Walden University Reviews of Doctoral in Public Policy

I began my Ph.D. journey at Walden University (Walden) in 2017 and was unsure about attending an online school and the quality of education. Walden provided continuous technical and excellent pedagogy support. I became quickly acclimated to the online environment. The resources at Walden are endless and include me using the library, the writing center, the research center, methodology appointments, the availability to chat online, speaking directly on the phone with librarians, writing coaches, and... Read More professors in my field of study, and in a timely manner. The course work and dissertation were challenging but prepared me for my profession and taught me how to research, critically think, write, and apply my knowledge. My dissertation chair and committee members were there with me every step of the way. I am excited that I can now share my academic experience with co-workers and the public. I highly recommend Walden and the numerous degree programs at this academy.

My experience has been good overall. I started my PhD in Public Policy and Administration in 2011/12 and stopped near the end of my coursework due to personal life matters. After about a 4 year break, I was able to re-enroll fairly easily - only to find that the format and course requirements for my program had changed significantly. My student admissions and success advisors worked to get me back in my original program requirements and now I'm at the dissertation phase. Online school is self-directed... Read More and very much requires the student to be self-motivated. It's good for those who need flexible hours to do school work. I am an adjunct professor (face to face and online) at a different institution and online programs are generally the same across the board. I'll follow up after I complete my dissertation process. Best wishes to you all. (Oh, I received a $4,000 grant when I re-enrolled. Nice touch Walden)

I have finished all coursework and I am at the stage to start writing my dissertation. Last March, my father died leaving me, the only sibling, all of the duties of burial, financial reorganization, and decisions of operating an additional household. When he was sick I continued to take classes when he was receiving home care. When he died the stresses caused me to request dropping a 9000 series class (dissertation creation), 14 days into the class. Walden said that I would be liable for 40% of the... Read More $3200 tuition. They continued to stall for the next three to four weeks as we played a bogus game of email tag. At last, they requested 100% and said that I should have acted sooner. I wrote to the school, including the president. No answer. I was referred to an obviously subcontracted collection agency that could not care less. I have refused to pay $3200 for a class that consisted of no assignments, just direction. Considering the grief of a for-profit institution, I have not been a student since 2019. My budget is already far exceeded. Unfortunately, research tells me that this is how the institution operates. I am far from alone. This school simply kicked me to the curb.

My employer, a large federal agency, covered my expenses to study at Walden. I had initially thought that an online degree program would be easier than the brick and mortar university programs that I was used to. I was completely wrong. The online degree program at Walden was more demanding, and most of my professors were practitioners in the fields that they taught. There was very little hand-holding by the professor or even other classmates that you would normally find in a brick and mortar university... Read More because you have to be very self-motivated to succeed in an online program. You will not get face-to-face interactions with the professor and other students who may provide a student with repeated reminders to complete his/her work and listen to his/her whining. To succeed at Walden, one must be self-motivated to complete the class work and work hard. If a student lacks self-motivation and maturity, an online degree program at Walden or even at another online university would not be right for him/her. I had learned a lot at Walden and would not hesitate to re-enroll in it again if I want to study for another degree program.

The program was very comprehensive, rigorous, and very demanding. The faculty members, with academic and professional credentials of the highest caliber, are very well qualified with extensive knowledge in a wide range of disciplines. The required residency program, held throughout the country and abroad, allows face-to-face communications with many outstanding faculty members providing advice and counsel related to studies for achieving academic success, as well as fellow students across the globe.... Read More The coursework requires frequent communications with the instructor, always available for me by email or scheduling by telephone, as well as requiring discussion, along with feedback, between fellow students. The university library is very extensive, providing access to many publications and peer-reviewed journal articles in numerous fields. The university administrative staff were very helpful, both effective and efficient, responding in a timely manner to all questions and concerns. Prospective students may find this university as fully qualified in meeting their academic needs, particularly in public policy and administration, from my perspective. The program is challenging, and I have found it fulfilling. In depth discussions with my enrollment and later academic advisors were very important in my decision to enter the university program, pursuing and completing the coursework toward final completion. Finally, my dissertation committee and Chairman were instrumental in providing me guidance and direction in the completion of my dissertation, all resulting in my being conferred the doctorate of philosophy. I wish all students the best in pursuing advanced education whether at Walden University or other institution of their choice.

Walden University has been great. I graduated Summa cum Laude from a major brick and mortar university and have 2 Masters degrees. At Walden, I have encountered wonderful, knowledgeable and caring professors, a professional and personable support staff, and excellent coursework. An online doctoral degree requires hard work and self direction--there is no-one there to hold your hand and nurse you through it. I often had to work 20-30 hours a week on my lit review, and plow through hundreds of scholarly... Read More articles--on my own. The professors expect you to be an adult because this is a program developed for professionals and individuals who can handle the pressure and work load. On the other hand, they are always there to encourage, support and instruct, so you're never alone. I am almost done, and am excited to have that degree in hand--knowing it was with the friendly, caring, and intelligent support I received at Walden University.