Richard W. Riley College

Overview
The Richard W. Riley College of Education is part of Walden University. The College of Education offers an assortment of higher education degrees including master's and doctorates. Some programs are entirely online, whereas other programs are a combination of online coursework and face-to-face collaboration. In January of 2008, the school was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as having the largest online graduate program in education by enrollment.

Student Appeal
The majority of programs in this college can be taken entirely online. This means that students can study from the convenience of their own homes, and that they can more easily juggle busy work and family lives with their education. The excellent faculty members take the time to answer their students' questions and concerns, and students can finish the programs as their schedules permit. Many of the degrees can be completed in less than 2 years, so students can finish their studies and get started with a career they love.

Financial
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association. Federal financial aid and scholarships are available to those who qualify.

Programs Offered*:

Bachelor Degree
Students must be 24 years or older to enroll in bachelor programs.

• Bachelor of Science in Child Development (B.S. Child Dev)Bachelor of Science in Child Development (B.S. Child Dev)
  With Concentrations in:
  • Preschool
  • Infant/Toddler
  • Dual Concentration (Preschool & Infant/Toddler)
  This non-licensure bachelor's program allows students to earn the degree entirely online. This degree is not intended for students who want to immediately teach in public schools, but it can be used as a stepping-stone to teacher preparation programs, the vast majority of which require bachelor degrees. The three concentrations in this degree are: Preschool, Infant/Toddler and Dual Concentration (Preschool and Infant/Toddler). The degree can be earned in four years or less.

Master Degrees

• M.S. in Education (M.S. Ed.)*M.S. in Education (M.S. Ed.)*
  With Concentrations in:
  • General
  • Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (Grades K-12)
  • Educational Leadership
  • Elementary Reading and Literacy (Grades 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 6-8)
  • Mathematics (Grades K-5)
  • Middle Level Education (Grades 5-8)
  • Science (Grades K-8)
  • Teacher Leadership (Grades K-12)
  The M.S. in Education program is fully online and centers on the strategies that lead to greater student and teacher achievement. The program was developed by K–12 educators for K–12 educators. Students can choose from eleven different specializations including Educational Leadership, Integrating Technology in the Classroom and Elementary Reading and Literacy.
• M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology*M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology*
  With Concentrations in:
  • General
  • Online Learning
  • Training and Performance Improvement
  This program teaches students to apply theory, research, creativity, and problem-solving skills to a variety of technology applications in order to improve performance. These skills combined will offer students the ability to support technological advancement and training in educational institutions and corporate training classrooms. Through coursework, students will gain the experience needed to be efficient and effective using technology and multimedia tools.
• Teacher Preparation Programs with opt. M.A.T. degree (20 months)Teacher Preparation Programs with opt. M.A.T. degree (20 months)
  With Concentrations in:
  • Special Education, Emotional Behavioral Disorders (K-12)
  • Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 3)
  • Special Education, Learning Disabilities (K-12)
  This program is very similar to the regular Teacher Preparation program, with the only difference being that students also get their Master of Arts in Teaching. The Master's enables students to teach at junior and community colleges as well as in public and private schools.
• Teacher Preparation Programs (16 months)Teacher Preparation Programs (16 months)
  With Concentrations in:
  • Special Education, Emotional Behavioral Disorders (K-12)
  • Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 3)
  • Special Education, Learning Disabilities (K-12)
  This program can be completed in 16 months online. Each program allows students to immediately apply what they have learned. The distance-delivery format allows experts in the field to share their best practices with students.
• Special Education Endorsement Programs with opt. M.S. Ed. degree (16 mo.)Special Education Endorsement Programs with opt. M.S. Ed. degree (16 mo.)
  

  Programs not available in PA.

  With Concentrations in:
  • Emotional Behavioral Disorders (K-12)
  • Learning Disabilities (K-12)
  This program is intended for already licensed teachers who want to increase their knowledge base and improve their teaching skills. The endorsement programs provide teachers with the qualifications necessary to expand their career options while developing their expertise. The courses are practical and accelerated, and they take advantage of the flexibility of online learning as well as hands-on field experiences. Students also benefit from watching national educational experts who share best teaching practices via DVD. This program has an option M.S. Ed. degree with a specialization in Special Education that takes eight months longer to earn than the regular Special Education Degree.
• Special Education Programs (8 months)Special Education Programs (8 months)
  

  Programs not available in PA.

  With Concentrations in:
  • Emotional Behavioral Disorders (K-12)
  • Learning Disabilities (K-12)
  Students who are already licensed teachers who want to increase their knowledge base and improve their teaching skills will benefit from this program. Students are provided teachers with the qualifications necessary to expand their career options while developing their expertise. The courses are practical and fast-paced, are online and they also include helpful hands-on field experiences. Students also benefit from watching national educational experts who share best teaching practices via DVD.

Doctorate

• Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)*Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)*
  With Concentrations in:
  • Teacher Leadership
  • Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning
  • Higher Education and Adult Learning
  Walden's Ed.D. program is designed to improve your scholarship and research skills so you can improve student learning at the classroom and school level. Our learning format combines online courses and face-to-face residencies. This allows you to collaborate with education leaders around the world without compromising your personal and professional commitments.
• Education Specialist (Ed.S.) *Education Specialist (Ed.S.) *
  With Programs in:
  • Administrator Leadership for Teaching and Learning
  • Educational Technology
  • Teacher Leadership
• Ph.D. in Education (Ph.D. Ed.)*Ph.D. in Education (Ph.D. Ed.)*
  With Concentrations in:
  • General
  • Adult Education Leadership
  • Community College Leadership
  • Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Educational Technology
  • Higher Education
  • K-12 Education Leadership
  • Special Education
  • Self-Designed
  The Ph.D. in Education program is intended for advanced education students who want to tackle the nation's most important educational challenges. There are eight specializations to choose from, and each of them is designed to match students' needs and interests. The program combines collaborative online study with self-paced, faculty-guided research modules and face-to-face residencies.

*Graduate programs in education require a valid teaching certificate.