Western Governors University
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Western Governors University
Western Governors University (WGU) is nonprofit private university that promotes competence in every degree program offered. WGU focuses on a mastery of the necessary skills and knowledge in specified career fields. Your degree completion progress is measured by periodic assessments, called competency-based learning, instead of accumulation of credit hours. This rigorous but flexible educational approach makes the university unique when compared to other online programs. It also allows you to personalize your degree program and gain only the skills and knowledge you need to become successful. You will have the support of a dedicated mentor to guide you as you progress through your program right up until graduation. WGU offers bachelor and master degree programs in business, education, information technology, and health professions.
WGU provides lower tuition costs because you pay a flat fee every six months regardless of how many competency areas you attempt. If you can complete the assessments at a faster rate, you can save time and money and complete your degree faster.
Western Governors University has received two International Distance Learning Awards from the U.S. Distance Learning Association.
The idea for Western Governors University was developed in 1995 at a bipartisan meeting of the Western Governors Association. Nineteen governors, led by Roy Romer, former governor of Colorado, Michael O. Leavitt, former governor of Utah, and Jim Geringer, former governor of Wyoming developed the idea with the goal of addressing the issues of rapid population growth and limited public education funds. The university’s purpose was to maximize the use of distance learning technologies and to employ a competency-based curricula. WGU was chartered in 1996, established as a nonprofit private institution in 1997, and began enrolling students in 1999.
WGU has thrived to become a national university with more than 12,000 students from all 50 states and still remains an innovative, non-bureaucratic institution. It is continually praised for its competency model.
Accreditation
Western Governors University is the only university to have received simultaneous accreditation by four regional accrediting commissions.
- Western Governors University’s “home” accrediting commission is the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
- Western Governors University is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) nationally.
- Western Governors University is the first online university to receive NCATE accreditation for its degree programs that lead to teacher licensure from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
- Western Governors University’s Health Informatics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).
- Western Governors University’s Nursing programs are accredited by CCNE.
Schools of Education
The Teachers College is one of the nation’s largest that offer teacher licensure and master degree programs designed to enable students to become qualified teachers prepared to meet state and national teaching standards. The college offers programs in educational leadership, interdisciplinary studies, learning and technology, science, mathematics, special education, English Language Learner (ELL)/English as a Second Language (ESL), and instructional design.
The College of Business focuses on instilling in students the expert knowledge and skills necessary for success in the competitive business world. The college offers bachelor degrees in a variety of areas such as accounting, business management, finance, human resources, marketing, and IT management and offers three MBA programs. The college was awarded the GetEducated.com Best Buy Award five separate times.
The College of Information Technology provides innovative programs that are constantly evaluated and adapted to the ever-changing IT world. The college offers bachelor degrees that include as many as 10 current IT certifications. Examples of programs are databases, design and management, health informatics, network administration, security, and software.
The College of Health Professions focuses on the increasing need for competent and compassionate healthcare professionals. There are many degree programs in nursing, nursing leadership and management, nursing education, health education, healthcare management, and health informatics that emphasize the development of expert knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the healthcare field.