The Western Governors University enrolls around 25,000 students and is based in Utah. The school is a nonprofit university that only offers virtual and distance learning. The university is separated into four schools and each school offers bachelor and master degrees and operates on a unique study principle designed for adults who have already been educated. According to the school, their aim is to improve the quality of post-secondary education and
History of the Western Governors University
The Western Governors University was founded in 1997 by a coalition of 19 governors. The school is privately funded and self-supported and does not accept either federal or state aid. The Western Governors University employs around 1,200 faculty members (about a 1 – 20 student/teacher ratio) and is supported by a variety of consumer corporations such as AT&T and Dell.
Accreditation
The Western Governors University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and nationally accredited by the Distance Education & Training Council as well as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. WGU’s nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and their B.S. in Health is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.
Academics
Courses at the Western Governors University include bachelors and masters in business management, marketing, accounting, finance, HR and IT and several MBA’s, teachers degrees for mathematics, science, special education, ELL/ESL, learning and technology, instructional design, and educational leadership. IT degrees in databases, software, security, health informatics, networks administration, and design and management, these include up to 10 individual certifications that may be necessary to find a job. Nursing programs include nursing, nursing education, nursing leadership and management, health education, health informatics, and healthcare management.
Application & Admissions
Students who wish to apply for the Western Governors University should do so online through the schools website. The school asks that all prospective students be 16 years or older, hold a high school diploma or equivalent and submit all important data such as personal contact info, financial information and etc. The Western Governors University has a 37% acceptance rate and all prospective students are required to go through a phone interview.
Reasons to Attend an Online School
Students who attend an online school such as Western Governors University online have the freedom to study at any time, day or night, to study anywhere and to work their study into their schedule and daily lives.
At a traditional on-campus school students are required to pay for dorm housing, to show up for class at certain times and to finish work and assignments at a set pace. At Western Governors University, students can study from their own homes while holding a full time job or taking care of family or social obligations. Students can study at their own pace and need only respond to weekly deadlines in order to finish a course.
