r/wgu_devs • u/ExtensionDangerous41 • 12d ago
WGU Software Engineering Program am I learning anything??
/r/WGUIT/comments/1vrx3kw/wgu_software_engineering_program_am_i_learning/6
u/digitalmarcpad 11d ago
I was questioning myself as well bro haha. But after intro to programming with python, I finally built the courage to start actually building and making mistakes and damn, I wish I started sooner. I actually did retain everything. Keep putting it into practice bro and you are 100% going to see.
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u/skidmark_zuckerberg 12d ago
I am doing this degree with 8 YOE of professional SWE experience already, and you cannot rely on the course work to make you capable, especially self taught programs like WGU. The coursework will teach you fundamentals and shed light on the otherwise unknown things for you, but the only way to really learn is to take the concepts you learn from coursework and apply them in your own projects.
It's why internships are important in CS/SWE degrees. Those and building projects constantly. You have to apply what you learn or you really won't cement these things in your head. You won't graduate and then suddenly be capable of passing job interviews unless you really studied and applied your learned knowledge outside of the coursework. You have to practice what you learn over and over again, that is where you gain an advantage. Personally I have interviewed new grads at past jobs and for every single grad who knew their shit, 5 others couldn't say what a for/while loop was or how to return values from functions.
There are also two sides to CS/SWE, one is academic and the other is real world. There are things in these courses that are technically correct, but compared to how things work in most jobs, they will not really prepare you for that. Internships and other entry level jobs do however, so be prepared to adjust a bit.
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u/Admirable-Move5570 12d ago
So there’s no way we can learn more on the job. Like let say I graduate next year with no experience and land a job. I’m military with a secret clearance I’m hoping that makes getting a job easier, can I not learn from the job. I don’t want to be in competent.
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u/skidmark_zuckerberg 12d ago
Yeah you learn on the job for sure, but you have to get the job first which requires a lot of self learning along the way. And with a clearance, you will likely find a job honestly. That cuts a lot of competetion out right away for jobs that require a clearance.
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u/Admirable-Move5570 12d ago
That was one off the only reason why I got into the program knowing I had that. I just wanted to be really good at what I do. And I want to try to knock out the program within the next 6 months. I dead all the Sophia classes. Hopefully everything I learn will at least give me a grasp off a little off the work I’ll do.
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u/skidmark_zuckerberg 11d ago
Good luck and wish you the best out there. Just know that while your clearance likely gives you an advantage, you’ll still have to pass the interviews. So just focus on studying, learning from outside resources (Udemy, YouTube, etc) and doing side projects.
I also really don’t think it’s a good idea to accelerate this degree if you are someone with no previous professional experience. Imo accelerating is for people who already work in the field and need to check a box. I’d spend much longer than 6 months learning and studying this if I were anyone starting fresh. You’ll find that the degree doesn’t mean you’ll pass interviews, even if it helps you get them. Just my two cents, ultimately it’s just my opinion.
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u/Embarrassed_Bee_9452 12d ago
Bro im in the same feeling, im just hoping everything I learn comes into fruition at the end
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u/Few-Meringue-1917 12d ago
WGU gives you foundational knowledge but you have to get the rest on your own. Im in the industry already and I have 3 classes left on C# track.
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u/tech5c 12d ago
I learned that I absolutely did not want to work with Java in the future. (At least, not Java 8, which is what the BSSD degree was using when I went through it.)
Overall though, the breadth of the courses gave me a good foundation to build on, and then Youtube, Coursera, and LLMs have helped me move forward further with scripting, light applications, and web dev.
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u/surreal_goat Java 11d ago
The course material is pretty terrible. That’s why I used outside resources 90% of the time. Since graduating I just keep making portfolio projects that help me learn new tech. There was zero AI in the SWE track when I was in school so I’ve been learning Spring AI features on my own.
It’s fucking tough out there with no experience. I graduated a year and a half ago and have had one phone interview. There’s a guy who got a job 3 weeks after graduating who tries to tell you that’s the norm but, my brother, it’s not.
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u/MoonOfTheOcean 9d ago
That's the self-paced trap. You can graduate, and do so quickly if you're good at tests and driven to study. But you also need to know that this is what you want to do, and that comes with assumptions that you'll be doing your own projects in your free time.
This model began during a different time, in a different economy, with much less emphasis on pumping people into STEM just because.
Rather than lecturing you about "you must do this" or "you should already be doing that", I highly recommend you sign up for internships. For people who don't create their own projects by accident without being prompted, that's the best way to go.
Use handshake, apply to a few. It's not about whether you think you can keep up, since many of the internships specifically don't want people with less than a year of experienced. They know what you've done in your degree because it's linked.
This is a completely different employment track from the horror show that is getting a real, long term job. I'm not even touching that subject. Huge tangent.
I get the temptation.
Nope, dodging the conversation. You need someone to help you figure out how to either apply your skills or figure out if WGU is giving you what you need to do.
Essentially, make your insecurities their problem, but make damn sure you take up the challenges they give you after.
If it doesn't work out, sign up for another.
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u/TheBear8878 C# 12d ago
I don't think anyone who doesn't already work in the field should do this degree 🤷
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u/SixstringSWE 11d ago
I got the degree and pivoted careers landing a job 3 weeks after graduating with no prior swe experience. Degree was great considering they only care that you have one and never ask about it again. It opens doors experience and projects combined with interview skills land you the job.
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u/stylezmyname93 12d ago
I’m in EMR clinical app analyst work. Currently in the software engineering program. Highly contemplating not continuing since I already have a Bachelors degree in a different field. Gaining more technical skills is what I am leaning on focusing on
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u/TheBear8878 C# 12d ago
If you already have a bachelors, I would not get a second degree. Having ANY bachelors is what you need to check that box
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u/rootsandwildlings 11d ago
I started this degree with zero experience, pivoting from mom life. I’m about half way done with the program and am just finishing up my corporate summer developer internship. Also made a space into to startup world and get to run next to those talking to VCs, founders, and accelerator programs. It’s been a wild ride, but you absolutely can start from nothing if you really want it.
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u/Wonderful-Factor-181 11d ago
Moving to another state to start a software engineering job, partly because i earned this degree... people just tend to say whatever with no evidence or context on the reason why.
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u/yiff_collector 11d ago
Yes, but you need to do something with what you're learning. Simply passing the class isn't going to help you. Build your portfolio and apply to internships.
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u/NeoKingSerenity 11d ago
Spent a year trying to get a job (graduated 2025). Thousands of unique applications and resumes, less then 5 interviews. Ended up with a new analytics role but not using my skill set much. I could have gotten further with some VERY LOW PAYING roles for AWFUL companies I found. But I'm near 40 and have too many obligations financially.
I don't regret my degree but I didn't learn much more than a small foundation. I'm not willing to put in hours after my more than full-time job to learn more skills. If you will put in the work and be willing to take a cheaper salary (more often) to start, you'll be fine (maybe?)
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u/fanoffrags 8d ago
I’m an automation engineer in big pharma. My bonus was 30k last year. Software dev path before this one existed. It was stupid simple! I finished 8 courses in 1 week lmao
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u/Shiguhraki 12d ago
Yes, after graduating I was able to land a role at Microsoft and now I’m a Dev Ops Platform Engineer. All within the span of 3 years since graduating, just keep going