OVERVIEW
An Online Networking Degree that Prepares You for an Exciting Career
The demand is high for network operations and security professionals. With WGU’s online bachelor’s degree in network operations and security, you’ll gain the additional knowledge and skills you need—and the credentials to prove them—to turn that demand into career success. You'll be prepared for a lucrative and rewarding career where you will be a critical member of the team. You can also earn while you learn by keeping your current full-time job while earning your networking degree. WGU is online and completely flexible—nothing is holding you back from moving as quickly as you're able through your networking degree program.
Earning your B.S. Network Operations and Security degree will help you build on your current IT skills, boost your résumé, and stand out from the competition. This networking program will help you develop the latest network design, network operations, and security management skills. You'll be prepared to be a linchpin in your organization—someone who is called on to help solve problems and create meaningful systems for the entire company.
70% of students finish within
39 Months
WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
Tuition per six-month term is
$3,625
Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you control the ultimate cost of your degree. Finish faster, pay less!
Certifications in this program
11
Graduates of this program pick up a number of industry certifications during their work in this degree program—without adding any cost or time!
COURSES & COMPETENCIES
Network Operations and Security Courses
Our Bachelor of Science Network Operations and Security degree program was designed, and is regularly updated, with input from the experts on our Information Technology Program Council. It covers crucial subjects including IT fundamentals, networks and security, spreadsheets, scripting and programming, data management, operating systems, interconnecting network devices, leadership and management, web development, the business of IT, and security. This networking program is built to prepare you for an exciting career.
Earning a bachelor’s degree designed by industry experts adds theoretical depth to the practical knowledge you already have. The experts who make up our IT Program Council know exactly what it takes for a graduate to be successful in the fast-paced, ever-changing world of network operations and security.
The B.S. Network Operations and Security program is an all-online program. You’ll complete program requirements independently, with instruction and support from WGU faculty. You’ll be expected to complete at least 12 competency units for each 6-month term. Each course is typically three or four units. There’s no limit on the number of units you can complete each term, so the more courses you complete, the quicker you can finish your program.
36 Courses
Program consists of 36 courses
At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to ensure your degree is proof you really know your stuff.
Capstone Project
Special requirements for this program
At the end of your program, you will complete a capstone project that represents the culmination of all your hard work—a project that allows you to take what you’ve learned and apply it to a real-world situation, proposing a solution to an actual issue you face in your place of business.
“A flexible remote degree is too good to be true, but it actually is. WGU was much more than I thought. A supportive team, a great mentor, good content, flexibility, support, and an affordable price. WGU is transforming lives. I could get my degree and I'm so thankful to WGU and its amazing team. Thank you!”
—Fernando Avelino
B.S. Network Operations and Security
Why WGU?
Earning Potential
According to a 2021 Harris Poll, just two years after graduation, WGU grads report earning $18,200 more per year, and that amount increases to $25,900 four years after graduation.
On Your Schedule
No class times, no assignment deadlines. You are in charge of your learning and schedule. You can move through your courses as quickly as you master the material, meaning you can graduate faster.
Entirely Online
The network operations and security bachelor's degree at WGU is 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation—it's entirely up to you.
Accredited, Respected,
Recognized
One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.
IT CERTIFICATIONS
3rd Party Networking Certifications Included
Designed for IT professionals seeking to leverage their network experience and grow their knowledge of the cloud to become network administration and IT security management experts, this networking degree program also includes multiple sought-after industry certifications—certifications that will boost your résumé as soon as you've earned them, even before you complete your computer networking degree.
- Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner
- Amazon AWS SysOps Administration–Associate
- A+
- Network+
- Security+
- Project+
- IT Operations Specialist
- Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- ITIL®*^ Foundation Certification
*Subject to vendor availability.
^ITIL® is a registered trade mark of AXELOS Limited, used under permission of AXELOS Limited. All rights reserved.
As well as:
- LPI Linux Essentials
COST & TIME
An Affordable Online Network Operations and Security Degree
By charging per six-month term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
A College Degree Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2019 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.
Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out what you might be eligible for.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
Competency-Based Education Puts You in the Driver’s Seat of Your Network Operations and Security Degree
You’ve worked in tech for years. Your experience, skill, and hard work have gotten you this far, but the next step requires something you don't have: your degree. We believe your experience should count for something. You deserve a bachelor’s degree program that will take into account all the know-how you’ve gained over the years, allowing you to move through courses as quickly as you can prove you've mastered the material. No waiting for other students or the end of the semester. No sitting through classes you could teach. Just a smart, direct path to the degree your career needs and the respect you deserve.
"I found the competency model of WGU to be overwhelming superior to any previous experience of learning. Most of the CIs [course instructors] were very helpful as was my mentor. The value of being able to complete a regionally accredited bachelor's of science while working full time (Active Duty military & then separating to civilian) was perfect for me. The certifications earned through the course allowed me to get in and progress quickly in the IT industry.”
—Michael O'Dell
B.S. Network Operations and Security
CAREER OUTLOOK
A Networking Degree that Helps You Stand Out From the Competition
The growing digital transformation of business functions has led to a sharp increase in demand for skilled professionals trained to manage and administer network and security systems. A computer networking program is key in helping you get the specific training and skillset you need to enhance your current IT experience.
Department of Defense contractors, communications, financial firms, technical consulting services, and colleges and universities are the leading sectors for network and security professionals. The need for professionals that are able to evolve and learn new technologies will continue to drive the demand for degrees in network and security. In addition to a résumé-boosting bachelor’s degree, students who graduate from this program will have a number of industry certifications, which can result in a premium of over $15,000 on average over salaries for IT jobs overall.
Return on Your Investment
4%
Employment of network and computer systems administrators is projected to grow 4% from 2019 to 2029.
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Find Success with a Highly Respected Network Security and Operations Degree and Certifications
Some of the job titles a graduate of this network operations and security bachelor’s degree program are qualified for include:
- Data Scientist
- Network Administrator
- Network Security Analyst
- Computer Network Architect
WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers
ADMISSIONS
Network Operations and Security Admissions Requirements
To be considered for enrollment into this bachelor's degree program, students must possess a high school diploma or its equivalent AND demonstrate program readiness through one of the following:
- Option 1: Submit transcripts documenting completion of previous IT coursework. IT coursework must be 300-level or higher.
- Option 2: Possess a bachelor’s or associate degree (A.A., A.S. or A.A.S. acceptable) from an accredited post-secondary institution.
- Option 3: Demonstrate at least two years of IT work experience through resume review.
- Option 4: Submit official records of completion of current and active IT certifications, some of which may provide transfer credit into various programs.
- Option 5: Submit high school transcripts with a minimum GPA of 2.75 GPA and a B grade or higher in a S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) course. *Only advanced mathematics courses will satisfy this requirement.
NOTE: You do not need to take the ACT or SAT to be admitted to this program. Learn why we don't require these tests.
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.
Common Questions About Enrolling in a College of IT Degree Program
Ready to Start Your WGU Journey?