Colleges and Schools
About The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership
Welcome to Walden University’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership.
Our college is named after the former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and leading advocate in advancing education as a national priority. Our name, The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership, affirms the quality and caliber of our programs and broadens our ability to reach students and faculty who are committed to education excellence and social responsibility.
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as having the largest online graduate program in education by enrollment, Walden’s Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership offers teachers and aspiring teachers numerous options for career development—whether by transitioning into teaching or into a new area of teaching, or by increasing skills and qualifications to advance in your career and make a broader contribution to the children in your school and community.
In fact, since our founding 38 years ago, Walden has supported more than 29,000 educators in their efforts to be a force for social change worldwide. And we’re constantly creating new offerings as part of our commitment to lifelong learning opportunities for educators.
Become a lasting and positive influence on the lives of our youngest learners with our B.S. in Child Development—a non-licensure degree program designed for early care and education professionals. For those new to the P–12 teaching field, Walden’s state-approved* teacher preparation programs with an optional Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree can qualify you to begin your career as a teacher. If you are a licensed teacher who wants to expand your career options and develop your expertise, Walden offers state-approved** teacher endorsement programs with an optional M.S. in Education with a specialization in Special Education.
If you are an experienced teacher or administrator, you can increase your abilities to make even more of a positive and lasting contribution to education through our M.S. in Education, Ed.D., or Ph.D. in Education degree programs.
Walden also offers individual courses if you are looking to improve your skills without enrolling in a licensure or degree program. Earning your advanced degree in education or completing one of our licensure programs can give you the skills and confidence to make an even greater difference in your classroom, in your community, and in the field of education.
As a Walden student, you will benefit from
- A community of scholars, practitioners, and educators who share your commitment to excellence and positive social change
- A rich selection of programs designed to support you at every stage of your development
- A learning experience developed by educators for educators, featuring practical strategies and research-based learning you can apply immediately to your learning environment
Within this Web site, you will learn more about our quality programs, our proven learning model, our exceptional student services, and the students, faculty, and alumni who make Walden University a unique community of learners.
We look forward to your joining our learning community. Please call our knowledgeable enrollment advisors at 1-866-492-5336 or request information.
*Walden University’s teacher preparation programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching for licensure in Minnesota. Walden’s enrollment advisors can provide individuals with guidelines and other information about licensure. It remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with the out-of-state licensure requirements for the state in which he or she seeks to be licensed.
**Not applicable in all states. Walden University’s endorsement programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching for endorsement or add-on licensure in Minnesota. Candidates for this program must already hold a valid elementary or secondary teaching license. Walden’s enrollment advisors can provide individuals with guidelines and other information about endorsements. It remains the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with the out-of-state endorsement requirements for the state in which he or she seeks to be endorsed.
