SALT LAKE CITY — Western Governors University (WGU) is now accepting applications for a new online bachelor’s degree program aimed at preparing IT professionals for roles in the growing field of data management and analytics. The Bachelor of Science in Data Management/Data Analytics is designed for experienced IT professionals seeking a bachelor’s degree and industry certifications to advance their careers. Developed in collaboration with industry and academic experts, the B.S. in Data Management/Data Analytics program is online and competency-based, which allows students to study and learn at their own pace, completing courses as soon as they demonstrate mastery of the subject matter through tests, papers, simulations, and projects.
This new program prepares students to set up, secure, and maintain the environment where data will be hosted and the skills needed to analyze the data to identify patterns, explain phenomena, and predict trends to support decisions.
Coursework in WGU’s B.S. in Data Management/Data Analytics includes general education as well as information technology topics, such as IT fundamentals, web development, network and security, scripting and programming, data management, spreadsheets, business of IT, data science, data analytics, data wrangling, strategy, and technical writing.
“Data scientists who can manage the flow of data and translate that information to make meaningful business decisions are in high demand, and this new degree program equips students with best practices to succeed in the industry,” said Dr. Myles Vogel, National Director of WGU’s College of IT.
Like all WGU degree programs, the B.S in Data Management/Data Analytics is online and competency-based. Competency-based education is a good fit for working professionals because it allows them to study and learn at their own pace and advance as soon as they have mastered course materials. Students have 24/7 access to their course materials, and faculty members provide one-on-one support. Terms are six months long, and students pay a flat rate of $2,890 per term for most programs, regardless of the number of courses completed. Because WGU programs are self-paced, many students are able to accelerate their studies, finishing their degree sooner, which saves them both time and money. As a result, the average time to complete a bachelor's degree at WGU is less than three years.
For more information about this new degree program, go to www.wgu.edu/data.
