Thanks to the Internet, it is now possible to participate in an online PhD program and acquire a degree that brings the same status and respect as the traditional doctoral degree...

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What is a Ph.D?
Of course, Ph.D, which stands for "Doctor of Philosophy" isn't the only doctoral degree. There is the juris doctorate, which is a degree in law, the D.A. or doctor of arts degree, a DD or doctor of divinity obtained by ministers and other church workers, and of course the well known MD or medical doctor, and a few others.

Acquiring the doctoral degrees has always been a challenge
In most career fields, a doctoral degree means status, money, access to promotions, along with other benefits. Until recent years, however, doctoral degrees have been the acclaim of a select few. Advanced study in a traditional environment is demanding, time consuming, and costly. In an attempt to provide people with the coveted title, certain organizations in years past have made doctoral degrees available via correspondence; professionals who know where such degrees come from refer to them as "the degree you can buy." The programs often are not accredited, the study is minimal compared to a real doctorate, and the degree itself is not respected in the professional community.

"Distance" learning opens doors and saves money
Online degree programs actually began with a practice known as "distance learning" which was first available at universities that had more than one campus. Using a closed circuit television system—or in some cases a specific education or public television channel—the professor taught two or more classrooms of students simultaneously. The professor was actually in one class of students while classes at other locations watched the professor or engaged in discussion with members of the other classes. The early systems were crude; if a student in a distance classroom wished to comment, the professor had to wait a few seconds for the information to actually be transmitted. Later systems worked much more smoothly. However, a student still had to show up for a class; he/she was just able to do so without traveling for miles to another campus.

The college also saved money as most professors were paid for teaching only one class of students although they might have been teaching two or three at a time.

From "closed campus" distance learning to "internet" classes
Computers and the internet have taken distance learning to the next level. Now students can sit in the comfort of their own homes and still acquire their education. You usually have to sign on and enter a classroom webspace several times a week, but you can do so at your own convenience. Often you can still interact with other students through discussion forums, and you have use of both the campus and the electronic libraries.

As might be expected, online degree programs began with certificate programs, then began adding associate degrees and bachelor degrees. Today, online degree programs abound, and you can easily find advanced degrees as high as a master's degree. As the need develops, however, doctoral programs are also appearing. Some of the most common are the advanced degrees in business administration and in criminal justice.

Internet doctoral programs offer flexibility
While it is possible to go as high as your master's degree entirely online, you may still be required to put in a residency for your doctoral degree. This simply means that you spend a semester or more in actual classes. Research the program and the school before enrolling to familiarize yourself with all the requirements.

Doctoral degrees typically take from 4 to 6 years of study, depending on the discipline. Following the course work, you will take comprehensive exams (as long as 6 hours of oral and written exams) and will then be given a committee to work with as you write your dissertation—a book length document exploring some element of your discipline. Programs available online should take less time—as long as you have the discipline to keep working at it—because you do not need to take time off for summer vacations and holidays. You can work at your own pace, although some universities do limit the maximum time allowed to achieve graduation.

Recognized doctoral programs
It should be no surprise that the best known, online doctoral degree programs are to be found at the most widely respected online universities.

These include:

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

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

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

Other Doctoral Degree Options
However, these well known universities are not your only options. Doctoral degrees are also available through Columbia Southern University and Indiana State University, just to name a couple.

If your career choice is not business, health, psychology, or law related, you may simply have to search a little further. 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.

Finally, many colleges that do not advertise an entire online doctoral program will allow doctoral degree students to take certain courses online. Thus, if you have to maintain a job while studying, you may be able to take certain classes on campus, but take advantage of internet courses for others.

Check the accreditation of the doctoral program before making a commitment
Many online universities offer advance degrees, but before enrolling in one, you need to check with the Department of Education for the state or with the U.S. Department of Education, and make sure it is an accredited program. 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 law, psychology, education, public health, and business. Over time, you can expect to see the appearance of additional programs.

Regardless of the school you choose, you want to take a little time to verify their accreditation. Accreditation assures a certain level of quality in the program and is established by non-governmental private organizations that evaluate every aspect of the school. The accreditors themselves are also reviewed for quality by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the United Stated Department of Education (USDE). Accreditation is important to you because the CHEA states that in the United States, you must be enrolled in an accredited program in order to be eligible for grants and loans. This applies to online education as well. Also, if you ever want to transfer credits from one school to another, only accredited education credits will transfer. Finally, in today's competitive job market, employers often look for proof that job applicants have a degree from an accredited academic program. Without it, you may get the job, but may not be eligible for promotions in the future.

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