWS Certification benefits)
So for a BSIT student the math is unusually good: finish Cloud Foundations → you hold CLF-C02 (free, via tuition) → claim the 50% voucher → AWS Certified AI Practitioner for ~$50 instead of $100. That pairs directly with your Prompt Engineering course (D685). Two AWS certs, one of which cost you nothing and the other half price.
There’s also a live promo running the other direction — AWS/Pearson VUE’s AIF2CLOUD: register for AI Practitioner at 50% off, pass by Sept 30, 2026, and get a complimentary Cloud Practitioner attempt (pass by Nov 30, 2026). (promo page) Less useful for BSIT students (you’re getting CLF-C02 free anyway) — but worth knowing about, and check whether it’s still live before planning around it.
| AWS cert | Code | List price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certified Cloud Practitioner | CLF-C02 | $100 (included in your BSIT tuition) | aws.amazon.com |
| Certified AI Practitioner | AIF-C01 | $100 (~$50 with your post-CLF voucher) | aws.amazon.com |
| Solutions Architect – Associate | SAA-C03 | $150 (~$75 with voucher) | aws.amazon.com |
| Your WGU course | Adjacent cert | Cost | Why it’s worth it | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud Applications (Cloud+) | Microsoft AZ-900 | ~$99 (verify) | Cloud service models transfer almost directly; cheapest multi-cloud signal | learn.microsoft.com · free study guide |
| Cloud Foundations | Google Cloud Digital Leader | $99 | Completes “all three hyperscalers” for ~$300 total | cloud.google.com |
| Cloud Applications + Cloud Foundations | AWS Solutions Architect – Associate | $150 (~$75 w/ voucher) | The real step up from CLF-C02; Cloud+ already covers much of the HA/design/security material | aws.amazon.com |
| Networks (Network+) | Cisco CCNA (200-301) | ~$300 (verify — not confirmable on Cisco’s own page) | Network+ is vendor-neutral; CCNA tests the same fundamentals against real IOS syntax, which is what job postings screen for. Free training at netacad.com | cisco.com |
| Linux Foundations | LPIC-1 (101+102) | $200/exam ($400 total; reduced tiers to $132) | The direct next rung above Linux Essentials in LPI’s own ladder | lpi.org/exam-pricing |
| Linux Foundations | CompTIA Linux+ | $399 | Same voucher ecosystem you already know | comptia.org |
| Network and Security – Applications | Microsoft SC-900 | ~$99 (verify) | Security+ governance/identity domains framed in the Microsoft stack most employers run | learn.microsoft.com · free study guide |
| Foundations of Programming (E010) | PCEP | from $69 | Cheap, fast first programming credential — and a useful forcing function before D522 | pythoninstitute.org/pcep |
| Python for IT Automation (D522) | PCAP | from $295 | OOP/exceptions/modules — sequence after PCEP | pythoninstitute.org/pcap |
| Prompt Engineering (D685) | AWS AI Practitioner | $100 (~$50 w/ voucher) | See the AWS chain above — the natural pairing for a BSIT student | aws.amazon.com |
| Business of IT – Project Management (D324) | PMI CAPM | ~$225 member / ~$300 non-member (verify); PMI student membership ~$32/yr | Project+ and ITIL cover the lifecycle; CAPM is what PM-track employers screen for | pmi.org |
| (for security-curious BSIT students) | ISC2 CC | $199 + $50/yr | No longer free — see correction above. Only worth it if you specifically want ISC2 membership | isc2.org |
The governing principle: never let a time-limited promo expire unused, but otherwise sequence paid certs to follow directly behind the WGU course that taught the material.
You’re paying $4,125 a term. Every link below is direct — no searching required.
| Resource | What it is | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Udemy Business | Full catalog while enrolled — gone at graduation. Community pick for the Python courses: Angela Yu’s “100 Days of Code: Python Pro Bootcamp.” | Via your WGU student portal |
| LinkedIn Learning | Included | Via your WGU student portal |
| Skillsoft Percipio, MindEdge | Included | Via your WGU student portal |
| CompTIA CertMaster Learn/Labs/Practice | Embedded in cert courses | Product overview |
| WGU Library | Databases, journals, 24/7 Ask-a-Librarian | Student resources hub |
| Writing Center / Academic Coaching | APA help, live events, 24/7 chat | Via student portal |
| WellConnect | Free confidential 24/7 counseling + legal and financial consultations | Via student portal — use it, you already paid for it |
| Handshake + Career Services for Life | Job board, advisors, résumé/interview prep — continues after graduation | wgu.edu careers |
The quiet gold: cohort recordings, task guides, FAQ docs, and pacing guides posted by course instructors consistently rate above the official textbooks. Check the announcements/community tab in every course — this matters double right now, since the new courses have little else written about them.
| Program | What you get | Eligibility | Direct link |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Student Developer Pack | JetBrains all-products (free/yr), GitHub Pro + Copilot, 1Password 1yr free, Datadog Pro 2yr, Namecheap domain + SSL, DigitalOcean credit, Azure $100 | School email or dated proof of enrollment | education.github.com/pack |
| Microsoft Azure for Students | $100 credit, no credit card required, 12mo free services + 65 always-free, dev licenses including Visio | Student email verification | azure.microsoft.com/free/students |
| Microsoft 365 Education (A1) | Free web versions of Word/Excel/PowerPoint/Outlook/OneNote. (Desktop apps need paid A3/A5 — A1 is web-only.) | Verified education email; can take weeks | microsoft.com/education/products/office |
| AWS Educate | Free training, labs, digital badges, job board. ⚠️ No AWS credits — common misconception | Any email, 13+ | aws.amazon.com/education/awseducate |
| AWS Skill Builder | 600+ free courses incl. CLF-C02 prep; paid tier adds labs/practice exams | Free tier: none | skillbuilder.aws |
| Google Cloud for Students | 200 Skills Boost credits, 1-year expiry | Application-based | cloud.google.com/edu/students |
| TryHackMe student | 20% off annual Premium (annual only) | Set Occupation = Student in account settings | tryhackme.com/students · how-to |
| Hack The Box Academy student | Discounted Academy subscription (price shown after verification; Academy only) | Institutional email or student ID upload | HTB student sub guide |
| LetsDefend | 50% off VIP with a .edu email (~$8.50/mo effective) | .edu registration | letsdefend.io |
| CompTIA Academic Store | Student pricing on vouchers/bundles via SheerID | SheerID verification | academic-store.comptia.org |
| Resource | What | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Professor Messer | Complete free courses for current exams: A+ 220-1201 · A+ 220-1202 · Network+ N10-009 · Security+ SY0-701 | professormesser.com |
| Cisco Networking Academy | Free networking courses — the best free CCNA on-ramp. ⚠️ skillsforall.com now redirects here | netacad.com |
| Microsoft Learn | Free paths for AZ-900, SC-900. ⚠️ AI-900 was renamed AI-901 in April 2026 — confirm the code before registering | learn.microsoft.com |
| Splunk free courses | Free self-paced SIEM training | splunk.com/training/free-courses |
| OverTheWire | Free SSH wargames, no signup — the classic Linux on-ramp | overthewire.org/wargames |
| CyLab Security Academy | ⚠️ picoCTF rebranded here in May 2026. 500+ free challenges | learn.cylabacademy.org/challenge-library |
| Google IT Support Certificate | $49/mo on Coursera, financial aid available — also on WGU’s transferable-cert list | coursera.org |
VMware Workstation Pro (free for personal use via Broadcom) or Proxmox (free hypervisor) on a spare machine. Pays off directly for Linux Foundations, Networks, Cloud Applications, and — most of all — D522, where building something real beats watching videos. Your Azure for Students credit and AWS Educate labs cover the cloud side.
One community report suggests a documented home lab may support a Network+/Security+ transfer-credit case — unconfirmed as official policy; ask your enrollment counselor rather than assuming.
| Resource | What’s in it | Link |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Certifications Wiki | Community-maintained: certification pathways, vouchers & discounts, programs & initiatives, study resources, badges & rewards | awscertifications.github.io/AWSCertificationsWiki |
| Paul Jerimy’s Security Certification Roadmap | The canonical visual map of security certs by specialization and level — useful for deciding what comes after BSIT | pauljerimy.com/security-certification-roadmap |
| r/WGU wiki | Community-maintained WGU knowledge base | old.reddit.com/r/WGU/wiki/index |
| Subreddits | r/WGUIT · r/WGU · r/WGU_Accelerators | — |
⚠️ Avoid commercial “WGU accelerator” answer sites. Several sites market themselves as WGU course “solutions.” They sell assessment content, which is an academic-integrity violation that can get you expelled.
| Tool | Cost | Link |
|---|---|---|
| PocketPrep | Freemium; premium ~$15–20/mo. Covers 14 CompTIA exams + AWS CCP | pocketprep.com |
| Anki | Free desktop + Android; paid one-time on iOS | apps.ankiweb.net · shared decks |
| Jason Dion | Prices fluctuate | Udemy profile · Dion Training (also sells discounted CompTIA vouchers) |
Here’s the trap: between Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Skillsoft, CertMaster, Professor Messer, TryHackMe, AWS Skill Builder, Microsoft Learn, netacad, PocketPrep, Anki, Coursera, and YouTube, you have access to more high-quality training than you could finish in a decade. Variety is genuinely valuable — different platforms teach differently, and hands-on labs cement what video can’t. But unmanaged variety is just a very sophisticated form of procrastination.
The failure mode is specific and common: you start a Udemy course, hit a hard chapter, and instead of pushing through you “supplement” with a LinkedIn Learning course, then a YouTube playlist, then a lab. Four platforms, four partial completions, one unpassed exam. It feels like studying. It isn’t progress.
For each course you’re taking, assign exactly one resource to each of these five roles, write them down, and don’t add a sixth:
| Role | What it does | Pick exactly one |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Primary instruction | Teaches the material start to finish | Professor Messer, a Dion course, netacad, or the WGU course material |
| 2. Question bank | Tells you what you don’t know | PocketPrep, Dion practice exams, or CertMaster Practice |
| 3. Hands-on | Makes it stick | Your home lab, TryHackMe, AWS Skill Builder labs, or an Azure sandbox |
| 4. Spaced repetition | Retains it | Anki (built from published exam objectives only) |
| 5. Authoritative reference | Settles disputes | The vendor’s official exam objectives PDF |
Five slots. Fill them before you start the course. If a resource isn’t in a slot, you don’t open it until the course is passed.
Run them in a fixed order, not simultaneously:
Week 1 Primary instruction, first pass, 1.5x speed, no notes
Week 1 end Question bank COLD -> find your weak domains
Week 2 Re-watch ONLY weak domains + hands-on labs for those
Week 2 Anki deck built from your actual misses
Week 3 Question bank again -> target 85%+ consistently
Week 3 Schedule the exam. Then sit it.
The most important line there is “question bank cold.” Most people study everything evenly and waste 60% of their hours on material they already knew. WGU’s own pre-assessment does the same job for OA courses — take it day one, before studying, always.
BSIT’s cert roster is entry-to-mid-level and heavily CompTIA-weighted. A community-compiled renewal strategy — built by a BSIT + MSITM grad and well-sourced against official renewal pages — maps out how to keep the whole stack current for minimal cost. Adapted and verified below.
Golden habit: the day you pass any WGU course, save (1) your unofficial transcript, (2) the course description/syllabus, (3) the completion date. That bundle satisfies CompTIA, ISACA, and AWS documentation rules simultaneously.
Portal: login.comptia.org → Manage Certifications → Continuing Education → Add CEUs. Submission how-to
Requirements per 3-year cycle: A+ 20 CEUs ($75/cycle standalone) · Network+ 30 ($150/cycle) · Security+ 50 ($150/cycle, or CertMaster CE ~$205 with no separate CE fees).
The single highest-leverage renewal action for a BSIT grad: renew Security+. One Security+ renewal automatically renews A+, Network+, and both CompTIA stackables (IT Operations Specialist, Secure Infrastructure Specialist) at the same time, free. You do not renew each lower cert separately.
Courses as CEUs (if you’re not using the Security+ chain): each completed college course = 10 CEUs (3–4 credit hours, ≥50% content mapped to the cert’s objectives). (Higher-ed CEU page)
Renews every 3 years via 60 CPD points (generally free if logged consistently through ordinary IT work), or an exam retake (~$150–350), or a ~$120/yr CPD subscription. (Renewal page)
Renews every 3 years, free via AWS Cloud Quest Recertify (~10–12 hours; do it in the final 6-month window before expiry), or a 50%-discounted exam retake. Or just let a higher AWS cert supersede it. (Recertification)
Lifetime certification. No renewal, ever. $0.
IT Operations Specialist, Cloud Administration Professional, Secure Infrastructure Specialist, Secure Cloud Professional — all auto-renew for $0 whenever their base certs renew. No separate action.
Renews every 3 years via 15 PDUs logged in PMI’s CCRS, ~$60 member / ~$150 non-member. (Renewal)
The same university-coursework formulas apply as in the companion guides: ISACA pays 15 CPE per semester credit hour (a 3-CU course ≈ 45 CPE); GIAC pays 12 CPEs per course (3 courses = a full renewal); ISC2 counts coursework as Group A education at 1 CPE/hour, max 40/activity. Not core to BSIT’s roster, but your coursework still counts.
| You hold | The program gives you |
|---|---|
| A+/Network+ (prior) | Auto-renewed fee-free the moment you renew Security+ |
| Security+ | Renew once (~$205 CertMaster CE) → cascades to A+, Network+, and both stackables |
| ITIL 4 Foundation | 20 CPD points/year through ordinary work covers the 60-point requirement |
| AWS CCP | Free via Cloud Quest in the final 6 months before expiry |
| LPI Linux Essentials | Nothing to do — lifetime cert |
| CAPM | 15 PDUs over 3 years via free webinars/work experience |
| Any ISACA/GIAC/ISC2 cert | Standard university-coursework rates apply — see 12.7 |
Why renew “entry-level” certs at all once you have a degree? HR/ATS keyword filters still scan for A+/Network+/Security+/ITIL by name; DoD 8570/8140 contracting roles frequently hard-require an active Security+ (which cascades to keep A+/Net+ active too); and for IT-management-track careers, breadth signals versatility even after you’ve moved to specialist certs.
Program page · WGU Transfer Pathways (all partners) · WGU official Sophia → BSIT table · WGU official Study.com → BSIT table · Transfers FAQ (transcript deadline) · Program guide PDF · IT bachelor’s comparison · Live BSIT transfer-pathway tool · All program catalog versions · Transferable certifications list · Undergraduate Transfer Credit policy · CLEP/DANTES/AP/IB policy · Academic Integrity policy · IT tuition · Admissions · Transfers · Scholarships · Military · Student resources
Sophia — WGU College of IT portal · Sophia pricing · Study.com → WGU · Study.com BSIT page · Study.com pricing · Study.com’s 2026 WGU transfer-change explainer · StraighterLine — WGU School of Technology · CLEP exams · DSST exams
BSIT Remodel, no Capstone? · The new BSIT course plan just cut my graduation time by 6+ months · Update to BSIT program · BSIT @ WGU — How to maintain all your certifications · How long did BSIT actually take you, especially mixing in Study.com? · Trying to minimize cost before starting BSIT
CompTIA CE FAQ · CompTIA higher-ed CEUs · CompTIA renewal fees · CompTIA Academic Store · PeopleCert ITIL renewal · AWS certification renewal · AWS Certification benefits · AWS AIF2CLOUD promo · PMI CAPM renewal · Fortinet training · LPI exam pricing · Python Institute PCEP · ISC2 “One Million” program conclusion · ISACA Student Hub
Built by and for the WGU IT community. Companion guides: MSCSIA Field Guide · BSCSIA Field Guide.
Reminder: this guide is independent and unofficial. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by Western Governors University. Community-derived information can be outdated or wrong, and BSIT in particular is mid-overhaul right now — two students starting the same month may be on different course lists. Always confirm with WGU Admissions, your Enrollment Counselor, or your Program Mentor before making a decision that costs money or time. Corrections and updated intel are genuinely welcome.
Found this useful? ☕ Buy me a coffee — it funds the updates when WGU changes the catalog again.