Student Handbook:

Accreditation, State Authorization and International Approval Statements

The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Services at Walden University is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for a period of 7 years, from April 2019 through June 2026. This accreditation covers initial teacher preparation programs and advanced educator preparation programs. CAEP is the only recognized national accreditor for educator preparation, promoting excellence in educator preparation through quality assurance and continuous improvement.

CAEP accreditation is based on a review of The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Service’s initial teacher preparation programs—the BS in Elementary Education and the Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in Special Education—and advanced educator preparation programs—the EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration (Principal Preparation program) and the MS in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration. Three of these programs were reviewed by Specialized Professional Associations (SPAs), which defines content-area standards for programs, and achieved national recognition: Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in Special Education received SPA approval from Council for the Exceptional Children (CEC); EdS in Educational Leadership and Administration and MS in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration both received SPA approval from Education Leadership Constituent Council (ELCC).

Walden’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, MS in School Counseling, and the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision program are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accreditation attests to the quality and relevancy of Walden’s program—a program that helps provide students with the skills and credibility to maximize their impact on the profession. In addition, earning a degree that is CACREP-accredited may help to streamline the licensing application process and provides students with an advantage when applying to doctoral programs. 

Walden’s BS in Information Technology program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org. ABET is the internationally recognized accreditor for college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. This accreditation reaffirms the quality of Walden’s technology and applied science programs and support services, as well as its commitment to continuous assessment and improvement.

Walden University’s BS in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration (MBA), MS in Finance, Doctor of Business Administration (DBA), and PhD in Management programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Walden’s BS in Accounting and MS in Accounting programs are also accredited by ACBSP and have earned the organization’s Separate Accounting Accreditation. ACBSP is a leading specialized accreditation association that identifies and supports excellence in business education.

Walden’s MS in Project Management is accredited by the Global Accreditation Center (GAC) of the Project Management Institute (PMI)®. The GAC is the world’s leading specialized accrediting body for project management and related degree programs.

*The GAC Accredited Program seal is a mark of Project Management Institute, Inc.

**This accreditation was active from January 2013 – December 2023.

The Baccalaureate Degree Program in Nursing (BSN), Master’s Degree Program in Nursing (MSN), Post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. 

Walden University’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). CSWE’s Commission on Accreditation is responsible for developing accreditation standards that define competent preparation for professional social workers and ensuring that social work programs meet these standards.

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) Board of Councilors acted at its September 6, 2019, meeting to accredit the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at Walden University for a five-year term, based on an application for accreditation submitted on February 3, 2018. On June 5, 2020, the CEPH Board of Councilors accredited the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) at Walden University, after reviewing an accreditation application submitted on April 21, 2020. CEPH is an independent agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit schools of public health and programs of public health. CEPH accreditation provides assurance that the program has been evaluated and met accepted public health profession standards in practice, research, and service. For a copy of the final self-study document and/or final accreditation report, please contact the dean of the School of Health Sciences (adchshealth@mail.waldenu.edu).