Walden University has been offering clinical courses to students for several years. Over these years, the institution has strived to ensure that their students complete the program requirements and that only competent professional graduate from this university. In the University, students gain advanced training and professional development that helps them to be effective in the provision of clinical services. After completion of clinical psychology course from the University, practitioners can apply research to address real-world problems and concern.

The level of competency at the institution is of great concern. To confirm the desired level of competencies are achieved in the school, students competencies are measured with a detailed and extensive set of assessment. The assessment process is involved in evaluating student’s proficiency as well as their ability to apply their knowledge in authentic work situations. The students are issued with a rubric that helps them determine whether or not they meet the expected standards. In the rubric, there is a breakdown of the learning objectives and the competencies expected of the program. Students are expected to match or exceed the expectations provided in the learning objectives in a given assessment for them to pass the competency test.  Failure to meet the learning objectives may result in repeating of the clinical courses up to three times.

After completing the assessment, students are expected t receive feedback that explains their achievement. If by any chance students fail to match or exceed expectations in either of the assessment, then the institution is forced to redirect them back to the aligned sub-competency and learning objectives for additional study and practice. Walden ensures that no clinical psychology student leaves the institution without fulfilling competency requirements in their programs.

To ensure that the levels of competencies are not compromised, the institution carries out various types of assessments. For instance, work products are one of the major assessments carried out in the university. In this assessment, the university evaluates students learning at the highest cognition levels.  This assessment requires the student to perform a task, craft a research paper, write an essay, complete data analysis and create a plan among other things. The assessment is guided with a rubric, and the faculty assessors can determine areas of competency that students must repeat if need be.

Performance tasks are another type of assessment commonly used at Walden University. It is, however, wise noting that it is distinct from work product in the sense that it involves scenarios and case studies. It is, however, imperative to note that they are also carried out by competency assessors with the help of rubric. Use of videos, charts, documents and other necessities are commonly employed in the performance tasks. Performance tasks assessments are more generalized as compared to work products. Short answer assessments and selective response assessments are also adopted in ensuring that the level of competencies ion the university outcomes is not compromised.

The university also has great concern for relational competency that is essential before entering a graduate program. Walden University requires that students enrolling in clinical psychology must have necessary relationship competencies such as communication skills, self-awareness, and openness just to mention a few. This competency is developed throughout the program, and students leave the institution fully equipped to serving the society.

Strengths and weakness

Walden, clinical psychology program, has both strengths and weaknesses. For instance, the program will enable the university graduates to identify actively and contribute to the counseling psychology profession. The program will help students demonstrate attitudes and behaviors that influence positive change in the society. Nevertheless, the primary weakness that the program has is that it concentrates too much on professional competencies and has little concern with other important aspects of life. The extensive assessment process at the institution may be very stressful to students pursuing this program thus hindering the realization of its objectives.

Necessary changes to the program

Although the programs at the Walden University are popular worldwide, it would be essential to induce some changes that will result in better outcomes. The level of competency in the university is of great concern and more emphasis on the concept is required. In the current program set up, the university is only concerned with professional competencies. It is, however, essential to relax a bit on the assessment procedures to ensure that the university produces all round professional who did not just strive to meet the academic qualifications. The university should strive to instill natural discipline and willingness to the students, and this will ensure that both academic qualifications and passion for the career is cultivated among the professionals.

Another change that I feel necessary in the program is revising the number of times that students are likely to repeat to achieve the desired competency levels. For example, during the current program, students can repeat up to three times. This could be a stressful experience for the student and may lead to compromised quality of service. The institution should find other mechanisms for ensuring that the level of competency achieved through the program is instant, and production of graduates is not delayed by perennial repeaters.

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