Walden University

It's a mixed bag at Walden.  Definitely the licensure is problematic.  Take note of the fact that even for many academic positions only those from APA programs need apply and APA is gaining more and more ground in that department.  Also, even though after years of doing more work that I would have had to do to get through licensing if I'd had an APA degree and finally getting the license, I now find that some insurance panels IN THE STATE WHERE I AM LICENSED will not allow me on the panel due to my "online degree" with no option to demonstrate equivalence. It's definitely something of a risk to get a non-APA doctorate. You MIGHT get licensed, you MIGHT get an academic position, but it definitely limits your choices.  An APA degree opens doors.

I am in my second semester of an Ed.D (doctoral) program at WaldenU and I will not complain. Nevertheless, my biggest concern is the lack of respect associated with earning a degree online. Still, the course work at Walden is challenging and I have learned a great deal. In addition, the course work is very relevant. To be specific but not limited, I have learned a lot about APA style writing in one semester at Walden. I earned a BS and a MA from a "brick and mortar" school (University of Houston) but they did not teach me APA writing styles as did Walden in my first semester. Education is what it is...

I look forward to "earning" a doctoral degree from Walden University.

Walden should have been advocating for state licenure rights for their students- I'm a PhD Clinical Psychology student- I will never be able to get licensed. Walden sat by and allowed APA to close us out in almost state in the union. thanks walden

I have completed all of my classes toward my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, as well as a two-quarter practicum and am now in the middle of my first quarter of internship.  It saddens me to read some of the comments here about the lack of support provided by faculty at Walden.  Granted, if you sit back and expect someone to come to you, that will not happen but if you are proactive and seek assistance from faculty, you will get it.  

I live in a State that does not recognize Walden (or any other online school that is not APA accredited) so it was difficult to find a practicum and internship site but fortunately, I was able to do both at a local medical school (also where I obtained my MA).  It has been an awesome experience and I do feel that the education I received at Walden prepared me very well for my practica and internship experiences.  My supervisors have been impressed, as well as other faculty members and students.  Nobody holds your hand at Walden (which is the way it should be since it is a University!)Just like educations in a brick and mortar school, you get out of it what you put into it.  There are people who get accepted to internships across the country and a few students have even been accepted to APPIC sites but have you seen the complexity of that application????  Of course, first priority is given to students from APA-approved schools and those who are left get the sites that are left over but most of the people I know did not even bother to participate in the APPIC process because nine times out of ten, you have to relocate and most of those that I am familiar with are not able to relocate at this time.  

Walden faculty is available during the residencies for mentoring but if you stand and watch a few minutes, you will see nobody sitting and talking with faculty.  Faculty cannot read your mind and do not know you need help if you  don't let them know.  The best advice I can give is get to know your faculty members, even if they are not your professors at the time.  The more faculty you meet, the greater your chances are of putting together a dynamite dissertation committee with ease!

Walden is very upfront about the licensure issues (just look under the accrediation page for one).  Walden has made a lot of changes over the past five years and I think many more are forthcoming.  I can totally envision Walden as the first "Harvard online!"

Walden has been so-so thus far. I am finishing my 2nd year in a PhD program in School Psychology. I have to admit that I do a lot of reading and paper writing for the classes. I already hold 3 degrees in psychology (BA, MS, SSP) so most of what I've done so far has been review. The costs are very high though and it's true that it is not APA accredited. However, if you aren't able to do the traditional program, it is an effective means to achieve your goal of getting a degree.

ATTENTION PH.D CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY

1. Learn what all of the terms are.
After all is said and done in this very TRYING program you will be placed in a competitive based arena for your internship.
SOME TRAINING INSTITUTIONS DO NOT ACCEPT NON-APA ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS INTO THEIR INTERNSHIP HOSPITAL BASED PROGRAMS(if you don't know what this means..you better find out real fast). BUT...SOME PLACES DO (in all fairness). 

Check this out at on the internet "APPIC"
Those are the people you have to go through in order to qualify and then be accepted into an internsip program before you go for your license.

The argument that is always presented is that some states don't accept non-APA students for the licensure exams...case in point  drl.wi.gov/boards/cpc/agen/20061030.pdf

GUESS WHAT KIDDIES...DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND DISCOVER THAT IT ISN'T JUST ON THE STATE LEVEL FOR MA's...it involves (like I said the internship as well as PH.D licensing process).
....(in a quiet whisper) so you can't even get accepted into the internship programs that will allow you to finish your doctorate to begin with (DING-DONG)
BETCHA DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

So now, whether you are a stay at home Mom looking for a way out, or...some poor minority student with a brain that can't deal with the entire matter of a bunch of idiots that you have a deep URGE to just walk up to  and slap them in the face (gosh...so proactive in the civil rights arena)

uh...you better figure what's right for you...because like David Bowie in his 1975 Young Americans album (track: "Right") states, "....nobody gonna get it off"