Walden University Reviews

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly (oops that's me!)

By: jpaulshirley (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

By: Anonymous (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

By: Anonymous (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

By: carpengo (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

By: rtrkrswfe (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

By: 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

By: mscoronak (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

By: Anonymous (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

By: john.fueston (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!

By: Anonymous (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

By: Anonymous (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!

By: Anonymous (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

By: 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

By: 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

By: awilber3 (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

By: 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

By: Anonymous (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

By: 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

By: Anonymous (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

By: 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

By: Anonymous (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

By: lowkeygent (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

By: 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

By: Anonymous (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

By: Anonymous (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

By: Anonymous (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

By: Anonymous (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!

By: Anonymous (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

By: 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

By: bgrizzell (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

By: 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

By: mcmwalden (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

By: Anonymous (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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