Distinguished Speakers
Residencies often include the opportunity to hear and question plenary speakers, such as
- Christine Todd Whitman, former Environmental Protection Agency administrator and governor of New Jersey
- Donna Brazile, nationally acclaimed political strategist and commentator and chair of the Voting Rights Institute
- Kevin Klose, president of National Public Radio
See these and other “Perspectives on the World” speakers.
Academic Year in Residence
The Academic Year in Residence (AYR) is designed to provide you with the critical clinical skills that are essential for professional practice in the field of psychology. It allows you to focus on your development as a doctoral student and practitioner-in-training.
This period of study allows for the acquisition and evaluation of skills essential for supervised and entry-level practice in practicum and internship placements. You’ll develop assessment and intervention skills through evidence-based practice and by using empirically supported techniques to identify and resolve psychological difficulties. Additional coursework in ethics, consultation and supervision, and multicultural psychology during the AYR will complement your training. Further, you will focus on research and dissertation skills with the guidance of faculty members and in concert with your peers.
The AYR offers a unique opportunity for you to become socialized into the profession of psychology, encouraging close interaction with faculty members and fellow students to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for professional practice and scholarship. During your AYR, your progress toward developing these skills and attitudes will be evaluated and assessed by faculty members, providing the opportunity for individualized feedback and developmentally focused training in a face-to-face setting.
As part of your AYR experience, you will complete eight courses (40 quarter credit hours, total) in a blended format. This means that you will take part of each course online, but the majority of the course will occur in person with your classmates and faculty members at Walden University in Minneapolis. You must complete these courses, two per quarter, over a 12-month period (four consecutive quarters), typically beginning in the sixth quarter of the degree program. You will be required to travel to Minneapolis once per quarter to complete the in-residence portion of your courses.
The AYR is in addition to the Ph.D. residency sequence required by the university.
Learn More
Find out what our online higher education community can offer you. Request information or speak with an enrollment advisor by calling 1-866-492-5336. A list of international toll-free phone numbers is available for students outside the United States.
