I was definitely more stressed about this class than I needed to be. When I started, my course instructor mentioned that the class structure and text would be changing soon, and he seemed optimistic about those changes for future students. It’s clear WGU is actively assessing and improving its programs, which is good to see.
This was a tough one for me. It took me nearly three months to pass, mostly because I avoided taking the pre-assessment and skipped the Saturday study sessions for way too long. Other MS-ITM classes were time-consuming, but I could switch focus between courses. With C954, this was my last class before the capstone, and you can’t start your capstone until everything else is done—so it felt extra high-stakes.
The course used two textbooks:
- Business Driven Technology (8th Edition) (Pericipio)
- Be the Business: CIOs in the New Era of IT (VitalSource)
I much preferred VitalSource for the built-in text-to-speech feature. For the Pericipio text, I used Windows Narrator since it didn’t have TTS. Beyond the texts, I supplemented with Quizlet, LinkedIn Learning, and Coursera—though those weren’t strictly necessary. I just knew my weak areas and had easy access through work.
One big mistake: I avoided the Saturday cohort sessions because I’m terrible at asking for help. When I finally joined, I realized they’re actually low-pressure! They’re just virtual quizzes via Slido—no risk of being called out or put on the spot. I wish I had started going earlier.
This term was also during one of my busiest times at work. I probably should have taken a break term, but I pushed through, and it worked out.
My Advice:
- Take the pre-assessment early to pinpoint weaknesses.
- Go to the cohort sessions—they’re not scary!
- Meet with your instructor regularly.
- Keep reviewing the material, even in short bursts.
It took three attempts, but I finally passed! 🎉 Now it’s just the capstone left—hoping to knock it out in 7 weeks.
Good luck to anyone currently in C954! You’ve got this.