Western Governors University
Western Governors University (WGU) is a private, non-profit university based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
University offices also operate in Phoenix, Arizona, and Indiana, but all academic operations are done online. Its operation is carried out by 1,200 staff and faculty members located in different parts of the US. It was founded by 19 governors led by Roy Romer, Michael O. Leavitt, and Jim Geringer in 1997 in their capacity as governors of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, respectively.
Western Governors University accepts students living in the US and select areas of Canada although U.S. active-duty military personnel and their families stationed at overseas installations and individuals living in Guam and Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands are likewise accepted.
It is a competency-based university which allows students to earn their degrees quicker by demonstrating through assessments that they have acquired the needed competency or knowledge, skills or ability.
Courses are assessed using examination results and coursework
Open-book exams are not allowed and students take their examinations at proctored sites or through online-monitored format.
The Western Governors University Online Teachers College offers licensure degree programs in Interdisciplinary Studies, Early Childhood Education, Mathematics, Science, Science/Chemistry, Science/Physics, Science/Biological Sciences, Science/Geosciences, and Special Education.
It also offers Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Programs in K-8, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. Online Master’s Degree Programs are offered in Education with Teacher Licensure in K-8, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science; Curriculum and Instruction; Special Education; Educational Leadership; English Language Learning/English as a Second Language; Mathematics Education; Science Education in 5 -9, Chemistry, Physics, Biological Science, and Geosciences; Instructional Design; Learning and Technology, as well as Endorsement Preparation Programs in ELL/ESL and Educational Leadership.
The Online College of Business offers
Programs in Business Management, Human Resource Management, Information Technology Management, Sales and Sales Management, Marketing Management, Accounting, and Healthcare Management.
Online programs offered by the College of Information Technology include Network Administration, Network Design and Management, Database Security, Software, Health Informatics, Information Security and Assurance and Information Technology Management.
The College of Health Professions offers programs in Nursing, Education, Leadership and Management, Health Informatics, and Healthcare Management.
Western Governors University is accredited by the Northeast Commission on Colleges and Universities and the Distance Education and Training Council.
Financial aid is provided through federal student aid in the form of grants, loans, and work-study.
Military students can use military educational benefits as provided by the Montgomery G.I. Bill and the Yellow-Ribbon Program.
The online format is especially convenient for continuing education goals of active-duty military personnel and veterans.
Total student population is estimated at 17,875. Male/female ratio is 41% to 59%.
Western Governors University is not a member of any athletic intercollegiate conference.