AUSTIN — WGU Texas’ College of Information Technology announced today the addition of a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) degree program. This program, which is online and competency-based, includes valuable certifications from CIW, CompTIA, Axelos, and Oracle, at no additional cost. Students who apply now can begin their program as early as June 1, 2018.
According to Cyberstates™ 2018, published by CompTIA, Texas ranks 2nd in the nation in terms of tech employment and is home to 37,700 tech business establishments. The state’s average tech industry wage is $106,300 – almost double the state’s average private sector annual wage of $55,140. In 2017 alone, the industry added 7,610 new jobs, and workforce demands will continue to grow. Last year, Texas’ Cyberstates Innovation Score – which is based on new patents, startups and business establishments — catapulted from 16th to 4th in the country.
WGU Texas’ BSCS will help graduates enter this growing workforce by teaching them to design, develop, and optimize systems, preparing them for opportunities in careers such as computer systems analyst, programmer, AI specialist, software engineer, UX designer, and network architect.
“This new degree program was developed in collaboration with industry and academic experts and will prepare graduates with the knowledge and skills employers are seeking in areas such as logic, architecture and systems, data structures, artificial intelligence, algorithms, and computer theory,” said John Balderree, WGU’s Vice President of Academic Operations for the College of Information Technology.
“We’re seeing greater urgency in developing new talent and expertise in the IT field every year, particularly in Texas, and we’re looking forward to helping grow and maintain the state’s workforce in this highly competitive, rapidly evolving industry,” said Dr. Steven Johnson, WGU Texas Chancellor. “Our new BSCS program will allow students to align their degree with the needs of some of the nation’s most recognized and respected employers.”
Competency-based education (CBE) is a good fit for busy adults because it allows them to study and learn on their schedules and advance as soon as they have mastered course materials. Students can draw on the knowledge and skills they have gained from previous experience and education, moving quickly through material they already know and taking the time they need to learn new material. Students have 24/7 access to their course materials, and faculty members provide one-on-one support. Terms are six months long, and students in the BSCS are charged a flat-rate tuition of $3,190 per term, regardless of the number of courses completed. Many students are able to accelerate their studies, finishing their degrees sooner, saving both time and money.
