Walden University

Walden University has been a great experience for me.  I am in the process of completing my proposal and am looking forward to graduating in 2012.  The on-line experience is challenging and requires that you be a disciplined, self-starter, and possess a burning desire to pursue your educational goal no matter what obstacle comes before you.   My advice would be to treat any excuse that you or others give you as an obstacle -- and hurdle it! 

Go Walden

Sooner or later everyone will realize that Walden is the ivy league school of online schools.  :)

Its the Yale Bouchet conference that is held every spring at Yale.

I presented at Yale and I am a Walden student.  I've known of 3 others as well.

I'm a Walden student and I've presented at Yale.  I've known 3 other Walden Alum that have presented at Yale too.

As I approached my last quarters for the Certificate in Clinical Child Psych, I experienced computer difficulties with one of the nonrequired classes and performed poorly. I had already been approved for the practica (final requirement) and actually completed it with a 'successful' grade of passing. Then, I attempted to retake the class that I was 'unsuccesful' in, accepted the financial aid on-line, only to be told after drop/add had passed and the disbursement date had passed, that I was not going to receive the aid. Then, to make matters worse, the aid I was to receive, stayed on their web site for another month! They finally 'deleted' it from their website a few weeks prior to the end of the quarter. Needless to say, I am considering all legal options against Walden University, including purchasing time on a billboard in Baltimore to warn others.

Just a little note, Walden is still trying to get me to pay this ever since drop/add ended, yet, they can take the loan that I accepted up to 180 days after the quarter! STUDENTS BE WARNED!

As I approached my last quarters for the Certificate in Clinical Child Psych, I experienced computer difficulties with one of the nonrequired classes and performed poorly. I had already been approved for the practica (final requirement) and actually completed it with a 'successful' grade of passing. Then, I attempted to retake the class that I was 'unsuccesful' in, accepted the financial aid on-line, only to be told after drop/add had passed and the disbursement date had passed, that I was not going to receive the aid. Then, to make matters worse, the aid I was to receive, stayed on their web site for another month! They finally 'deleted' it from their website a few weeks prior to the end of the quarter. Needless to say, I am considering all legal options against Walden University, including purchasing time on a billboard in Baltimore to warn others.

Just a little note, Walden is still trying to get me to pay this ever since drop/add ended, yet, they can take the loan that I accepted up to 180 days after the quarter! BE WARNED!

I also attend Walden.  Started the journey in 2009 spring and am getting ready to begin my proposal.  I have really enjoyed my time at Walden.  If the staff in the school of Management to be just terrific.  On-line schooling isn't for most people.  It requires that you go far beyond what is being ask of you.  I have had some very difficult course especially the reserach classes, but I still (with a great deal of effort on my part) was successful. 

You really have to want it. Walden's KAM program (Im in a mix model some classes and 3 KAMs) has prepared me for my dissertation.  I speak to others in PhD programs and they are given nothing like this to assist them in getting use to writing a lot.  

I have had a difficult instructor but figured out how to deal with it.  In Walden as in life, you will find folks that challenge you.  I have a mentor and he is just outstanding.  I speak to him maybe 2 or 3 times a month and more often now that I have started my dissertation. 

The residencies have been just wonderful.  I have met so many truly intelligent and creative people.  I for one am so glad I chose Walden.  I should be graduating in 2012.  

If you want to have a sound knowledge and achieve your goal,just go to walden university to update your knowdlege. walden university is there for you to update your skill and knowledge from activty to productivity, you will be better in future and express yourself where ever you. walden is my mentor,and I will continue be the ambasador of this great university for ever.

Hi,
I was looking for a good Psychology school and I read so many recommandations for your school.
I would like to enquire about the possibility of studying a Master in Psychology. I have a bachelor degree in finance but I like Psychology and I'm considering a career change.
Where should I start? and What degree should I get?

Thank you very much for your help.

"Will Never Go To Walden", Do you know what the best thing has been, the "online schooling".  There are rules, formalities but you don't have to find that teachers aren't up to snuff.  Online allows for freedom to communicate effectively, and to find a medium to learning.  This is what I find at Walden University.  Maybe things are not right for your daughter but you and your daughter can help to see correctness if you are right.

Congratulations Robbin, You bring tears of joy.  It is inconceivable that you would not be appreciated for the spirit to succeed!  Congratulations sister!

Hi Robin, It's not so much the Ivy League as it is the educational pursuit.  I wanted a college that emphasized a strong ethics.  I wanted courses that challenged my thoughts.  I like the word empirical thinking and if I stay poor my motive for college here, is that I live and can meet people who think outside the box!

You caught my attention Roger.  The greatest thing is learning how to digest old disciplines with an emphasis on a new sound approach.  I am just learning about our world from a small box.  I have been learning how to write better.  I am learning that quoting something from another is harder still, especially when you don't write it down.  How did you manage this.  I dealt in administration in a block style context, short words, spelled out for acronyms, but for another.  One thing I forget, is the changes to the formulation of setting up different talking papers and essays, outside of class and keeping correction.  The manual is overwhelming until I got to the PocketGuide APA (2009.  Is there a better more efficient way without having to go through the writing center for everything and wait as time passes on other issues? 

Hi Walden,

My question is, "DO you Have Mentors that Can help with APA memory"  and is Pocket Guide 2009 still up-to-date?

It was announced today that the 42nd President of the United States, William "Bill" Clinton, will be the commencement speaker at Walden University's summer commencement in July. 

Waiting for responses. 

If you are truly an ex Walden faculty I would be shocked. Professionals going on a rampage against a former employer is like a child getting mad at mommy or daddy for taking away something. That is why your review is very much questionable.

1st your review is not credible because Walden does not give out letter D grades. They are either A B C, Fail or Satisfactory.  There is no Ds in graduate school.

2nd If your daughter let's words from a Professor get under her skin then she needs to learn to toughen up. In the real world career competition is more than just berating. It is cut throat competition. 

Sorry all the things mentioned in your review do not equal what the policy Walden has.

LindzBindz, agreed. Walden has the proper academic rigor and generally good reputation as well to help students pursue careers. Many states too allow Walden students to sit for licensure in psychology, though, of course not all. The CACREP accredited M.S. in Mental Health program is allowed in all states in the US to qualify one to sit for the exam.NY was one of the states holding out on that but now one can attend a program outside of NY even the online one at Walden and provided one has completed the internship hours after practicum they can take the exam as well.

I agree. I am currently attending Walden and due to good grades and a letter of recommendation from a WU professor I am going to an NSF funded R.E.U. for two months this summer. The travel is covered by the research stipend, the dorming is free and the pay per week is good. I will be working with a PhD on the biological basis of behavior.Obviously I put the work in to get the grades and contact the professor/lab I wanted to work in but the information and necessary recommendation came from Walden University! If they were not respected as an institution and the professors were sub-par, then a traditional university would not take me seriously or the professor recommending me. 

I earned my PhD from The College of Management and Technology at Walden University in 2009. I do not regret my decision. I am a professor at a 118 year old traditional university. 

Simply put...Most of the people who are posting negatively on this blog either struggled, dropped out of Walden, or never attended the institution. 

Walden is not for everyone. College isn't for everyone. You either have what it takes or you don't. If you're looking for coddling, Walden definitely is not the place. On the other hand, if you're serious about learning and want to be successful, I will recommend Walden without reservation.

The worst school ever! Nothing but lies! Please do not go to this school!

i need help. After completing Bachelor level from Walden University(distance learning), can i get admitted into any bangladeshi regular University for doing Masters level? Help me Please! Be kind of me. Thank's to all

I began my studies at Walden University iin 2007. All my experiences with Walden have been above average. My first contact was with a Walden advisor who was very good at understanding my needs and goals and steered me in the right direction. Once accepted, I was given a mentor . I am currently working on a PhD in K-12 Leadership. I could not have asked for a better mentor. He responds to me within 24 hours when I need something. Every course I had has been exciting and challenging. Many other reviewers have felt the courses were not challenging. I believe you get out of it what you put into it. The professors for every course I have had was always available and very helpful. I work extremely hard at my courses. I am currently 3 courses away from starting my dissertation proposal and I am looking forward to it. Walden told me the average time to finish a PhD is 5.3 years. So far I am at it for 3 years. I may even finish sooner than expected. I think Walden University offers a lot for students. I enjoy going to the residencies. I learned a great deal from them. I think there is one drawback; finances. Going to school is extremely expensive. I am in debt of $65,000 as of now and is still climbing. I feel the money and time is worth it because in the end, I will be able to fulfill occupational goals I otherwise could only dream of.

I am currently completing my bachelor's and entering the master's program at Walden. Eligibility to take the mental health counselor licencing exam in my state is based on CACREP accreditation. Walden is the only university I could attend online that currently holds a CACREP accreditation. A traditional brick and mortar university does not offer the flexibility I need to earn a degree. My degree from Walden will offer me the opportunity to take my state exam. Passing the state exam is up to me. I have read a lot of reviews blaming Walden for personal failures to advance professionally. 

I admit that Walden's academic advisement team is not much help when you can contact them. I am paying for the convenience of working around my schedule so it would be nice to get answers without a 10 day waiting period for an ambiguous answer. However, the curriculum is challenging and the level of instruction is respectable in most courses. I know they take their survey results and suggestion seriously, because I have seen changes based on my feedback. Walden offers a quality education, it is up to me to apply it! I can not imagine hearing lectures in a room full of 200 other students being a more effective method of presenting material.

William,

I am in the PhD program for Public Policy and Administration.  I have my Masters in Public Administration from a nationally recognized school in public policy, a brick and mortar school. The Walden program focus is on social change, writing effectively, and APA - the goal is for you to become a scholar-practitioner.  It takes a ton of your personal time, on average about 10-20 hours a course per week, especially in the beginning.  As you move through the curriculum things get easier because you understand what is being asked of you, your research skills greatly improve, as do your abilities to defend and argue policy.  Do the work, do it on time, give it time and energy and you will do fine.  Walden doesn't accept students younger than 24, and on the PhD level you will immediately find professionals already in their careers.  Be prepared to dedicate a few years for this process.  I am in my last two classes, and I start my dissertation next quarter.

Has anyone gone through the DBA programme at Walden? If yes, how long did it take to complete, how much did it cost, did you feel that the faculty stalling to generate more revenue?

What makes one thing that attending a IVY university is all of that. I know plenty of people that attended these universities and they still cannot find a job.  Again this goes to show it is not where you earned your degree it is how you use it. 

Look at some of these entertainers, a quite of few of them graduated from IVY Universities, with a degree in some field they never will use.

There is no way I am going to pay the money that these schools are asking for and then do not use the degree.  Many of these entertainers do not need a degree to do what they are doing.

I received my MBA from Walden University August 2009 I was just offered a much better job making more then I am currently making now.. 

At my present job I find myself constantly having to prove my ability to perform a task, and not getting any compensation for it, only criticism, so I decided that it was time for me to move on. My goal was to stay on with my present employer and move up, but when there are people, that are envious of your accomplishments, they will do all they could to place stumbling blocks in your path.

Like the previous comment posted, it is not where you receive your degree from but how you use it.  I really enjoyed taking classes with Walden, the whole staff and my classmates were very supportive and encouraging to me.

There were times I wanted to give up because of issues that I was dealing with at home.  But with the help of everyone involved I was able to complete my education.

I just want to say thank you to the Walden staff for your help and support.

William, are you kidding or just nuts? Ask your professors in Georgetown whether they would recommend Walden and follow their advice. I am not sure most of them know what Walden is.

Walden; or Life in the Woods. Sounds familiar?

Has anyone had any experience with the PhD in Management or the Phd in Public Policy and Administration?  I want to earn a degree and publish along the way so I can obtain a tenure position at a University.  I like Walden because I can work full time and still earn a terminal degree which will allow me to teach.  Right now I have 4 years of work experience.  What are my chances of getting into Walden (my MA degree is from Georgetown) and how hard is it to publish with faculty here?

Can anyone in the Master's in Psychology program tell me about how many hours a week you are studying, etc.?  Is it really possible to do this and work fulltime?

@Point, now you are making up facts.  Walden doesn't state it has 300K+ graduates, it has 36,000.  Stop making up information.

Walden University is a quality University. I see no evidence to support otherwise. Currenlty I am enrolled in two graduate courses from two different psychology degree programs. These courses are: Abnormal Behavior (FPSY-5720) and Cognitive Psychology (PSYC-5235). I would put the educational rigor of these two classes against any B&M or alternate online program.

@Point?

It wasn't a student, it was a faculty member who hasn't even published that paper.  Of which was presented to the morons running Iran's National Bank.

How is the masters in public administration? I would like to hear from current and/or former students of the program. Thanks.

Why on earth did someone just write random things about a graduate at Walden doing something?  This is not a testimonial of the school.  It is a great accomplishment for the student, but when you graduate 300K+ students, a few are bound to stick.

Dr. Reza Hamzaee, a faculty member in the School of Management, presented his paper, “An Economic-Financial Approach to Ethical Sentiments and the World Financial Crisis” at the 20th annual Oxford Round Table, hosted by Oxford University March 21–26, 2010. His paper was awarded an Oxford Round Table certificate and is being considered for publication. In July 2010, Dr. Hamzaee presented two days of banking seminars on risk management and banking investment management to top management personnel and senior financial managers at Bank'e Mellat, the Nation’s Bank of Iran.

HA HA, just add the ww w to the link.

forbes.com/2010/08/01/higher-education-student-debt-opinions-best-colleges-10-harkin.html

"I was wondering why Walden has so many more credit requirements than the University of Phoenix Buisness Mngmt. BS."

Because Laureate wants more of your money.

My daughter attends Walden but she almost quite her second semester in the Psychology Master’s program. She had a teacher for History and Systems that was just awful! She would berate students in from of everyone in the class. She told one student to go back to school to learn to read and write. What a bitch. My daughter put in a complaint with the head of the Psychology dept and asked her please not to mention her name to this teacher.
Guess what, she told the teacher her name and what class was in. This teacher then went after my daughter and made the semester miserable for her. She thought of quitting but would not let that teacher get the best of her. So, she worked her butt off. She did not fail the class but she did get a D. She has stuck it out with Walden and is now in their PhD program. She has had some really good teachers and she had to take the class she got the D in again and passed with an A. I asked her if she would recommend Walden and she said no. I still cannot believe the head of the dept betraying her like that. In this case it was all about the crap teacher and not about the student. Attend Walden at your own risk and good luck to ya.

I was wondering why Walden has so many more credit requirements than the University of Phoenix Buisness Mngmt. BS.

....the fact that you can't make a "good" sentence is enough reason that you need to enroll at the traditional university. Walden likes students who can write. You probably would have ended up being dismissed from your program anyway.

My Walden experience was a waste of time and money. If you want to attend Walden go fot it but I never will again. I've enrolled in a traditional University and I'm much happier that I ever was at Walden.

'68.5% of its students published in peer review journals
95.1% of its students presented at a conference
46.8% of its students have written books'

Biggest bunch of BS I have ever heard.  For the three years I taught at Walden I only had a handful of students published, much less writing books.

Walden is a fine school. I make fine money with my education from there. I could care less what others think - it is accredited so - if you hate my degree, so be it. Others will hire me and my ego does not require an Ivy League school approval. OH and Survival of the Fittest is BOTH Darwin and Spencer, so the joke is on Renee.

I am considering entering the MSN ( master of science in nursing) program in the fall.  Any comments?  I have a BSN from a traditional state university but need an online program at this time to complete my education.  
paws

@Tara LMAO. Anyway is the Masters of Public Administration good? If so please explain, I'm looking to start my masters this fall. Right now I hold a Bachelors of Legal Studies from Hodges University and I am a Paralegal. In my position I don't really need a masters but, I wan't to gain a government paralegal position. So I figure this will help me out and also compliment the legal matters that I already know. I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

You're a woman... it's part of your job. And if you do not know how to do those things, including serve a man.... then your parents have failed you.

Will Walden show me how to tie my shoes and bake chicken?

Harvard is just a school like any other. Walden is a school too like any other. It is what you do with what you learn. John Kaplan the president of Walden received his PHD from Harvard. The Harvard based methods in mathematics, however, are not very good. I am glad to say I am still attending Walden.

Goodness, stop bickering, people! This is ridiculous! I came here to read individual opinions - not to listen to tedious arguments and immature "I'm smarter" matches. Come on, say what you have to say, and let others judge for themselves. Enough with the back and forth, for God's sake.

I read today where President Bill Clinton accepted a role as Honorary Chancellor of Laureate Education, the world's largest university network. Laureate has an international student body of over 600,000 students with 40,500 of them belonging to Walden. Walden's College of Education is also affiliated with one of the most well respected and highly regarded secretaries of education in the USA, the Honorable Richard Riley. Walden is dedicated to creating and  sustaining a “culture of evidence” in which data on achievement on student learning and the experiences which support student learning are continuously collected, analyzed, and shared for the purpose of continuous program improvement.  Most universities don't do this. 

So what, Walden doesn't have a football team. Walden’s total student population is more than 77 percent female, and women represent more than 65 percent of students in undergraduate programs. Walden graduate students are 62 percent white and 30 percent black, while undergraduates are 42 percent white, 28 percent Hispanic/Latino and 27 percent black. Walden students are most heavily represented by the 30–39 age demographic, but there is significant representation among 24–29-year olds, 40–49-year olds and 60-plus-year olds. 

More than 85 percent of Walden students are satisfied or highly satisfied with Walden. More than four out of five students (83 percent) are satisfied with all or most of the faculty they’ve interacted with at Walden. More than half report that the quality of instruction at Walden is far above or above their expectations, and 85 percent of Walden students are likely or highly likely to recommend Walden to others. Walden alumni also reported high satisfaction rates: 95 percent reported being highly or very satisfied with their alma mater.

Here are more numbers:
68.5% of its students published in peer review journals
95.1% of its students presented at a conference
46.8% of its students have written books

I have not seen this kinda data from any other university. All of this comes from the available institutional data.

Renee, Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection is commonly referred to as "survival of the fittest". It was used to justify aggressive business practices during American Industrialization and racism during slavery. 

My children were taught that in both high school and college. They attended excellent schools. My daughter in in graduate school at  Washington University and that was the first thing out of her mouth when I asked her (she is in clinical psychology) 

I just pulled my daughter's psychology book and Herbert Spencer isn't mentioned at all. Perhaps this "blunder" may be a direct reflection of a failed education system? However, I do not think it's anything to laugh at or reason to drop a degree program.

What killed Walden for me? In a psychology class, one of the students referred to Charles Darwin's theory of "Survival of the Fitness." All I could do is laugh my butt off. Herbert Spencer, not Charles Darwin, coined the phrase "Survival of the Fittest." What is worse, the professor didn't correct him.

Hello Dr. G... you sound like one of the regular enrolment counsellors who frequent this site.  Dead give away is calling dissenter's "Walden Drop-outs."

That is a complete lie, JW. 

I know two women in the clinical psych program who just finished their practicum hours and internship; and can sit for the license exam to be licensed in Minnesota. They have been in these programs for at least 5 years and are active with APA as well as Psi Chi. 

Walden's program does not guarantee licensure... no program can... but if/when these ladies pass the exam, they will be able to practice in the state of Minnesota.

Check the facts please.

A woman I work with started a Ph.D. program in psychology at Walden. She was convinced that she would have no problem being licensed to practice here. Thinking that I might like to increase my salary with a Ph.D., I contacted the state licensing agency and asked about licensing Walden graduates. They informed me that since the state of Minnesota where Walden is technically located would not license it's graduates in the program that they would not accept her degree as valid in this state either. Perhaps this could help others  with questions about whether Walden is right for them. Apparently, it depends on what state you would like to be licensed.

All I'm saying is that after attending both schools, SUNY is with out a doubt the better school. I'm learning more and I don't get the feeling that the only reason the school is taking an interest in me is to get to my tuition dollars. If someone wants to attend Walden, go ahead I don't care. However, after reading some of the posts on this site one would get the feeling that Walden is right there with Harvard. People need to know that for the amount the school is charging in tuition and the quality of education that they are providing, there are better options and SUNY Albany is definately one of them.

I got my Master's from an accredited state institution in a program that wasn't accredited.  That same program at Walden is accredited and it isn't an easy accreditation to get (CACREP).  That right there shows me that Walden is doing what it takes to be a reputable institution.

You act like academics can't get a faculty appointment elsewhere. Professors change universities all the time; depending on the offers they receive.

You don't know what the "Colorado System" is? poor soul

Gerald... apparently you're full of crap. You're a Walden Dropout. 

For those who know how to read and have common sense here is a link that addresses Walden University accountability...

waldenu.edu/About-Us/33555.htm

it was the Kelly Conference in Education

"G" in an earlier post you said that you were faculty at a Christain University and now its "The Colorado System" (Whatever the hell that is). Which is it? Or, are you just completely full of crap??

Really!!! Well that should be pretty easy to verify. What was the conference and when was your presentation??

That's funny.... I presented research at a peer reviewed conference at University at Albany representing Walden University just last year. Walden must not be that bad.

Took 3 masters level courses in the school of education. (Waste of money) Transferred to SUNY-Albany and I am much happier. Walden is definately not the best option. Do your homework before you make the same mistake I did.

Walden U has a channel on YouTube that provides real testimonies from real graduates. Check it out.

Walden Recognized....before I began my doctoral program at Walden I had the same fears. I googled Walden alumni or Walden doctorate etc and was able to connect with quite a few Walden Alumni about their experience and post grad opportunities. Walden also has an ambassador program that will put you in place with alumni. 

Lets start off by making one thing clear, a Walden doctorate will open doors for you. However, like most institutions, it won't guarantee you any tenured positions..etc. especially if you do not have a strong publication record..etc.

I teach for the Colorado system and am on tenure track. I have a colleague who has had her PhD since 2004 and is now tenured at a state university in Mississippi. 

Walden is not a second-class citizen... it actually has made a positive name for itself. Its graduates are doing great things in academe but have worked hard to get there. When I got hired into the Colorado system the thing that impressed them most was my publication record. They were not concerned where I had earned my master's degree or my doctorate. Most of my interview questions centered around my research. 

Also we need to keep in mind that tenure track is not the goal or ending point for every doctorate. There is so much more to being a doctor than that... look at administration, consulting, research, and/or simply teaching. 

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/ponder_27650.htm

I am wondering how respected a Walden PhD is?  I am curious as to what the name implies to other colleges?  Has anyone here graduated from a Walden PhD and teaching in tenure at a university?  I have been exploring options and understand Walden is not a traditional university and seen as a second class citizens by some, but I want to hear true stories and not just listed reputations of people who "think" these things.  Thus, I want people who have a Phd from Walden, teaching in tenure, to respond.

I got my BS at Kaplan University. It was the worst mistake I ever made. Their finance dept is the worst I have ever seen. But so was Marshall University in Huntington, WV. But at least at Marshall I was treated like a human being and not some idiot for asking a question. My professor and friend from another school recommended Walden. Then I checked with our Prison system and they highly rated Walden as the best online school they recognize. Matter of fact I can work for them and they will pay for my school loans only if I get my masters from Walden. A lot of other psychologists also recommended Walden. What school does not have a screwed up financial dept? And a lot of colleges have teachers that don't care. I ignore them and read and do more papers. I have talked to a lot of Walden grads and they highly recommended Walden. They do say that a lot of the teachers don't care, but what they  give you to study is top notch. I checked out U of Phoenix and almost signed up with them. Then red flags went up all over. Just before classes started I got a call that kaplan sent them blank transcripts. When I started withdrawing then they bent over backwards to say it was just a mistake and everything was fine. I quickly withdrew and upon the recommendation of my friends and professors, I went straight to Walden. I have also found out that the CJ system does recognize Walden in California, so the person that knocks Walden that it isn't recognize, I would like to know if they would contact Walden and let the school know. They need a heads up on any state not recognizing their degrees.

I am a student at Walden University and I must say that starting off, the school is fine with regard to the courses. You will get some instructors that are a little more harsh and not welcoming and that takes away from the learning experience but I think that most people can push through that and hope to not get the same instructor twice. My problem is with the administration. It is not easy getting help and they seem a bit disorganized. They pass you from one department to the next, over and over again and what it comes down to is that no body knows the answers and seems to be able to assist you as a student. Email support and phone support...you get the same results and I am considering transferring because of the continued lack of support and general professionalism from the administration (Registrar, Academic advising etc). The enrollment process if fairly smooth but after that it doesn't look all that great. It is more than frustrating and it shows you just how interested they are in your education which doesn't appear to be at all unfortunately. They need to improve this area quick and in a hurry or hire new people to do it correctly because they can lose a lot of students this way.

I work for the federal government. I attend Walden as of 2010. It's simple. The federal government acknowledges Walden as a fully accredited institution of higher learning. So they will pay for my education there, and promote me when I graduate. If it's good enough for a federal job, I feel that the only ones complaining are not really comparing ALL of the pros and cons. Let's be fair. Virtual education is here to stay. Yes, traditional universities offer on-line classes, as I have attended these too, but they are very limited and you cannot get all of the required classes "on-line", which is the point if you have a good full time job that you are not willing to give up to attend class; So for me another degree will get me promoted.  As long as there is a demand in todays market place for on-line degree programs, they will exist. I am glad they do. I find that my Walden classes are just as demanding as classes I have taken at a local university.  I think some (few) employers are still not thinking outside the box and it is hard for them to accept non-traditional education. That is too bad. I mean really, at least these people are trying to get educated! Isn't that the main goal that will benfit everyone and help the job market? So no matter how they do it, or how much it cost, they still get it done. That's what it's all about anyway.

where is your research published? Show support that these journals have that level of acceptances. 

If you can't... shut up.

I see no top journals here.  Most of the articles you posted have acceptance rates above 60% and some even 100%.  Well, I guess that is the Walden mentality though, since they have no admissions requirements, 100% of people get in.  How can you be proud to get in a school like that?!?!?!  I would be embarrassed!

Dr. David Metcalf, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the Questionmark 2010 Users Conference on March 14–17, 2010, in Miami.  

Dr. Stephen Morreale, a faculty member in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences co-authored “Homeland Security and the Police Mission” in the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (2009: Vol. 6, Issue 1).

Dr. Lucy Morse, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology, co-authored Managing Engineering and Technology (5th ed., Prentice Hall, 2010). 

Dr. Howard Moskowitz, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, co-authored “Tips to Winning Grants” in the American School Board Journal (May 2009). 

Dr. Irmak Renda-Tanali, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology, co-authored “Towards an Integrated Policy of Risk Management: A Critical Analysis of Turkey and France” in the International Journal of Emergency Management (2009: Vol. 6, Issue 1).

Dr. James Schiro, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology and The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, co-authored “Downsizing and Organizational Change Survivors and Victims: Mental Health Issues” in the International Journal of Applied Management and Technology (2009: Vol. 7, Issue 1).

Dr. Manoj Sharma, a faculty member in the College of Health Sciences, recently co-authored Essentials of International Health (Jones and Bartlett, 2010) and Practical Stress Management: A Comprehensive Workbook for Promoting Health and Managing Change Through Stress Reduction (5th ed., Benjamin Cummings, 2010). Sharma also co-authored the following articles: “Predictors of Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking Among Asian Indian Students Based on Social Cognitive Theory” in the American Journal of Health Studies (2009: Vol. 24, Issue 2); “Using Social Cognitive Theory to Predict Safer Behaviors in African American College Students” in Acta Didactica Napocensia (2009: Vol. 2, Issue 2); “Meta-Analysis of School-Based Childhood Obesity Interventions in United States and United Kingdom” in International Quarterly of Community Health Education (2008–2009: Vol. 29, Issue 3); and “Development and Pilot-Testing a Social Cognitive Theory-Based Intervention to Prevent Childhood Obesity in Kentucky” in International Quarterly of Community Health Education (2008–2009: Vol. 29, Issue 1). 

Dr. Juan Stegmann, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology, authored Strategic Value Management: Stock Value Creation and the Management of the Firm (John Wiley, 2009).

James Stewart, a Ph.D. in Psychology student, was a finalist for the 2009 Rising Star Award at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., where he is an instructor and coordinator in the criminal justice program. 

Dr. Margaret Terry, a faculty member in the College of Health Sciences, co-authored “Feasiblity Study of Home Care Wound Management Using Telemedicine” in Advances in Skin and Wound Care (2009: Vol. 22, Issue 8).

Dr. Jeffrey Weaver, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology, authored the following books: Strategy Development and Applied Management (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2009); Collective Bargaining and Safety Concerns (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2009); Comparing Leadership Competencies Among Senior Army Leaders (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2008); Problem Definition (Lack of Leadership): An Example of a Dissertation and How to Define Each Chapter (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2008); and How to Write a Business Plan: A Master’s Thesis Project (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2008).

Dr. Ana Donaldson, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, authored “Definition To Practice: Translating the Definition into an IT program” in TechTrends (2009: Vol. 53, Issue 5), and co-authored “Online Professional Development: Considerations for Early Childhood Educators” in Dimensions of Early Childhood (2009: Vol. 47, Issue 5).

Dr. Gail Ferreira, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology, authored “Exploring Consumer Perceptions of Global Branding and Iconization” in The Refractive Thinker: Research Methodology (2009: Vol 2.).

Dr. Regina Galer-Unti, a faculty member in the College of Health Sciences, authored “Guerilla Advocacy: Using Aggressive Marketing Techniques for Health Policy Change” in Health Promotion Practice (2009: Vol. 10, No. 3). Dr. Galer-Until co-authored “Incorporating Advocacy Training into Professional Preparation Programs” in the American Journal of Health Studies (2009: Vol. 24, Issue 1) and “Educating for Advocacy: Recommendations for Professional Preparation and Development Based on a Needs and Capacity Assessment of Health Education Faculty” in Health Promotion Practice (2009: Vol. 10, No. 1). 

Dr. Rebecca J. Heick, a faculty member in the College of Health Sciences, co-authored “Occupational Injuries Among Emergency Medical Services Providers in the United States” in the Journal of Occupational Environmental Health (2009: Vol. 51, Issue 8). 

Dr. Cheryl Holly, a faculty member in the School of Nursing, co-authored “The Case for Distance Education in Nursing” in the Journal of Online Teaching and Learning, (2009: Vol. 5, Issue 3);“Nurses Skill Level and Evidence-Based Practice” in the Journal of Nursing Administration (2008: Vol. 38, Issue 11) and “Online Teaching: Challenges for a New Faculty Role” in the Journal of Professional Nursing (2008: Vol. 24, Issue 4).

Dr. Asoka Jayasena, a faculty member in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, co-authored Innovative Teaching: Handbook for Secondary School Teachers (2009: Sri Lanka Ministry of Education) and Teaching-Learning Methodologies (2009: Sri Lanka Ministry of Education). Both books are published in English, Sinhalese and Tamil.

Dr. Evelyn Johnson, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, and Lori Smith, a Ph.D. in Education student, co-authored How RTI Works in Secondary Schools (Corwin Press, 2009).

Susan McGilloway, an M.S. in Mental Health Counseling student, presented “Tools and Techniques for Transitioning Students to Post Secondary Education” at the National College Transition Network Conference on Nov. 17, 2009, in Providence, R.I.

Jodine Burchell, a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences student, presented at the Fifth Annual Business and Leadership Symposium on Sept. 28–29, 2009, in Hays, Kan. Her paper, “The Practical Application of Transformational Theory vs. Complexity Leadership Theory on the Challenges of Leading IT Software Development Teams” was accepted for publication in the Journal of Business and Leadership. 

Dr. Gary Burkholder, vice president for academic affairs and faculty member in the School of Psychology, was quoted in a Sept. 2, 2009, article in Campus Technology about MobileLearnSM , Walden’s online course-content delivery tool that allows students to access course materials in a format that best fits their own individual learning style.

Dr. Richard Bush, a faculty member in the College of Management and Technology, authored Technologies to Support Interactive and Connective OD (3rd ed., Pfeiffer, 2010).

Dr. Tom Cavanagh, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, co-authored 147 Tips for Teaching Peace and Reconciliation (Atwood Publishing, 2009). 

Dr. Frank A. Colaprete, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, authored Mentoring in the Criminal Justice Professions: Conveyance of the Craft (Charles C. Thomas Publisher, 2009).

Dr. Jacqueline Derby, a faculty member in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, authored “A Study of Rural Teachers Taking Part in Informal Professional Development Using the Virtual World Second Life” in Texas Business and Technology Educators Association Journal (2009: Vol. 11, Issue 1).

Interesting comments since I was here last. The professor I just had for my Psychology class not only has a PHD but he is a licensed Psychologist with more than 6 sub-specialties. The course was rigorous and the professor was involved every step of the way. Dr. Randall Oberhoff was his name.

Even worse! You have more profound research coming out of Walden than you do University of South Africa.

Ok. To quote Bon Jovi..."Have A Nice Day"!!!!

Even worse! You have more profound research coming out of Walden than you do University of South Africa.

HaHa October 21, 2009 at 9:18 p.m.

Dragnet that's not even an American degree! Please. Institutions in America and all over Europe have been warned about hiring people with Australian degrees


Umm. University of South Africa. Gee whiz

Sad, you mentioned that you're in the MPH program and have been saddened by the negative comments. But what about the positive comments? What about the success rates of Walden MPH graduates? 

Why are you in the program if you're going to let anonymous comments change your mind? 

What made you enroll in the program? What objective factors exist that makes you think you made a bad decision to enroll?

Hi Charlotte.. you've joined a great program. The MSMHC program is CACREP accredited and your residencies will be very rewarding.

Best of luck to you.

I am currently a Walden Univ MPH student and to be completely honest I am just saddened by all the negative comments. I feel like a made a VERY bad decision to begin this program. Can ANYONE offer an honest positive perspective on the MPH program to a new student?

Thanks

Congratulations on an argument well made, I love your perspective and you're spot on!  

I have enjoyed reading all the back & forth as I have just applied to join Walden to do an MSc in Mental Health Counseling and want to get a good overall feel for both negative and positive feedback before I commit myself to $40,000 in student loans.

Good luck to all current students (wherever you are based) and ongoing promotions to those who have already graduated!

Charlotte

How is customer service bad if Walden is only wanting to separate you from your money? If that was truly the case, then customer service should have been excellent... wouldn't you say? Wouldn't that be the best way to get your money?

You also stated that you considered Walden for your doctorate, leaving the implication that you did not enroll.

You say that you're "much happier" but how can you make such a comparison when you have nothing to compare? How are you comparing your experience at UoN(L), which offers online doctorates, to Walden when you've never enrolled?

Now you're a doctoral student... so I tend to expect a much higher level of thinking from you. 

Best,

Me

It is my experience that Walden is only interested in seperating You from your money. I am a working high school teacher and was looking at Walden to get my doctorate in education...The customer service was bad to say the least. 

I am now working on my doctorate at The University of Nebraska and I am much happier. I cannot in good faith recommend Walden to anyone.

FYI, I am scheduled to complete my Ph.D. in June of 2010 with a 4.0 GPA. And before some moron begins ranting about how Walden is a "degree mill", know that I was recently offered (and accepted) a full-time faculty position. The hiring university looked at multiple writing samples and asked where I developed my skills. When I told them I polished my skills at Walden University (and NOT my state university, where I had received my undergraduate degree), they said they were not surprised - as one of their other faculty members received his doctorate there as well.

I just LOVE how the brick and mortar diehards rag on a superior online university like Walden out of ignorance. People fail at Walden University because, unlike brick and mortar schools, someone doesn't hold your hand the entire time. You also do not score participation points by sitting in a class and telling some snotty professor what he/she wants to hear. You actually have to (gasp!) READ, RESEARCH, and APPLY CRITICAL THINKING. 

Bottom-line: If you want a higher education experience bereft of personal initiative and responsibility, Walden University is NOT for you. If you want to complete a program that will assist you in becoming a superior academic, Walden is the ticket.

"Walden University," exhaustion setting in, so my mistake.

Well,I am very busy with my studies and work as a professional tutor, however, keep in mind is a very challenging University and there are assignments and papers to prove it, like mine, per request.

Dragnet that's not even an American degree! Please. Institutions in America and all over Europe have been warned about hiring people with Australian degrees.

Prove it. Prove that Walden does not have any academic rigor?

Do you have a Ph.D.?


Working on it at UNISA. Thanks for asking.

I believe that the advice you've been given is pretty solid. I applied for a tenure track position about a year or so ago at Johns Hopkins and was even invited for a campus interview. I was ABD at the time and they were really interested in my work: mostly because I was well published and had done a lot of lectures and presentations. 

To make a long story short, they ended up not filling the position due to extreme budget cuts and they decided to use available funds to "develope current full-time faculty" versus hiring junior faculty.

I have a PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences and there are a lot of opportunities available. You just need to make sure that you position yourself for life after graduation (publishing and presenting).

I am interested in pursuing a Phd at Walden University in Applied Management and Decision Sciences.  I understand this website is no valid source of information, so total negative and positive responses should not be given.

My goal is to teach at a local University like Johns Hopkins, Towson, Loyola, or Maryland.  Has anyone on this site, who has earned a Phd from Walden, had the chance to publish and do community service through the University?  If so, what journals were you publishing in (e.g. acceptance ratings).  These schools all offer the advice that the degree matters, but publishing matters more (Hopkins was the most lenient on degrees ironically).  I was told by Towson and Loyola that the chances are slim to get in faculty with a Phd from Walden, but the other two were fine with it, pending publications.  My thought is that if Hopkins accept me, the others have to.

Thanks!

-Bob

It sounds to me like Dominic is just another soul to add to the attrition rate. He/She entered Walden with unrealistic expectations and wanted to be handed a degree. It may be pretty safe to assume that Dominic will be a DROP OUT.

You go to their website that was created to instill some type of inert pride concerning your potential as a mover and shaker of the world. They refer to their students as scholar/practitioners, a high minded concept evoking visions of change for the better. They invite you to their movie-laced world, where higher education holds the promise of a utopian society, filled with happiness. Similar to a television commercial for prescription drugs.

Yet some don’t quite make it to the Walden version of paradise. Or their adventure along the way is filled with a special nightmare that only bureaucrats can devise. Walden’s financial aid department is pre-eminent in this world where one’s promise is crushed and caste in the refuge. No doubt self-serving, it’s only natural that they swell with pride each time they destroy someone. They’re obligations are far more important than a human life, so they make arbitrary and capricious decisions in secret, while their neglect to inform is quite intentional. This is a special gift, no doubt.

I beg you by all means go to Walden University. Where untold numbers of students are wastrel to their rhetoric. And as you watch in vein as all that you’ve worked for is taken away from you, thank Walden University for the special honor.

Dominic Perino – current student of general psychology

Prove it. Prove that Walden does not have any academic rigor?

Do you have a Ph.D.?

Walden is not comparable to any tradional University because it does not meet academic rigor. If you have a resume in front of you, and all else equal, Walden versus ANY NON-PROFIT school, the NON-PROFIT will win because that student choose a route that actually had rigor.


Keep it, my wife is attending Walden's PhD program in Pyschology. You do not have any idea about the rigor, unless you are taking the courses. Not flaming you, you just do not know. She spends 15-20 hours per week on her courses.

Keep it can keep it.

I graduated in May and had 4 offers the next week. I had two offers this week. I am entering faculty at a Christian university and all faculty entering with me have PhDs from UGA, Harvard, and UBoston. 

So what you're saying is totally baseless!

State some facts or keep moving.

Walden is not comparable to any tradional University because it does not meet academic rigor.  If you have a resume in front of you, and all else equal, Walden versus ANY NON-PROFIT school, the NON-PROFIT will win because that student choose a route that actually had rigor.

Ultimately it makes no real difference where you decide to attend school as long as it is regionally accredited. Education is what each student makes of it for him or herself. You can attend Harvard and get a very poor education if you don't put forth the proper effort to educate yourself

You can also attend Walden and get an excellent eduation again by putting forth the proper effort. While I considered Walden for my E.ed, I ended up enrolling at Liberty University. I chose Liberty because I am active duty military and the college gave me a substantial discount on tuition (something Walden refused to do) I feel that the education quality between the two schools is similar and for me Liberty was a less expensive/better fit.

Wish you all well in your educational journey...and ignore the Walden bashers they don't know of what they speak.

Regards, Rick

To Jacob,
I completely agree. Walden University has many published graduate students and professors. WU is a great University, I was merely referring to US News Report, but not the actual total educational quality and research publishing in peer review. I know many people who received top science  and psychology educations from tier 3 rated Universities. I also know that the president of WU, John Kaplan graduated from Harvard, and many of the WU professors graduated from top tier institutions. I know my WU education is top notch, so I am happy with it. I just think it unnecessary to bash a good institution for

You make an excellent point.

The rankings that you speak of have recently come under fire for various reasons. One reason is that institutions have been found to cook their faculty rolls, not mentioning that most of their classes are taught by adjuncts. Also, a huge part of the rankings are based on peer review. In other words, the president of Harvard will definitely rank Princeton and Yale extremely high and lesser known institutions low. You are correct in saying that it's subjective.

I would be willing to say that Walden would be a Tier 3/4. Its faculty and students publish more research than most institutions in this country get credit for. Perhaps it's because it has a larger student and faculty pool... but if we look at the numbers, the proof is there.

Now, WU is rated tier 4, but this means very very little in terms of educational quality.

Rick,
Columbia is not a bad college, but I found Walden University to be a better fit. Now regarding the tier system, you are mistaken. Some top research schools are tier 1, but that is not a pre-requisite for a R1 institute rating, as these are two different things. If you review Columbia College's website and US News College rankings site as well, you will see that they are in fact tier 1.
  Tier ratings are very subjective and are not dependent upon the amount of research done at a particular college.
  MIT is a great research and project institution yet they slid down the tier scale in recent years. Harvard is rated the number one tier 1 college in the country, but it is not the biggest research or best research college in the country. I personally think MIT is a better school than Harvard for engineering, physics and math.
  Tiers are based upon student experiences, graduation rates and subjective surveys.

Jacob,

Columbia College is NOT a tier 1 school. It is a teaching college. Tier 1 refers to research institutions, which Columbia College is NOT.

Columbia UNIVERSITY in NYC is a tier 1 research university.

Columbia College is however a good option for a bachelors program

www.triplepundit.com/2009/09/social-change-talk-with-walden-university/

I also wanted to say I was considering attending Columbia College, located in Missouri, which is a tier 1 school, and I liked the cheaper tuition and reputation, but WU has a more extenisve library, and easier to navigate system; this is where some of the extra $ in tuition comes in handy. Keep in mind that tiers from US Consumer and Reports is only a guide and not infallible either. Harvard for example, while a great private University is not the best college in the country as they report and tiers are not solely based upon academic rigor, but on several very subjective factors, while of some importance are not solid enough objective guides.

State Universities may be a good option for some, but keep in mind that most State Universities are overcrowded, classes fill far too quickly, professors have little or no time to focus on individual students, and many can end up being relatively expensive. In addition you may have to travel a good distance to get to the college in question, find parking and then after your first class, wait hours until your next class or series of classes for the day.
   I am currently attending WU and my major is Psychology. I am in the B.S. in Psychology program with preparation in graduate studies. I am also focusing on a concentration in Criminal Justice/profiling.I formerly attended Nassau Community College (graduated) and Ashford University (attained 45 credits, but left due to financial aid issues) and scored top marks in my honors classes and I was on the Dean's List as well. Walden University has a far better library than either aforementioned college, more college/education based blogs of top quality, greater job placement websites and advice, as well as, an easy to navigate Walden portal system. Now, this does not mean that traditional brick and mortar colleges are bad, or that AU or NCC, a community college offered subpar education; they did not. What I have found, however, from these previous collegiate experiences, and taking classes through Harvard Extension and Stanford part time, (to compare educational quality, price/value ratios, and overall training and academic rigor)that WU has several advantages.
  WU is not terribly cheap, so, I would expect them to offer quite a lot of services and for the coursework to be very thorough, and to my delight all the above exceeded my expectations. Now, yes there are still drawbacks to online undergraduate studies and for colleges that are run by for profits. One, major issue is, the tests and quizzes are not usually proctored (HE does proctor tests) which does make them very easy, and except with certain face to face residencies, majoring in natural or physical sciences is very difficult and cannnot be completed exclusively online. Also, recent research has indicated the superiority of a coupling of face to face interactions with instructors and online coursework, which admittedly does become necessary at the graduate level at WU. The huge academic challenges of WU lie in the research papers and class discussions where getting one's point across with the proper tone and APA referencing must meet higher standards than the typical brick and mortar University.Also online ansycnhronous learning is for more mature and independent minded students than traditional learning environments. Overall, I would say get your first two years of education at a cheap local Community College, take a whole host of honors and higher course number classes first. Then online learning becomes an alternative and rewarding experience. Who wants to sit in a classroom with 400 other people?

Walden has proven for 40 years to be a great institution. The faculty is excellent and opportunities after graduation are plenty.

I do not regret my decision.

I have been to college both on campus as well as online and in my opinion, online is more challenging.  Many would disagree and that's okay, I'm just offering my opinion here.  The classes require twice as much work and the amount of writing is astronautical. 

The problem with Walden is that their staff (not the teachers) don't care.  There is no emphasis on student retention and it troubles me to see them make so much money that they can afford to send me gifts within the first 5 weeks of my tenure despite the attitudes of their staff.  Please don't reward a school that does not value their student body anymore than Walden does by giving them thousands of dollars to reach your dream.  There are other online schools that deserve it.

On Saturday, July 25, 2009, at 1:30pm Central.... Walden University will officially confer 4,000 degrees (Bachelor, Master's, Specialist, and Doctorate). 

You can watch the 42nd Commencement Ceremony via live webcast at www.waldenu.edu. 

For those of you living in the Minneapolis, MN area, the commencement ceremony will be held at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Please join us.

It is going to be a grand occasion.

Pedro Nino, who earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) with a specialization in Teacher Leadership, published “SOSA and SOSE: Mnemonics for Verb Endings” in the May 2009 issue of Hispania Journal, the peer-reviewed journal of The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. Nino is an adjunct assistant professor of Spanish at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a program reviewer for the National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education. 

Hoa Appel, who earned a Ph.D. in Health Services, will be presenting at the American Public Health Association 137th Annual Meeting and Exposition on Nov. 10, 2009. The presentation is titled "Diverse Faith Influence on Complications and Hospital Stay of Cardiac Patients." 
 
Vanessa Briscoe, who earned a Ph.D. in Health Services, has been named the recipient of the 2009 Davis-Galloway Empowerment Award by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women–Metropolitan Nashville Chapter. The award is given to recognize and honor women of color across Middle Tennessee who ascend to leadership through outstanding advocacy, effective networking and superlative community service. Briscoe is currently a research assistant and professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University. 
 
Dwayne P. Seymour, who earned a Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, recently completed his postdoctoral work at The Brookings Institution, Harvard Kennedy School and Columbia Business School. His studies focused on leadership, nonprofit management and public administration/governance. 
 
Robynn F. Anwar, a graduate of the M.S. in Nursing, received a 2009 Camden Hero Award from the Greater Camden Partnership for her contributions to workforce training for the local health care industry. 

Frank Wood, who earned a Ph.D. in Psychology, with a specialization in Clinical Psychology (Licensure), is slated to become a licensed psychologist in Ohio. In addition, Wood is working on two notable collaborations. The first involves crafting a modification of the traditional functional behavioral assessment that will emphasize rewarding adaptive behaviors in concert with efforts to extinct maladaptive behaviors. The second collaboration is with Ted Wiard and Golden Willow Retreat, an organization that serves people dealing with grief and loss. They offer grief support groups, retreats, and training and education on grief.

The "for profit" comments are getting rather repetitive. I've never seen a school that's not for profit unless it's connected to some charity or the like. You tell me how Gordon Gee (president of the Ohio State University) is making a nice 6 figure salary; and that's at a traditional Research 1 university. 
You just need to make sure the academics of a school are qualified and the the degree will be respected before you jump into a commitment with a university.

I'm trying to find all the information that has been flowing from the earlier dicussion periods up to the present (June 28, 2009 response). Personally, I graduated from Rutgers/UPenn, but this is interesting discussion, in regards to online schools versus the traditional.

Note: this site will not allow the prefix of Hypertext Transfer Protocol/world wide web, so add this where needed for the links specified below and remove unnecessary spaces that were added for the aforementioned reasons.

----------------------------------------------------
In regards to the Yale/Walden Univ. workshop, well, it actually seems to be legit.

March 28-29, 2009
gii.ncr.vt.edu/Bouchet%20Diversity%20Conference.pdf

----------------------------------------------------
Here is another conference where Walden was present (not a biggie) (Carleton College conference in 2006):
serc.carleton.edu/quantskills/ workshop06/participants.html

----------------------------------------------------
A Harvard Graduate based conference where a Walden alum (Kathy Onarheim) presented:
gseweb.harvard.edu/~uk/ otpd/participants/presenters.htm

----------------------------------------------------
Regarding the alum information, I decided to just paste the link here for all to make their own judgment.

ponder.waldenu.edu/c/ponder_27252.htm

----------------------------------------------------
Princeton Review of certain Walden statistics:
princetonreview.com/WaldenUniversitySchoolofEducationSchoolofPsychologySchoolofHealthHumanServicesSchoolofManagement.aspx

----------------------------------------------------
U.S Department of Education for Walden:
Go here and type in Walden...
ope.ed.gov/accreditation/Search.aspx

----------------------------------------------------
Someone also posted that Ohio does not recognize Walden (original webpage posted here --> 
osac.state.or.us/oda/unaccredited.aspx); however, if you read the actual decription of the comment, it does not specify Walden, but the Laureate University (just hit ctrl+F and type in Walden within the page).

Just the facts and nothing else....

In my opinion, actual work experience is the most crucial element.

Thanks

Hi Cosmas... I agree, Walden does Rock!

AACSB does not accredit Applied Management and Decision Science degrees, only Business Administration (DBA, MBA, BBA, MAcc). And while the DBA and MBA programs could possibly fit the bill, the fact that the Ph.D. (AMDS) and Bachelor programs (BS not BBA) won't (which also make up the bulk of the College of Management and Technology programs and student body)....it may not be worth the membership dues necessary to maintain accreditation with AACSB. Plus, the CMT will have to add a lot more full-time faculty than it already has. AACSB requires Biz Schools to have at least 78% full time faculty who are publishing..etc. (pure academics). While most of Walden's faculty are actively engaged in scholarly contributions, the full-time issue may prove to be problemmatic because many who are on faculty are tenured elsewhere, or serving as a consultant..etc... Also, AACSB requires GMAT scores, which has proven time and time again not to be indicative of a student's success in a graduate management program (The Chronicle).

The good side to this is that with the Ph.D. and DBA, you can always go through an AACSB Bridge program... It's kind of like a Post-Doc experience that trains you to be a faculty member for an AACSB accredited institution. The Bridge programs range from $5,000 t0 $50,000...depending on where you go.

AACSB does not guarantee anyone a job. It does not guarantee quality and many are finding that out because the faculty are too heavily engaged in research and leaving the teaching to B-class teaching assistants. AACSB schools are continuously under fire (Read AACSB publications and The Chronicle) because they are not preparing quality graduates to address global business needs... including sustainability. And the AACSB has admitted that its standards and aims are a bit antiquated.

Walden has a 40 year success. Its graduates are implementing positive social change in their communities, in their research, and in their practice. That is the Walden brand!

i think walden rocks! i admire their DBA program alot,many alumni i personally of are so successful in both academia and corporate world, the thing is get ready to work for your program its not a free and easy ride....i wish they would have their business programs esp doctorates AACSB certified though but most online business schools are not AACSB accredited only ACBSB i guess...but who cares knowledge is key thanks walden.

A caveat to my last comment, the only part of Walden that has been unsatisfactory has been their financial aid department.  Slow to respond and some of them are incompetent to deal with the complexities of financial aid.  With this in mind, I must remain extra diligent in my dealings with the f.aid office and allow them excessively-ample time to respond to emails, get documents posted, etc.

I can certainly respect getting the word out that Walden offers financial support beyond student loans, but it is worth noting that most of the scholarships available at Walden are only available to student in education-oriented degree programs.  If Walden really wants to impress me, offer a privately funded tuition assistance program or private grant offering.  Maybe the University needs to work with their alumni a little better to get them to give back (financially) to the school and other students.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm in my first quarter at Walden and to this point, the faculty, resources, challenge, and my fellow classmates have all exceeded my expectations.  I'm excited and anxious to get deeper into my program because I know that I made the right decision in choosing Walden; it's the perfect fit for me.  I have networked and met new people from similar programs at the Univ of Phoenix, Bellevue University, and Kaplan U and none of what they describe about their programs seems to hold as much validity or weight as Walden's MS in MHC program does.  However if Walden hadn't obtained CACREP accreditation for it's program in January '09, I can without a doubt say that I wouldn't be a Walden student at this time.  Not to diminish the program before it got CACREP accredited, but this certification of the program gives it a lot more validity in the "working world."

I have been at Walden University for four years. I am completing my PhD in the Public Policy and Administration.  I went to Harvard University for my Masters and the University of Massachusetts as an undergraduate.  I found Walden's PhD program in Public Policy to be competitive and comprehensive. The one thing I have found about this school is that you will do A LOT of reading and writing.  The statistics courses are challenging. I concur with others that the program REQUIRES a lot of work and time.  This is not an easy program to complete.  My only wish is that Walden would make it more difficult to get rather than an open enrollment policy.

Finally, for all those people who have to post to justify Walden's education capabilities there is no need.  Walden stands on its own and does a great job.

Chris H I am the one who posted the news about scholarships. I did not do it to advertise for Walden, but to rather show these people that Walden is not a diploma mill and does care about truly educating its students. No other for-profit institution does what Walden does and these people need to stop putting them all in one box.

While I am a now a Walden student and support the institution, I do not find it satisfactory that Walden representatives are using these boards as an advertising tool.  This website is for reviews of degree programs and schools.

Wow... what "diploma mill" offers $5 Million dollars in funding?  This should really shut up the nay sayers.

For nearly 40 years, Walden University has been committed to educating educators. Today, that commitment continues with over $5 million in scholarship aid* made available to deserving educators nationwide.  

These scholarships are supported by the Riley Education Fund, in honor of Richard W. Riley, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and a leading advocate in advancing education as a national priority, for whom Walden’s college of education is named. Walden’s commitment to educating educators is strongly complemented by Secretary Riley’s lifelong passion for education. 

“Both Secretary Riley and Walden have been long-standing advocates for students and educators,” said Victoria Reid, vice president of The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership. “We are extremely pleased to realize this shared commitment by supporting educators at such a significant level. We believe these scholarship dollars will be critical for those individuals who want to advance their knowledge and increase their effectiveness in the classroom and the community. And we’re very proud of the fact that we’ve now enrolled 19 State Teachers of the Year award winners.” 

In his first address to Congress, President Barack Obama remarked on the need to give every child access to a complete and competitive education and said, “That is a promise we have to make to the children of America.” The Riley Education Fund scholarships are intended to help educators fulfill that promise by strengthening their own skills and knowledge. 

The scholarships are available to new students enrolling in The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership and range from $1,000 to the full cost of tuition. The scholarships include

Riley Scholar Scholarships: 100 full-tuition scholarships, applicable to the M.S. in Education program 
Teacher of the Year Scholarships: 55 full-tuition scholarships awarded to State Teachers of the Year, applicable to any education program 
Educator Excellence Awards: 60 scholarships ($1,000 each), applicable to the M.S. in Education and our Minnesota state-approved† special education endorsement programs 
Ann “Tunky” Riley Scholarships: 2 scholarships (up to $25,000 each), applicable to any education program 
Refer Someone

Walden is currently accepting applications for these scholarships. Members of the Walden community can refer colleagues, friends and family members to call an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336. More information is also available at www.WaldenU.edu/scholarships.

Celebrate National Nurses Week with Walden School of Nursing

Walden University’s School of Nursing joins with nursing professionals nationwide in celebrating National Nurses Week, May 6–12, by recognizing nurses who demonstrate “above and beyond” service and by hosting two live online events with distinguished leaders in nursing.  

“Above and Beyond” Awards
Walden University will honor nurses who have gone “above and beyond” with a $1,500 award donated in their name to the service organization of their choice. To nominate a nurse for this recognition, in 250 words or less describe how a nurse has demonstrated service to her or his community or organization. Nominations will be accepted at www.WaldenU.edu/honornurses through May 12. The three winners will be announced on the Web site during the week of May 17, and selected submissions will be posted. 

Also, during the week honoring nurses, Walden will offer two live online forums. The events are free and open to the public. 

Peter I. Buerhaus, Ph.D., RN, F.A.A.N.
Nurses: Why Do We Care?
Thursday, May 7, at 1 p.m. Eastern time
To register, go to www.WaldenU.edu/buerhaus 

Dr. Peter Buerhaus, the Valere Potter Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Health Workforce Studies at the Institute for Medicine and Public Health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, will present his unique perspective and insight as a nurse and a health economist on the new and variable challenges faced by nurses in today’s economic environment. Buerhaus maintains an active research program involving studies on the economics of the nursing workforce, health workforce forecasting, developing measures of quality of care, and determining public and provider opinions on issues involving the delivery of health care. 

Dr. Geraldine Bednash
 
Geraldine Bednash, Ph.D., RN, F.A.A.N.
Nurses: Building a Healthy America in Challenging Times
Tuesday, May 12, National Nurses Day, at 2 p.m. Eastern time
To register, go to www.WaldenU.edu/bednash 

Dr. Geraldine Bednash, executive director of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), will share her insights on the impact of current economic challenges on the role of registered nurses. In her role at AACN, Bednash oversees the educational, research, governmental affairs, publications and other programs of the organization that is the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate-degree education programs in nursing.

Please join us for the latest session of Walden University’s online Alumni Lecture Series on Tuesday, May 12, at 2 p.m. Eastern time (1 p.m. Central time, noon Mountain time, and 11 a.m. Pacific time). 

The topic, “New Strategies for Helping Young Offenders: The Case for Restorative Justice,” will be presented by Dr. Barbara Benoliel, a professional mediator and Walden graduate. 

This event is brought to you by the Office of Alumni Relations. 

About the Speaker 

Dr. Barbara Benoliel is a professional mediator and facilitator specializing in conflict system design and the use of restorative justice (victim/offender mediation) in civil and criminal cases. She is president of Preferred Solutions, a dispute resolution company in Toronto, and the director of facilitator training for PACT, a Toronto nonprofit youth services program. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Services with a specialization in Criminal Justice from Walden University in 2007. She also holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Toronto and a master's degree in organizational behavior from the University of Tel Aviv, Israel. 

Walden graduates are part of an active community of more than 31,000 successful professionals who are contributing to their fields and the greater good. For more information, contact your Office of Alumni Relations at 1-877-235-3561 or alumniassociation@waldenu.edu.

More on Ms. Su-Yan Barrow.  Taken from...

nyu.edu/dental/nexus/issues/fallwinter2005/congratulationsto.html

"Ms. Su-Yan L. Barrow, Clinical Assistant Professor of Dental Hygiene, on authoring an article entitled "The Digital Dental Office" for Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. Added kudos to Professor Barrow on presenting a periodontal review course and clinical training program to the dental auxiliary of the Barbados Ministry of Health and on presenting two lectures at a meeting of the Dental Hygiene Association of Italy."

I also saw that she was quite well published in peer-reviewed academic journals.  

I'd just find it hard to believe that such an accomplished individual would choose Walden University if she wasn't confident the degree was valid.  It also goes to show that you can't bank on one degree to set your career.  Her degree at Walden will be valid because of ALL the work she has done over her academic and professional career.

Here's a video presentation from a Dentistry conference sponsored every year by USC.  The presenter is, without question, very qualified both academically and with real-world experience.  She is currently pursuing a PhD at Walden.  Here's the link...

youtube.com/watch?v=XktJGuI8ek0

Here's a quote from the video description...

"he lecture presented by Ms. Su-Yan L. Barrow was part of the 34th Annual USC International Periodontal & Implant Symposium held in Los Angeles in 2009. Ms. Barrow is Clinical Associate Professor in the Dental Hygiene Program at New York University, New York, where she is coordinator of the Dental Hygiene Baccalaureate Program and in clinical practice part-time. Ms. Barrow is also a city research scientist for the New Yorks Department of Health. She holds a B.S. in Dental Health Education and M.A. in Health Education from NYU, a MPH in Community Health Education from Hunter College, City College of New York, and a certificate in Clinical Dental Research Methods from the University of Washington, Seattle. She is currently pursing a doctoral degree in Public Health at Walden University."

I trust that this lady gave plenty of thought as to choosing Walden...and if it's good enough for her, then it's good enough for me.

Discuss:  hatchtopher@earthlink.net

Wow, Dr. B(ABD), rah, rah, rah, sis boom bah!

First, may I point out that if you are ABD it's Mr. B, not Dr. B.

Also the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association accredits all schools in the region (at least those which are accredited).  Walden is accredited by them as are everyone else who meets accreditation criteria.

Finally, Ivo Janenka is a medical doctor who is professionally the CEO of Dubai Healthcare City's Center for Healthcare Quality and Planning.  I doubt seriously that his Ph.D. from Walden had much to do with his appointment to the faculty at HMI.

Let's have an objective conversation.

Cheers,
scotto...

More Information
Prospective students interested in either program should contact an enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336. Walden is currently accepting applications for a September 8, 2009, start date.

Notes on licensure: 
The M.S. in Forensic Psychology is not a licensure program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed psychology professional.

Walden University’s M.S. in Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is a requirement for licensure in many states. The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Because no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate agency to determine specific requirements. For more information about licensure, students should visit the National Board for Certified Counselors at www.nbcc.org/stateboardmap and contact the appropriate licensing body. International students are encouraged to identify and contact their appropriate licensing body.

Walden University is now offering a new psychology program and a new counseling specialization in the emerging field of forensics. 

M.S. in Forensic Psychology
One of the only online graduate programs in forensic psychology, this program can help prepare students to work in a wide range of forensic settings, including law enforcement agencies, correctional institutions, community-based agencies, family courts, and forensic units in mental health facilities. Students can

Apply psychological theories as they identify offenders in a wide range of forensic settings, including correctional institutions, law enforcement agencies, community-based organizations, family courts, and forensic units in mental health facilities. 
Use diagnostic and assessment tools in forensic settings. 
Tailor the program to their own interests by choosing from five specializations: 
Forensic Psychology in the Community 
General Program 
Mental Health Applications 
Program Planning and Evaluation in Forensic Settings 
Psychology and Legal Systems
“Walden’s new M.S. in Forensic Psychology program was created in response to the need to develop more community-based programs for offenders,” said Dr. Nina Nabors, associate dean of Walden’s School of Psychology. “The program helps to prepare students for a variety of positions that can effectively bring about change in the courts and the criminal justice system.”

Forensic Counseling Specialization
The first specialization available in Walden’s CACREP-accredited M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program, the Forensic Psychology specialization can help prepare students to work as a counseling practitioner with individuals in correctional institutions, juvenile justice, family courts, and community-based settings. Available to current students and graduates of the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program, the specialization can be completed with just two additional courses. Students can

Acquire the knowledge and counseling skills they need to work within the legal and criminal justice systems. 
Build competencies in interviewing, assessment, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
“We are entering an era of greater collaboration within the courts and the criminal justice system,” says Dr. Savitri Dixon-Saxon, associate dean of Walden’s School of Counseling and Social Service. “Forensic counselors have an important role to play in bringing about the best possible resolution for individuals involved in the legal system, from children in family court to criminal offenders.”

How do you know this Jack is Back? To be honest, I have found that at every institution I attended. They were all traditional institutions.

I don't have any problem with Walden being for profit.

I have a problem with weak academics/poor support/and lack of standards

What is the problem with Walden and its being for-profit? Would you all shut up about Walden if it changed to not-for-profit? 

I read in the Chronicle today where a lot of public universities are moving toward privatization. And based off of the article, it is closer than ever to being for-profit. By privatizing, the institutions take less appropriated funds and are free to 1. raise tuition, 2. charge out of state students triple the amount of tuition to offset the in-state students' expenditures, and 3. force students to increase their out of pocket expense. For instance, since privatizing, Universty of Vermont students now pay up to 83% of their own attendance cost; that's if they get any assistance and otherwise would be stuck with 100%. University of Michigan broke off and now has a 1.4 bil budget (privatized). They also charge students a fortune.

Wow.  You have decided already that I'm a liar?  So quick to judge.  And bitter, which I understand, because I'm pretty bitter right now too.  How many people have time to post fake stories on boards like this?  I sure don't, I'm too busy trying to finish my master's project so I can graduate and move on.

I switched from the MHC program to the General Psych program AFTER I found out I would not be able to get licensed in Calif with the MHC.  This switch allowed me to avoid the residencies - which would have meant more wasted time and money for me. Sorry if this still seems "flawed, flawed, flawed" to you, but for me its been a nightmare.

Walden might work for those who have secure jobs and need a higher degree for a promotion or something. But if you have made it to the graduate level and are serious about your higher education experience, you deserve better than this.

One more point - this online program is no cakewalk.  There is a lot of work in the psych master's program. You can't fake it through the assignments and the often dense scholarly research literature - in MOST courses. This would be expected in a grad program, but here you will have weak supporting resources and very little instruction.  You have to be self-disciplined, focused, and motivated or you won't meet the deadlines.  
Best of luck to everyone...

ANY program at Walden is a bad choice...here is why

Bachelors- While the bachelors programs at Walden may be accepted and recognized by other academic institutions and by industry there are many other well respected and FAR LESS EXPENSIVE options available

Masters-Walden programs are not well respected by academia and again there are less expensive more respected options available.

Doctorate- NOT AT ALL RESPECTED by academia and not worth the money/effort if you want to publish/work as faculty...Go to a traditional program for this level of education it is FAR BETTER than anything you will receive online...

Is this just my opinion...You bet, take it for what its worth.

Walden's master of mental health counseling is accredited by CACREP. If Walden's program isn't recognized, then no one else's is either. 

Now, if Walden's clinical psych grads can gain licensure in Cali without APA why not MHC? Your statements do not add up. Plus, the master's in psychology is not a licensure degree. And if you're trying to go into MHC, why would you be in the psychology program anyway?

Flawed, flawed, flawed.

Walden University was a huge, expensive mistake for me.  
I had researched the school's reputation and decided that online edu. would gain in credibility as time went on. As I finish my master's program, I can report the following:
I get screwed regularly by the financial aid department and have to spend my time sorting out their mess instead of focusing on my coursework.  I have learned to speak to at least three support people (academic advisors, financial aid reps, etc.) in order to get accurate information.  The master's thesis is a joke, or more accurately, a class action lawsuit waiting to happen...
As a student of this school, at least in the psych program, you are self-taught.  I feel so very lucky when I get an instructor that actually provides guidance and feedback!  Most of them are so busy with their day jobs, they just check in and give out grades.
As a psych student, I regret not having access to a university brick-and-mortar library, research facilities, research mentors & opportunities, and face-to-face networking with other students and instructors.  This medium is very impersonal, and I did not anticipate missing some very valuable components of graduate school.

Until I called the Board of Behavioral Sciences (while considering a program change as a Walden student), I did not know I could not get licensed to be any kind of mental health counselor in California with the master's in mental health, because Walden is "not recognized". 

For other people, in other fields, Walden may work out, but, I would not recommend an online school for anyone who wants to work hard enough to earn a graduate degree.

Good gracious, don't go to Kaplan!  Consider Walden before you ever think about that nightmare of a school. If you are only looking for a BS in Psych, then Walden is fine.  You will need to obtain a graduate degree anyway so you can look at graduate programs like Seton Hall later on.

I'm actually about to enroll here for a basic psychology degree; I live in Minneapolis, where can I call to make sure the degree I'll get here will be accredited in MN? I read a lot of the reviews, and... even though they're mixed, I found them to be on the positive side more than negative... 
This college is a lot cheaper than Kaplan, for one; maybe the education is slightly less valuable, but as long as I get a decent degree, I'm game. Anywhere else you guys know to look up colleges ,though?

Spelling isn't over-rated.  Anyone who believes so will find trouble in their academia and later in a career.  I say career because many "jobs" don't require good spelling skills (i.e. flipping burgers, patching car tire holes, cleaning sewer runoffs) but if you want to have a successful career, you had better learn how to spell.

ON THE FLIPSIDE, it's also ridiculous to harp on someone for a simple misspelling in such an informal format such as an online bulletin board or forum.  We are human...errors happen, typos occur, etc.  

It's not a matter of being a good speller or not being one, it is a matter of knowing WHEN you should practice good spelling skills and when you can remain lax.  

It is disheartening that a good tool such as this website is littered with personal attacks and emotionally charged statements.  People come to this site to look for constructive information on the institutions they are considering but have to waste countless time pilfering through a lot of useless information. 

YOU CAN BE PART OF THE PROBLEM OR PART OF THE SOLUTION.  Which do you choose?

He must be one of those "Waldenites"!

Sepelilng is oevrarted. The msesgae can be cnovyed wtih cmopelelty msisepeleld wrdos.

Nice spelling "Thier"

There were no Waldenites at Yale...This is just more made up non-sense that the Waldenites push out there trying to make thier joke of a school look better.

Have you all been able to locate those "Waldenites" who supposedly presented stuff at Yale? Any info on that?

I was just asking because I am thinking about attending Walden. I have no desire to teach but I believe that the degree will take me very far.

I don't think it was the questions he asked, but rather how he asked them. I believe that the questions where received in the the same spirit they were given/intended.

All the man asked was a simple question..

What workshop was it and when was it held?

Why is that so hard to answer??? It makes me wonder if he doesn't have a point.

Delusional people always think this way!  It has to be this way because....."I SAID SO...and BECAUSE I said so... it's it's ....it's....THE TRUTH!!!" LOL

You're saying it is not possible that someone who attends, went to, or graduated from Walden University to be invited or have a proposal accepted to present research or facilitate a workshop at Yale?

Why is that?

Yeah, Thats what I thought---No such workshop ever existed...and Waldenites where never invited to speak at Yale... 

The Walden enrollment salesmen caught in another LIE!!

that if you goons were worth anything you would have known the workshop, etc. If you all didn't spend so much time on this board waiting to counter EVERY positive claim about an institution, you would have had more time to see what was really going on in academia. 

Get a life.  Better yet, get a job!

What workshop??? What was the name of this workshop???  What building on the Yale campus was the workshop held in??? What were the dates of the workshop???

Provide the information requested or we will all know that you are just another Waldenite trying to justify a bad decision.

Why would you have a workshop at Yale headed by a bunch of Waldenites, and undegreed ones at that?  Was the workshop about for-profit distance education?

I am an associate dean at an R1 university.

I just returned from a conference at Yale and attended a workshop that was facilitated by 3 Walden Ph.D. candidates and 1 Walden Ph.D. alum. The presentation was great and the presenters definitely had the attention and respect of everyone in the room. There were doctoral candidates and deans from R1 institutions present and the discussion was great. 

There is a lot of stigma that exists about non-traditional programs such as Walden. While I had doubts about Walden before the conference, I can honestly say that the type of scholar, researcher, and "scholar-practitioner" it produces is of high quality. When questioned, the presenters were able to support their positions with solid research and were very knowledgable about the subject at hand. They were professional and the information provided was of great use. This information will definitely help me in my own administrative position. I honestly look forward to working with some of these graduates in the future.

"As you already know, Walden's programs and requirements are 3 times more rigorous than what is normally required."

I didn't know that.  The last time I checked the rankings, Walden was unlisted and refused to post their student statistics.  Now I thought Walden was an open enrollment university, I may be wrong.  Perhaps they make you take the GRE before you enter?

If anyone has ever worked at a University, they can look at half of these comments and realize how STUPID they sound.

Chris, good luck to you!

I think that over time you were able to answer your own question. You cannot use the comments on this board to substantiate your decision.

As you already know, Walden's programs and requirements are 3 times more rigorous than what is normally required. This is to make sure the university is graduating competent professionals who can go out and make a difference in their professions and communities. The MHC program is regionally and professionally accredited. It meets and exceeds the standards set forth by other programs and accrediting bodies. You should have no issues.

Jack is completely wrong. California is a state that ACCEPTS Walden credentials for licensure. In fact, I have a colleague who recently passed her licensing exams in California and is now a practicing clinical psychologist. Why would the rules be different for health psychology? Is there even an exam for health psychology?  In most states, only counseling, school, and clinical psycology require licensure. 

Minnesota (Walden's home), Texas, and Alabama are other states that accept Walden credentials for licensure.

(CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS POST)

The program must also include a practicum or internship as follows:
     a. For individuals who completed the    
        practicum/internship before September 1, 1995 the 
        practicum/internship must have been from an 
        approved educational program.
     b. For individuals who completed the 
        practicum/internship after September 1, 1995, the 
        practicum/internship must have included a minimum 
        of 300 clock hours of direct client contact of which
        150 clock hours must be face-to-face in a work 
        setting, under the supervision of a qualified  
        supervisor as defined in 172 NAC 81-002. Any 
        artificial situation where a person presents a 
        problem, such as role playing, is not acceptable; or

2. Other Programs: If the program is not accredited by the agencies identified in section 1 above, the Graduate course work, must have an emphasis on the provision of mental health practice, and include coursework in each of
the following...

www.sos.state.ne.us/rules-and-regs/regsearch/Rule/Health_and_Human_Services_System/Title-172/Chapter-94.pdf.....
----------------------------------------------------------
Walden is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is recognized by the CHEA (this is one of the State of Nebraska's requirements).  The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program itself recently received CACREP accreditation.  This satisfies the State of Nebraska's requirement 1.b. regarding accreditation of the degree program.  The internship and residency requirements of the M.H. Counseling program at Walden also far exceed those required by my home state for certification.  Walden requires 900 hours of internship to graduate while Nebraska only requires 300.  

Not related to these requirements, Walden University is also accredited by the North Cental Association which accredits countless post-secondary education institutions (including the University of Nebraska).  And if that wasn't enough, they are recognized by the Federal Government and are able to provide students with accessibility to federal aid.  Some private institutions I researched (both online and traditional brick-and-mortar schools) are not able to offer federal funding to their students.

All in all, I feel I have made a good decision in choosing Walden.  The program appears to be good prep tool for providing the necessary education and experience required to seek licensure to begin a career as a mental health practitioner.  

I can't speak for the relevancy or applicability of Walden's degrees towards careers in education, but i wanted to share my findings on this specific program if it might help anyone else out in making their decision on continuing their education at Walden. 

If anyone has any comments or questions, I'm always open for discussion.  My email address is:  hatchtopher@earthlink.net

I am currently applying to Walden to the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling Program.  I hold an A.A.S. in Business Administration from Central Community College (Lincoln, NE) and will finish my B.S.B.A. in Management from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL) with a minor in Psychology.  

I engaged in many classes at both CCC and UNL and am a big proponent of online/remote learning and experienced success in all online courses I've engaged in.  

The comments on here make it really hard to discern exactly whether Walden is right for me.  I am not looking to use my degree to go into education, rather to enter into a career as a mental health practitioner.  It seems the majority of these posts seem to focus on people obtaining degrees related to careers in education.  I have deliberated long and hard on my decision to choose Walden University.  Whether or not this place is a "diploma mill" was a heavy factor. 

Each state sets there own standards as to the certification requirements to practice in this field.  Since I live in Nebraska, I wanted to benchmark the program requirements of the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling at Walden versus the certification requirements for the State of Nebraska (in regards to what they define as an acceptable degree).  The following is taken from the State of Nebraska's Health and Human Services Department's documentation on "LICENSURE OF MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS AND THE CERTIFICATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS,PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS":

Approved Mental Health Practice Program means an approved educational program consisting of a master's or doctoral degree, with the focus being primarily therapeutic
mental health, from an institution of higher education approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or its successor; and must meet either subsection 1 or 2 as follows:

1. Accredited Programs: The program must be accredited by one of the following accrediting agencies (a program in candidacy does not meet this section):
     a. Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family 
        Therapy Education(COAMFTE);
     b. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and related 
        Educational Programs(CACREP);
     c. Council on Social Work Education (CSWE); or
     d. American Psychological Association (APA).

(CONTINUED.....)

California,

Talk to you state licensing board. In most states, (and I believe California is one of them) a Walden PhD in health Psychology is not a acceptable credential for licensing as a Health Psychologist. 

Thus you should be very wary of this program. I would hate to see anyone waste several years of their lives and a large amount of money only to find that the degree they earned will not get them to the position they want in life.

I wish you the best of luck,

Jack

I'm exploring the PhD in Health Psychology program at Walden.  I'm a licensed MFT in California, but would like to pursue a PhD for professional development without having to give up my full-time job.  Does anyone have any experience with this particular PhD program and how relevant it is to "the real world"?  I'm having a difficult time getting straight information from Walden since they're not in California and don't know the professional climate here.
Thanks for the help!

QnD,

Congrats on a smart decision.

Jack

It's all about the money.  As soon as I questioned validity of statements made by enrollment, I was put on the defensive and the bully tactics kicked in to try and make me drink the kool-aid.  Do your research to be sure you are getting what you want out of a program.  I found out from my state board that what I was told was not accurate.  I was enrolled and ready to go, and dropped out in the first week, which was excrutiating.  I felt like I was trying to cancel my columbia house DVD club membership, rather than withdraw from an online program.  Be very very sure you are getting exactly what you want.  You will have alot of friends as long as you listen and agree with everything that you are told.  The education may be fine, but remember their interest is your money, not fulfilling your needs to achieve your goals.  Be sure to do your research.

If your goal is to teach higher-Ed outside of for-profit education, do not go to Walden.  It is just that simple.

Please understand that publishing doesn't mean much if its not in a respected journal.  Even if the journal is refereed and blind peer reviewed, if it accepts over 25%, its not much of an accomplishment.  The good journals are 10-15% acceptance.  The best are 5%.

And you CAN put things in order.  Usually when facutly hires people there are scales within departments to rate people.  So if you go to Walden, you will have a 1 put down for Phd program (meaning lowest tier, not good).  If you have publications, you might get a 5, unless it is good or best journals, you can get 9 or 10.  These aren't correlated though.  Just because you went to Walden doesn't mean you can't publish in the best journals.  Truthfully its more unlikely since Walden doesn't focus long enough or narrow enough on validity, reliability, designing experiments, lit review background, etc etc.

But at the same time, MIT might get you a 10 for school, but if you don't publish, you get a 0.  So MIT Phd with no pubs = 10.  Walden with some high pubs = 10 too.  See how it all interacts?  Then you look at student teaching, fellowships, advising, etc etc.

Point is, Walden isn't as good as big name schools.  But it doesn't discount chances of getting in somewhere, its just harder.

If someone is a major professional success, they will appoint them as well.  Putting a big named actor in drama, or a big named CEO in business, is done all the time when they have (less than) academic credentials.  These people are wealthy enough that they don't need to teach.  But of course the average professor is going to need a highly padded publishing CV and a big name school.

@Ex-Faculty: to be fair, no one will receive an appointment at IU without major academic success. It just that phds from ivy schools are more rigorously policed by faculty before publication than possibly walden.

my thoughts on WALDEN - it is very discouraging to read de facto walden defenders on this review board. are students and administrators at walden always this defensive and intolerant of criticism? do they aggressively police critical behavior and attitudes? its frightening.

one thing i've discovered after earning degree from top-flight schools and having attended lower tier schools is a type of mob reflex against even perceived elitism. discouraging since i was considering a graduate engineering program

As an adjunct with a Ph.D. from Boston College I can say you will not be going to IU unless you are a major success in your field from your professional career. I am published so don't bother B.

Reality,

The answer to your question is NO!

You will not be able to secure a faculty position at IU (If that is your goal).

But don't just take my word for it, go speak with the Dept Chair at IU and ask him/her if they would ever consider someone with a Walden PhD.

The answer you will get is a resounding NO!

Regards, Jack

What is the real reputation of Walden?  Can someone who WENT there please answer this?  I don't want to spend a ton of money going somewhere with a bad rep.  I don't beleive anyone on this site who never went there, since they have no idea the way Walden grads are received by employers (both in academics and industry).

If I get a Phd from Walden Management school, will I be able to teach at Indiana University (in Bloomington).

To: To Curious

I would say Ex-Faculty is an expert in online education.  He has a Ph.D. in Ed. Research from Boston College and teaches/taught at a bunch of online schools still keeping an objective opinion.  Just because he doesn't like Walden is no reason not to listen to him.  

Thanks for the list Ex-Faculty.  I like the choices from Nebraska.  Do you know if they require residency?

He/She is correct. I am not an expert in online education. However, I know enough about online education to know that there are far better options than Walden. Just do your homework and you will find them.

Walden is NOT a good option especially for a doctorate.

V/r

Jack

University of Florida
Colorado State
Boston University
University of Nebraska
Indiana State

Why don't you just visit the Peterson's guide?  www.petersons.com  . Ex-Faculty and the rest of these jerks are not experts in higher education or online learning.

Hi Ex-Faculty, could you tell me some good online doctorates for education.  You seem very knowledgable.

Just got off of academic probation by SACS. It's a horrible institution.

Hi Jack, Thank you very much - I found the programs.

Just curoius,

Here are the links best of luck

www1.indstate.edu/consortphd/


www.umuc.edu/programs/grad/dm/

Jack

Jack, thank you for the information; I tried to find online PhD or DBA at Indiana State and University of Maryland but I was not able to do so... Maybe you know the links?
Thank you.

To Just Curious,

To date there are not many...because to provide a decent PhD online is difficult to say the least...But more reputable schools are putting forth the effort..

Look at

Kansas State-(Financial Planning)
Texas Tech
Indiana State
South Dakota State
University of Maryland

Texas A&M is in the process of a proposed doctorate as well

Keep in mind that all these programs do require short periods on campus and all are VERY Competitive for entry into the program. But, if you graduate from one of these programs your doctorate will at least give you the respect you deserve and you won't have wasted 5 years of your life and $$$$.

Regards

Jack

To "Jack is Back":

Which online non-profit Universities are good to apply for a PhD program?

Thanks.

To "According to", please do not equate size with quality!  You cannot say Walden is the best because its the biggest.  Provide some links that backup quality.  They do exist, but you need to understand where to look and what is important.

I received my BBA (concentration in finance) from LSU and my MBA/JD from the University of Oklahoma. I worked as Leagal cousel for the Mutual Fund Industry for 31 years and since retiring have taught business law both online and in the classroom for the The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, the University of Central Oklahoma, Texas Tech Unversity, and Kansas State University (all as an adjunct prof). In addition I taught 1 course for Capella...I was asked to teach for them again but declined (for the reasons that I discussed earlier in this blog) 

I Think that online education holds a valuable place in our modern educational system and I have studied the growth of online education extensively, but the for profit schools have it wrong...They are more interested in tuition dollars than they are in ensuring that our young people receive the education that they deserve.

I possess degrees in Russian studies and education.  I have a mix of traditional and online degrees with my Ph.D. in Educational Research coming from BC.

Ex-Faculty what degrees do you possess and where did you receive them?

Same question to Jack is Back.

I agree Walden is the best of the REALLY BAD schools.

Of course being the best school that sucks isn't really saying much!!

It is true, Walden is the largest online provider of educational graduate degrees in the country.  Considering the only competition is open-enrollment UOP and Capella, it wins hands down except in the Ph.D. component.  It has a better cirriculum and better student services than both those schools.  If they would do away with the KAMs and get a serious dissertation process, it would be the best for-profit out there.

This is why Walden has a total of over 33,000 Students.

www.waldenu.edu/c/About/The-Walden-Experience.htm

According to U.S. News & World Report, Walden University is the nation's largest online provider of graduate-level education programs, by enrollment. Over 20,000 educators have chosen Walden University's College of Education to pursue their M.S.Ed., Ed.D., or Ph.D. in Education degrees online. 


www.aralifestyle.com/article.aspx?UserFeedGuid=5ffe993d-21a8-4e0f-b4bf-27cd3feb89c5&ArticleId=936&ComboId=0&title=Educators-No-1-Online-Graduate-School-Program

I am curious to know why Dr B stopped posting after Rocks put those links.  I'm actually kind of worried.  Why would those schools really put "nonprofit" as a requirement?  It makes no sense to me and that is the first I have ever seen it.  I'll be graduating in a year and don't want to face that type of issue when looking to teach.

Anyone who says that attending walden is a bad decision is said to be that same person!!

The reality? pull up the s code for this web page and look at the IP addresses, They are from widely separated parts of the US...Thus it is impossible that they are the same person. 

The Walden enrollment counselors are lying to you!! don't make the mistake of attending this degree mill!

And to anyone with a brain it is obvious that "Mr." B is a fraud!!

Schizophrenia takes over this board for people who have no life(like the ones mentioned above)....which is why they keep talking to themselves...it's the only way someone will listen....so sad!

Ex-Faculty = Rocks = Simone = Dr. B is a fraud = Master Teacher

I too feel this blog has been hijacked by Walden enrollment counselors.  At every turn we get a new SPAM post from the Walden Ponder.  At the point of every comment the Waldenites jump out of the corner to attack.  This is not the actions simply of students or graduates, this is the activity of paid employees.  All who read this should be wary.