Walden University
Headquartered in the Mills District in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Walden University embraces a post-baccalaureate educational system. This university offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Health, and Ph.D.
(Doctor of Education) degrees in a number of academic fields.
Walden is a part of a network of campus and online-based for-profit universities owned by Laureate Education Inc..
History
For a full timeline of the University's history, click here for Walden University's website
Walden was established in 1970 by two New York teachers, Bernie and Rita Turner, who created a program for working adults to pursue doctoral degrees. In the summer of 1971, the first classes took place at a hotel in Naples, Florida, focusing primarily on school administrators.
These initial classes were to allow the students to form dissertation topics with their faculty partners before returning home to work at their respective schools while also working on their dissertations. In 1972, Walden conferred its first degrees: 46 Ph.D.s and 24 Ed.D.s at its first commencement in Naples, Florida.
In 1979, the Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board licensed Walden to grant Ph.D.s and Ed.D.s in the state and in 1982 the school moved its headquarters to Minneapolis.
In 1990, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools accredited the University. In 1995, the school expanded its offering with the nation's first fully online master's program in education, offering a Master's in Educational Change and Technology Innovation.
Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc.
In 2004, Sylvan Learning Systems became Laureate Education, Inc.
Colleges and Schools
College of Education
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (which encompasses):
- School of Public Policy and Administration
- School of Psychology
- School of Social Service
College of Management and Technology (which encompasses):
- School of Management
- NTU College of Engineering and Applied Science
College of Health Sciences
- School of Health Sciences
- School of Nursing
Accreditation
Walden University has been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1990.
Publications
International Journal of Applied Management and Technology
Journal of Social Change
Journal of Social, Behavorial and Health Sciences
Reputation
Fast Company, in its 1999 review of five entirely online schools, gave its only A grade to Walden stating that they were "hard-pressed to give Walden any demerits".
Although they have not performed a comprehensive review of the university, U.S.