Walden University Online

Walden University Online Highlights

• Established in 1970
• Ranked by a major U.S. publication as having the largest enrollment for any online graduate program in education
• Over 25,000 students from 50 states and over 65 countries
• Accredited since 1990 by the Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, one of the regional accreditation agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education

About Walden University Online

From its founding in 1970 Walden University has focused on offering advanced degrees for working professionals through distance learning. Walden is now an accredited online university that provides bachelor's, master's, and doctorate programs in business, child development, education, engineering, information technology, psychology, management, public policy and administration, nursing, and health and human services.

Walden University is part of the Laureate International Universities Network, which operates more than 35 accredited online and campus-based universities throughout the world, serving more than 400,000 students on more than 100 campuses.

Walden University Online Academic Programs

Walden University academic programs apply what the university calls a “Scholar-Practitioner Model.” The model is designed to blend scholarly research with the knowledge that students have gained as practitioners in their fields.

The University's degree programs are organized by colleges and schools. These include:

• Center for Undergraduate Studies – Provides core general education courses that form a foundation for Walden bachelor's degrees and offers a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, which gives students the option to combine disciplines.
• The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership – Delivers a focus on helping educators build new leadership skills in their fields. This College has over 37,000 students and alumni. Programs include master's and doctorates in education, bachelor's in child development, and preparation and graduate programs for teachers. Available specializations across these programs cover adult education, community colleges, early childhood, educational technology, K-12 educational leadership, higher education, mathematics, science, reading, special education, and more.
• College of Management and Technology – This college's School of Management offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that emphasize practical expertise and skills. Programs include decision sciences, business administration, information systems, and computer systems. The college's NTU School of Engineering and Applied Science was founded in 1984 with sponsorship from Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Lockheed Martin, and Motorola. The curriculum emphasizes current research and industry-specific studies, draws upon scholars from universities such as MIT and Purdue, and uses multimedia technology to enhance classroom experiences. Programs offered include those for software engineering, systems engineering, project management, engineering management, and product management.
• College of Health Sciences – Walden's College of Health Sciences is well established – Walden has been ranked by a major U.S. publication as having the biggest online, graduate-level public health program enrollment. The college's School of Health Sciences has master and doctorate programs for those targeting careers in health services, public health, healthcare administration, and clinical research administration. The college's School of Nursing has been ranked as having the second largest online graduate nursing programs by enrollment. This school enables students to earn their Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredited degree online without needing to visit a campus. Programs are available to all registered nurses and include those for education, leadership and management, and nursing informatics.
• College of Social and Behavioral Sciences – This college has several graduate schools. Its School of Counseling and Social Service offers programs in human services and mental health counseling. The School of Psychology offers bachelor's, master's, and doctorate psychology degrees with many specializations available, including those related to professions, workplace, crisis management, media, organizational psychology, culture, public administration, social change, terrorism and security, clinical psychology, and counseling. The school also offers certificate programs for advanced training. The college's School of Public Policy and Administration was the first fully online school of its type in the U.S. Graduate programs offered include public policy, public administration, and nonprofit management. Specializations include criminal justice, health services, homeland security, public safety, knowledge management, health policy, interdisciplinary studies, law, local government, policy analysis, and more. The school has also introduced certificate programs for government and non-profit management.

Learning Options at Walden University Online

Walden University is an online institution – courses are presented entirely over the Internet. Programs which require onsite residencies, such as for doctoral and some master's, can be arranged at times throughout the year and locations across the United States that are convenient for students.

Walden's online classrooms are structured for asynchronous interactions, which means that students have the flexibility of participating and completing assignments at any time with assigned periods. The University designs its online classroom environment to encourage active discussions and supportive relationships between students and with faculty. The faculty aims to respond to student inquiries with 24 hours. Walden reports that its students typically spend 15 to 20 hours per week on each of their courses.

Each week instructors post the online syllabus that lists discussion subjects, readings, and assignments. Instructors also post their contact information and availability, online resources, and required books. The online environment features ongoing discussions with classmates and faculty for which all students are required to participate. A chat capability enables real time communication between fellow students. Quizzes, tests, exams, and gradebooks are online as well.

Walden's year-round start dates for its programs gives student's further convenience in when they get started. Online courses are scheduled in both 16 week semesters (with some having consecutive 8 week courses) and 12 week quarters (with some having consecutive 6 week courses). Courses start and end on specific dates with typically one week off between semesters or quarters.

Faculty

Walden University's faculty members are composed of scholars, researchers, and professionals that come from a wide range of geographies, experiences, and cultures. Members include those that are deans and tenured faculty at other institutions and business executives, educators, clinical professionals, and military leaders. Most faculty hold Doctor of Philosophy degrees or the highest available degree in their field of study. Many faculty members are involved in community service – examples include advocacy for those with disabilities or creating counseling programs for children impacted by natural disasters such as hurricanes or tsunamis.

Student Life

Walden's community of online students is diverse – it encompasses all 50 states and over 65 countries as well many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Each student has a broad array of available services that are available from their very first contact with Walden until graduation. These include:

• Admissions and Enrollment
• Orientation
• Undergraduate tutoring
• Academic Advising
• Research Library
• Textbook Service
• Writing Center
• Technical Support

Students and graduates also have a large network of over 30,000 alumni to draw upon as a resource. Alumni are offered benefits for returning to Walden to continue their education further. There is an alumni online community to facilitate networking.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Minimum requirements for admission depend on the program. All candidates for admission must submit a goal statement that is assessed by Walden. Graduate students have minimum grade point average requirements but do not need standardized tests. Many programs need at least two to three years of professional working experience.

Walden admits students throughout the world with over 65 countries represented. The school is currently offering rapid responses for the following countries: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan.

Students at Walden can receive a wide range of financial assistance, including federal subsidized and unsubsidized loans, payment plans, and graduate fellowships. Merit and need based scholarships are also available. Other funding options include tuition reduction, private loans, and veteran benefits.