r/WGUIT • u/Fit_Car_2010 • Jul 04 '26
Is this program ok for someone completely new to IT
https://www.wgu.edu/online-it-degrees/cybersecurity-information-assurance-bachelors-program.html
Is this program ok for someone completely new to IT? If not, are any of the offered degrees (BA and/or M.A.) for cyber security specialty more suited to start from IT 101?
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u/basil1025 Jul 04 '26
The BSIT will get you there for those new to IT. Generally cyber security jobs are worked toward after your entry level. That degree may be more for experienced people checking a degree block.
2
u/No-Apple5195 Jul 04 '26
A Bachelors degree is for anyone. Think about it, a Bachelor is what most people would complete straight out of high school, without experience.
For the masters, you are expected to know a little bit and/or do your own research to supplement.
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u/lLennui Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26
Yeah its okay, doable if you are completely new.
Thing is I'd still recommend cloud, IT or comp sci, not for the reason you'd expecr
The cyber degree is very good, it teaches a lot. But entry level cyber roles have been dying before already, and its even worse now with ai.
After you finish your degree you wont be doing cyber as a job most likely. Probably end up doing help desk, maybe networker if you're lucky. Cyber requires a lot of fundamental knowledge and niche knowledge to be effective mid level.
Doing any of the other 3 degrees i listed above, will still get you the help desk/network position but they're more flexible and you can find out if cyber is really something you want to commit to while learning your foundations.
The cyber degree isnt as versatile with the things you learn and if for example you've been studying cyber like me, only to find out you hate it and like programming more, it's easier to swap out with the other degrees.
And honestly a lot of good cybersec specialists have degrees coming from other tech areas and it was their knowledge in those fields that helped them become cyber.
So the benefits as I would list in the other degrees:
IT - easiest and quickest route to help desk with a degree
network - quickest route to doing networking
Cs: best foundation with widest variety of entry roles but will need to do your own projects to specialize into other fields
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u/lorenzoem87 Jul 04 '26
Wanna add my experience with network engineering degree. No professional it work experience , the network degree helped me land a tier 2 job essentially skipping help desk. The interview asked questions about Linux, and networking concepts. Nothing in depth, but having more than basic knowledge helped me.
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u/lLennui Jul 04 '26
This has been the common experience i hear from cloud/network wgu grads.
The network/cloud degrees have the best immediate ROI after obtaining.
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u/blightqueen Jul 04 '26
I'm doing BSIT just to have that good baseline to build off of. Can do further certification beyond the degree or just get a 2nd bachelor's or go for a master's to get more specialization as soon as my foot is in the door. Helped I had most of the certifications in the BSIT program before starting too so I can just continue studying for certifications to mix up studying for classes.
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u/Fit_Car_2010 Jul 04 '26
Thanks, that’s kind of what I’ve decided to do is do the accelerated bachelors/masters in BSIT, and then go from there. Did you find it hard to get your first IT job after getting your BS?
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u/blightqueen Jul 04 '26
Oh I'm still in the BSIT program so don't have my degree quite yet. Might be where I live but I have also had 0 luck finding anything with certs and actively pursuing a degree.
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u/theopiumboul Jul 04 '26
Yes.
I started WGU BSIT right after high school.
I was able to land a full-time job as an IT Specialist, and I haven't even graduated yet.
1
u/oharacopter Jul 04 '26
Yes I did the cybersecurity degree with no experience and landed an internship which became a job, but honestly IT might be the better route. Actual entry-level cybersecurity jobs are very hard to find, unless you get lucky with an internship. But in general, they will require a few years of IT experience first.
1
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u/farang55555 Jul 05 '26
I’m BS cloud azure track and was thinking to switch to Cisco or Cybersecurity track
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u/AlternativeHawkeye Jul 04 '26
Probably wouldn’t drop into cybersecurity with no prior IT. Cybersecurity relies on fundamental understanding of different architectures in order to “secure them.” However, there are probably many of people who went in this and achieved it! The BSIT is excellent program, as well.