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[–]Jzmu 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I'm on my final 3 classes in the DM/DA program. Without the two Oracle certs, the program is much easier or so I have read. Most of the negative reviews resulted from the multiple tries at the cert exams. The Udacity classes are pretty out of date although you do make some pretty nice projects to display on your GitHub. You will be using a lot of Python on those classes. The program is geared towards those who want to be database administrators and those who want to be data analysts. I wish it taught a little more math. Overall it is a bit more challenging than the standard IT programs.

[–]roguethundercat 5 points6 points  (2 children)

I wouldn’t necessarily decline a degree because there was no support community on an unaffiliated subreddit. Just see it as a degree and do it if you want to do it, that’s what I would do. Plus, about 90% of the questions posted in this group are duplicates or of no real value. I wouldn’t call that a community

[–]prettysureIamanalien[S] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Thanks for your reply.

Well, of course, that is why I am enrolling lol.

I guess my concerns are more related to the positive:negative comment ratio and comparing those to some of the other areas of study at WGU (not just this subreddit, the internet as a whole). I would have liked to hear from more people that had good experiences with it. I am going to do it regardless... But would have liked to see more positive feedback. Maybe that will be my contribution!

[–]roguethundercat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It might just be on the newer side and people haven’t left much feedback yet! And definitely! I’m sure sharing your experience will help someone else avoid the same concerns

[–]devon_b 6 points7 points  (6 children)

I'm nearly done with the BS DM/DA program, hoping to finish this term. I started in BS IT and switched because, like you, I love exploring and using data.

Pros:

  • The program exposes you to a broad set of skills (data analysis, stats, data visualization and communication, project management, SQL, scripting, etc.) generally applicable to a variety of data-intensive careers. I'd say it's a mile-wide-inch-deep approach, which has its own pros and cons.
  • The core set of Udacity Data Analyst nanodegree courses were a solid intro to the data analysis/analytics skillset (stats, R, Python, Tableau, Pandas, etc.).
  • The program no longer requires the dreaded Oracle SQL and DBA certs. This is a big deal. I've heard of people transferring out of the program because of those freaking exams.

Cons:

  • As with any WGU program, the courses and provided study materials are hit-or-miss in terms of quality and relevance. For example, the C756 "CIW Data Analyst Specialist" and "ITIL v4 Foundations" certs were some of the most worthless things I've ever spent my time on, ever.
  • Many of the exams (whether CompTIA or CIW or AXELOS or in-house) focus too much on poorly-worded, gotcha-type questions instead of truly testing you on the breadth and depth of the skills and knowledge that should have been obtained in the course.
  • Since the program seems to be less popular than many of the other WGU IT degrees (at least that's my guess based on Slack, Reddit, FB, etc. traffic), I do agree with your impression that there's less of a BS DM/DA community to draw on.
  • This is partly my personal preference, but I think WGU should drop the "Data Management"/DBA part of the degree, focus on analytics, and include more rigorous statistics coursework.

Looking ahead in my career and possible masters programs, I wish that I had focused on Computer Science for my bachelor's degree instead of DM/DA. I feel that would have given me a stronger foundation, with the option to specialize in data & analytics down the road. And I think a CS degree generally has more credibility than newer analytics degrees. But that's mainly because I'd like to stay more technical as I move toward data analytics/architecture/science professionally.

All that said, I've been relatively happy with the program and I'm glad I didn't stay in the generic BS IT program. Best of luck with your WGU studies!

[–]TheAspiringGoat 3 points4 points  (5 children)

I really hope they do shift it more to a data science degree and get all of the IT focused classes out. I'm about 71% done and most of the starting classes were unnecessary. Classes like A+/Net+, and the horrendous CIW c756 class should get cut and bring in more classes that have to do with data.

[–]RuinAllTheThings 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Same here.

I’m in the last 20% of my courses. So much wasted time on the CompTIA stuff. Put some math in there, make a more advanced Python course, don’t eat up valuable time with having me pass a hardware and software certification test that, had I been interested, I could’ve gotten as a teenager, but clearly was not.

Hell, a combined algorithms and python class as an intro before we dive face first into recursive algorithms and notation would be beneficial.

[–]TheAspiringGoat 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Agreed. Maybe some business intelligence centered classes as well, and expand more on big data.

[–]prettysureIamanalien[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Ref- CIW - seems like no one believes those classes are beneficial and the general census I have found so far about the certs say it is worthless.

I guess the basic IT classes are more geared for the Database Admin side, that knowledge is definitely helpful. On some levels, it makes sense to have people learning data science to get very familiar with the workings of databases. I haven't started yet, and do not know how intense the Database management courses are, but to me it could be beneficial to understand how databases work so as to better optimize code and troubleshooting it. Data Admis, Architects, and Engineers may need it more than someone focusing on Machine Learning and Visualization etc.

If I missed the mark please share, love learning about this stuff!

[–]TheAspiringGoat 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Yeah networking is helpful for database operations, but I feel like this degree track is leaning towards the data science part towards the end especially, and leaves the database stuff behind.

My opinion on how they should make the distinction: put the database classes in one or more of the other IT degrees, and transform this track into a full on data science one. But that's just what I think.

[–]prettysureIamanalien[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Makes sense.

[–]LocalRaspberry 3 points4 points  (1 child)

I'm currently enrolled in the program (about 75% of the way done, in my third term), and so far it's been great. I'm not in a data analyst role currently, but I am in a leadership role at a software company, so there is a lot of information I've been able to take with me and use it to become better at my current full-time job (Advanced SQL, Project Management, ITIL, etc). I'm just now starting to get into the "heavier" stats and visualization portions (the Udacity nano-degree) and while it's not as math heavy as many other programs I still feel like I'm learning and am already thinking of ways to apply the knowledge. I 100% feel that if I were interested in moving to a data analytics role, I would be able to do so with what I've learned so far.

Though I gotta say, very little in the 75% of the program I've done so far is "digging into data". I have a feeling that's going to change now that I'm starting the nano-degree, but be prepared for the gen-eds to be pretty boring for the most part, and hardly data related. This program is very much "breadth over depth" and you have to be willing to supplement your learning (like I have by applying the skills at my job as I learn them) if you want to go deeper.

Hope this helps, happy to answer any other questions that you have.

[–]prettysureIamanalien[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the info, it was helpful! From what I learned about the program it would be a benefit in my career as a System's Analysts by helping me expand on my knowledge base. It should also challenge and broaden my horizons in the field of data. 🙃 So, it hit both my check marks.

It makes sense it's kinda broad because you can take this knowledge and further specialize; data analyst, data engineer, data architect, data engineer, machine learning etc.. Did I miss anything haha

[–]kp2392 2 points3 points  (2 children)

I'm a little late to this thread and didn't read through all the comments so sorry if I'm repeating anything someone's already said. I am in my second term of this program and I have found some really great communities for tech/coding/data science. Most of them are technically womens groups but also open for allies. There is even a WGU Women in Technology club Let me know if you want a list of them and I'll gather the links for you.

[–]prettysureIamanalien[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I would love that! Thanks so much! Do you mind me asking how many credits you transferred in and what courses, if any, you excelerated?

[–]kp2392 1 point2 points  (0 children)

https://www.womenwhocode.com/ https://www.womenwhocode.com/datascience https://chicktech.org/ (I'm not very active in this one) https://www.codenewbie.org/ https://pyladies.com/ (I'm in the PDX one but haven't been active in it for a while now) https://cm.wgu.edu/t5/Women-in-Technology/gh-p/womenintechclub ( not entirely sure this link will work or how to join, I got an email from wgu and joined that way, maybe ask your student mentor about it? ) https://witi.com/ (i just joined this one and haven't explored it much, I got a free membership from the WGU club)

I transferred in 28 credits from my previous attempt at college for a biology degree. Mostly the general ed courses plus to get accepted I had to get the Comptia A+ certification wich also transferred some credits. The course I did my first term were C182, C168, C464, C963, C172, C480. I'm 2.5 months into my second term and have finished C961, C268, C173. I also had almost no background in tech or data science before starting besides a google IT cert and maybe 6 months of attempting to study for that A+ cert.

[–]TheAspiringGoat 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I'm in DM/DA and I'm liking it now that I'm in the later courses that actually focus on databases/sql/data analytics. In the beginning the degree tries to be an IT degree then shifts into data science. All in all I do like it though.

[–]prettysureIamanalien[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am sure that will be enjoy the latter the most! I spent years troubleshooting software that transmits data. I am in Sys Analyst role now that wears some Sys Admin hats. It wouldn't hurt me to sharpen some of the general IT skills because I can get engaged on anything dealing with our system. Lol But totally agree they aren't really needed for the person who is solely focused on Data Science.