Walden University Reviews
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An Absolute Joke!!! 
Ed. D. Educational Leadership
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on July 2, 2009
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Do not waste your money!!! My "Walden Experience"(which is their motto) has been has been nothing but a massive headache, and a VERY expensive one. Committee members, Academic Reviewers, IRB reviewers, and URR personal have clearly been schooled in the "stall as long as you can so we can get more money" department. You receive very little guidance and there is always something else to hold up progress. Walden advertises the Ed.D program as a 3 year program then tells you at the residency (1/3 of the way through your classes) that to be completed in 3 years is rare. I will graduate in December 2009 and refuse to even attend the ceremony because of the disgust I have for the way my peers and I have been treated. Again, save yourself the time, money, and stress- do NOT waste a minute on this university.
Horrible Experience 
EdD Teacher Leadership
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on June 29, 2009
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Some of these people who are posting positive reviews of Walden may likely change their minds when they get to the dissertation phase. I loved it too for the first year, but then I began working on my dissertation. The documents on the website say that you will be guided through the process, but that did not happen for me. I have been bullied and essentially hazed by my chairperson as if I were trying to get into an elite fraternity. I have worked extremely hard for over a year on my dissertation, and my chair has not read past page 20 yet (out of 100+). I was told to hire an outside editor because Walden will only edit your chapters twice. Requirements have changed at least 5 times during my work, forcing me to try to hit a moving target. The Ed.D. program is a scam. They put you in a neverending cycle and keep taking your money.
You can do better
Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration
Reviewer: constitution_hugger
(Graduate) on June 25, 2009
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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.
MS in Educational Leadership 
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on June 12, 2009
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I just completed the MS in Educational Leadership and found the program very challenging. It does take self disipline to stay current on the reading, assignments, and projects and is not for someone whom likes to wait till the last hour to do their work. Online education is fast approaching as most public and private schools are offering online courses even to students attending a brick and mortar location.
Difficult Program 
Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration
Reviewer: crimson71477
(Degree In Progress) on June 10, 2009
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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.
Fire Chief
MBA
Reviewer: ctomfly
(Graduate) on June 8, 2009
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Two of my buddies and I were going to start a traditional nights weekend MBA program. However after doing traditional colleges for my AA and BSA, and having a growing family, I tried Walden for on-line ease and hopefully not being too difficult. Boy I was wrong. I spend three (years) Christmas days doing homework and almost failed statistics. For those bashing the school it’s probably because somebody they know went there and they are trying to discredit it. My two buddies had their degrees in just over two years. I had mine in three. I am Walden Proud!
EdD Dont Waste your $$$
Ed. D. Educational Leadership
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on June 5, 2009
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My Dr Chair did NOT know I was in the class, even though I submitted work. Walden will stall your completing the program to get more money from you, ANY ASSISTANCE WAS SUPERFICIAL AND WHEN YOU GET TO THE DISSERTATION NO ONE WILL HELP YOU AND THE CHAIRS ARE UNAVAILABLE. Not a diploma mill this is a MONEY mill for Walden and no one else!
Tough Program, Great Education
MISM
Reviewer: caldwelljeff
(Degree In Progress) on May 18, 2009
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The MISM program at Walden University is a tough but rewarding program. I am an R&D director in Silicon Valley and chose this program after exhaustive analysis of reviews and reports of the comparative Universities. I knew this would be a tough, time consuming endeavor coming in. I was not wrong. However, I have learned even more than I expected. Hands on applications with Web 2.0 technologies, examinations into globalization cultural implications and a host of other considerations I was not aware of are but of a few of the areas I have been opened to. It is not an easy degree. However, it is a rewarding and useful degree.
Walden MBA
MBA
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on May 11, 2009
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Walden's MBA program by far exceeded my expectations. I was able to create a business plan throughout the life of the program that will actually go into use. The instructor and peer support were very helpful. Great balance of challenging work with flexibility for full time working commitments. Highly recommended.
frustrating, but not all bad
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on May 8, 2009
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I recently graduated and my overall experience in learning has been positive. I have worked hard and learned a great deal. I have become a better writer and researcher and learned to be objective and more organized. All but one of my professors has been exceptional. I was challenged by most of the material, but they often required "packages" that could be bought through them and were much more expensive than if you bought it used at an online site, such as half.com. However, in all other departments I have been greatly disappointed. The financial aid department is a nightmare and it is close to impossible to get a response or satisfactory answer from any department regarding any type of question or problem. It was a nightmare getting my thesis reviews back in a remotely reasonable time period and everyone "in charge" had the attitude that is was no big deal if it dragged on for another quarter (at my expense, of course), even though I finished ahead of their recommended time line. I was also misled about the program requirements by recruiting. Still, I feel it was worth the money, but not worth the frustration. I did learn a great deal and I am glad I did it and am also glad it is over with.
NOT RECOMMENDED
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 26, 2009
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This school might suffice for those who are secure in their jobs and need a higher degree to get promoted. If you are serious about your higher education experience, find another way. I can only speak about the psychology program AND the administration/support services. Walden was a very costly mistake for me. Some instructors are good, some are terrible - most do not contribute anything but grading. Financial Aid and Academic Advising departments are NOTHING like they are described by the school: Do not expect them to pay attention, know the facts you need, or call you back. Do not rely on information given to you, even about your own records, without speaking with at least three different people from the same department. Walden is essentially teaching yourself, which you can do without paying so much and being subjected to so much distracting frustration. To reach the graduate level, you must be hardworking and dedicated enough to deserve better than this.
ED.D Walden University
Ed. D. Educational Leadership
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 24, 2009
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This has been a very unpleasant experience in the Teacher Leadership Program. Professors do not help their students to pursue their degrees. They often give very limited or vague information that provides no help to the students. They constantly change their policies. There is no consistency in the courses. If it was done correctly, students would be able to finish without any or little difficulty. It is hard to contact someone for help. Again, the WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!
Good school
Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 18, 2009
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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".
Go somewhere else... anywhere else!
MBA
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 18, 2009
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What an incredible waste of time and money. I have three previous degrees from traditional universities and decided to try the online experience. It was awful. After two full semesters I have a 4.0, but am switching to another university, and eating about $9,000. But, it's worth it for me to have a degree from a school that is respected. The students I had to work with were incredibly lazy. I honestly question the school's admission criteria. Some of the other student's work is abysmal, yet they still make it from class to class. If you want a valuable degree go elsewhere. If you can’t write and have zero work ethic, Walden is for you. I should have bought $9,000 worth of Cracker Jacks and hoped to find a degree there. It'd likely be worth more.
poor sales techniques
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 17, 2009
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I received a call from Walden University to give me information about their school psychology program. I was already hesitant about even considering Walden due to the reviews I have read, however I decided to do my own research. The school psychology program Walden offers is not APA certified. The woman I spoke to told me they did not spring to have their program APA certified because it basically is more work and they have stricter standards. I told her I would have to speak to her later on and set up an appointment. She called me back within 20 minutes telling me that APA accredited schools need a 4.0 GPA on Masters degree and do not accept many students so I probably wouldn't want to try get into an APA program. She called back at our appointed time and sounded almost disbelieving that I wanted to try to get into an APA program and again stated that I needed a 4.0 on my Masters (which I have not yet earned). I told her that I thought I was up to the challenge and she told me "well if you don't make it you can come back here." She also told me I should consider pursuing my doctorate in clinicial psychology so I have more opportunities and then admitted that not many people that call look into school psychology - she was uneducated in my field of interest, tried to direct me in a new path that I am not interested in and then assumed that I am not either capable of or motivated enough to achieve a 4.0. I strongly recommend Walden get a different sales tactic than presuming potential students would not work to their full potential and would take the easy way to get their DOCTORATE. Very disappointed and slightly insulted by this sales woman - I'm sure there are competent sales people, I unfortunately did not have the pleasure of speaking with one and it has solidified my decision to not enroll in Walden University. I rated each 10-point scale item a 5 because I have not experienced them and would not want to alter the rating one way or the other.
Disappointed
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 10, 2009
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I am currently a PhD student at Walden and the only thing I am disappointed in is how long it takes for some people to be weeded out (and how much they complain about it when it happens). In order to be successful here you have to do something and be a self-starter. Having attending two other well known and well respected universities prior to enrolling here (and turning down admission to APA accredited programs) I am satisfied. Education is a business no matter what school you go to..people complain no matter what school you go to..people refuse to buy and read the books and brag about it when they graduate no matter what school you go to..and this place is no different. When you can REALLY see the difference is in the workplace when the true test of competence is revealed. I think this is not a school for everyone (especially the whiners, the lazy, those who don't ask questions before enrolling, those looking for an easy degree, and those interested in snobbery). As with anything in life it is all about what you make of it! Pretty soon all colleges and universities will move to offering online courses and degrees and then maybe the attitude will come out of the dark ages.
I have had a great experience at Walden
PhD Public Health
Reviewer: anaya1211
(Degree In Progress) on April 10, 2009
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I have had a great experience at Walden. This is my second year at Walden and I am in the PHD in Public Health/Epidemiology program. So far I have had excellent support, the teachers that I have had have responded to questions in a timely manner. Academic advising and financial aide have been outstanding in their response to my problems/issues. Walden is not just a diploma mill the materials are rigorous and you actually have to work for your grade which is contradictory to the popular assumption that online degrees are easy to get. If you can work independently you can excel at Walden. I would not have had the opportunity to pursue my PHD were it not for Walden. I am not able to attend a traditional "brick and mortar school" because it simply is not feasible for me as I work full time and am a single mother. Walden has been a Godsend for me.
Waste of Money
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 10, 2009
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This is a waste of of money. If you have any question, each person you reach after going through a pick a number phone system will give you a different answer. The people that work there have no idea what the policies are. They say they will reply in 10 days and you will wait 3 months for an answer. Some of the instructors are horrid. I paid a fortune to attend a seminar in Dallas. The instructor spoke for an hour and then just gave us the whole time off. Other instructors never post to the discussion board and provide no feedback on your papers. Whenever there is a policy change they do not keep former students on the plan they came in on but they make you change to the new plan (i.e., more money for laureate corporation). Students are a source of income to the school and nothing else. Save your money and do anything else with it.
Walden University Doctoral Program
PhD Public Health
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 9, 2009
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I am a student in the Education Specialist program at Walden University. I thought I was making progress and doing well. But when I began my final class, problems begin to plague me. I have no idea if or when I will finish. They added a new clause which lets future students know you could be in the program indefinetly: Neither the provisions of this guide, nor the acceptance of students to the University through the admission, enrollment, and registration processes, constitutes a contract or an offer of a contract. The College of Education reserves the right to change any provision, offering, requirement, or fee at any time within the student’s enrollment period. Regular updates are made to this guide; students are encouraged to routinely check the Ed.D. Web page for new or supplemental information. Students should contact their academic advisors, faculty advisors/mentors, or instructors for clarification of specific academic program requirements. The instructors and faculty have been known to be unethical and rude if you point out their mistakes. Their tone can be unprofessional as they urge you to stop complaining and get back to the process. However, you will come to many stops because what is satisfactory for one member of your committee may have to be changed to satisfy another. You are caught is a cycle and won't finish until they say so despite the quality of your work. I think Walden is trying to improve their reputation as a "paper mill" but the work is not rigorous or hard, it is getting someone to agree that you have met the requirements of the rubric that is difficult. If you are considering an online university and Walden is your choice right now, I would not recommend it for the above reasons. I am an anonymous reviewer because Walden has punished some students by making them redo completed requirements that they already passed as a punishment for what they see as complaining and being resistent to the process. It is the worst educational experience I have ever had. Say no to Walden.
Torture
Ed. D. Educational Leadership
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 8, 2009
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This has been the worst graduate experience I've ever had and heard of! Walden's Ed.D Teacher Leadership program is very unorganized. Faculty members change requirements whenever they desire to do so. This university is not fulfilling its mission of positive social change when the faculty is being cruel and unfair to students. Instructors are lying to students and are not meeting the 7-10 business day requirement for returning papers with comments, which prolongs students' abilities to move forward and ultimately complete the program. There is no instruction provided. Everything I learned came from reading the course textbooks and from my editor. If you express your opinion about any of this, you are penalized by having to make even more revisions to your paper,including revisions to parts that were never problem areas before. There is no support. This was marketed as a three year program; however, Walden faculty members now state that it is impossible to finish in three years. Talk about false advertising! I would not recommend anyone to attend Walden University. This experience has been nothing but torture!
awful
PhD AMDS - Finance
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 3, 2009
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All you are is a number and if you have a problem all they do is send a standard letter back. If you have stuggled they are not like most normal universities that care or concerned about rentention... they just kick you to the kirb even though you have spent a lot of time and a LOT of money and have done well in the actual courses. All they want is your money. The teachers are okay however it is very confusing with the PhD thing because you are in the class thing throughout the time you are there and paying over 4,000 a quarter for not a lot of helpful info.
Walden U - You get what you pay for.
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Reviewer: twykke
(Degree In Progress) on March 3, 2009
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Materials: I gave this a five since I never bought any materials. Teachers: Staff may possibly have been well-qualified, but they made up for it by being uninterested. Most responses obviously copy/pasted. Institution: Emails were not responded to in a timely fashion, if ever. Account frequently frozen because of poor communication between financial aid and accounting departments. Lots of institutional spam. Support: Again, I gave a five just because I did make use of this service. Value: At the time I enrolled, Walden was the cheapest online program on the market. I have never bought any course materials, further saving quite a bit. Use of technology: Software for the web-based courses was somewhat outdated and clunky, but usable. No major usability issues, just could have been a lot better. Outside resources, however, were mainly for-pay, and not worth using even if they had been free. 'Pro': The pros of this school are that it is one of the cheapest country-wide institutions (go to a state or country school if possible). Also, they will give a degree to anyone, and I mean anyone who can string several words of questionable English together. If you are developmentally disabled or English is neither your first, nor indeed second language, Walden may be for you (this is unfortunately not a joke). 'Con': In general, poor quality of online materials (need to buy lots of books, despite nominally being an 'online' university). Also, poor quality of classmates. Amazingly, many students could not spell despite there being a spell-checking tool built in to the posting form. Some students would fail completely to understand the assignment, basically just do whatever they felt like, and receive an 'A' anyway. Teachers were probably qualified, judging from their bios, but generally disinterested and would only send canned responses. Back on the 'pro' side, that means they are easy to game. Summary: If you live out of the country like me, or there are no good local choices in your area, Walden may be a good choice. If you want to get a degree with little-to-no work and little-to-no actual learning, Walden may be a good choice. If you are on a budget but cannot find anything cheaper, Walden might be a good choice. If these three considerations are not foremost for you, or if you really want to learn business administration, do not choose Walden as it is little better than a degree mill.
Education program
Education
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on March 3, 2009
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I've almost finished my degree with Walden and it is like any other program. You get out of it what you put into it. If you're willing to work hard (as you would expect in a Ph.D. program), then you'll gain knowledge and experiences beyond belief. The support is incredible throughout the departments at the University. All you have to do is ask. There are even live chats that you can initiate and get an answer almost any time of day or night. I have never had a problem with Walden and would recommend it to anyone willing to be motivated to take responsibility for their own learning because the level of independence is not for someone who needs to be lead around.
Education Reform
Education
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on February 28, 2009
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I finally graduated a month ago and I must say that the program (Master's of Science in Education with Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment specialization) has been worth my time and money. I know that generally people are very skeptical about on-line learning and I do not blame them. As an educator, I concede that people have different learning styles and as adult learners, they are free to choose the method that benefits them the most. Quality of instruction: There is a wonderful balance of teacher centered learning and student centered learning through out the whole program. Those who are familiar with the world of education know that the ultimate goal of the learning process is to develop self-directedness, self-monitoring, and self-adjustment. For me, Walden's program gave me an excellent opportunity to further enhance my attribute as a life-long learner. I graduated with a 4.0 GPA but let me tell you, it was not as "easy" as many people would have assumed. I loved the challenge! My writing got better and my whole insight about education had changed. The professors were supportive, excellently credentialed, and have authored books on education. Cohort learning: Online learning brought educators from multiple states together. Different states have different standards and via the online discussion forum, we learned from each other. That is the most invaluable experience for me. As we educators try to promote learning outside the classroom, online learners at Walden experience it first hand. Truthfully, there were colleagues who did the minimum but this phenomenon is not unique to online learning. I remember my friends in Pharmacy school who just got by and graduated with minimum requirements. Assignments: There were clear expectations on how assignments should look like and how there would be graded. Basically, you will get what you put in. The rubric was clear and if you want to get an A, just follow the guidelines. The assignments were were very thought provoking and helped me exercise the much needed critical thinking skills in today's classrooms. My having difference of opinion with my professors was never viewed as a negative element. In fact, it was celebrated and brought into discussions for further analysis. Student support: English is not my first language. I grew up in an ESL environment. Therefore, I struggled in my writing but the Writing Center was extremely helpful and supportive. My essays were constantly 2000 words or more due the depth that I chose to discuss the topics in and the writing center staff gave inputs and suggestions on how to improve the essay. It's a lot of work but one should not expect just to "breeze" through graduate school. I highly recommend this program for teachers who wish to pursue a higher degree in education.
Backup ALL your emails & get everything in writing
MBA
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on February 24, 2009
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My experience at Walden U was not as I had originally anticipated. At Walden, I think most of the instructors try to work with and have more patience with hardworking adults, who have children and other major responsibilities. However, from my experience, there are a few that do not. For instance, I had a family crisis and one of the teachers, who I thought, would allow me to complete my work and grade it did not. She let me do all the work and did not grade it, so I did not pass that course. When I attempted to find the email that I sent her and she responded to, Walden University had purged the email system; thus not allowing me to appeal the grade. I usually saved everything, but I did not get a chance to save that email to an external email. When I first started the degree program, I used my hotmail account to receive email correspondence, but later they changed it where all of the student's email addresses were through Walden. Now, I can see why.
Its not that bad!
Walden University
Reviewer: carmencita100
(Degree In Progress) on February 24, 2009
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I am going into my 3rd quarter at Walden, Ph.D. in Health Psychology. So far I have had excellent responses from financial aid and advising, less than 48 hour wait. After attending Capella for 2 years, Walden is a breath of fresh air. Amazingly, I prefer to work on my own and have teacher feedback. Capella had this constant discussion element that forced me to read terrible posts with serious intellectual deficits. So far at Walden I have found my colleagues to be well read and professional. As many of you have stated, you get what you give and I have been lazy to an extent getting B's so far, thus, no A's are given away. At Capella I got A's for doing next to nothing. At Walden I feel like the material is relevant and challenging. So like any institution Walden has its good and its not so good but I do not feel like its a diploma mill and customer service with me has been great. Faculty input is limited but I gauge my progress by grades. Obviously, C's or D's would indicate I am not keeping up. The B's I have tell me I could do better. Everyone has a unique experience in their educational life. I recall as an undergraduate and graduate in B&M schools, students would complain about everything too. As with any venture one undertakes, effort and disposition make all the difference. There is a tendency for people to be critical of online programs. There certainly are diploma mills out there and shoddy programs, but there are good ones as well. Just to be sure I called the Board of Regents of Ohio to verify if a Walden degree would be recognized and this was the response: "Walden is accredited by NCA (North Central Association) Walden is fine by this board". That cemented my decision to attend. Carmen
Satisfied Customer
Education
Reviewer: techr329
(Graduate) on February 16, 2009
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Great school for people who are capable of working independently and for teachers looking to expand their repertoire of teaching strategies. Do your homework BEFORE you enroll (which is where most of the negative comments come from...people who ABSOLUTELY did not and NOW they want to blame Walden for the misfortunes!)to see if it is what you are looking for. Don't go by misguided, bitter comments from people who clearly are to blame for their own troubles! My master's has put me into a new salary lane, not to mention prepared me for my endorsement as a reading specialist. Walden is not a one-size-fits-all university, but it is for people who know what they are looking to accomplish before they get their degree...NOT AFTER!! Thanks Walden U!
You choose
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on February 15, 2009
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If you are looking for a fairly simple, easy and straight forward program for getting a degree, Walden may be for you. If, however, you are looking for quality instruction, and consistency from one instructor to the next, I would suggest that you look elsewhere.
Don't waste your money!!!
Education
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on February 4, 2009
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I earned my master's in Elementary Reading and Literacy K-6 back in 2005 and now they will not endorse their program so that I can get the title of my master's degree on my teaching certificate! It means nothing unless they endorse their program. All that money and time for nothing! I might as well not have even earned a master's degree! I am so upset with them about this. Why will you not endorse your master's program so that someone can get it put on their teaching certificate? Believe you me...do not go here unless you want to waste your time and money on a pointless degree that doesn't matter to them.
Opinion only
PhD AMDS - Finance
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on January 28, 2009
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Perhaps being there a year, I should not be rendering a review. However, while there are some technical email hurdles, I can say that I am thrilled with my interaction with Walden. A Walden education is what you make of it. You have to put the work in and be diligent about it. The faculty I have been exposed to really care and are helpful if you ask. It has been extremely challenging and not easy, but worthwhile efforts usually are. The PhD Program requires focus, tenacity and the dedication of a saint. But what you will learn is incredible. The tools and thinking you develop are invaluable. Walden is what you put into it.
NIGHTMARE
Ed. D. Educational Leadership
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on January 28, 2009
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Walden changes requirements, went up on tuition 105% one semester, after orals I was told we have changed the project study rubric, you will need to redo your dissertation with the new rubric and redo orals....... the 3 year program has been a 5 year nightmare that doesn't end!
a new opinion
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on January 26, 2009
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Contrary to popular belief, not everyone who says positive things about Walden works for the company, or receives a benefit for saying something positive. I am writing this of my own volition. After reading the reviews on this site I felt compelled to share my opinions. I would first like to say that I am not “bottom of the barrel”. I hold my BA and my MA from traditional universities, both with a cumulative GPA well over 3.7 and received many offers from traditional PhD programs. I chose Walden for the flexibility. It boggles my mind that those who seem to have the harshest comments also have posts that are riddled with spelling, grammar, and typing errors. I cannot help but feel you had a difficult time because your work lacked the focus and skill required of a graduate student. You may have presumed that because this was an online program that it would be easy. This was proven to not be the case, so it makes sense to place the blame on the school for not bending and allowing subpar work to be submitted. I am working on my PhD in clinical psychology and have found the courses thought provoking and challenging. I admit I have had one professor that left a lot to be desired, but when I brought this to the attention of the program heads, they promptly handled the situation. They did not however just go on a witch hunt. Documentation of the situation needed to be offered, and after supplying this documentation they worked very quickly to rectify the problem. My professors have been great, and have pushed me to further explore ideas beyond the course presentation and requirements. I have met quite a few graduates of this program in the workforce all practicing in the field of psychology and all holding licensure. The school is not considered a diploma mill by those who actually have the ability to make such a decision. I have found in my experience that those individuals who feel the school is not worth their organization, generally also have no clue what the school is actually about when you probe the issue further. The residencies’ were great experiences, if you participated. The school was not chasing you around to make sure you were participating. There were many opportunities for learning, exploration and discussion with not only your peers, but the professors as well. This however required initiative. I would urge anyone looking at the school to ensure that your state will offer you licensure if your field requires it. I know in psychology many states require APA accreditation. This however does not mean a lot. To put it into perspective, NUY recently voluntarily dropped their APA accreditation. I can say for myself that if a state will deny a talented psychologist over something so ridiculous, I am happy I do not reside there. If you are serious about learning, have the skills necessary to explore and research without being hand held, and have a desire to go further I would urge you to look into this fine school.
Diploma
Walden University
Reviewer: RJGutierrez1
(Graduate) on January 23, 2009
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I completed my BSBA degree at Walden. My first issue with Walden was the surprise of finding I needed 3 additonal classes after I completed my Capstone and was set to graduate. I petitioned this issue for months and ultimately had to take the courses. I completed my degree in May of 2008 and have yet to receive my diploma. Every six weeks I am told the same story...please confirm your address...no one advised the graduation department...etc. I wish I had never attended...yet again..maybe I did not since I don't have diploma. It has been eight months and I am being told wait 8 more weeks. Stay away!
You get back what you put in!
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on January 21, 2009
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I just finished my PhD in Psychology (Clinical & Academic) and I found Walden to be wonderful! My Masters degree is from the University of Florida (Gainesville) and I found that I got much more out of my program at Walden than I did at the traditional brick and mortar universities that I attended. Let's face it--online education is not for everyone. You only get as much out of it as you put into it and some people's learning style preferences just don't meld well with an online environment. The best things that I got out of my education at Walden are 1) my writing skills have reached professional levels (I was an English major in undergrad and learned more about writing here); 2) I am now a wiz at researching. For those who complain that they didn't get enough attention from faculty and staff, question how you approached them. Obviously you couldn't talk to them face to fact but I have found that the majority of them will help you--they just won't hold your had throughout your educational career. However, at the level of Masters and PhD programs, faculty and staff should not have to do this. If you need help have your thoughts and questions well organized and make sure that you are willing to come up with a plan with those that you are asking for help. As far as the value of the degree...I was hired at a Big 10 school because I was getting the degree from Walden.
My experiences with Walden
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on January 4, 2009
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I am currently ABD in Educational Psychology from Walden. I received my MS from them as well in general psych. I have two undergraduate degrees from traditional schools. Before entering my master's program I had the same concerns as everyone else. Online education is facing a crossroads. On the one hand, the move to online education is growing rapidly with new programs being implemented by online schools and traditional schools offering more online courses. On the other hand, there is still a general consensus by the public that online education is a cake-walk, and surely commercials stressing the ability to take classes in your pj's doesn't help that image. Consulting literature, however, there is a growing number of studies being done supporting online education for several reasons. Cognitively, adults learn better through application. Following the constructivist theory, one can identify several benefits to online education: it requires personal accountability for learning, it provides the opportunity for personal control over their learning, and it requires one to use critical thinking to apply learning to useful and desired skills. With any university you are looking at, there will be pros and cons with all of them, traditional or online, so it is best to know what you want out of your education, recognize your situation, then make the right choice FOR YOU. Second, after attending traditional universities, I can say that Walden has been much more challenging in it's requirements and therefore, more benficial...IF YOU USE IT! Walden will provide you with the tools but you have to apply yourself. Walden is NOT a cake-walk university or a diploma mill! I can say that I feel Walden has given me a far superior opportunity for critical understanding of my education topics as opposed to the basic retention I got from traditional universities. Now, for those of you considering a liscensing specialization in psychology, while Walden is an accredited university, it does not have an APA approved program in psychology (no strictly online school does). Make sure you know your state's requirements. I know though that Walden graduates are being licensed so do what is right for you. Just because a school is traditional doesn't make them good. Likewise, just because a school is online doesn't make it bad. Think about what you need, what you want, and examine both online and traditional schools. Find the one that works best for you. The degrees from Walden are legit, not from a diploma mill. You have to work hard to get it, and a lot don't make it. YOU make the degree. YOU set the value on it through your own hard work and what you take from it. YOU have to sell yourself, your talent, your skills, and your dedication to employers regardless of where you got the degree. Finally, no matter what you read here follow your own instinct. You know what's best for you, not us! Good luck!
A REAL Former Student
Ed. D. Educational Leadership
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on December 29, 2008
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Walden University generally does not allow individuals to post anything negative about their school anywhere online. If you do so, they either lobby the site to have it removed or a couple dozen "students" all show up at once, using the exact same language, to tell you how wrong you are. So here is an unvarnished review of my Ed. degree, for as long as it lasts: Walden University is the community college of online schools. It is the bottom of the barrel. Can't go any lower. Couldn't get accepted into anywhere else, so you had to go here. That should be understood at the onset. I feel into this category. I ended up at Walden University because I needed the piece of paper in order to advance in my career. Nothing more, nothing less. What I got was a fight from my employer that still rages to this day. They do not want to accept Walden University as anything more then a diploma mill. And I can't say that I blame them. The "residencies" are a joke. All of the classes are canned (prepared classes where the "teacher" does nothing but facilitate and grades on Walden's parameters). This is not education by any stretch of the imagination. It is the equivalent of you sitting down with a reading list and teaching yourself - except that they charge you 40K+ for that privilege. Since receiving my Ed. from Walden University I have had nothing but problems. The school system where I work looks at it as if it were a foreign degree from a third world nation - and it might as well be. Walden gives nothing back to the academic world as a whole, publishes only when it must, and strives to cover up the fact that they are more of a marketing company then a institution of higher learning. I understand the appeal of Walden University. Sitting at home in your spare time, working on a degree to further your career... ...but reality just doesn't work that way. Trust me, find a different school and you'll be happy you did. I wish someone had talked me out of going to Walden, it would have saved me years of frustration and misery. Now, "anonymous" users in no way paid by Walden University, have at me.
Don't believe poor reviews
PhD Public Health
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on December 27, 2008
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I am quite surprised that people call Walden a "diploma mill" and must argue that Walden has provided a challenging program, among very competitive students and professionals. It is absolutely false that Walden professors hand-out A's and allow students to plagiarize. I am in my 2nd year of the PhD Public Health program, and maintain a 3.8 GPA. This has been earned by spending ~20 hours a week in each class, on challenging assignments that interface with current professional, research, and scholarly issues. Walden upholds very high standards, and students will never be allowed to plagiarize. The professors all use software to detect plagiarism, and will reprimand, reduce grades, and even place students on academic suspension for this behavior. It makes me wonder if the people who posted such poor reviews about Walden, were scathed by trying to get a diploma-mill degree, while plagiarizing, and not dedicating themselves to an intense, comprehensive program. I guess I would write a poor review too, if I had these expectations, but was unable to simply be handed a college degree. The Walden support has been very good. I have attended brick-and-mortar institutions for 14 years, and find that Walden even surpasses the support experiences I have had from other colleges. I have used Walden's technical writing, financial aid, residency, academic advising support, and have been pleased by it all. My professors have all had 15-20 years experience in our field, have been highly interactive, and have provided good instruction. I criticised on-line degree programs for years, and still believe that an on-line program is what you make of it, and you must be a self-motivated, dedicated, and astute scholar-practitioner to interface with superiors, colleagues, and peers in this academic setting. With that said, I have always used great discretion while evaluating other's personal comments and reviews of on-line institutions-consider the source!
Poor service
Education
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on December 21, 2008
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I enrolled and had nothing but problems. Make sure you have a PC and not an Apple. Many of my problems were probably due to my computer, but considering I was paying dearly for a complete lack of support bothers me. The loss hurts, but there are times in life you just have to give up and move on.
My experience at Walden
PhD AMDS - Finance
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on December 19, 2008
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I graduated with a PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences, Accounting in November, 2008. I started the program in October, 2005. This type of educational experience is not for everyone. It requires a self starter that is focused and committed. You have a faculty mentor assigned to you when you start the program. This is a resource available to you, but not pushed on you. The degree of interaction is up to the student. The mentor can be a valuable source of guidance and structure if used proactively by the student. Like all experiences in life, you get out of it what you put into it. There is a rigorous amount of work assigned and there is a required amount of posting in the form of classroom discussions. Both require time and effort. I did not experience any teacher that would just "pass" you on. You earned your grade. The teachers all seemed concerned and ready to help, but again, you had to be the adult and initiate the contact. Students need to understand this is not a baby sitting service....it is graduate school. The technology was outstanding. Three years without a problem. The cost of the program was expensive and Walden does not miss a chance to charge you, but than again, this is no different from traditional schools. I found that any questions I had were generally answered with quick turnaround times. I was very disappointed, however, in the academic advisors and the lack of coordination between the various support departments. Again, however, this seems to be typical of all universities. I was very unhappy with the approval process for the dissertation. There are several layers of approval. Your committee, academic review, and finally provost. This a very fustrating process with little support for the student. I don't know if this is typical of all PhD programs or not. Finally, it seemed that once the PhD was approved and accepeted, you fall into a black hole and have to jump through hoops to find out your status and the graduation details. Bottom line. It was expensive. I thought the residencies were a waste of my time (the first three were fine and useful, by the fourth, you have already taken all relevant courses). The faculty was dedicated, knowledgeable, and helpful. Academic advising needs to have more interaction with the student. The technology was great. I found the experience to be rewarding, stimulating, and well worth my time and effort. I would have preferred a traditional, on campus approach, but life's responsibilites did not allow it. Walden was a great alternative.
Well Worth The Money and Time
Masters of Science in Education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on December 15, 2008
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I have just completed my masters of science degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment K-12. I must say that I was leary of obtaining my degree online because of the stigma of online degrees. I found that the courses, assignments, and curriculum were of the highest quality. The course material reflects all of the leading researchers and ideas that are on the frontlines of education today. While some of the coursework can seem overwhelming at times, all of it has practical application in the classroom. I found all of the readings to be relevant and useful. As with any university, some professors are better than others, but I found the majority to be extremely helpful and challenging. I found that I spent about 15-20 hours per week on coursework, discussions, and applications. When I experienced some difficulties in my life, one professor was very accomodating in allowing me to complete the missed work in a timely manner without penalty to my grade.(Communication with potential problems is KEY if you are asking for extensions).
Stay away from Walden!
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on December 13, 2008
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I am presently in Walden's PhD program. I am so sorry to say that Walden does not live up to its claims. Faculty mentoring mentoring is extremely poor and uninvovled. If you are absolutely sure that you want to spend loads of money for a solo-education, go ahead. But don't be fooled by Walden's claims. If I hadn't spent so much money already, I'd be in anothe program.
A great experience
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on December 2, 2008
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I have just completed my doctoral degree in health psychology and couldn't be more pleased with my experience. A lot of the complaints of my fellow reviewers also are expressed by people attending B&M schools. I know, as my husband recently completed his master's at a B&M school and sometimes it was a real nightmare to register, pay bills, apply for financial aid, get calls back on questions, etc. We compared level of effort required for our respective Master's degrees and he really viewed my coursework as far more intensive and demanding. As noted by others here, writing skills are vital if you are to succeed at Walden. I have no doubt some people will look down on my degree, but so do people look down on community college and state college degrees, depending on their own educational experiences. Yet, I do sincerely believe I have received a quality education, well worth the pending student loans!
Avoid if Possible
PhD AMS engineering Management
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on November 30, 2008
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After reading several reviews about Walden University, I decided to join this university in September 2008. I wanted to pursue my PhD in management,on line was a good fit for me because it doesn’t require the complete one year residency as brick and mortar universities generally require. It was not going to be new experience for me, since I already took several of my master classes on line from a conventional state university. Walden seemed to have what I was looking for and it was listed as one of the approved universities by my employer, so I was going to be able to apply for educational assistance. Well, here is my story: If you can, stay away from Walden. Take this advice from someone that has taken on line classes from a brick and mortar university and knows what bad and good both service and education are. Walden is a business, thy will try to get as much money fro you as possible, regardless of what you do academically. They will task you with homework, lots and lots, whose value is more than doubtful. If you submit it on time, you got points. The feedback you get from the instructor is useless, and they force you to participate in nonsense discussions with no value whatsoever. Unless you really what to learn something from this, this is just a waste of time. For those of you that think that customer service is bad, you are right. Customer service is terrible. They treat you very well when they are trying to hook you up. After that, forget about it. But, this is not much different from my experience in my state university. Now for the worst part: It is expensive. They tell you that a quarter is $ 4,1700.00, but what they do not tell you is that depending in the time of the year you register, there will be bridge course until the new quarter begins. They register in this type a course during the first quarter, but they tell you not to do anything on it until the 12 week. Then at this time, they automatically register for this class again for an additional $ 1,500.00! When I complained about it, I was told that this is the way the university works, so I told them that unless the charge was removed from my account, I would not register again. I am still waiting for an answer. The most fantastic thing was that I did not submit any work or participated in any discussions for this class and still got a satisfactory as final grade! In top of this, you have to pay for residencies (6 of them with a cost of $800.00 to $ 1200.00) and books, even a simple $ 10.00 DVD (Please let me know how your textbooks were included, mine were not). Bottom line: This school has to be considered as a last resort. I am out of it and registering for a local, in state and well-known university. It is a business, and they will treat you like that. And believe me, I can distinguish between meaningful work and just work.
Walden MBA is Competitive
MBA
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on November 21, 2008
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I would have to flat out disagree with the last person's assessment of the Walden MBA program. Most of his issues seemed to be with the University--not the program. I have two more courses before I complete my MBA in Project Management and have had only one professor that just gave me an "A" regardless of what I submitted. In my Business Finance course, I had the best professor (Dr. Jong Yi) that spent upwards of two hours *every week* explaining to me the lessons for that week because I had trouble. I received an "A" in that course as I have in all my courses so far, but I worked *very* hard to do so. Listen, there are people who will throw together an assignment and not care how it comes out. Some people cheat and plagerize. I did thorough research, worked in teams, and worked with my professors to get through each course (2-eight week courses per semester). That is why I thought I got a lot out of it. The one course that I got the most out of was a Marketing class where we fought a lot due to conflicting ideas regarding our team assignment. But let's face it--isn't that what the work place going to be like anyway? I gave Walden University a "9" overall because I have enjoyed my experience. Plan on getting the "Walden U" shirts, coffee mugs and stickers for my cars. I found the reading materials, course texts, articles, etc. top-notch and updated to reflect current trends. The PowerPoint presentations with the live videos were refreshing and took the place of the instructor lectures. Never had any measurable issue with support and I have been able to work on my school work while traveling numerous times for work and while on vacation at Disney World (not something I loved to do--I had to do it!). How else can you do that and attend a brick and mortar? Very impressed with the use of technology--definately got exposed to technologies I hadn't previously known about. It would have been ideal to attend an accredited school locally such as Georgia State, Emory or Kennesaw State here in Atlanta, but let's face it. Unless, I leased a private helicopter, how would I be able to make the weeknight courses with all our traffic? And Weekends? I am a parent, those are for piano lessons, laundry and karate. An at-home program works just fine for me. I schedule the time, and I control my learning. I also like the principle of social change that is the undercurrent of each course. The school is accredited and I know people who have gotten MBA's from Emory who many have the fancy paper, but still don't have a clue in the work place. So like everything else, your experience at Walden will be what you make of it. It is not perfect and your mileage will vary. But please know there are way more people that love the school than hate it.
Keep looking for another school!
WALDEN UNIVERSITYMSN IN NURSING
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on November 17, 2008
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I have been attending Walden for a year now, and I want out. I chose Walden because it is all on-line and I have kids, but I wish I wouldn't have wasted my time. The classes are boring and a waste of time. I have received A's in all of my classes, but I feel I have not learned anything useful to my career. Advising is VERY unhelpful and rude. I don't have much nice to say about this program. I am getting out and starting over, take my advise, don't get in!!!!!!!!!
Good School
Psychology
Reviewer: Amira717
(Degree In Progress) on November 17, 2008
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This is a very good school. I have two more course to go before I start my dissertation. The experience has been great. The coursework is challenging and the student-student interaction have been wonderful. The professors are professional and engaging. I can say with the courses I have taken only two professors were terrible and I believe that is because they just didn't give a damn. I am proud to tell people I am going for my PhD at Walden. Walden is changing. They now offer student services in which you can be involved with the school. They hold conferences on different topics from career counseling to disaster response from professional people. Their residencies are filled with people who are there for you. to encourage you and to listen to you. Anyone tells you that this is a diploma mill is wrong. For my last class I not only had to do my weekly assignments and respond to fellow students. I also had to do a article summary for all to read, and take a topic for one of the weekly discussion, and finally a annotated bibliography. I am working my butt off and I know when I am I will be proud to have my PhD in Psychology. :)
Challenging Study
WALDEN UNIVERSITYMSN IN NURSING
Reviewer: sicurn0222
(Degree In Progress) on November 14, 2008
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I was a bit skeptical when I began the Walden MSN program, but I am impressed with not only its quality, but the fact that the textbooks are current, the information is NOW, and the price includes the cost of textbooks. I am being challenged, but I am also being respected for my knowledge obtained from experience. I highly recommend this program. It's not for anyone needing hand-holding, or anyone needing constant reassurance and direction. You must be adult enough to be able to know what is expected of you as a professional, and an adult learner, and deliver it without requiring an explanation.
Walden Was a Waste
EdD Teacher Leadership
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on November 6, 2008
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At first I was very pleased with the EdD in Teacher Leadership program at Walden. Then I took EDUC 8015, the first of the Research courses, and we had to read the same two articles over and over for nearly every module. Nevertheless, I was earning an "A." After the third week, I became so sick that I had to ask for an extended deadline. The instructor suggested I contact Disability Services, which I did, and I was given the extended deadline. However, a week later I became so sick that I could not even complete the work by the extended deadline. By this time I had also missed the deadline to withdraw from the course. When I pleaded with the instructor to allow me to submit my missing work beyond the extended deadline she had given me, she refused. I contacted the advising team and was told that I could petition for a change of grade to No Credit and a waive of the tuition. Since the course was now half over, the Director of Disability Services intervened with the instructor for me and asked what grade I would receive if I completed the course without the missing work. The instructor said I "might" be able to earn a "C" at best. Since I did not want a "C" on my transcript, I petitioned, and given what the advisors had told me, I felt confident my petition would be granted. However, I was shocked when the director of EdD programs and the associate dean both agreed with the instructor and denied my petition! Even the director of disability services, who had said she would stand by whatever decision I made, agreed with the denial! I appealed the decision, sending along 51 pages of supporting medical documentation, but my appeal was denied! I was devastated, and watched helplessly as I received an "F" in the course. I contacted the advisors again and was told I could pay another $4000.00 and retake the course to improve my GPA with a better grade, but that the "F" would always be on my transcript. Although I only had two more years in the program, I decided to leave because of the unfair treatment I received. BTW, I'm a full-time professor of Education and had received all A's in a doc program at a B&M University prior to attending Walden. I made the mistake of leaving the B&M for Walden because of convenience.
Be careful!
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on October 21, 2008
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This applies to Clinical Psychology: Beware! Many of the people from Michigan recently found out that since the degree is no longer accepted for their state, they will not even be grandfathered into the system. Basically, all of their work has been a waste of time. This could happen to any of the other students from other states also. If you want to become licensed, I highly suggest that you do not attend this school! If you can, attend a school that is APA accredited! It has also been expressed by faculty and students that even after you get the degree others in the field consider the school a paper mill, and the lack of respect is apparent. Do your research, be careful, and make the decision for yourself! Good Luck!
Support at Walden University is a JOKE!!!
MBA
Reviewer: bakernc03
(Graduate) on October 2, 2008
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I completed my undergraduate degree at Walden University in Business Administration. The administrative support I received was absolutely terrible. This problem wasn't limited to one department either. I had trouble with the Financial Aid department, the Bursars office, the Academic Advisors, the "Graduation Team", etc. Every issue I encountered required me to e-mail and call at least ten times (and this is not an exaggeration and I have the e-mail chains to prove it for anyone doubting me on this). Nobody would ever handle any of my problems, and I was constantly pushed off on other people. I have never received this poor of customer service from any other organization (and I've had to deal with a lot of notoriously poor organizations like the VA, DoD Records Offices, State Unemployment Office, and Credit Card companies). I have been done with the Walden program for two months now, and of course I still can't get anyone to respond to me and tell me if they are even working on processing/issuing my degree. Also, I still haven't received my Financial Aid award (Pell Grant and Stafford Loan) from 4 months ago. In fact, I was actually told today that I will not receive it, because the school didn't process it on time. Apparently the Financial Aid has to be processed during the term it is to be awarded for (although I submitted it two weeks prior to the term's end date, apparently it takes three months to process like everything else at Walden). Other than the administrative support, the program was ok. The courses were easy and you received a 100 on pretty much any assignment as long as you submitted it. Everything I learned in the program came from reading the text books, as the teachers provide little to no lecture. The program price is a little costly, but the convenience of doing your degree quickly (easily handled 3 six-week courses at a time to complete 19 classes in a little over a year of course time) and at your own time added to the value.
Walden sucks; no ceph accreditation
PhD Public Health
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on September 29, 2008
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They are very misleading. They are not CePH accredited so the degree is worthless.
The Good, the Bad, the Ugly (oops that's me!)
Psychology
Reviewer: jpaulshirley
(Degree In Progress) on July 11, 2008
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Emotions run so hot both ways on this topic that I'm hard-pressed to say anything I think will matter to anyone. Is Walden rigorous? Without a doubt. Are there good faculty? I have met faculty who have my utmost respect and personal affection. Are there bad faculty? You would not believe my first professor there, except that several of us with professional experience in Addictions Counseling suspected that instructor of TUI -- "Teaching Under the Influence." It was as bad as it could possibly get. In my experience, that one rotten apple was fortunately an exception to the rule of good faculty. Are there others who are a tad temperamental, touchy, and who react emotionally, making it fairly clear there are students who can do no wrong, and others who can do no right? I'd have to say yeah, but not noticeably more so than were in my traditional B.A. or masters programs, at two different state universities. I hate to say this, but as much good as I have to say about Walden, I recently recommended two individuals to steer clear of it. One is a male with disabilities, like me. The Disability Office took 4 months to process my application and “lost” countless emails, phone calls, and faxes in the process- some containing sensitive personal medical information. If I told the whole story, the Believers here would probably accuse me of being an Infidel and lying about it. I recently saw a different forum that described Walden in terms of "academic excellence" but "administrative incompetence." I am not so worried about the incompetence. What worries me is the denial, coverups, and bullying that take place when I try to work through the problems. An administrator, admonishing me about my "attitude?" Nope, sorry, that's outa line, that's the purview of a behavioral health consultant, if I choose to hire one. Walden administrators are supposed to handle paperwork, and any who lecture me about my "attitude" or otherwise attempt to get overly personal with me in any other way, are engaging in harassment. The problem with harassment? It's slightly illegal in 2008, and that's because it is so destructive. That's my best effort at being objective. There is opportunity at Walden. There are also things at Walden that can damage a person. You can to walk through a minefield in hopes of getting awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor after it's all over. Just don't go there with your eyes closed assuming you'll be OK because Sergeant Audie Murphy did it.
BUYER BEWARE
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on June 19, 2008
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I cannot express how much you should not attend this school. Anyone who says that this school is better than merely good enough either works there (remember it is a for profit school and the admissions people or like salesmen) or has never been to a school where students are treated with respect and given a curriculum that is actually set in place to assist them in the future. I have talked to fellow students in the psychology program. Many of them are worried about licensure in their states as Walden U cannot make the guarantee that you will be licensed after graduation. The advising....well let's say they too act as sales people who constantly give students the run around and incorrect information. The professors are not held up to any kind of standard and after meeting a few of them I wonder how they graduated and are employed. BUYER BEWARE. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY OR TIME. I know traditional schools are inconvenient but as far as education is concerned you will get your money's worth. Take this from a PhD student who has been to both types of school.
Walden PhD Student
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on June 17, 2008
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Walden is not Harvard or Princeton, but can be in the future and there is a good chance for it to become an on-line Harvard. I’ve seen a lot of positive changes in Walden, and enjoy using the on-line library provided by Walden.
Walden is a great expensive experience
Psychology
Reviewer: carpengo
(Degree In Progress) on June 10, 2008
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Walden is a great way to pursue an advanced degree. If you are studying to get a license you need to check first if your degree will be accepted for license in your state. Walden's Psychology degrees are accepted by more than 25 states. However, there are at least 18 states and 3 territories that will not even allow online learners to take their licensure exams. One thing that you can see of the Walden alumni and is that they are already employed as psychologists, or doing similar work. Some are working in other areas and study a PhD just to obtain more knowledge or to have another diploma on their wall. There are few students like me that would like to obtain a PhD in Psychology to be licensed and practice this profession, without previous or current employment or training in the area or similar area. I live in Texas, where state and private agencies are recruiting psychologists; even doctoral students of Psychology in their last year! And they have enough time to finish their degrees and get licensed. And their salaries and incentives are not bad at all. Walden is my opportunity to make a difference, obtain a doctoral degree and work as a psychologists. This journey is expensive, and sometimes demoralizing. You find many obstacles(low grades, family problems, financial problems, academic progress problem, etc), but overpass them and continue to the finish line. Walden's costs of study are still low compared to a traditional campus based PhD!
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology
Psychology
Reviewer: rtrkrswfe
(Degree In Progress) on June 2, 2008
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First of all, Walden (nor any other online school) is for everyone. If you are unmotivated and waiting for someone to "hand you" something, you will not do well. I have just finished my last academic class at Walden and will be starting my practicum in Clinical Psychology soon. I am doing my practicum and internship at a very prestigous medical school and feel that Walden prepared me for my upcoming duties as an intern. I have enjoyed the support that I have received from professors and administrators. As for licensure, there has never been any secret that Walden is not APA-approved. They highly stress that potential students check with their individual states regarding licensure requirements before they enter the program and before it is too late to make changes. Engaging in an online program is the only way that I could have obtained a Ph.D. since I worked full-time as a teacher. There are no Ph.D. programs available in my town (one was just added in the Educational Field but....) and I could not uproot my family and relocate to an area that offered a program, not to mention quit my job for 6 years to attend school full-time. I will be very happy to display my Walden Ph.D. and feel that the education I have received is just as good, if not better, than any brick and mortar school!
M.S. in Education Very Useful
Education
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on May 21, 2008
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I enjoyed earning my master's degree at Walden University. The big advantages over a traditional program were two: 1)the discussions via an online board which allowed much more time for reflection, so the discussion was more substantive than in a traditional class, and 2) the students were in a variety of locations and settings, so we were able to get a wide variety of insights. The group work was, as is often the case, problematic, but other than that, it was a great experience. One professor even made himself available to one of my colleague's classes to share his Native American heritage with students studying that in their social studies class. The only regret I have is that Walden does not set up some convenient way for alumni to stay in touch. We exchanged email addresses, but it would be nice to have a central place to find each other.
Great School
Ed. D. Educational Leadership
Reviewer: mscoronak
(Degree In Progress) on May 16, 2008
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Walden is a wonderful university. I am a current student. I found the classes to be challenging and the information timely. The classes are not a cake walk, but you do learn a lot of important information realated to your field of study. Walden is not for individuals who are not self-directed.
Deceptive Enrollment
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on May 2, 2008
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Please be very careful when choosing this school for the clinical PhD in applied psychology if you have any hope of becoming licensed to practice. Note: Walden is NOT APA accredited. During consultation with the enrollment counselor, I was given a list of approximately 12 states that I was told "look favorably" at Walden graduates and permit students to take licensure exams, including two which I am interested in, namely Florida and New Jersey. I was even told that NJ State Board of Psychological Examiners was “highly impressed” with the quality of Walden graduates. First a little background information about what you can expect from the time you inquire online. You WILL receive a phone call in 24 hours. You WILL have a difficult time making direct calls back. You WILL be contacted several times a week, for at least two weeks. Once you submit your application you WILL be pressured to enroll at the next quarter. Part of the sales methodology of Walden is to push a person to commit to beginning studies quickly. The process from time of first consultation to when they first asked for a commitment, in my case, was two weeks. The enrollment "advisory" personnel will NOT provide any information about faculty, research interests, or allow any form of contact outside of the sales department. Also, they like to speak in terms of states ultimately "having" to accept online learning schools credentials, citing a lack of human services professionals in the future. I wrote to two State Licensing Boards and received the following responses: Florida Department of Health writes, "I am unaware of any instance in which the Board has looked favorably upon an applicant, outside of the above exceptions, who did not graduate from an APA-accredited program." The exceptions are listed on the website and do not pertain to Walden University. The Executive Director of the NJ State Board writes, "to be honest, very few graduates of Walden University have obtained a license to practice psychology in the State of New Jersey." I shared with the Executive Director my intention to STAY AWAY from Walden and was given the following response, “I'm glad you have been so diligent in exploring the possibilities. Would that others had been so careful.” Although the door is not closed to Walden students, it is not exactly common, or even likely. Don't even get me started on what I was able to uncover about the faculty turnover at Walden.
Great experience
Psychology
Reviewer: john.fueston
(Degree In Progress) on April 28, 2008
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I am one year into my PhD in clinical psych. Walden is extraordinarily up-front with regard to the process of licensure. One of our first assignments was to go through our state licensure requirements step-by-step and show how the Walden program met or didn't meet state requirements. No surprises. The teachers have been great, if a little brutal. The rigor of the program is about the same as law school. My only real complaint is with the bursar's office. Working with them is like working with a lump of rock. I do feel I was soft-sold with regard to the number of hours per week I would have to devote to the program. Plan on a minimum of 30 if you want to succeed. The response of professionals in my geographical has been generally good. I know many therapists and psychologists from my days of practicing law. One of them recommended me to the program.
PhD Public Health Walden University Beware!
PhD Public Health
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 21, 2008
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I am presently attending Walden University, PhD Public Health, and I have to say that I am deeply disappointed. I am presently working on my dissertation and this has been a horrible experience and huge mistake (financially) on my part. First, for PhD Public Health students the lack of faculty available to fill the mandatory dissertation committee (3 faculty) is a problem that must be changed ASAP if Walden wishes to continue with this program. It appears to me that Walden has set public health PhD student's up for failure because most students find themselves without a full committee and cannot finish the dissertation process. The enrollment advisor and the academic advisors never say at the start that the student is responsible for finding their dissertation committee and if the student cannot then oh well, too bad you are without a PhD and without several thousands of dollars, but hey thanks for the money while you were here. In the PhD Public Health program there are not enough "approved" faculty to take on the number of students who must have dissertation committees in order to complete the PhD requirements. I have never heard of a "real" University not providing the appropriate faculty in order for the students to meet dissertation criteria so that one might complete the requirements to graduate. If I had known from the start what the final stage (dissertation) was in details, I would not have wasted my time and money at Walden. Walden University is private and corporate owned, thus a business. However, I am going to write a letter to the Better Business Bureau and The Higher Learning Commission, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), www.ncahlc.org. regarding poor business practice and lack of providing students with the BASIC necessities (like faculty) in order to complete the degree. To me I feel I have been lied to, set up for failure, and about 60 thousand dollars stolen from me because the university knew they did not have enough faculty for the PhD Public Health students to complete the dissertation according to their own policies and mandatory dissertation committee. I received my bachelors and masters from a traditional university and I am in the process of transfering back to the traditional university setting in hopes that I finish my PhD. I have maintained a 3.7 GPA during my doctoral studies at Walden and I am really angry to see all that money and time count for absolutely nothing.
Hard work and worth every minute
Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 5, 2008
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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.
Walden Is Beyond Bad!
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on April 2, 2008
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I started at Walden hoping to complete a PhD. I have been constantly disappointed with my professors. Over half of my professors have been hard nosed, arrogant, wanna be intellectuals who have no ability to teach and no interpersonal skills. The students who provide little to no intelligent work earn high marks, while others who attempt to be innovative (or God forbid inspirational) get attacked. It is an incredible thing to behold. The good professors are excellent and make you wonder why they can't get a better job. The bad professors are the worst, and most of them are Walden alum. Academic Advising is a joke, there is none. You are not even assigned a personal academic adviser. If you need to ask a question your email goes into a general box and it is a crap shoot about who will answer and what kind of information you will receive. Now I am stuck with half a degree in a non-accredited program and about $45,000 in student loan debt to show for my effort. By-the-way, be sure to check the programs. Neither the Masters or the PhD program in Psychology meet most state licensing requirements in coursework. If you follow the degree plan without first knowing your state's course requirements, you will not get licensed when you are finished. Walden is totally all about making money with no thought for the welfare of the students. The services and the professors SUCK (for lack of a better word). The only thing good to say is the online classroom form is better than others I have seen.
Great school
Education
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on April 1, 2008
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It was a great experience and has dramatically improved my teaching! It was not only accepted by my district but also the state, and I got a nice pay increase. I have also been commended for my teaching by administration, and I truly believe it is through the knowledge I have obtained from Walden! I think Walden is great for educators! And as I CONTINUALLY read about all the wonderful achievements others have experienced at Walden, I know it is strictly the INDIVIDUAL that makes things happen for themselves, NOT just the degree! Thanks Walden U!
Walden University is a Degree Mill
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on March 25, 2008
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I received my Masters from Walden University and can tell you first hand that they are a diploma mill. I just paid my money, did little to no work (most of the test and homework are pirated online and never change), and got my degree in about a year. The University is a joke and I have no idea how in the hell they are accredited.
Some Advice for Would-Be Learners
Psychology
Reviewer: awilber3
(Degree In Progress) on March 16, 2008
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I have utilized online education to obtain all of my degrees and have to say that I completely disagree with the assessment of some of the naysayers who have written sardonic reviews. I have always enjoyed complimentary reviews and comments from potential employers toward my online degrees. They are accredited, so why wouldn't they be? And while we are on the topic of accreditation, lets address a problem which seems to be running rampant through these reviews. Walden has it plastered all over their website that their Psychology programs are not accredited for licensure. So, if the state of Florida demands that you be licensed and you you expect that from your program, then transfer to a Florida-based school. They will probably take most, if not all of your credits. The classes and courses are accredited through one of the six accrediting authorities which are accepted worldwide, so guess what? They are, kind of, obliged to, in general terms. So, you may have to take an extra course or two...big deal. At least you will be licensed upon graduation, right? Here's some unsolicited advice for the would-be online learner: self-discipline is the key. If you are a person who has great self-discipline and can subject themselves to the rigors of an online program, then great! Online learning may be just the thing for you! However, if you are a procrastinator who has trouble with deadlines, cheated your way through high school, or even college, to some extent, then guess what? You are probably going to waste your time and money. Online learning takes a constructivist approach, whereby the learner acts as their own agent in constructing their own learning. You will get out of learning, whatever you put into it. If you apply yourself and give it your all, you will be the benefactor for it. If you give it a half-hearted effort, you'll be quickly discovered and exploited for your efforts. Not publicly, as ethical practices would encourage you to do better. But, the grades you received will be emblematic of the effort that you provide.
Keep looking, you can do better
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on March 13, 2008
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The classes are all canned, the teachers just moonlight from other schools, and the degree is laughed at by almost all employers. My Masters from Walden is worthless. All potential employers do is ask if the school is A) accredited or B) a real school. It's hard to take any school seriously when their main source of advertising is spam email messages and junk snail mail. Keep looking, you can do better than Walden University
Hindsight is 20/20
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on March 13, 2008
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Walden University has afforded me the opportunity to complete all coursework for the MS Psychology Degree, finishing all but the thesis with a 3.8 GPA. I began the course of study in 2003 taking one course at a time. A few quarters I was not able to attend, but because I had such poor advising no notice was given that a four year time line would cut me short of graduation. An extension was granted until Spring 08 to complete the thesis, however the Chair selection process is a gamble that in my case resulted in a poor choice. Letters to the Advising Group were met with responses asking me to discuss with my mentor(Chair). The poor responses from the Chair and the Dean created time delays that pushed my thesis to the point that it can not successfully meet the time line. Walden University is a money sham which should be investigated for fraud. I have 30k dollars in student loans to repay, no degree, and contempt for Walden University. Buyer beware- Online schools are not for everybody. If you want poor feedback, high costs, and a general lack of respect for student's, Walden is the place to waste your time and money. This post is one student's opinion and does not reflect the qaulity of other Online schools, nor other departments at Walden. The school of Psychology is specifically where my experience is drawn from. For the working professional, Walden School of Psychology, is a poor choice for a quality education. What does one do with the faceless, relationless, entity that is the online educational venue for Walden? I am sick over the whole experience! Without the degree my work with adolescent addicts will remain as a volunteer rather than as a paid counselor. Shame on me for being naive about Walden, shame on Walden for caring so little about it's student's pleas for assistance. AC
Walden is a great program for educators
Education
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on February 24, 2008
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Walden University exceeded my expectations. I just finished my MS in Education - Integrating Technology. I have a BS in Aerospace Engineering from WPI and started a MS in Management at Fairfield Univ. before switching to Education. Walden's program was rigorous, thought provoking, and well worth it. The work, resources and professors really gave me an terrific education. I recommend it for all educators.
Walden Ph.D Clinical Psychology track
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on February 10, 2008
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A very disciplined and outlined framework for achieving a doctorate. A full time student can expect to spend roughly 30 hours a week on research and papers. There are Walden professors teaching at other top university sites as well as campuses in the United States. My classmates sometimes originate as far away as Iran, China, and Africa to name a few. We are all coordinated on mountain standard time. I would suggest any other institution if you cannot put your best effort into this university. I am telling you, it takes some work...and you will never look at someone on the naster's or doctorate level the same after being in this program a couple of years. There is a difference.
Very Rigorous Education
Walden University
Reviewer: forevergloria
(Graduate) on February 7, 2008
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At first I was skeptical about Walden U. But I soon saw that the professors and administration meant business. They all set a very high standard and expected each student to meet that standard. Sad to say, many in my cohort did not make it out as hoped. But I believe that they were not cut out for it anyway. Distance learning is definitely NOT for everyone! Walden University has pushed me forward in so many ways. The residencies were extremely rewarding and I met some very valuable people. I now have a full time, tenured position at a state university that is 135 years old! I highly recommend Walden to anyone who id self-determined!
Not the whole truth
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on February 1, 2008
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I was enrolled in Walden's clinical psychology PhD program. First of all the so called admissions advisors constantly call you to get you to enroll. They casually tell you that you have three residencies to attend within a 13 month span.(That is if you are going for licensure. What they fail to mention is that these three residencies are two weeks long. That means you have to take of 6 weeks in a year, in addition to that you must attend two conferences that are at least 3-4 days in length. Like Northcentral University the instructors rarely get back to you if you have a question. Though they have a grading system like anyother school it can be arbitrary. I left Walden because a teacher wanted me to have citations after everyother sentence, giving me a very low grade. We tried to resolve the issue but I felt it was useless. I felt is was basically busy work and though I received all A's in my courses I felt as if I wasn't learning anything. What is most time consuming are the posts. In some classes you have to post papers, projects 2-3 times in a week. The interaction with the other students in the online classroom was interesting, yet I felt it didn't offer anything extra. I am hearing varios comments and concerns from many people concerning online education. Hopefully, when people write more of these reviews the colleges will get the message and try to change.
A Very Pleasant Experience
Walden University
Reviewer: lowkeygent
(Degree In Progress) on January 18, 2008
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I am a working adult and have been in my Ph.D. program for about 2 years. The program has been great and the faculty has been extremely supportive. I have had the opportunity to meet so many people as well as broaden my professional and academic network. Walden University is a great place to be. Residencies are great! Administration is great! The only major difference is that there is not hierarchy to break through like at B & M schools. The educational delivery is excellent. And because of my rewarding experience, four of my friends have since begun their doctoral programs at Walden.
PhD Health Sciences
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on January 15, 2008
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Walden's KAM-based PhD programs put the responsibility on the student to obtain the texts and resource materials pertinent to the area of study. Of course, these materials must be approved by the faculty mentor, but I was able to choose key texts and resource materials that were available from the medical center where I worked and local (major) universities. A Walden degree is only worth what the individual has put into it. I had to select 5 major textbooks and 10 contemporary peer-reviewed articles per module component. That means I read 15 major textbooks and 30 peer-reviewed articles for each completed quarter. In addition, I was required to submit 3 research papers based on the texts and readings for each quarter. 2 of those papers were 50 pages in length and the third was at least 30. One quarter's worth of work more than equated to the thesis requirement for my 2nd Master's degree. The key to a successful Walden experience is to find a faculty mentor with whom you can build a strong relationship.
Bachelors Program
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on January 8, 2008
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Anyone who is looking for a bachelors degree in business needs to look no further!!! Don't be fooled by the other online schools and their BSBA programs! Once I spoke with a counselor at Walden they really helped me understand the online process. Group work is minimal and you will not be penalized if someone in your group does not do what they are suppose to do. I love Walden so far! Its a great program with great instructors and it is a very easy system to use. I was at UoP for a couple classes and this system here is way more user friendly! The bachelors program is great! I highly recommend it to anyone!!!!
Accreditation at Walden
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on November 14, 2007
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From time to time I have read various posts about concerns about Walden’s accreditation. For Psychology students the biggest confusion centers on accreditation with The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association and accreditation with American Psychological Association (APA) or designation by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards/National Register (ASPPB/NR). These last two are requirements for licensure in some states, but not all. There is a history at Walden of the decisions around pursuing APA accreditation or not. This does not make Walden a “bad school”. Not all schools, and not all Psychology specializations within a school, will have these accreditations. Walden makes it explicitly clear in several places on their website and in the program guides what accreditations it holds and what it does not. I realize that this is easy to get confused about at the beginning of a program, but come on – this is grad school, and by now you really should be able to ask questions. It really is up to you to understand the licensing requirements for your state before you enroll anywhere. There are several practicing, licensed psychologists from Walden – again, depending on the state. Walden’s general psych program is geared either to the educational arena or research. If you want to be a counselor don’t pick this program. I am almost finished with my doctoral program at Walden and have to say that overall it has been a good experience. Many people like myself, with full time jobs and life demands could never pursue higher education if we were limited to traveling to and from a regular institution. So many traditional universities are now offering several courses online, if not full degree programs. Being among the first to tap into technology at the accredited graduate school level, does not make Walden a diploma mill, nor make the degrees awarded useless.
Not Satisfied
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on November 9, 2007
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I am currently completing my thesis to obtain a MS in Psychology. I agree with recent reviews, Walden uses the term "accredidated" very loosely. Although the psychology program is accredited, the MS in Psych is basically a generic degree. You cannot use this degree toward getting any type of licenses in the Psychology field. Basically, I would need to do another program that is geared toward licensure. Also, I have found the staff to be lack-luster and the program to be thesis based. I wish I would have taken my money to a traditional university that would grant me a more respected degree.
Not A Diploma Mill
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on October 26, 2007
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I am working on my PhD in psychology and have found the program to be wonderful. The instructors are top notch and the support is very good. I attended a traditional college for my BA and MS and find the level of work and interaction comparable if not superior to my brick and mortar experience. In online education you must participate, you cannot sit in the back of the classroom quietly. At Walden the expectation is to be a scholar practitioner. The only caution I can advise is to be sure that you are dedicated to learning and excellence as the expectations of the university are higher than one would presume.
Watch OUT!
Walden University
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on October 16, 2007
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I have been attending Walden University since 2004, and the reason I have not graduated is because the degree for MPH is not accredited. I have spoken with CEPH, and APHS, and Walden has no affliation with them. Here in the state of Florida accreditation from a Masters and a PHD should have their own accreditation which supports the program. I have found out that at the beginning, in 2004, the school told many students that they were accredited, but failed to mention that some of their programs were not individually recognized by organizations such as Council of Public Health Education, and Association of Public Health Schools. For this reason over 500 students have left the institution to seek programs that are accredited outside of this university Numerous complaints have been filed. I had a hard time reaching the school and at the beginning of the year I lost 2 internship sites, due to no telephone calls returned or emails responses, that lasted over 6weeks. I could not fund anyone at the school. I reached viocemails for that length of time. I received communication once I complained to the DOE in Minnesota. I am now working with the Vice President, the Dean, and the academic advisor to find an internship in my area. Unfortunately I am subjected to conference calls that have 4 plus people on the line. The four plus people are all Walden Staff, and then myself. I am not allowed to talk to any of these individuals without the presence of the other 3 or 4 people on the line. In all they are still seeking an internship in the area I live in. 4 months and 4 conference calls later I am no where near graduating as I was in January 2007. Agencies here are concern with program accreditation, and online education issues. I cannot change this. Please do the research for the school, Make sure that you can use the degree within your state. Unfortunately I may never graduate but I will have the student loans to remind me that not all school have your best interest. I wish many of you luck, and I hope that I can graduate someday and use this degree.
Review of Master of Science in education program
Education
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Graduate) on August 29, 2007
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I just graduated with a master of science degree in elementary reading. The program was very challenging. I think I worked harder than I would have in a more traditional program. This program afforded me the luxury of being able to sit in front of my computer wearing pajamas, for example. However, the program consisted of mostly writing papers. You must be a decent/good writer to do well in this program.
Brian
PhD AMDS - Finance
Reviewer: bgrizzell
(Degree In Progress) on July 26, 2007
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In the beginning, I had insecurities about earning my Ph.D. online, but over 3 years, I have had many opportunities afforded to me because of it. Because of our elite, well published faculty, my research and writing skills have made a 100% turn around.
Master's in Reading/Literacy
Education
Reviewer: skyy-taylor
(Graduate) on June 14, 2007
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Great school for educators! Just completed Master's in Reading also, rigorous curriculum, had papers due every week(sometimes two), everyone very friendly and helpful, answers email in a timely manner ( usually within 24 hours) great, helpful faculty---most had their PhD's (from traditional universities no less!) plus a professional portfolio to complete BEFORE they even give you your degree! So this is no fluff online school! It is a lot of hard work but DEFINITELY worth it! They include everything in your tuition (books, lectures,)and send it to you before your classes even begin which is extremely helpful! Everything you learn can be immediately applied to whatever you are doing in your classroom! My students learned SO much more than I ever could have taught them had I not pursued my advanced degree! I also did extensive research before I chose Walden..and from what I have read about the other online schools (Univers. of Phx and others)I'm glad I chose Walden..not to mention it helped me go up in salary. Thanks Walden U!!
Walden PhD Program
PhD AMDS - Finance
Reviewer: mcmwalden
(Degree In Progress) on June 8, 2007
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I am approaching the dissertation phase of my PhD. I have been very pleased with the school and program (although there was a brief period of time that school and technological upgrades caused student support to falter...good news is, things are so much better now). This has been a very enriching program for me, the face to face residencies are a wonderful component of the program that really help to appreciate the caliber of the staff and the validity and rigor of the program. This is a for-profit university, almost anyone with a master's degree of at least a 3.0 can get accepted, but one thing that is VERY APPARENT is that as you move through the program, it is so demanding and rigorous enough to filter true PhD quality students, that only a small percentage of those who enroll actually make it through to completion. There is no way to skate through this program. My experiences have been positive.
Recommended
Psychology
Reviewer: Anonymous
(Degree In Progress) on October 26, 2006
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I am a Walden PhD student in the Psychology program and can not say enough good things about the school. The professors are great and knowledgable. (Having attended Capella and UoP, I can not say the same). I would and do recommend Walden to anyone and eCollege is a standand learning environment much like BlackBoard or WebCT. All of which UoP and Capella do not use, while other Brick and Mortar Colleges/Universities do.
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