WGU Cloud Computing Review (Bachelor's Degree) | Is it worth it? Yes.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2024
- This video is going to cover/review the Cloud Computing bachelors degree from Western Governors University (WGU). I'm going to show all the classes and industry certifications earned within the degree and compare them to the classes and certifications earned in the General Bachelor's in IT from WGU. I will also look on Indeed to see how marketable these certifications are in order to quantify the value of the Cloud Computing degree vs the General IT degree.
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0:00 Intro
0:55 Disclaimer That I don't have the BS CC Degree
1:33 Begin Comparison
1:40 Save 30% on study.com
3:26 General IT Degree has more General Classes
4:00 Cloud Compuiting Degree has more Technical Classes
5:30 Certificate comparison
6:45 Certification Score
7:50 Which degree should you choose?
9:50 Which degree is "better"?
10:10 Which degree takes longer?
10:30 Cloud skill transferability
12:11 Outro
I'll be doing a deep comparison between the General IT degree and Cloud Computing IT degree in terms of the differences between the classes as well as the differences between the certifications earned by both degrees.
I'll also use Indeed job listing to try to better quantify the differences between these to degrees.
By the end of the video, we'll have performed some objective analysis which should give most people a pretty good idea of which degree to go for.
I'll also kind of lay out my thoughts and opinions on choosing a specialization
Comparison on Spreadsheet
Explanation of Study.com
Explanation of color coding
Classes that only General has
Classes that only Cloud has
Emphasis on scripting, automation, python, how important coding is to your career
Differences in certs
Job Hits
Scoring
You won't be pigeonholed depending on your degree
Cloud platforms are transferable to employers, a lot of my friends and coworkers have worked on one platform and then have been hired in another platform based on previous knowledge
DISCLAIMER: This video description has some affiliate links and I may receive a small commission. I only share stuff that I use and believe in. Thanks so much for your support 🥺
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I graduated with this degree just a month ago and it has already opened soooo many doors for me. I would say it's very worth it, especially if you are an IT professional with some experience under your belt.
Hey Marston, glad to hear it!!! And I agree ^^
I'm thinking about pursuing this degree however I have a degree in business management which I know is non-related. Do you think I will be able to survive in the cloud computing program?
@@Anthonydp yes. If you have the business degree you’ll only be doing the core courses
I don't have experience can I still be successful in this field?
What if you don’t have much experience, would you still recommend it?
From one Josh to another, I really appreciate the videos you put out. I've been feeling stuck on what to choose, but I think this might've solidified it. Also, your spreadsheets that you include with your videos are extremely helpful! Big thanks!
No problem! Thanks for watching and letting me know! Sorry I'm late :P
Thank you for the video. Very well presented. I am about to start the Cloud Computing plan with WGU.
Man, you are doing an awesome job, I wish I saw your video a year ago before I started.
Haha thanks so much, I really appreciate that. 😂😊🙏
Sweeeeeeeeet!
This is the kind of research I like to do but I don't usually use any spreadsheets to compare my findings or anything. This is awesome.
Thanks! Glad you liked it! I wouldn't use spreadsheets either if I wasn't going to show thousands of people hahaha :P
Thanks for the video Josh, it was super helpful
Thank you, Josh, for making this video. I am an undergrad BSCC @ WGU and just started my 2nd term. I love this program and hope to combine this degree with the Cybersecurity and Information Assurance M.S. degree after graduation. I would like to work my way into a DoD job in the long term. Love your content, SUPER helpful!!
Hey Dan, thanks so much for watching! Your plan sounds really solid. As for the DoD jobs, I'm actually thinking of doing the same. I did an interview with CiscoSoldier last month and we kinda talked about different strategies/ideas for breaking into DoD. The interview is kinda long, but it might be helpful. I tried to timestamp it: th-cam.com/video/U_8OZ-I7sDo/w-d-xo.html
Thanks again for watching!
This channel is a GOD send thank you for all the information you provide
Exactly what inwas thinking . Thanks for the info 👍!
No problem! Thanks for watching!!!
Bs Cloud computing is better, hands down. Cloud is picking up and there are no signs that will change in next 5 years or so. There is a huge demand for AWS and Azure architects. Having a Bs Cloud degree besides the certs alone, will make you more marketable , so to speak. Now, not all WGU internal exams or , OA, as they call them, for Objective Assessments are piece of cake. As a matter of fact, Python class just changed. To pass it, you have to write 22 short Python programs and they are math heavy. This is of course speaks loud in terms of program quality but getting the degree will take some effort. AWS SysOps, for instance, is not piece of cake either.
Thanks so much for sharing your input. I basically agree with this. Also thanks for the insights on the new python course, I had no idea, but that's kinda good to hear :). Cloud is everywhere and the skills are really transferrable, so it def can't hurt to start getting some knowledge/exp.
Great video im excited 🎉
Hi Josh,
Fist and foremost your videos have been a great blessing to me. Thank you so much!!! I am a 40 something who is making a career change into IT from a non tech background and the traditional college environment just never worked for me. I found after completing an online self paced program through Med Certs for A+ and Net+, that self paced works way better for me. Watching your WGU content has been very helpful. So helpful that I decided to give college another try. After researching further, i am highly interested in the Cloud BS program. Virtualization and cloud computing have been of great interest to me since learning about it more in A+ training. My goal is to become a cloud engineer and app developer. Would the Cloud BS or Net/Security BS be the best way to go? I'm wondering about this because I know that it's important to have strong networking skills, among other things, for cloud roles.
thanks a ton josh you're such a giga chad nerd i love your videos
Im planning to go to wgu for the BSCC completely paid for by my company. Thanks for the insight
I am currently 1/3rd the way done with the CC degree and loving it. While I'm not going at a snails pace, I will spend more time on certain subjects that I want to learn more about, even if I could pass out right then. This really helps solidify my foundational knowledge of the content.
Luckily, I have managed to land a job at a school where I get to work with Azure, O365 and Google Workspaces. Some of what I do is somewhat related to my degree.... that said, I do on occasion wonder if I should switch to the Network Operations and Security Degree.... BSCC and BSNOS degrees have a lot in common, but that CCNA keeps taunting me!
That would be a a good comparison to make between the CC and NOS.
Hey Lachlan. Good on you! I'm actually releasing a video tomorrow that orders the degrees from hardest to easiest and I compare BSCC and BSNOS a little bit. When I was making that video, I also realized how similar the two are, it's crazy. I feel like after getting BSCC, if you got CCNA, you'd almost be done with BSNOS as well lol.
GL with the rest of your degree. Sounds like you are well on your way to winning, especially already having the job :)
@@JoshMadakor
Cheers mate I appreciate that.
The job helps heaps. Being able to directly apply what one is learning really solidifies the knowledge.
Love your videos. Are you going to make a similar video with the Cybersecurity BS degree? Thanks.
I've seen people asking you about the Network degree too lol maybe you'll make a video for each one? Haha
Thanks so much! Yeah, I'm probably going to make some video where I kind of quantify and compare all of the IT degrees. I'm still kind of thinking what the best format/way to do it is, but I'll do something like this :p. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment and suggest stuff!
This was very helpful and I look forward to watching your other videos! I am going back to school (was a single mom for awhile working and getting my associates degree and now have time to finish my bachelors). I am wanting to get into tech but frankly, I have no idea what to do. I don’t have a strong desire to code (really, I am scared I won’t understand it) but I am very analytical and problem solving kind of person. Could you suggest which degree you’d go for at WGU if you were very new to tech? I recognize that certs are important and make you more marketable. Thank you and I appreciate all the work you put into your videos!
Hey Heather! Thanks for watching and leaving this detailed comment! About the coding, I wanted to share a couple videos that might help. With many of the IT degrees, you might have to take a coding class, so these videos will come in handy!
1) The truth about coding: th-cam.com/video/L-VWTri-sL4/w-d-xo.html
2) If I had to start coding from zero again: th-cam.com/video/9QcidYjn4t0/w-d-xo.html
_>Could you suggest which degree you’d go for at WGU if you were very new to tech?_
Honestly, I would probably recommend getting the BS IT (General) degree from WGU. It's not as difficult as many of the other options, but it still has a decent amount of really marketable certs in it. I actually made a video talking about this degree in depth, so check that out when you get time:
BSIT General: th-cam.com/video/ZeejoMDjgb4/w-d-xo.html
This video might also be interesting to you, where i talk about which IT degrees have which certs and order them in terms of difficulty:
WGU IT Degrees Certs + Difficulty: th-cam.com/video/CMdUe5n6X9M/w-d-xo.html
Hope this helps! Sorry for the giant wall of text. Feel free to ask more questions, you just have to create a new comment (instead of replying to this one) so I can filter and see it easily :) GL!
Hey Josh,
Thanks again for the awesome content!
I'm about a semester and a half away from getting my bachelor's in CIS and was wondering what your thoughts were on which master's degree could help me land a job after graduation as I have no professional experience. The two degrees I was considering were the M.S in Cybersecurity or an MBA in I.T.
Hey Rigo, in my opinion, if you're set on getting a masters after your BS, the MS in Cyber is probably better for employability since Cyber is getting so hot right now. But having said that, time _MIGHT_ be better spent getting some projects and self-generated experience on your resume, just to make it easier to get that first job. I would recommend getting the masters degree after you've started working. Just my opinion though!
These are some kinda helpful videos to help you make your own experience and find a job!:
How to make your own experience with sample resumes: th-cam.com/video/UasHPQ0VBOc/w-d-xo.html
Framework for IT job hunting: th-cam.com/video/5thkwBIZph4/w-d-xo.html
Hope this helps! Best of luck with whichever path you do ^^
Hey Josh love the content you’re making it’s very helpful. I’ve currently been working in IT for 5 years with my associates in IT & enrolled for the cloud computing thru WGU. Just have a question of what you think is a reasonable time frame to finish this degree? Definitely not tryna help rush but also wanna accelerate the process of getting my bachelors. Thanks again.
How's the program going? Did you finish yet
Thanks!
Oh my gosh, thank you for this so much 🥺. No problem for the video, of course! I'm trying to put out much more since I quit my job :p
I was thinking about this degree. Thank you for your valuable input.
Will you be doing a review for the WGU BS Network Operations and Security Degree?
That's the one I am looking at after I finish my AA this semester.
Hey Jessie! In the (near) future, I'll do a video where I kinda quantify marketability and compare all the degrees against eachother. Tbh, Network and secops is really up there since it has CCNA. I suspect this degree has the highest marketability out of all the IT degrees (excluding CS, since that's sort of a different discipline). But yeah, I'll make a video like this :p.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Finally 👍👍👍👍
Hahaha, sorry for the wait. A bunch more queued up :p
Hi Josh. This video was awesome thank you. I just have a small request. I started wgu after watching your videos and I picked cyber security but I struggled with the cert programs. I am now transferring to the IT management degree Because I do like the business side better. I know you mention the management degree a lot. It would be great if you could make an in depth video that degrees marketability and entry level roles. I know this info exists online but your expert opinion is very valuable thank you.
Hey Shahzeb, thank you so much for watching. I was actually thinking to make a video just like this. I'm still trying to come up with a good way to quantify/score the programs against eachother, but I'll definitely release something like this in the future :o).
@@JoshMadakor thank you do much you the man
Can you please do a video comparing cloud computing and cyber security degrees at wgu? Which one is harder?
I'm interested in eventually going into DevOps but for now I'm doing freeCodeCamp for practical coding skills going into software development and I am pre-gaming my WGU bachelor IT degree. The security part helps towards being a better software engineer and is needed for DevOps.
I have a year to finish doing my degree with WGU. I have some general education credits already transferring in. I also am looking into Sophia and study for better classes that can transfer into WGU.
My question is: do you think the cloud computing is doable in a year with the 3rd party certs?
Or should I go for the easiest IT degree and do more of a master's in fill in the blank IT degree?
Hey Josh, great content! I am currently in the cloud computing program at WGU. Since you are currently in the biz , according to your list, what class translates to the field the most?
Hey Calvin, I would say the most useful certs in that degree program are probably:
- Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner
- Amazon AWS SysOps Administration-Associate
- Security+ (CompTIA)
- LPI Linux Essentials
Just my opinion though. You'll probably get to work and quickly find that the certs are related, but you are doing something completely different than what you studied, haha. It's always like that, but these are the most useful ones imo :)
Best of luck!
Hi Josh, great video btw. I am torn between the WGU IT or Cloud or Cyber degrees because I'm a veteran who will use their benefits. My question to you is, I am only interested in a remote IT position because I plan to travel while working. Which degree should I pursue? I am an IT generalist but leaning towards Cyber or cloud those positions can be remote or maybe an IT degree to do customer service. I'm not sure! Just wanted your insight. Thank you.
Please do a comparison of BS Cybersecurity and Information Assurance vs BS Network Operations and Security
I'll def do something like this in the (near) future. Thanks so much for watching :o)
Hey Josh, thanks for all the new videos! Hypothetically, if I were to get A+, Net+, Sec+, AWS and Azure certs outside of the program, do you think there would still be a benefit to this degree? I know this is a weird question. I'm not sure how valuable Cloud + is compared to getting AWS and Azure certs
Hey, no problem! Love making them. Now that I don't have a pesky job getting in the way, I can make much more, haha. Answering inline below:
_>Hypothetically, if I were to get A+, Net+, Sec+, AWS and Azure certs outside of the program, do you think there would still be a benefit to this degree?_
Not a weird question at all! The program would still definitely offer some benefit, especially if you don't already have a degree, but in the end, it just comes down to opportunity cost. As in, could the time/money spent getting the degree be better put to use somewhere else? If the answer is "no" or "I'm not sure", then I'd say it's worth considering getting the degree, since it's nice to _check that box_--you'll also learn a bit more from some of the other, non-cert classes it offers. It just kinda depends on what you're after and what you value.
_>I'm not sure how valuable Cloud + is compared to getting AWS and Azure certs_
In my opinion, Cloud+ is not as well known as some of the AWS certs, however it's definitely something. From my point of view, the AWS certs are a bit _"stronger"_ than Cloud+, however Cloud+ with some personal projects on a resume is more valuable than the AWS certs on their own.
I know I said a lot here, but I hope it helps some! I'm releasing an "Analysis Paralysis" video on the 9th that might be good to watch :p. Here is kinda a preview: imgur.com/ytsBUc7
Link (still private): th-cam.com/video/ciF9RI6bj-Q/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching, and sorry for the wall of text!
@@JoshMadakor No that's excellent thanks!
another thought... I have a friend w/ CISSP and he hit a pay/job wall at his work - no BS degree, only cert. They said if he wanted to advance he should get a degree, so he went to WGU Cyber-security to get the degree. Kinda like Josh says about "checking the box", though it became a sticky point later at his work.
I'm considering enrolling with WGU this fall.. I'm looking at obtaining a Cloud Computing degree and would like to know if I need prior education/degree to enroll in this specific degree program
Thank You for the non- basis break down, should be on their site. Questions: While you where degree conquering spree would you have done anything in addition to the degree to get better interview chance being new to the industry per se? How are the interviews? Thank You for your time. 🔔 Is active.
Hey Toby, tbh I wouldn't really have done anything different. Certs + Degree + good resume help you get interviews. Then practice and preparation helps you pass them. It's been a while since I really went out and started seriously job hunting though.
Some videos that might be useful:
Resume Reviews Playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLqBeiU46hx1FItbfiA-i3ql5RLFMJfKw0.html
How to get a job in IT (checklist): th-cam.com/video/5thkwBIZph4/w-d-xo.html
How to get into cyber from zero (checklist): th-cam.com/video/a83ASGn_V_s/w-d-xo.html
Cybersecurity interview questions/answer playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLqBeiU46hx1HRTLaifWrN16upEfHSjrl8.html
Thanks Josh. Your videos are very informative and inspirational. Is it possible to the certs first and then get credit before you enroll in WGU?
Thanks Michael! Really appreciate that! You can definitely do the certs and then transfer them into WGU before you enroll. In fact, I did that for my Bachelor's degree on purpose, haha
Bro thanks for your work helped me a lot but how should I start cloud computing just guide or something at WGU
Hi josh. Thanks for all the good stuff you publish here. I decided that I want to enroll in WGU. But I'm between the cloud degree and the network engineering security degree, I would like to work on the cloud but I know that most cloud positions needs an strong foundation in other IT concepts. I don't have any experience in the IT field. Do you have any recommendation for me that may help me choose one degree. Thank you.
Hey, thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment! If you are tryna decide between one of the new cloud tracks and one of the net eng sec tracks, I might recommend trying to study a bit of a cloud cert (like az-900) and a bit of a network cert (like net+) before you enroll, then you can see if cloud or networking seems more interesting. Either way you’re gonna be set since there is a lot of overlap and both disciplines are useful :)
Not sure if your still looking at these responses. But I’m currently an RN looking to move to tech. I’m actually really interested in cloud computing in the Microsoft track. I’m thinking about going for it. Even though the skills nurses (5 years) have should be translatable (critical thinking under pressure of causing pt harm, team work) but do you think that experience will be completely ignored or do you think that’s something I can stand on. Additionally, I have 6 years of military experience also.
Hi what a great video! you should be being paid commissioned by WGU because you just convinced me to go obtain a bachelor of science in cloud at WGU!!! does WGU have this at the master level program? I checked their website and they only have a master of science in cyber security nothing in cloud at the master level... nevertheless my second question is what are your opinion of having both a bachelor's degree in cloud and a master degree in cybersecurity at wgu?
Hey Josh! I’m interested in attending WGU I have a question I’m completely new to the field with no experience (I’m currently studying for CompTIA A+) is Cloud computing for someone who is just learning about IT?
Thanks man .if you have the 3rd party cert.do u have to do it again at WGU or is transferred
Josh do you have videos on your setup
and any recommendations. Also you mentioned that projects are equally important to someones portfolio any other recommendations that you think are good outside the realm of yt? Appreciate your answers.
Hey!
_>Josh do you have videos on your setup and any recommendations._
In terms of like a tech lab? Or like my recording setup? I don't have any videos on those yet, but I could probably make something :)
>_Also you mentioned that projects are equally important to someones portfolio any other recommendations that you think are good outside the realm of yt?_
You could write medium articles for stuff that you've done or tutorials/walkthroughs. They don't have to get a lot of traffic or anything, just be written well enough and published. Just something for you to point to for future employers. I used to have a blog, but it was so troublesome to keep up on, I just do youtube and point to my github sometimes. If you do blog/medium with any coding, you could use a github too and reference your github. I tend to put all of these things on my resume too. For ex, i have an extracurricular area that links to my TH-cam and Github. Instead of YT, you could do like, your Medium[.]com page and github: imgur.com/EspP1w2
Not that cool, but hole it helps!
Hey Josh, great video. I'm currently in the WGU Software Development degree and an already thinking about a masters. Considering WGUs offerings, would you recommend one to get? I enjoy coding, but they don't have a masters geared towards code. So I'm trying to figure out which one might compliment coding skills the best.
Thanks
Hey Anthony! As far as which one compliments coding skills best, assuming you want to do more technical stuff and less strategy/management, the Masters in Data Analytics is probably going to be best. To be honest, sometimes I wish I got that one over the cyber one haha--it looks like it has some really usable stuff in there.
Here is a quick excerpt from reddit: www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/akxvkf/finished_bs_data_managementdata_analytics_my/
*_This program covers python, sql, oracle sql, R, java, c++ (I think this is an option, you can either pick java or c++, java was default course when I took it). Python and sql are heavenly used in this program. I think 3-4 courses use python, and about 4 courses are sql._*
Seems relevant to your interests perhaps! Or at least, the most relevant one :)
@@JoshMadakor
Thanks. I was thinking that we well.
As someone who hasn't touched math in a long time, (id say I am at a pre-algebra level), is this realistic for me? I see on the course outline that applied statistics and applied probability are one of the first classes. Thanks!
If I already have Master's degree in IT, but only interested in getting cloud knowledge and certs, will completing some courses at WGU allow me to obtain the Cloud Certs (AWS, Azure, etc)? Thanks
Hey Josh! Im 19 and wanna get into Cybersecurity or Cloud. I was thinking about doing the basic IT degree because I will finish sooner and it has great certs in it, but should I do the BSCC? I wanna get your opinion because I don't have a "Time restriction" because I'm 19, but I wanna spend less money. What do you think?
Hey Tyrone! If you wanna spend less coin and finish fast, I would just go with the IT General. Like you said, it's on the easier end while having some great certs in it. If you are still super into cloud, you can just pick up a cloud cert or two at some point once you've finished :>
I start the cloud computing program May 1st, 2023....I am now nervous about the certs and the length of time it will take me to complete them. I only have about 2 years IT exp.
Hey Josh, I’m currently doing pre-work for the cloud computing program at WGU. My dad, who is a Sr. Cloud Engineer, is worried that the degree wouldn’t be ‘valid’ for employers because the program is not ABET accredited. Do you have any thoughts on this?
Hey Charlene! This is a topic that comes up a lot!
Short answer: There is generally nothing to worry about and accreditation for IT doesn't typically matter.
Long answer: Because IT, Cyber, and Tech in general is largely unregulated, that is, there is no formal requirement for education or credentials to work (unlike medicine, law, structural engineering, etc.), employers simply do not care where our degree is from or what our GPA is. Having a degree is only 1 slice of the pie when it comes to getting a job. The other slices of the pie are: experience, skill, certification, interviewing ability, resume quality, geographic location, and personal presentation. If you are missing a piece of the pie, or if a piece of the pie is "not as good as it could be", it's not going to make or break your career.
I'm a master job hopper and I've never had anyone question my degree(s), and I've worked at aaaaaaallll kinds of places including a military base, Microsoft, a bank, county government, state government, a consulting firm, and more.
Hope this helps!
@@JoshMadakor Thank you so much Josh! Yes this makes me feel so much better.
Very informative, I plan on taking the WGU cloud B.S. very soon. Im currently working on my assoiates at a community college which will take about a year or so. Do you think its worth shooting for the associates first, or go straight into the B.S.?.. The associates comes with certs that contribute to the B.S. btw.
Hey Stefan! Gosh it really depends, I don't have enough information to really say. If you are enjoying your program and don't necessarily want to just finish quickly, maybe stick it out and then bang out the BS when you are ready? If you just want to _GO FAST_, it's probably "better" to just jump into the bachelor's degree. But fast doesn't always mean better. I really enjoyed my community college experience and I wouldn't do anything different if I were to go back in time. Hope this helps :P
@@JoshMadakor This helps! I'm enjoying my time at community College. Thanks for responding!
I see that with the Cloud Computing bachelors degree has a AWS Devops track and an AWS Cloud Security track?
What is the difference between the two and which track would you recommend?
I've been wondering about this, seriously! Told u u were a genius! Maybe clairvoyant as well 😉👉. U read my mind.
Im curious, whats ur opinion on the data analytics degree? Field? Or the Google certificates?
Hahaha, thanks for the reinforcement.
Data Analytics is kind of foreign to me. I mean, some of my friends do it, but I don' really have a good intuition of what they are doing. I know it's important for the business and can make a lot of money, but I don't really know much more beyond that. You can also do support engineering for cloud data platforms as well, which can make a lot of coins, depending on where you live. The Google Tech support seems pretty good in terms of knowledge from what I've watched/researched. It's not as well known as CompTIA yet, but I _think_ it's faster/easier/potentially cheaper to get than CompTIA A+ as well.
Sorry for the subpar, canned answers. I'm planning to research the google cert a bit more and make a video on it sometime in the future, I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment! I appreciate it!
Hi Josh, thanks again for the rich content. Please, I wish to ask if this WGU accepts foreign
nationals.
Hey Josh important question about the third party certs, do you have to pay for the certs as well as the program? Or are the certs paid for through your program tuition?
Great question! All the certs are paid for through the tuition! It's quite nice in that regard, especially if you plan to pre-study a couple of them before enrolling. Tysm for watching
@@JoshMadakor awesome thanks so much for the clarification, so glad to have you back making videos my friend!
What WGU degree would you prefer a new person getting into IT with no experience get? Cloud computing or cybersecurity or data management?
Hey Josh, currently enrolled in the NOS degree (Network ops). What are your thoughts on that one compared to CC ; given that most of the certifications are generally the same, aside from the CCNA? Hope you do a video comparing that one to CC or the others.
Hey Zackary. In my opinion (excluding the CS degree, because it's kind of a wild card), the BSNOS degree is the most marketable IT degree WGU offers, This is because it has CCNA. Not only is CCNA freakin hard, it covers a lot of really fundamental concepts that are integral to computing in general and is _really_, really well known. In my opinion, having CCNA alone kind of serves as a litmus test for being able to work in different fields of tech. As in, "Oh, he was able to get CCNA, so he's probably able to do x, y, and z". This kind of happened with my wife. She has CCNA and half of CompTIA A+ along with some really entry-level helpdesk experience, but the next job she got was doing data engineering support at Microsoft for huge customers and she makes more money than me. Granted she is bi-lingual and presented herself well, CCNA played a decent role.
Not only does the BSNOS have CCNA, but a bunch of those others certs too (like you mentioned). Of course you can get any degree from WGU and couple the degree with personal projects and you will be more appealing to employers--but in terms of only the degree/certs, BS NOS is better than BSCC and probably the best overall. I don't often suggest it to people because CCNA is such a beast if you don't already know what you're getting into.
Hope this makes sense. All just my opinion, but feel free to ask anything else and I'll try to reply! Sometimes replies to replies get buried and I don't see them, so feel free to make a new comment or something, otherwise, thanks for watching and GL!
@@JoshMadakor Hey thanks for taking the time to comment Josh, I appreciate your perspective. I weighed my options out when I started, seemed like NOS overall had the most going for it (aside from Cyber), but also arguably one of the most difficult ones due to having CCNA. It's also worth noting (from other's opinions I've read) that the Sysops exams isn't exactly easy either, and that one was just revised to a newer more difficult version (from what I hear anyway).
Based on your elaborate comment (and the research I did prior), going with the NOS degree was the right choice, even if it wasn't the quickest one compared to the likes of doing BSIT or the management degree, but there's some tradeoffs to all of the degree paths. As with anything, what you put in, is what you get out of it.
is there anyway I can get around chemistry. I have a bachelors from UCF and a Masters from University of Tampa.
But with all those certs listed for wgu do they actually give them to you after you finish the class??? Or just a voucher to take the tests.
So do you think just taking the certs is a good way to go ? Having aws certs and maybe some labs would be good enough to show a employer that i can atleast learn.
Yes, getting certs and some labs is definitely enough to get a cloud support engineer job :). Square away your resume the best you can!
How I would apply to jobs as a new person: th-cam.com/video/Y_AyHBtQ-U8/w-d-xo.html
Hi Josh,
I'm currently enrolled in a program at a community college where I'll get my Associate's degree in IT next year. I was hoping to transfer with my A.S. into one of the IT bachelor's programs at WGU after next year, however, I also have a bachelor's degree at a university that is completely unrelated to I.T. I recently spoke with an enrollment counselor and found out that I can enroll into the Master's in Cybersecurity program at WGU. The only thing is, I'm worried I won't have a strong foundation in IT to understand the coursework in the Master's in Cybersecurity program. I am currently working as an IT support specialist and have just started but I would like your opinion since you do have a Master's in Cybersecurity at WGU. Do you think my Associate's in IT and my IT support experience is enough to understand the material in the cybersecurity master's program or should I just transfer into one of their bachelor's programs in IT?
Hey Ngoc!
_> The only thing is, I'm worried I won't have a strong foundation in IT to understand the coursework in the Master's in Cybersecurity program._
This is a valid concern, and I wouldn't recommend getting the MS without relevant experience, but it sounds like you are already working already, so it's not that bad of an idea. At this point, certs and experience would be more beneficial, but you're already working on the experience portion right now it sounds like
_>Do you think my Associate's in IT and my IT support experience is enough to understand the material in the cybersecurity master's program_
You'll be able to understand the material, however certificates and experience would be more beneficial to your career at this point. One alternative plan would be, if you really wanted to get the master's degree, you could just go ahead and get it. It's going to be faster to obtain than the bachelor's degree. Afterwards, you could just pick some some relevant certs on your own to kind of "round out" your resume and be "good to go" for the future. I probably wouldn't get a double-bachelors anyway, it's not really necessary if you're already working. (Experience is paramount, just make sure you do well at work and learn as much as you can!)
Best of luck with whatever you choose, what great questions!
Just finished my associate degree in electrical engineering, and I’m switching to software engineering: which path you recommend C# or java?
Josh do you have any thoughts on WGU classes vs certs to satisfy degree requirements? Like, if I don’t care about getting a particular cert, say Azure Database admin associate, is it faster to just take the WGU class to satisfy the requirement and forego the cert? Or pretty much the same and might as well get the cert? Thanks!
Hey! You mean like the classes where the cert is optional? In those cases, I tend to not get the cert. For example, in the Cyber Master's you have the choice of getting the CHFI cert after passing the class--since I don't care about that cert, I just ignored it. In some cases, if you get the cert before enrolling, it will remove the requirement to do some classes; i've taken advantage of this too. Sometimes on purpose, but sometimes one of my certs cancels a class I wasn't expecting. To answer your question, I tend to just research and do whatever is faster or saves the most money. I usually try to avoid taking certs I don't need since they take up so much time. Hope this helps :
@@JoshMadakor Yep, that’s exactly what I was wondering. Thanks!
Hey Josh, I wasn’t able to find your video on your experience with the comp sci degree. I saw your video on your plan for the degree but not on how it actually went. I would really love your insight on this degree.
Hey! That video is scheduled to be released October 6th! I totally go through the whole thing in it.
To give a brief preview, I finished a few classes before registering (including calculus), had my first day on July 1st, then graduated almost exactly 2 months later on September 1st.
Here is a list of the classes I had completed prior to starting along side a list of classes I still needed: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g1Vy_zDN3HfKrpY6v5Ekmeid5Mw6fS63SoUnXHtsPcI/edit?usp=drivesdk
Also, here is the pre-game transfer guide spreadsheet that I reference in the video in case you wanna preview it as well: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EaHLlll7CGhoi0hAKe6y05u-b8dsCIdV/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=103681263507725672637&rtpof=true&sd=true
But yeah, CS Speed Run/Review video coming out on the 6th! Thanks for watching and following my channel, I really appreciate it!
@@JoshMadakor wow thanks for the preview! Looking forward to watching the video. I really appreciate your videos! The content you produce is truly amazing and helpful. Thanks for what you do!
No problem! I'm glad it's useful and thank you for watching! 😊👏
DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES BEFORE STARTING THE CLOUD COURSES OR CAN YOU KICK START WITH THE CLOUD COURSES SUCH AS AWS ARCHITECTURE ??
I was going to major in cloud computing but switched to software development since there's no true entry level cloud roles (I have no IT experience) unlike Jr software developer roles.
The SW Dev degree looks super super interesting tbh. I'm excited whenever someone tells me they're doing it, haha. I think you're in good shape with that degree. If you ever feel like it, you should check out the video I made on how to kinda "make" work experience for yourself to put on your resume. I give a few examples for cyber, it, and development and provide a few sample resume templates in the discription you can get ideas from. th-cam.com/video/UasHPQ0VBOc/w-d-xo.html
Gl with the SW Dev degree! 👏👏
@@JoshMadakor thank you and I'll check it out
Is you had to choose between cloud computing and cyber which degree would you go for?
Could you please do the new WGU Network Operations and Security BS vs the current Cloud Computing BS. It seems like they took away some good certs in the Networking degree and companies are gravitating towards the Cloud. But I could be wrong.
yo! I'll just paste my comment again here just in case lol:
Hey Gilbert!I may do this video in the future, but in the mean time, you can check out this spreadsheet. I'm not sure if you've seen it already, but check it out :) docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1s70xzvup1spW32SNCeNIfJ2CDGCIjw7x9Aqn3Fls_R4/edit#gid=0
Edit: this is the breakdown of the new Network engineer security degrees
I'm thinking about making a career change. This a very helpful video. I have a bachelors in busineds management from WGU and a sales background. How likely is it that I could get a decent job at Microsoft or Amazon with no work related experience?
Hey Spencer, thanks for watching! There are tons of cloud support jobs in seattle for Microsoft especially. There are some jobs for AWS too. Probably a bunch of remote for both. I would definitely "make" some experience for yourself to go on your resume if you don't have any. Check out this video for Ideas!: th-cam.com/video/UasHPQ0VBOc/w-d-xo.html
You can always make some kind of project that utilizes Azure to go on your resume (check out the video above with the sample resumes in the description!)
Thanks again, and good luck!
Can you go from Software Development at WGU to Cloud Computing? I wanted to start with an easier IT degree for now but eventually want to get into Cloud.
I would say the Software Development degree is harder than the Cloud Computing degree haha. But to answer your question, yes, you could do that. I wouldn't necessarily do it, but you can! I recommend just picking the degree that looks the most fun/interesting to you and go with that. Your degree won't control the types of jobs you can apply for. You can apply for any ;) ;). Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment :)
Hi Josh. I have 12 classes remaining when I transfer in February. Is it possible to finish 12 classes for WGU Computer Science within one term? (I’ll have 48 CU’s to complete by then) I am also following your advice with pre studying before enrolling. I’m assuming I’m going to have to pre study the hardest on Discrete Math II and Data Structures and Algorithms II.
Hey Freddy. To answer your question, yes, it's definitely possible--I did 11 courses in exactly 8 weeks, which included both DSA 2 and DM 2. DM 2 took me exactly 3 weeks. I'm actually releasing a video that talks about this in depth which is scheduled to be released October 6th!
Here is a list of the classes I had completed prior to starting along side a list of classes I still needed: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g1Vy_zDN3HfKrpY6v5Ekmeid5Mw6fS63SoUnXHtsPcI/edit?usp=drivesdk
Also, here is the pre-game transfer guide spreadsheet that I reference in the video in case you wanna preview it as well: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EaHLlll7CGhoi0hAKe6y05u-b8dsCIdV/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=103681263507725672637&rtpof=true&sd=true
But yeah, CS Speed Run/Review video coming out on the 6th! Thanks for watching and following my channel, I really appreciate it!
For Discrete Math 2, maybe do a bit of pre-study (which I talk about in this video), but if you follow everything here, you can probably reduce the completion time a bit: th-cam.com/video/gcvnQMHD9fc/w-d-xo.html
For Data Structures and Algorithms 2, I'd follow the recommendations I made in this video (This is going Live on October 4th, 10am PST). You can probably find the rubric for it on GitHub or something (by googling), and maybe start early on it. But I'd definitely check out this video: th-cam.com/video/lHeVDmgpKy4/w-d-xo.html (not yet live).
Sorry for the wall of text, but yes! It's possible. And yes! DM2 and DSA2 are hard, but you can conquer them! best of luck :)
@@JoshMadakor thank you. Just curious if you were working while doing the degree? I’m a student and am planning on dedicating 6-8 hours (maybe 10 hours) every day and taking breaks here and there. For math I’ll take it slow for sure. It can be pretty heavy if not managed properly.
I love your content and am so grateful to have found a reliable source for info regarding the CS program I plan to take. Your content couldn’t have come at a better time! Thank you again!
_>Just curious if you were working while doing the degree?_
Technically, I was "working" but honestly I was ignoring my job for the most part, or at least heavily prioritizing my studies. I was pretty burnt out from work at that point. But the good news is, I wasn't spending 6-10 hours per day most of the time. For DSA 2, I probably had a few 10 hour days, but for the maths and other stuff, It was probably like 4-6 hours or whatever I could stomach.
Thanks for the nice comments! Glad it came at a good time. I noticed there isn't _THAT_ much WGU CS content yet that dives really deep :p
Hi Josh, is there a specific reason why you dont have this particular degree? (is it less valuabe, less marketable, etc)
or is it just happenstance?? thanks!
No reason really, it's a dope degree. By the time I started noticing WGU had good cloud degrees, I already had a degree and was working in cloud pretty regularly, so I had no need to get it. But I REALLY like it, especially their new tracks
Any suggestions on how to study to pass your wgu classes?
I really want a high paying remote job that has the best work life balance. Should I do information technology bachelors or cloud bachelors at wgu? After that I will do a IT masters at wgu.
Just curious in wgu is this all readying material or is there hands on lab experience?
Hey Nathaniel! It depends on the class, but there are labs, videos, webcasts, books, practice exams, and course instructors to help with the material. For a class that CCNA, you can probably expect some kind of labs. Thanks so much for watching!
What if you don't have any IT skills? Can you go straight to the cloud computing degree?..
Hi Josh. I am starting the Cloud Computing BS in December. I already have Google IT Support, Network+, Security+ and Cloud+. I want to complete the bachelor in one single term. How realistic is it? Any specific tips?
Hey Djerhy, it can be completed in 1 term, but it might be tough. It really boils down to your experience, strategy, and time commitment. You are in good shape bringing in a few certs already.
Here are a few reddit threads on the topic, check them out!
1) www.reddit.com/r/WGU_CSA/comments/l6098q/can_cloud_computing_be_completed_in_1_term/
2) www.reddit.com/r/WGU/comments/jl7ecp/bs_cloud_computing_finished_in_one_semester_if/
@@JoshMadakor Thank you for the quick reply Josh. I will definitely check the threads. Thanks again.
@@djerhyjnbaptiste4030 did you complete yet
I was just wondering if someone who wants to do cloud computing.. is it worth it if you have a non-violent felony on record?
If I am doing the general IT degree but want to work cloud, should I go back and get the cloud degree at WGU or do a master's in cloud from like UMGC.
For personal reasons I would like a master's degree but I don't really mind in what it ends up being in
Hey! You absolutely don't need the cloud degree to work in cloud. My wife works in cloud at a FAANG-tier and only has CCNA. I'd just finish up your general degree, maybe get a few relevant certs for the area you wanna break into (AZ-900/AZ-500 or whatever AWS cert(s)), get some personal projects under your belt, and start applying!
Josh, which is harder....Performance Assessment or Objective Assessment at WGU?
It _really_ depends on the class, but I can tell you performance assessments are generally less stressful, since you have essentially unlimited time to complete an assessment vs having to take a time and proctored test. I usually finish objective assessments faster, but they are much more stressful for me 😅. Kinda a vague answer, but hope it helps
@@JoshMadakor Josh, thanks for taking your time to reply. Much appreciated!
No problem! Thanks for commenting and watchin!
Hey Josh!
I've been watching your video's for about a month now trying to decide which IT career to enroll in at WGU. I'm taking a leap of faith and jumping into a new career field; I'm coming from a health and wellness A.S. Degree. The only experience I have in this area was working for phone (Cellular and Home) & internet services selling fiber as well as working for a Microsoft vender selling cloud solutions. Where I was weak in these positions was lack of knowledge in IT this is why I'd like to go into this field. Could you point me in the right direction when it comes to IT.
Thanks
why did they not teach VMware, the other thing is there should be a red hat cert class ?
Hello, is the lectures is video-based or textbook-based.
Hey Albaghdadi, Some videos, some text, some webcasts, some labs--there is a little bit of everything and it largely depends on the class :)
Hey Josh,
Thanks for the content, it's nothing but helpful whenever I have questions regarding careers or WGU.
I'm currently enrolled in the BSCC program and a little less than halfway done. I'm conflicted if I want to continue down the BSCC route or switch to something like the BSSD. The cloud is something that I know I want to work in at some point, but a dev role is also something that has my interest and tends to be more entry-level friendly. I currently do not have any IT experience. Do you feel continuing in the BSCC would be the best option, or doing the BSSD and transitioning into the cloud later into my career?
I'm always open to new perspectives, so I'd love to hear what you have to say!
よろしくお願いします。
Hey!! yoroshikune! You can speak Japanese? haha.
The CC is a great path, but if you are intersted in SD, I would definitely recommend going that route. The ability the program gives you such a massive edge over people who can't especially if you have a halfway decent portfolio (which you can build from your classes at WGU). In addition, self-teaching cloud tech is much easier than self-teaching software development, so you can simply fill the cloud-gaps after you complete the SD degree.
Just my opinion! I want to use japanese but I'm on my friend's PC and they don't have the jp keyboard haha.
mitekurete arigatou gozaimasu!
@@JoshMadakor
はい！一応できます(笑)！でもアドバイス本当にありがとうございました！それにします！
これからの動画を楽しみにしています！
今見た！！！ Thank you so much！！
Why do I have a feeling WGU is gonna put you in there hall of fame?
Lol that's nice of you to say. That'd be nice, or they might get mad that I'm talking about the classes so much. They don't even have a real affiliate program. Their affiliate program is like...earning credits for the school store or something lmao
Is it possible to do a video on software quality assurance. I keep hearing this class is hard because the OA doesn’t entirely reflect the material and has errors. People say they barely pass the OA. Curious to know what your experience was like?
This class was hard. I talk about it in the CS Speed Run video which is going to be released on Oct 6th. In this video, I literally said, "I almost failed this class and it was hard" lol! I'll make a video on it :)
@@JoshMadakor Thank you! ‘eagerly waiting for 10/6’ lol
AWS
Azure
Google
From biggest to smallest but Google is the biggest payout currently
Thanks for clarifying!
Cloud computing or netops degree?
Funny you ask this! I recently did a video on "which WGU degree has the best certs". It will come out 11/21, but basically I concluded that BS NOS has the best certs largely due to having CCNA. CCNA has by far the most job hits across LinkedIn and Indeed while at the same time being an incredibly practical cert. So BS NOS is probably the most marketable, but it's probably the most difficult as well. Having said that, Cloud Computing is basically the "middle-ground" in terms of difficulty and marketability as far as PURE numbers go. Cloud Computing has some great certs and is _quite_ good.
WGU Best Certs Preview Data: i.imgur.com/KmkiYk0.png
WGU Degree with Best Certs: th-cam.com/video/CMdUe5n6X9M/w-d-xo.html (Nov 21, 10a PST)
Easiest WGU Degrees: th-cam.com/video/HEQbB_e8UMA/w-d-xo.html (Live)
Already have CCNA? Just go Net Ops.
More interested in Cloud? Go Cloud Computing.
You *_aren't_* concerned with time/cost? Go Net Ops
Want to finish faster? Go Cloud Computing.
Hope this helps!
I am taking this degree, is there anyway I can have you review something for me?
I can try! What'd you have in mind?
@@JoshMadakor it’s for the Secured. Rework Design class, I’m doing the Assessment, but stuck in the Merged Network Topology and OSI and TCP/IP protocol stack layers.
I basically just had a picture of my network and labeled every component according to the TCP/IP and OSI layers: i.imgur.com/iGMe5jE.png
WAFs/Print Servers = Layer 7
Routers = Layer 3
Switches = Layer 2
Is this the part you're talking about?
@@JoshMadakor Thank you, I will look at it and see if I am on the right track
Why did you stop using Japanese in your videos? Because of that, the Japanese GDP has been stagnating for the last 20 years. What is your shared responsibility models?
Lmao Taka, I'm sorry! I'll try to re-incorporate them for future videos. I didn't think people even noticed those, but a bunch of people complained already, hahaha. Sorry about the GDP 😂
Why they have Math 🤦, god I hate Math I haven't did Algebra since 2011.
Hey Josh, appreciate you taking the time to explain everything clearly in the video regarding WGU. Question for you, I currently have two degrees unrelated to IT, bio/nursing. What would you recommend for someone in my position that is interested in IT and wants to pursue as a new career. Should i pursue a IT degree? anything to make me a good candidate for position?
JR, thanks for watching, and congrats on your 2 degrees! You definitely don't need to get another one for it, haha.
Honestly, I would focus on getting few certs, depending on what you want to do. Maybe if you're brand new, start with the Google Technical Support Fundamentals certificate (it's possible to get this for free. I'll release a video about this on Monday). Then maybe consider getting CompTIA Security+ or just diving right in and making yourself some experience (see below for what I mean).
Consider checking out these videos, especially the "How to get a job in IT", this is basically a roadmap for new people. Best of luck!
How to get a job in IT (checklist): th-cam.com/video/5thkwBIZph4/w-d-xo.html
How to pass any IT exam: th-cam.com/video/HMCHOVDoZig/w-d-xo.html (Use for Security+ if you'd like)
How to generate experience for your resume: th-cam.com/video/UasHPQ0VBOc/w-d-xo.html
How to find remote jobs: th-cam.com/video/8B9pPA2urlQ/w-d-xo.html
Resume Reviews Playlist: th-cam.com/play/PLqBeiU46hx1FItbfiA-i3ql5RLFMJfKw0.html
Do you have any interest in going into healthcare IT, where your nursing degree gives you an edge?