"Thanks to the Internet, you can now earn an Online PhD with the same
respect and status as those who earn a traditional doctorate degree."

Distance Learning degrees now available: Enroll in Online PhD Programs

Doctoral Degrees
The  PhD, the best known of all doctoral degrees stands for "Doctor of Philosophy." A person who has the degree is expected to be an expert in scholarly research and to continue writing and publishing in professional, scholarly journals. In addition, these individuals often have an impact in the community and in government decisions as various persons in authority look to them for advice and guidance in their particular area of expertise.

There are, however, numerous other doctoral degrees. These include the D.A. or Doctor of Arts, the juris doctorate, a law degree, the DD or doctor of divinity, the D.Ed or doctor of education, and the M.D. which is, of course, medical doctor. Nearly all of these, with the exception of medical degrees can be earned through distance learning programs.

Online Classes: the study method of the 21st century
Online classes are for the most part no longer referred to as “distance learning,” which often meant that a person would sign on to a closed circuit TV, watch a lecture and then complete the assignments at home. Today’s online education takes advantage of multi-media advances to create interactive classrooms and peer collaboration opportunities as well as online library resources that rival the brick and mortar libraries. In addition, while students once had to log in at specific times in order to hear a lecture, they can now sign on at their own convenience and from any location where they have access to a computer. While the rigor is not the least diminished in the process of earning an online PhD degree, the flexibility has dramatically improved the opportunity for dedicated students to obtain the university degree of their choice.

Doctoral Students May have to Appear on Campus Occasionally
Today, it is easy to locate bachelor and master degree programs that advertise study completely online. While doctoral degrees in the business fields may be available completely online, you may discover that many doctoral programs still require some sort of campus attendance, either due to the requirements of a fellowship or to the practical application components, seminars, labs, and other elements that are difficult to perform electronically. Some universities require that you already be employed in your field so the practical application and corresponding reports can be performed in real life. In these cases, it may be easier to find a program that is completely online. Nevertheless, you will still want to become personally acquainted with your department chair and your dissertation director as these individuals will have a significant impact on your success in the overall program.

A Ph.D or any doctorate will take several years of study—usually at least four. If you can study year around, you may be able to shorten it to three years for the course work and then another semester to complete your dissertation. Once the course work is completed, you will have to take comprehensive exams which may have to be taken on the campus or in some location where the exam can be proctored.

It is quite common to be “ABD” for several years, (all but dissertation) while working on your dissertation. This is a book length work that explores some unique aspect of your career interest. You choose the topic, create a proposal, get it approved by a dissertation committee, and then set about to write it. While working on the dissertation, you must remain enrolled in the university, thus paying for at least one 3 credit course each semester. Thus, you will want to complete it as quickly as you can. Additionally, some colleges give a limit on the amount of time they will allow for the dissertation to be completed.

Doctoral degrees challenging for even the best students
Any person with an accredited doctoral degree deserves the status and higher pay that comes with it. It is not something that can be earned through casual weekend study or taking shortcuts. It is expensive and challenging as well as time consuming. In fact, most campus students do not attempt to pay for the degree, but rather apply for research or teaching fellowships or assistanceships which come with a salary that pays most of the cost of the courses. Nevertheless, a doctoral candidate will spend many hours in solitary study, working on a dissertation, reading assorted texts, and completing complex assignments. Thus, a distance learning program with the availability of peer collaboration lends itself well to a doctoral program.  

Doctoral programs online
Most PhD online education degrees are found at the colleges that first had the bachelor and then master’s degree programs. This was a natural progression as the need for the doctoral programs only developed once online students had already earned their masters’ degrees and wanted the status and pay of the doctoral degree. The following colleges offer some of the widest ranges of doctoral programs.

Capella University offering doctoral degrees in Education, Organization & Management, a PsyD in Psychology, Human Services and Psychology;

Walden University offering doctoral degrees in Public Policy and Administration, Applied Management and Decision Sciences, Education, Psychology, Human Services, Public Health, Health Services, and Education;

and The University of Phoenix offering the Doctor of Business Administration, Doctor of Health Administration, Doctor of Education, and Doctor of Management;

Other Doctoral Degree Options
Other colleges have not been far behind in adding doctoral degrees to their online catalogues. You can now earn doctoral degrees through Columbia Southern University and Indiana State University, among others. For example, Boston University Online offers a Doctor of Musical Arts in Musical Education, Touro University International has a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership, and several universities offer doctoral degrees in Health Care Administration.

Is your university choice properly accredited
Most public institutions are accredited these days as they cannot get students otherwise. Federal financial aid programs require appropriate accreditation. Nevertheless, before making your decision, you need to make sure that not only the college, but also the program itself is accredited. You can  check with the Department of Education in your state or with the U.S. Department of Education. You will also want to make sure licensing procedures are available if your career will require a license. Also, if your career is one that requires licensure, make sure the degree program is recognized by the bureau that will be awarding your license. Popular fields for online doctoral study are computer science, counseling, finance, law, nursing, psychology, education, engineering management, public health, and business.

Regardless of the school you select, you will want to take some time to verify their accreditation. Accreditation ensures a certain level of quality in the degree program and is established by non-governmental, private organizations that evaluate each and every aspect of the school. The accreditors themselves are also reviewed by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE).

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