Ph.D. in Education

Walden’s online Ph.D. in Education program produces leaders who can address the nation’s most pressing educational challenges. Each online degree specialization is designed to meet both your professional interests and the needs of your school district, college or university. This graduate degree is ideal if you are already a teacher and your career goals include becoming a superintendent, faculty member at a university or community college, or administrator. The program offers you three ways to learn—a course-based format, a Knowledge Area Module (KAM)-based format, or a mixed-model format—depending on the specialization you choose.

Specializations (in addition to the General Program)

• Adult Education Leadership
• Community College Leadership*
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
• Early Childhood Education
• Educational Technology
• Higher Education
• K–12 Educational Leadership
• Leadership, Policy and Change
• Learning, Instruction, and Innovation
• Special Education
• Self-Designed

*Dr. Terry O’Banion, director of the Community College Leadership specialization in the Ph.D. in Education program at Walden University, is a nationally recognized leader in the field of higher education.

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Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

As a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), you will broaden your sphere of influence so that you can shape the future of education in your school, district, and community. The online Ed.D. program at Walden University offers five specializations designed for experienced teachers and administrators who want to continue their practice while advancing their career and effecting positive change in their schools and communities.

Specializations

• Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning
• Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (K–12)
• Higher Education and Adult Learning
• Higher Education Leadership
• Special Education
• Teacher Leadership

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Education Specialist (Ed.S.)

Are you looking to go beyond a master’s degree in order to improve your ability to make a difference in your profession? Walden’s Education Specialist (Ed.S.) programs are designed to help you do just that by increasing your expertise in understanding and analyzing research.

Whether you are a school administrator, educational researcher, teacher, department chair, supervisor, counselor, consultant, or government employee, you can acquire the high-level skills, knowledge, and critical-thinking abilities that can help you reach your professional goals more quickly. With the exception of the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation), none of the programs have residency requirements. This allows you to more easily balance your education with your personal and professional commitments.

Programs

• Ed.S. in Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning
• Ed.S. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development
• Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation)
• Ed.S. in Educational Technology
• Ed.S. in Special Education
• Ed.S. in Teacher Leadership

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M.S. in Adult Learning

Adult learning is one of the fastest growing areas of education today. The rapidly increasing number of learners and diversity of settings call for education professionals who understand the unique motivations of this diverse population. The M.S. in Adult Learning provides students with the knowledge and skills required to design, deliver, and manage adult learning in a variety of environments, including higher education; community college education; corporate and nonprofit workforce development; continuing and community education; distance learning; healthcare; and military, government, and religious education.

Engaging adults in a transformative learning process requires a distinct set of skills and a broad understanding of adult development. Adult learning occurs over the lifespan, so educators must understand learners at all ages and be responsive to their changing needs. Issues of diversity, motivation, innovative practice, and the use of educational technology must be considered when designing and delivering effective learning experiences.

The M.S. in Adult Learning program has been created specifically to develop the competencies of adult educators and empower them to apply knowledge to practice. A dynamic combination of theory, research, and practical approaches, including an individualized capstone project, has been designed to improve educator effectiveness and enhance student learning outcomes. Students interested in this program have four options to choose from in order to meet their professional goals. They may enroll in the general program or choose one of three areas of specialization in Online Teaching, Training and Performance Improvement, or Developmental Education.

Specializations

• General
• Online Teaching
• Developmental Education
• Training and Performance Improvement

M.S. in Early Childhood Studies

Gain the knowledge and leadership skills needed to prepare you for the expanding opportunities in the early childhood field. Deepen your understanding of child development and learning and study effective programs and practices. Critically examine issues, trends, and current research to create and sustain enriching programs and practices. Develop the practical strategies and tools required to plan curriculum and to create caring and respectful learning environments. Broaden your knowledge of issues related to equity and inclusion and learn to address inequities and advocate for children and families.

Specializations

• Administration, Management and Leadership
• Early Childhood Public Policy and Advocacy
• Teaching Adults in the Early Childhood Field
• Teaching and Diversity in Early Childhood Education

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M.S. in Education

Walden University’s online M.S. in Education (M.S.Ed.) program focuses on increasing teacher and student success. The program’s cutting-edge curriculum connects students with nationally recognized education experts, researchers, and scholars. Students gain access to leading technology, including electronic portfolios, podcasts, and Virtual Field Experiences™.

Students of teachers who hold a Walden M.S.Ed. with a specialization in Elementary Reading and Literacy (PreK–6) made larger gains in reading fluency than students of non-Walden-Master’s-educated teachers, according to a recent independent research study on Walden’s M.S.Ed. program. *

In addition, M.S.Ed. alumni strongly endorse their Walden experience. More than 90 percent of M.S.Ed. graduates said earning their degrees at Walden enhanced their professional performance.^†

Walden’s M.S.Ed. program is offered through The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, named for the former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The college is the choice of more than 45,000 students and alumni. Walden also supports the teaching profession by offering more than $5 million in education scholarships for classroom teachers.

Specializations

• Adolescent Literacy and Technology (Grades 6–12)
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (Grades K–12)
• Educational Leadership (Non-Licensure) (Grades K–12)
• Elementary Reading and Literacy (PreK–6)
• Elementary Reading and Mathematics (Grades K–6)
• Integrating Technology in the Classroom (Grades K–12)
• Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas (Grades 6–12)
• Mathematics (Grades K–5)
• Mathematics (Grades 6–8)
• Middle Level Education (Grades 5–8)
• Professional Development (Grades K–12)
• Science (Grades K–8)
• Special Education (Non-Licensure) (Grades K–12)
• Teacher Leadership (Grades K–12)
• Teaching English Language Learners

*Linking Teacher Learning to Student Success: An Evaluation of the Walden University Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership M.S. in Education with a Specialization in Elementary Reading and Literacy (white paper, Arroyo Research Services, April 2009).

^†Based on Walden’s 2008 graduate survey respondents.

Watch this short video about our M.S in Education program.

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M.S. in Higher Education

The number of students attending higher education institutions is projected to grow significantly during the next decade, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.* Learn to develop and lead programs, services, and learning experiences that can help these students realize their full potential. Understand the higher education environment across a range of functions as you explore the latest strategies and technologies to promote student success.

Specializations (in addition to the General Program)

• College Teaching and Learning
• Enrollment Management and Institutional Marketing
• Global Higher Education
• Leadership for Student Success
• Online and Distance Learning

*National Center for Education Statistics, Fast Facts, on the Internet at http://nces.ed.gov/fastFacts/display.asp?id=98 (viewed November 10, 2010).

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M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology

This program will teach you to integrate theory, research, creativity, and problem-solving skills to a variety of technology applications in order to improve performance. You will also learn how to develop the analysis, design, and evaluation skills to assess, create, and manage training materials. These skills combined will offer you the ability to support technological advancement and training in educational institutions and corporate training classrooms. Through your coursework, you will gain the experience needed to be efficient and effective using technology and multimedia tools.

Specializations

• General Program
• Online Learning
• Training and Performance Improvement

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B.S. in Child Development

Walden University’s B.S. in Child Development is a non-licensure, online bachelor’s degree program that draws on the latest research in child development and education, features insights and advice from national experts, and provides video segments that take you into early care and education settings around the country. You’ll learn about the theories, skills, and knowledge needed to work successfully with children and their families in a variety of settings and roles.

Concentrations

• Child and Adolescent Studies
• Infant/Toddler
• Preschool
• Dual Concentration (Preschool and Infant/Toddler)

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B.S. in Educational Studies

Positively affect the education field with a bachelor’s degree that is designed to build a broad range of skills and knowledge. Walden’s B.S. in Educational Studies is a good fit for you if you’d like to advance or start a career in the field of education but are not currently interested in becoming a licensed teacher. Study some of today’s most important areas, such as educational technology, diversity, law and ethics, learning theory, and creativity in the learning process. Your newfound skills can be applied to several career areas, including community programs, educational policy, education-business partnerships, nonprofit agencies, tutoring and support services for children and adults, and workforce development and training.

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B.S. in Instructional Design and Technology

Walden’s online B.S. in Instructional Design and Technology program prepares you to design effective learning experiences and training programs. Whether you are working in higher education, corporate training, or military and government training settings, you can benefit from this online degree program—one of the few of its kind in the nation. Combining academic theory with practical, hands-on experience, this degree program can help prepare you to excel in a career in the fast-growing field of instructional design and technology such as instructional coordinator/designer, training and development specialist, curriculum designer, course editor, or desktop publishing, web design, or multimedia specialist.

Concentrations

• General Program
• Business and Organizational Change
• Human Factors and Interface Design

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Special Education Endorsement Programs

The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership offers Special Education Endorsement Programs with an optional M.S. in Education with a specialization in Special Education. For licensed teachers who want to transition into a special education classroom or bring these skills to their current teaching area, our practical, accelerated programs combine the flexibility of online learning with hands-on field experiences. In 8 to 16 months,* you can enhance your skills and increase your professional opportunities by fulfilling the requirements needed to teach K–12 students with special needs.

Our endorsement programs include

Special Education Endorsement Programs with an M.S. in Education with a specialization in Special Education (16 months)*

• Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (K–12)
• Learning Disabilities (K–12)

Special Education Endorsement Programs alone (8 months)*

• Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (K–12)
• Learning Disabilities (K–12)

*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable.

Note to all Pennsylvania residents: Walden University’s teacher preparation program and special education endorsement programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching as leading to licensure and endorsement, respectively. Because these programs are not reviewed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, candidates are instructed to apply for Pennsylvania certification as out-of-state graduates of a teacher preparation program.

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Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)

Are you ready to make a difference in our children’s future by becoming a teacher? Walden offers an accelerated Teacher Preparation Program with a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) that can help you reach your goal. This online program, with specializations in early childhood education or special education, can help you gain the knowledge and experience needed to teach in birth to grade 12 classrooms or other educational settings. If you have a bachelor’s degree and aspire to teach, this program is designed for you.

Specializations

• Early Childhood Education (Birth–Grade 3)
• Special Education—Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (K–12)
• Special Education—Learning Disabilities(K–12)

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Note to all Pennsylvania residents: Walden University’s teacher preparation program and special education endorsement programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching as leading to licensure and endorsement, respectively. Because these programs are not reviewed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, candidates are instructed to apply for Pennsylvania certification as out-of-state graduates of a teacher preparation program.

Education Certificates

When you earn an education certificate, you can update your skills and enhance your knowledge to become a more effective classroom teacher, administrator, or educator in a corporate environment. You can increase your value as an educator in your organization with the most current research in this ever-evolving field and discover ways to enhance learning and motivate students.

Walden offers the following education certificates:

• Graduate Certificate in College Teaching and Learning
• Graduate Certificate in Enrollment Management and Institutional Marketing
• Graduate Certificate in Professional Development
• Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Instructional Design and Technology

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