If you ask any of Walden University’s alumni what their alma mater is best known for, you’d likely get scores of different answers, each filtered through the prism of a graduate’s online education experience.
Ginger L. Jenkins, a BS and MS in Forensic Psychology graduate and PhD in Psychology candidate, cites the value of accreditation. “To me, the difference between attending an accredited college is the difference between success and failure. I had to make sure the university I chose was accredited and user friendly with a challenging curriculum.”
Andre Lynch, who earned a BS in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration, says he values Walden’s mentorship. “It’s consistent, empowering, and encouraging. It’s a network that has provided a wealth of resources.”
A wealth of resources awaits each student enrolled in Walden’s online degree programs. Here are five areas of excellence for which Walden is best known:
Innovation
Since 1970, Walden has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making an impact in their professions and communities. Walden is a pioneer in high-quality, distance education. Its higher education programs power the success of working professionals—from across the United States and more than 150 countries—pursuing bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Walden’s 80-plus online degree programs span disciplines as diverse as health sciences, counseling, criminal justice, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, social work, public administration, and information technology.
Walden innovates the online learning process with its flexible platform that lets you log in when it’s convenient for you, from any time zone. The accredited university further distinguishes itself as being the sixth institution approved by the U.S. government to offer direct assessment competency-based education. Walden’s competency-based education experience, introduced in 2015, is a “go at your own pace” format that lets you use your work experience to potentially speed your progress. Walden’s MS in Early Childhood Studies was the nation’s first competency-based master’s program in early childhood to use this learning modality.
Walden’s technology platform also includes interactive multimedia simulations woven into a number of its programs. For doctoral students pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), Walden offers a consulting capstone project that allows them to work closely with a nonprofit or small business in order to improve the performance of the organization and get sustainable results.
Support
An Enrollment Specialist will help launch your journey to an online degree and you’ll have gold-standard support from that day forward. During enrollment, your expert advisor will explain Walden’s admission requirements and application procedures and introduce you to the online degree programs and the online learning experience. Financial advisors can demystify the financial aid process, showing you how scholarships, grants, and other tuition savings can put earning a degree within reach.
You’ll find more valuable resources once you step through Walden’s learning portal. A Walden online education virtually connects you with classmates, faculty, advisors, career planning and development, and more—your team, ready to support you. You’ll also enjoy 24/7 technical support throughout your higher education experience. There’s no waiting for IT office hours—great news for students who like to work at night.
Students pursuing their PhD or professional doctorate can benefit from Doctoral Peer Mentors, which are experienced doctoral students available to provide guidance throughout the dissertation or doctoral study process.
Faculty
Walden attracts best-in-class faculty members with years of practical experience in their respective fields. More than 90% of faculty members have doctoral degrees, with more than 25 Fulbright scholars on the roster. Walden’s all-star team also includes more than 350 faculty members who are current or past leaders of professional and charitable organizations and more than 300 faculty members with excellence in teaching and mentorship honors.1 Walden’s respected Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership is home to more than 150 state teachers of the year.
These scholars, researchers, and distinguished leaders excel at integrating their knowledge and experience into the virtual classroom, helping to prepare you for today’s best job opportunities.
Accreditation
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of six regional accreditation associations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Walden’s status as an accredited university is proof of the quality and rigor of its curriculum and faculty, and its support for students. Walden University is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), which speaks highly to the strength of its educator preparation programs. Of course, several of Walden’s online degree programs are also accredited by some of the most respected specialized and professional accrediting bodies in the nation.
Accreditation also means Walden has access to federal and sometimes state financial aid; that it instills confidence in those evaluating transferring credit from one academic institution to another; and that it imbues confidence in employers who are evaluating potential recruits or determining tuition support for current employees who wish to pursue further education.
Choice
Walden is in the vanguard of variety, offering over 80 career-boosting online degree programs with 385-plus specializations and concentrations. Easy online search tools—and online Enrollment Specialists—help you find your educational path. Start with a bachelor’s: Learn and sharpen in-demand skills with a BS in Communication. Move up to a master’s: Not only can you pursue an online Master of Business Administration (MBA), you can select from 10 specializations to mesh with your professional goals. And when you’re ready to graduate to a doctorate, Walden has over 20 online doctoral degree programs—and is the No. 1 conferrer of doctoral research degrees.2
Walden’s more than 50 online certificate programs offer working professionals a cost-effective way to build knowledge and gain marketable skills quickly. You’ll enjoy all the Walden advantages while quickly restocking your professional toolbox.