- For Students Entering With a BS Degree
- For Students Entering With an MS Degree
For Students Entering With a BS Degree
Minimum Degree Requirements
- Doctoral Writing Assessment
- Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
- Foundation course (3 credits)
- Core courses (40 credits)
- Research courses (20 credits)
- Specialization courses (20 credits)
- Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation
- Dissertation support courses (7 credits)
- Dissertation writing courses (5 credits per term for a minimum of four terms; taken continuously until completion)
- Quarter Plans
- Four PhD residencies
Curriculum
Foundation Course (3 credits)
Core Courses (40 credits)
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
OR
Research Courses (20 credits)
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
Residency Requirements
- Residency 1 – Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2.
- Residency 2 – Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course.
- Residency 3 – Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system.
- Residency 4 – Complete residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as follows:
- Residency 4 General(RESI 8404) OR
- Residency 4 Proposal Writing(RESI 8404Q) OR
- (RESI 8404R) OR
- (RESI 8404S) OR
- (RESI 8404T) OR
- an approved professional conference (RESI 8900 for select programs only. Contact Advising for information.) OR
- a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your 9000 course. Contact Student Success Advising to register. You must attend all sessions and advising throughout the entire intensive retreat in order to successfully complete the experience to satisfy residency 4 requirements.NOTE: Intensive Retreats are NOT included in Fast Track tuition.
- Optional:Complete adissertation intensive(DRWI 8500) during PSYC 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register.Note:Intensives arenotincluded in Fast Track tuition.
Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation
OR
AND
Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Course Sequence for Students Entering With a BS Degree
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | PSYC 8004 - Foundations for Graduate Study in Psychology | 3 credits |
PSYC 8252 - Themes and Theories of Psychology | 5 credits | |
| Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2. | ||
| Quarter 2 | PSYC 8215 - Lifespan Development | 5 credits |
PSYC 8701 - Culture and Psychology | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 3 | RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods | 5 credits |
PSYC 8762 - Teaching of Psychology | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 4 | RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis | 5 credits |
| Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course. | ||
| Specialization Course* | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 5 | PSYC 8412 - Research Foundations | 5 credits |
| Specialization Course* | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 6 | RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis | 5 credits |
PSYC 8214 - Consulting for Organizational Change | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 7 | RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis | 5 credits |
| Specialization Course* | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 8 | PSYC 8315 - Program Evaluation | 5 credits |
PSYC 8702 - Dissertation Literature Review Lab | 2 credits | |
| Quarter 9 | PSYC 8920R - Research Practicum ORPSYC 8920T - Teaching Practicum | 5 credits |
| Specialization Course* | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 10 | PSYC 8115 - Writing a Quality Prospectus ORPSYC 8185 - Writing a Quality Prospectus | 5 credits |
| Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system. | ||
| Quarter 11+ | PSYC 9000 - Dissertation ** | 5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms; taken continuously until completion |
Complete residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as follows:
| ||
| Optional: Complete a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during PSYC 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register. Note: Intensives are not included in Fast Track tuition. |
* See each specialization page for specific courses.
** Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Fast-Track Option Program of Study
Walden offers a Fast-Track Option. With the Fast-Track Option, students take additional courses and begin their dissertation early to expedite their path through the program.
(Note: There is no Fast-Track Option for the Self-Designed specialization [BS or MS entry].)
Minimum Degree Requirements
- Doctoral Writing Assessment
- Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
- Foundation course (3 credits)
- Core courses (40 credits)
- Research courses (20 credits)
- Specialization courses (20 credits)
- Completion of Doctoral Dissertation
- Dissertation support courses (7 credits)
- Dissertation writing courses (5 credits per term for a minimum of four terms; taken continuously until completion)
- Quarter Plans
- Four PhD residencies
In addition, students must
- Pass a writing assessment.
- Submit an application essay.
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Walden students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral program unless they petition for an extension.
In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in theDissertation Guidebook.
Course Sequence
The Fast-Track Option course sequences for students entering with a BS degree are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course sequence on each specialization page.
For Students Entering With an MS Degree
Minimum Degree Requirements
- Doctoral Writing Assessment
- Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
- Foundation course (3 credits)
- Core courses (25 credits)
- Research courses (10 credits)
- Specialization courses (20 credits)
- Completion of Doctoral Dissertation
- Dissertation support courses (7 credits)
- Dissertation writing courses: (5 credits per term for a minimum of four terms; taken continuously until completion)
- Quarter Plans
- Four PhD residencies
Curriculum
Foundation Course (3 credits)
Core Courses (25 credits)
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
- Students may take this as a non-degree course.
OR
Research Courses (10 credits)
Specialization Courses (20 credits)
These courses are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course list on each specialization page.
Residency Requirements
- Residency 1 – Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2.
- Residency 2 – Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course.
- Residency 3 – Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system.
- Residency 4 – Complete residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as follows:
- Residency 4 General(RESI 8404) OR
- Residency 4 Proposal Writing(RESI 8404Q) OR
- (RESI 8404R) OR
- (RESI 8404S) OR
- (RESI 8404T) OR
- an approved professional conference (RESI 8900 for select programs only. Contact Advising for information.) OR
- a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during your 9000 course. Contact Student Success Advising to register. You must attend all sessions and advising throughout the entire intensive retreat in order to successfully complete the experience to satisfy residency 4 requirements.NOTE: Intensive Retreats are NOT included in Fast Track tuition.
- Optional:Complete adissertation intensive(DRWI 8500) during PSYC 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register.Note:Intensives arenotincluded in Fast Track tuition.
Completion of the Doctoral Dissertation
OR
AND
Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Course Sequence for Students Entering With an MS Degree
| Quarter | Course | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter 1 | PSYC 8004 - Foundations for Graduate Study in Psychology | 3 credits |
PSYC 8762 - Teaching of Psychology | 5 credits | |
| Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2. | ||
| Quarter 2 | PSYC 8412 - Research Foundations | 5 credits |
| Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 3 | RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis | 5 credits |
| Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 4 | RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis | 5 credits |
| Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course. | ||
PSYC 8214 - Consulting for Organizational Change | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 5 | Specialization Course | 5 credits |
PSYC 8315 - Program Evaluation | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 6 | PSYC 8702 - Dissertation Literature Review Lab | 2 credits |
PSYC 8920R - Research Practicum ORPSYC 8920T - Teaching Practicum | 5 credits | |
| Quarter 7 | Specialization Course | 5 credits |
PSYC 8115 - Writing a Quality Prospectus ORPSYC 8185 - Writing a Quality Prospectus | 5 credits | |
| Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system. | ||
| Quarter 8+ | PSYC 9000 - Dissertation * | 5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms; taken continuously until completion |
Complete residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as follows:
| ||
| Optional: Complete a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during PSYC 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register. Note: Intensives are not included in Fast Track tuition. | ||
* Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Fast-Track Option Program of Study
Walden offers a Fast-Track Option. With the Fast-Track Option, students take additional courses and begin their dissertation early to expedite their path through the program.
(Note: There is no Fast-Track Option for the Self-Designed specialization [BS or MS entry].)
Minimum Degree Requirements
- Doctoral Writing Assessment
- Professional Development Plan and Program of Study
- Foundation course (3 credits)
- Core courses (40 credits)
- Research courses (20 credits)
- Specialization courses (20 credits)
- Completion of Doctoral Dissertation
- Dissertation support courses (7 credits)
- Dissertation writing course (5 credits per term for a minimum of four terms; taken continuously until completion)
- Quarter Plans
- Four PhD residencies
Students must also
- Pass a writing assessment.
- Submit an application essay.
- Maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Walden students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral program unless they petition for an extension.
In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in theDissertation Guidebook.
Course Sequence
The Fast-Track Option course sequences for students entering with an MS degree are dependent upon the particular specialization. Please see the course sequence on each specialization page.