2014-2015 Walden University Catalog (December 2014)

May 26, 2022

2014-2015 Walden University Catalog (December 2014) [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Accelerate Into Master’s (AIM)

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Accelerate Into Master’s (AIM) Programs

Walden University offers opportunities for advanced undergraduate students to accelerate time to the completion of a master’s degree. This option, called Accelerate Into Master’s (AIM), allows undergraduate students to complete graduate-level courses, upon approval of their advisor, that will fulfill the requirements for their undergraduate program as well as graduate requirements for a future master’s program.

When undergraduate students attempt a 5000-level course, they may earn a C in the graduate-level course but only a grade of B or better will carry over to the graduate program. Students who receive a C grade will be awarded a grade of C*, which will permit the grade to be used toward the undergraduate-level requirement but not toward the master’s-level requirement. Students who do not receive a B or better are not permitted to continue taking 5000-level courses. Later admission to the master’s program requires that students must repeat that course as a master’s student.

Accelerate Into Master’s (AIM) Programs

Requirements

Walden University offers several opportunities for advanced undergraduate students in certain programs to accelerate time to completion in certain master’s degree programs.

Undergraduates can complete no more than 50% of the total courses required for master’s degree completion, excluding thesis, practicum, or capstone. (Individual programs determine specific eligible courses and some programs may limit the number of courses available.)
To be eligible to begin AIM courses, students must:
a. Have an overall GPA equal to that required for admission to the associated master’s degree.

b. Have completed a minimum of 90 credits and any specific core requirements associated with their bachelor’s program listed below. (Individual programs may determine additional prerequisites.)

c. Be in good financial standing.

d. Not have any incompletes.
AIM courses are (5000-level) graduate courses.*
a. Tuition for these courses is charged at the undergraduate rate.

b. Courses taken as an undergraduate count as fulfilling undergraduate degree requirements.

c. Grades for graduate courses taken as an undergraduate are incorporated into the undergraduate GPA.
Students must get a B or better in each course to have that course applied to the master’s program.
- Students who get lower than a B in an AIM course will not be allowed to take any more 5000-level courses. Later admission to the master’s program requires that the student must repeat that course as a master’s student.
Students are expected to maintain the undergraduate GPA expected for admission to the associated master’s program.
- Falling below this GPA prevents the student from taking any additional graduate courses as an undergraduate student.
Upon completion of the undergraduate program requirements, students should file an Intent to Graduate form.
Students who complete these courses successfully are not required to pursue the master’s degree and/or may defer enrollment to a future date. Transfer of credit policies, including those related to expiration, would apply.

Taking AIM courses does not guarantee admission into a master’s program. Upon admission to the master’s program, all AIM graduate courses completed with a B or better are applied to graduate program. The graduate GPA is calculated based only on those graduate courses taken as a graduate student.

Institutional coursework expires within 10 years unless otherwise notated by the individual academic unit or program.

Undergraduate students may complete AIM courses to fulfill elective credits, as course substitutions approved by the program director, or they may elect a second concentration within their program of study that is designed for AIM completion. Students are encouraged to consult with academic advising on the most appropriate plan for their program and academic goals, such as their future master’s program and time to completion.

*Note: Graduate students cannot register for AIM courses.

AIM Program Chart

Master’s program

Eligible courses

The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership

M.S. in Early Childhood Studies

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 8 weeks in length.

M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 8 weeks in length.

College of Health Sciences

School of Health Sciences

M.S. in Health Education and Promotion

Choose up to 4 courses.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

*This course MUST be taken first.

**HLTH 5005, HLTH 5110, and HLTH 5205 must be taken before HLTH 5412.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Choose up to 3 courses.

Students can take no more than two master’s-level courses per term.

Students must complete all general education and core requirements before beginning AIM courses.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

*This course MUST be taken first.

Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 8 weeks in length.

School of Nursing

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

Students must be admitted to the RN-BSN-MSN track to complete these AIM courses.

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

School of Public Policy and Administration

Master of Public Administration (MPA)

Students may select up to five of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

M.S. in Emergency Management

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

M.S. in Nonprofit Management and Leadership

Students may select up to five of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

M.S. in Criminal Justice

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

M.S. in Criminal Justice Leadership and Executive Management

Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

School of Psychology

M.S. in Psychology

Students may select any or all of these courses for the listed specializations. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

Applied Psychology

Crisis Management and Response

Educational Psychology

General Psychology

Health Psychology

Psychology of Culture

Psychology, Public Administration, and Social Change

Social Psychology

Terrorism and Security

M.S. in Forensic Psychology

Students may select up to five of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

School of Social Work and Human Services

M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

These courses are open only to students in the B.S. in Human Services and B.S Psychology programs. Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.

M.S. in Addiction Counseling

These courses are open only to students enrolled in the B.S. in Human Services Addictions concentration or the B.S. in Psychology Addictions concentration. Students may select any or all of these courses. Individual course prerequisites apply.

Note: These courses are 11 weeks in length.