Walden University, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a private university which has developed a reputation for advanced online research techniques and curricula which focus on the practical application of learned information and skills.
Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Walden University focuses mainly on graduate education, though it does offer a Bachelor's degree program.
This article will give an overview of Walden University, detail its online degree programs, and explain how its distance learning works.
Walden University – Benefits of Online Education
An increasing number of adult and nontraditional students are looking for flexible, online opportunities which can match the quality of traditional, campus-based institutions. Walden University, regarded for its academic integrity and holistic approach to learning, is one such online university. Below are some of the benefits offered:
- Flexible class options, including courses enabled for use on mobile devices
- Curricula designed collaboratively which cater to differentiated learning styles
- A focus on applying knowledge to solve societal challenges via courses which encourage effecting change, a Social Change Conference, and an online National Day of Service
- Student services which provide writing, research, and technical support
- An advanced online platform which houses online course lectures, assignments, live communication applications, and online libraries and research tools
- Face-to-face residencies for select programs in select locations
- Academic advising support and an academic mentorship program
While the educational quality at Walden University rivals many campus-based programs, it is much less expensive. Costs are determined by academic college and individual online degree programs, and prices are set either by credit hour (for most Bachelor's degree programs) and by quarter (for most graduate and post-graduate programs).
Now that the rules for federal financial aid have changed to grant online students eligibility for federal student loans and Pell Grants, Walden University students have just as many funding options as traditional students.
Walden University – Online Learning and Online Course Structure
The online learning structure is fully asynchronous, meaning student attend archived courses rather than cater to a schedule of live, broadcast classes. Students do have access to live chat applications through which both students and professors can meet and discuss various educational issues.
Students are expected to contribute to each course via online discussion threads; each individual online course requires a minimum number of log ins each week, and all courses provide syllabi, assignments, online readings, lectures, and course discussion threads via a central online platform.
Because class participation is a central focus for Walden University, many course forum discussions are instructor-led, and all discussions are archived for students to reference and review. Doctoral students are assigned a faculty mentor, and participation is measured by the academic accomplishments and advancements made during a given term.
Walden University – Academic Colleges and Online Degree Programs
The university offers a broad range of online degree programs through its five colleges and schools. This section will detail its degree offerings by academic college.
Below are the online degree programs offered through The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership:
- Instructional Design Certificate
- Bachelor of Child Development
- Bachelor of Instructional Design and Technology
- Master of Education
- Master of Instructional Design and Technology
- Master of Arts in Teaching
- Doctor of Education
- Ph.D. in Education
Walden University offers a teacher preparation program, approved by the state of Minnesota, which accompanies its Master of Arts in Teaching. It also has an Education Specialist program for those who wish to go beyond graduate learning. Additionally, individual graduate courses are available for current teachers.
Below are the online degree programs offered through the College of Management and Technology, which includes the School of Management and the NTU School of Engineering and Applied Science:
- Bachelor of Accounting
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Communication
- Bachelor of Computer Information Systems
- Bachelor of Information Technology
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Information Systems Management
- Master of Leadership
- Master of Project Management
- Master of Software Engineering
- Master of Systems Engineering
- Doctor of Business Administration
- Ph.D. in Applied Management and Decision Sciences
Below are the online degree programs offered through the College of Health Sciences, which includes the School of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing:
- Bachelor of Health Studies
- Bachelor of Nursing
- Master of Clinical Research Administration
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Health Informatics
- Master of Healthcare Administration
- Master of Science in Nursing
- Post-Master's Certificate in Nursing
- Ph.D. in Public Health
- Ph.D. in Health Services
Below are the online degree programs offered through the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, which includes the School of Psychology, the School of Public Policy and Administration, and the School of Counseling and Social Services:
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Bachelor of Criminal Justice
- Master of Mental Health Counseling
- Master of Nonprofit Management and Leadership
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Psychology
- Master of Forensic Psychology
- Ph.D. in Psychology
- Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration
- Ph.D. in Human Services
- Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Walden University's fifth academic division, The Center for Undergraduate Studies, is primarily a support center for undergraduate students, though there is one additional degree offering: a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Walden University – Online University Technology Requirements
The university has some basic technology recommendations for those thinking of learning online through the university, and include:
- A stable internet connection
- Windows 2000/XP/Vista or Mac OS X
- A minimum of 1 GB of RAM
- 40 GB hard drive
- Access to an inkjet or laser printer
- Microsoft Office or Open Office
- Adobe Reader version 8.0 or higher
- Adobe Flash Player version 9.0 or higher
- Apple QuickTime version 7.0 or higher
- Windows Media Player version 7.0 or higher
- Current antivirus software
Doctoral students and those in the Mental Health Counseling program are encouraged to have laptop computers due to the requisite residency requirements.
Walden University – Quality Distance Learning
Walden University, with its asynchronous schedule and mobile portability, offers one of the most advanced flexible schedules available among online universities. Its progressive educational model – which places a focus on both quality learning and practical, social involvement – is ideal for students who are looking to infuse everyday meaning into their studies. With extensive student services, collaboratively-designed curricula, a dynamic online platform, and face-to-face residency options, Walden University has become a model online university option for graduate and post-graduate students.
For more information, reference Walden University's online degree program guide, from which the information for this article was gleaned.
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