Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration Reviews

What is all the complaining about???

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on July 8, 2009

Materials: Teachers:
Institution: Support:
Value: Technology:

Review:

I have to sit here and laugh at some of the reviews that I have seen on this post. For those that probably have the biggest complaints  I seen one post where someone complained that the professor wanted the student to actually do a few citations; how dare they! I have been going to this school for the past 4 years and have had my ups and downs just like most but for the most part it has been a very good experience.  I am pretty sure that most of the complainers on here got their first wakeup call when they read the syllabus and seen that there was a 25-30 page paper due at the end of each class and that didn’t count the title page, abstract, or the references. If you are really lazy and don’t want to have to work to achieve something go ahead and look else ware. The professors are top notch and all have years, and years in the field and are there for the students. I find it funny that the biggest complainers about Walden are the ones who thought the degree was just going to be given to you. I wish it was just given to me as well but they actually make you do some work for it. I did notice that some professors spend more time than others but isn’t it the same way at a normal institute? Not everyone is the same. I had one professor write a 3 page critique on a 25 page paper; I wondered if he did that for everyone? Online school is not for everyone, you don’t get a babysitter to explain when things are do. Now the bad! The Residencies suck! The KAM's really REALLY suck, and I am in the initial part of my Dissertation. The school is EXPENSIVE!!! I kind of look at it as you are getting what you pay for. The research Seminar classes were helpful but in reality they did not help me all that much when it came time to do the actual Learning Agreement for my KAMI had to switch my mentor because the first one was taking 10 days to get back submissions from my KAM; my current mentor takes 2-3 days depending on the size of the submission. Did I happen to mention that the KAM's suck! Basically they are a Thesis on steroids that take 3-4 months to complete and they suck. For anyone who actually thought that you could get a PhD in less than three years needs to take the back of your hand and slap yourself a few times because where did you actually hear that this could be done? The residencies are "OK" the thing that I disliked the most about it is having to listen to what everyone was doing their Dissertation on even though they just started the program. There is different milestones and it seems that they need to keep the milestone 3 and 4 together and let the newbie’s hang out and talk about how much they still have to go. All in all I really don’t mind Walden, I HATE SCHOOL and cannot wait to be completed and have some free time to myself without having to write all the time. There is no way you will succeed in this school if you cannot dedicate at least 8-10 hours a week for normal classes and 14-16 a week while you are in your KAM phase.

You can do better

By: constitution_hugger (Graduate) on June 25, 2009

Materials: Teachers:
Institution: Support:
Value: Technology:

Review:

As someone who received their Masters from Walden in 2005, I can say with all honesty that it is not worth the paper it is written on. Sure I received the promotion and salary bump that originally inspired me to get this degree, but there is no way that this degree compares to almost any others school. The classes were easy and obviously written by an outside company and were definitely not of graduate level standards. 

I wish now that I had not decided to go for convenience over quality in selecting a school. Walden University is a poor choice for anyone who can get into any other school.

Difficult Program

By: crimson71477 (In Progress) on June 10, 2009

Materials: Teachers:
Institution: Support:
Value: Technology:

Review:

Walden University's school of Public Policy is comprehensive and competitive.  There may be a number of students who start the program but not all of them finish the program.  I find that classmates who entered the program with me left because the program required a lot more time, energy, writing, and challenges that they were not expecting.

The School of Public Policy requires A LOT of reading, writing, and critical thinking.  This is certainly not a program that you can just do minimal work and get by.  It requires all the same expectations that traditional universities require except you can do it on your own time.  The professors come from universities all over the country and have diverse backgrounds that add to the dynamics of the program.  You can not enter Walden as a poor writer and leave the same way. The school is very challenging with regards to writing. If you can't read or write, you will never make it through the program.  The PhD program tends to be 4-5 years.  You can't possibly do it less than 3.

Good school

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on April 18, 2009

Materials: Teachers:
Institution: Support:
Value: Technology:

Review:

Walden University's PhD program in public policy and administration has been challenging and indeed I have developed as a scholar. I'm currently entering my 3rd year of the program and I'm finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Folks, if you're looking for a degree that has snob appeal or you want be a senior professor at State U, this isn't your school. Whether you like it or not, there is still significant institutional resistance to these types of learning modes. But institutional resistance is not the same as institutional quality. Walden University delivers on its mission: to provide a quality doctoral learning program via the web with some short-term residencies to supplement the learning instruction (as well as develop a live network).

Walden University is excellent at teaching the skills of scholarship via the web. The biggest difference between this type of program and a traditional one is the intimacy of the small and shared experience that occurs in that format. So clearly you need to know what and WHY you are pursuing the degree before you enroll. 

Finally, online learning isn't for everyone. You have to truly do a self-assessment of your motivation and individual learning style before taking courses in this format. If you're lazy or lack self-motivation or disorganized, then move on. There is no easy road to the PhD and you should look elsewhere if you think WU is your quick path to doctoral land. It's isn't. Also, just because it is online and therefore more "convenient" (no parking problems), don't think for a second that the program is completely flexible to your needs. Classes are packed into 12-week sessions and the agenda is quite aggressive. If you have "real life" issues like too much work or parenting responsibilities et al, then move on. WU will roll over you like a truck doing 85 at 2am on I-85.

The best parts of WU include an extensive online library, fast response time from librarians and excellent academic counselors. The residencies are also a strong point, as you get to network and form learning communities with other scholar-practitioners.  

My primary problems with WU include non-academic factors such as having a more coherent branding strategy. I would also like to see WU establish an online student lounge for students with facilitating the connection with fellow students from the same state, program, etc. This can still be accomplished through Facebook, but it's not the same (in my view). 

Finally, I would also like to see WU establish regional learning centers (or campuses) like Argosy, as I believe that would quicken the pace to which students would meet their residential requirements. 

Overall, WU is a very good school if you are motivated to learn and have the time to fully commit to the take of doctoral work. 

I hope my assessment has been helpful, as I tried to be honest and not a "homer".

Hard work and worth every minute

By: Anonymous (In Progress) on April 5, 2008

Materials: Teachers:
Institution: Support:
Value: Technology:

Review:

First, some of the negative reviews are just plain silly.  A professor asking for citations? What was the reviewer expecting?  An online education is not for everyone, if you need hand holding, this is not for you.  If you need a professor that you can talk to for several hours for guidance, this is not for you.  Read the program descriptions and research your field licensing requirements (if applicable). 

Walden requires course work and participation, it is NOT a degree mill.  Support is actually great for my program.  I have called academic advising with general questions and quickly got a person to talk to 9 out of 10 times.  The tenth time I left a message with a question and I got an email response with the answer in about a day.

Get More Information about Walden University

Looking for more information about the Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration program? Simply complete this information request form and their admissions office will contact you to answer any questions you may have.