Is there an order in which I should be taking my courses? Can I make any changes to that order?

PhD in Human services students’ course sequence has been outlined in the Degree Audit. Changes can be made but are not recommended. Please contact Student Success Advising for more information. Please know that not all requests for alterations can be approved due to prerequisites associated with courses.

How many classes do I take each quarter?

Students typically take two courses per quarter. If you wish to drop to only one course per quarter, you can do so by emailing your Student Success Advisor to request the second course be dropped.

If students wish to take three courses at a time they may petition for program director approval using the petition form. Please contact your Student Success Advisor for more information related to the petition process.

Please remember to contact the Financial Aid office (finaid@waldenu.edu) before adding or dropping courses in a term to make sure you understand the impact your registration adjustments might have on your financial aid award that quarter.

Do I find my own dissertation committee?

Yes, Please contact your program director for further assistance in identifying and locating faculty for your committee members.

Please visit the Office of Research and Doctoral Services’s PhD Dissertation Process and Documents page for a copy of the Committee Member Nomination Form and the Dissertation Guidebook.

Contact your program director or the Student Research Coordinator within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences for help. Your advisor can assist with providing contact information for either of these two faculty members.

Alongside which course should I finalize my dissertation committee nominations?

Students should complete the nomination process while in HUMN 8550: Writing a Quality Prospectus.

How long are my classes?

Your courses are 11 weeks in length; however, your foundations course is a 6-week course.

Can I change my specialization or add a second one?

Students are able to change their specialization by sending an email to their Student Success Advisor.

To be eligible for the Advanced Customized Specialization, students need to have a 3.75 GPA and be recommended by Faculty member. In this specialization, students may pick their specialization courses rather than have them predetermined. Please contact Student Success Advising for more information.

Do I need to initiate registration for my courses?

You will be automatically registered for your courses each quarter by our Registrar’s Office provided you do not have any holds on your account that may prevent registration. If you are not registered at least 3 weeks prior to the next term start, and you do not have a hold on your account, please contact Student Success Advising for assistance in getting registered.

You will need to contact your Student Success Advisor via email to request registration for your dissertation course.

My Degree Audit says a class is “Unavailable” – what does that mean?

When a Degree Audit says that a course is unavailable, it means that course is currently not available for online registration. It does not necessarily mean that registration for that course is not possible. If a course shows as unavailable in your Degree Audit, please send a written request to your Student Success Advisor who can verify the availability of the course and process your request if the course is available.

Do I need to purchase my own books?

You will need to purchase your own course materials each term and can do so using the View Course Materials link located beneath each of your courses on the homepage of your myWalden portal.

Is there an order in which I should be taking my courses? Can I make any changes to that order?

Your course order is listed on the Degree Audit in your portal. Changes to the sequence can be made but are not recommended. Please contact Student Success Advising for more information. Please know that not all requests for alterations can be approved due to prerequisites associated with courses.

How many classes do I take each quarter?

Students typically take two courses per quarter. If you wish to drop to only one course per quarter you can do so by emailing your Student Success Advisor to request the second course be dropped.

If students wish to take 3 courses at a time, they may petition for program director approval using the petition form. Please contact your Student Success Advisor for more information related to the petition process.

Please remember to contact the Financial Aid office (finaid@waldenu.edu) before adding or dropping courses in a term to make sure you understand the impact your registration adjustments might have on your financial aid award that quarter.

Do I find my own dissertation/doctoral study committee?

Yes, Please contact your program director for further assistance in identifying and locating faculty for your committee members.

Please visit the Office of Research and Doctoral Services’s PhD Dissertation Process and Documents page for a copy of the Committee Member Nomination Form and the Dissertation Guidebook.

Contact your program director or the Student Research Coordinator within the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences for help. Your advisor can assist with providing contact information for either of these two faculty members.

Alongside which course should I finalize my dissertation committee nominations?

You should finalize your committee nominations alongside your SOCW 8550: Preparing for Dissertation course.

How long are my courses?

You will have a variety of course lengths in your program, with courses running for 11, 12, or six weeks. Please refer to the start and end dates identified on the Academics tab of your portal once you are registered for your next course for more specific information about how long your course will be.

Can I change my specialization or add a second one?

Students are not able to add a second specialization, but, if you wish to change your current specialization to another one, you may do so by contacting your Student Success Advisor to initiate the process. Advising recommends students change their specialization before taking any specialization courses as courses may not transfer between the specializations.

Do I need to initiate registration for my courses?

You will be automatically registered for your courses each quarter by our Registrar’s Office provided you do not have any holds on your account that may prevent registration. If you are not registered at least 3 weeks prior to the next term start, and you do not have a hold on your account, please contact Student Success Advising for assistance in getting registered.

You will need to contact your Student Success Advisor via email to request registration for your dissertation course.

My Degree Audit says a class is “Unavailable” – what does that mean?

When a Degree Audit says that a course is unavailable, it means that course is currently not available for online registration. It does not necessarily mean that registration for that course is not possible. If a course shows as unavailable in your Degree Audit, please send a written request to your Student Success Advisor who can verify the availability of the course and process your request if the course is available.

Is there an order in which I should be taking my courses? Can I make any changes to that order?

There is a recommended sequence for a student’s program, and this is published in the catalog and Degree Audit. However, students can request permission to take courses out of order. Students should contact Student Success Advising to inquire about their options as program director approval may be required for some sequence alterations. There are some courses with prerequisites that must be taken in sequence.

How many courses do I take each quarter?

The PhD in Public Policy and Administration program is designed to be taken two courses per quarter. If students wish to drop to only one class for a quarter, that is allowed. Please simply email your advisor to request to drop the second class from your registration.

If, for some reason, you are only registered in one class, and you want a second class, you can email your advisor to request the second course be added to your account.

If you need to take a break from courses, please complete the Leave of Absence form found in the Academic Resources page of your myWalden portal.

Can I add a third class to my registration for a quarter?

If you’d like to add a third course,  you will need to submit a petition (using the general petition form found in the My Education section of the ME tab of the myWalden portal), and your request will be reviewed by the program leadership. If approved, the approval is given only for one quarter. If you'd like to take three courses in a term again, you will need to submit a new petition for each term.

Do I nominate my own dissertation committee?

Yes, students in the PhD in Public Policy and Administration program are required to nominate their own dissertation committees. You must have your chairperson nominated and confirmed before being able to start your dissertation class. Student Success Advising strongly encourages students to have their second member nominated and approved as well to ensure that you are able to access MyDR and make progress on your dissertation class right away.

Please visit the Office of Research and Doctoral Services’s PhD Dissertation Process and Documents page for a copy of the Committee Member Nomination Form and the Dissertation Guidebook.

For more information about MyDR please visit the MyDR Resources section of the Office of Research and Doctoral Services’s website.

Alongside which course should I finalize my dissertation committee nominations?

It is recommended that student begin their search for their committee within the last two courses prior to dissertation, and have chair nominations finalized during the Advanced RSCH course. Students will need to contact faculty and provide willing members with a copy of the Committee Nomination Form (available from the Office of Research and Doctoral Services).

Should students be unable to locate a dissertation committee through their own efforts they should contact their Student Success Advisor to discuss their other options.

How long are my courses?

The Foundations for Doctoral Study course PPPA 8004 is six weeks in length. All other courses in your program will be 11 weeks in length, with a two-week break between quarters.

How long should I expect my dissertation to take?

Students are required to complete at least 1 year (4 academic quarters) of PPPA 9000A: Dissertation. The average timeframe could be within 2-4 years (8-16 quarters). Students are responsible for the tuition and fees associated with all sessions of PPPA 9000A, including those beyond the required 4 sessions.

If students are unable to complete the dissertation in 4 academic quarters, they will continue to be enrolled in PPPA 9000A each quarter until the dissertation is completed.

Can I change my specialization or add a second one?

If you wish to change your specialization, you may do so by emailing your Student Success Advisor with the specific name of the specialization you wish to take. If you want to add a second specialization, you may do so by emailing your advisor to request the second specialization. Please know that adding a second specialization will add an additional three courses to your required courses to complete your program.

Do I need to initiate registration for my courses?

Registration in the Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration program typically is automatic, except for the Advanced Research course and the first session of PPPA 9000A: Dissertation. Students need to contact their advisor in writing to request registration for their advanced research course or their first term of dissertation.

Certain situations that arise in a student’s program may prevent automatic registration. For example, Leaves of Absence, holds on a student’s account, General concentration courses, etc., may prevent registration from automatically occurring. If automatic registration has not occurred a month prior to the start of a new quarter, please contact Student Success Advising to request registration.  

My Degree Audit says a class is “Unavailable” – what does that mean?

When a Degree Audit says that a course is unavailable, it means that course is currently not available for online registration. It does not necessarily mean that registration for that course is not possible. If a course shows as unavailable in the Degree Audit, please send a request to Student Success Advising who can verify the availability of the course and process your request if the course is available.

Is there an honor society for my program? How can I join or who can I contact?

Students interested in joining the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society (the honor society for the PhD in Public Policy and Administration program) should contact the honor society directly at WaldenPAAHonorSociety@waldenu.edu.

Do I need to purchase my own books?

Yes, students in the PhD in Public Policy and Administration are required to purchase their own textbooks and course materials each quarter.

Do I need to complete all four academic residencies before I can graduate?

Academic residencies are a required component of your degree program, so students must complete all their required residencies before they are able to graduate. Students will not have their degree conferred until all residencies are completed, regardless of CAO approval on their dissertation before completing the residencies.

Is there an order in which I should be taking my courses? Can I make any changes to that order?

There is a recommended sequence for a student’s program, and this is published in the catalog and Degree Audit. However, students can request permission to take courses out of order. Students should contact Student Success Advising to inquire about their options as program director approval may be required for some sequence alterations. There are some courses with prerequisites that must be taken in sequence.

How many courses do I take each quarter?

The PhD in Public Policy and Administration program is designed to be taken two courses per quarter. If students wish to drop to only one class for a quarter, that is allowed. Please simply email your advisor to request to drop the second class from your registration.

If, for some reason, you are only registered in one class, and you want a second class, you can email your advisor to request the second course be added to your account.

If you need to take a break from courses, please complete the Leave of Absence form found in the Academic Resources page of your myWalden portal.

Can I add a third class to my registration for a quarter?

If you’d like to add a third course,  you will need to submit a petition (using the general petition form found in the My Education section of the ME tab of the myWalden portal), and your request will be reviewed by the program leadership. If approved, the approval is given only for one quarter. If you'd like to take three courses in a term again, you will need to submit a new petition for each term.

Do I find my own dissertation committee?

Students in the PhD in Criminal Justice program are responsible for nominating their dissertation committee. You must have your chairperson nominated and confirmed before being able to start your dissertation class. Student Success Advising strongly encourages students to have their second member confirmed as well to ensure that you are able to access MyDR and make progress on your dissertation class right away.

Please visit the Office of Research and Doctoral Services’s PhD Dissertation Process and Documents page for a copy of the Committee Member Nomination Form and the Dissertation Guidebook and more information about MyDR.

Alongside which course should I finalize my dissertation committee nominations?

It is recommended that student begin their search for their committee within the last two courses prior to dissertation, and have chair nominations finalized during the DPA 8300 course. Students will need to contact faculty and provide willing members with a copy of the Committee Nomination Form (available from the Office of Research and Doctoral Services).

Should students be unable to locate a dissertation committee through their own efforts they should contact their Student Success Advisor to discuss their other options.

How long are my courses?

The foundations course (DDPA 8003) is 6 weeks in length, while all other courses in the program are 11 weeks – including the dissertation course.

How long should I expect my administrative study to take?

Students are required to complete at least 1 year (4 academic quarters) of DDPA 8400: Administrative Study. The average timeframe could be within 2-4 years (8-16 quarters). Students are responsible for the tuition and fees associated with all sessions of DDPA8400, including those beyond the required 4 sessions.

If students are unable to complete the administrative study in 4 academic quarters, they will continue to be enrolled in DDPA 8400 each quarter until the dissertation is completed.

Can I change my specialization or add a second one?

If you wish to change your specialization, you may do so by emailing your Student Success Advisor with the specific name of the specialization you wish to take. If you want to add a second specialization, you may do so by emailing your advisor to request the second specialization. Please know that adding a second specialization will add an additional three courses to your required courses to complete your program.

Do I need to initiate registration for my courses?

Registration in the DPA program typically is automatic, except for the Advanced Research course and the first session of DDPA 8400: Administrative Study. Students need to contact their advisor in writing to request registration for their advanced research course or their first term of dissertation.

Certain situations that arise in a student’s program may prevent automatic registration. For example, Leaves of Absence, holds on a student’s account, General concentration courses, etc., may prevent registration from automatically occurring. If automatic registration has not occurred a month prior to the start of a new quarter, please contact Student Success Advising to request registration. 

My Degree Audit says a class is “Unavailable” – what does that mean?

When a Degree Audit says that a course is unavailable, it means that course is currently not available for online registration. It does not necessarily mean that registration for that course is not possible. If a course shows as unavailable in the Degree Audit, please send a request to Student Success Advising who can verify the availability of the course and process your request if the course is available.

Do I need to purchase my own books?

You will need to purchase your own course materials each term and can do so using the View Course Materials link located beneath each of your courses on the homepage of your myWalden portal.

Do I need to complete both academic residencies before I can graduate?

Academic residencies are a required component of your degree program, so students must complete all their required residencies before they are able to graduate. Students will not have their degree conferred until all residencies are completed, regardless of CAO approval on their dissertation before completing the residencies.

Is there an order in which I should be taking my courses? Can I make any changes to that order?

There is an order in which students should take classes. The Ph.D. in Psychology is a lock-step program, and you will be automatically registered each quarter. You may make changes to your registration provided you meet the pre-requisites for the requested classes.

 If you are in the General specialization, you should contact your Student Success Advisor for more information regarding your Degree Audit and course sequence.

How many classes do I take each quarter?

Students typically take two courses per quarter, but you can request to drop your second course by emailing your Student Success Advisor.

Please contact Financial Aid before making any adjustments to your course load for a quarter as changing your registration may impact your aid award for that quarter.

How long are my courses?

The Foundations course is 4 weeks, and all other courses are 11 weeks.

When should I complete the required residencies?

Residency 1: Attend a face-to-face Consulting Skills Intensive in Quarter 2 or 3

https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/capstone-intensives/csi

Residency 2: Complete an online Virtual Doctoral Project Development residency in Quarter 4 or 5

Can I change my specialization or add a second one?

You cannot add a second specialization, but you can change your specialization by contacting your Student Success Advisor.

Do I need to initiate registration for my courses?

Your program follows an automatic registration process wherein you will be automatically registered for your courses each quarter by our registrations department provided you do not have any holds on your account that may prevent registration. If you are not registered at least 3 weeks prior to the next semester start and you do not have a hold on your account, please contact Student Success Advising for assistance in getting registered.

My Degree Audit says a class is “Unavailable” – what does that mean?

When a Degree Audit says that a course is unavailable, it means that course is currently not available for online registration. It does not necessarily mean that registration for that course is not possible. If a course shows as unavailable in your Degree Audit, please send a written request to your Student Success Advisor who can verify the availability of the course and process your request if the course is available.

Do I need to purchase my own books?

You will need to purchase your own course materials each term and can do so using the View Course Materials link located beneath each of your courses on the homepage of your myWalden portal.