Walden University Adds Specializations in Education Master's and Doctoral Programs

Minneapolis—April 18, 2011—The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University is adding three new specializations designed to prepare educators for emerging opportunities in fields including early childhood education and English-language learning (ELL). Walden’s new specializations provide practical knowledge and relevant skills that can be applied directly in the classroom.

The growing population of K–12 English-language learners in the United States presents new opportunities for schools and teachers to discover and embrace the cultural and linguistic diversity that all students bring to the classroom. Walden’s MS in Education (MSEd) with a specialization in Teaching English Language Learners (Grades K–12) offers students the opportunity to explore strategies to help meet the unique needs of ELL students. Informed by Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) standards, this specialization can help teachers create welcoming, effective learning environments for all students in grades K–12.

Based on the standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the MS in Early Childhood Studies’s new specialization in Administration, Management, and Leadership will help Walden students who wish to gain the skills and knowledge needed to effectively manage child care centers and/or plan and administer a wide variety of programs for young children.

The Riley College of Education and Leadership also now offers a course-based specialization in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation in its PhD in Education program. Students can gain a comprehensive understanding of learning theory and research the cognitive, psychosocial and environmental dimensions that support learning across the lifespan. This new specialization can help students prepare for leadership positions that focus on expanding knowledge and meeting learning needs in preK–12 education; higher education; and corporate, government and nonprofit settings.

As a leading provider of education degrees online, the Riley College of Education and Leadership is dedicated to increasing teacher effectiveness and student achievement by connecting its students with nationally recognized education experts, researchers and scholars. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu/education.

About Walden University
For more than 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 42,500 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network—a global network of more than 55 online and campus-based universities in 27 countries.

Walden offers more than 50 degree programs with more than 225 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.hlcommission.org.