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Online PhD Degrees and Doctoral Programs
As mentioned, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees are the most advanced degrees students in North American universities can acquire. It usually requires about 5 years to complete a PhD program. The United States’ Census Bureau has reported that individuals with PhDs make $30,000 or more annually than individuals with only bachelor's degrees.
There are a variety of doctoral programs. Before graduating, students in these programs must conduct research and prepare and publish a dissertation. Only about 1% of people in the United States have completed a doctoral program.
The Ph.D. in a Nutshell
Students enrolled in doctoral programs often complete independent study courses at their convenience in specific subjects. These courses often require students to devote a majority of their time to complete them in three or four semesters. After they are done, students are usually required to pass a test before they can continue their programs.
Exams are usually administered by a committee comprised of university professors. Once they have completed the required courses, PhD students are required to conduct research and present their findings in a lengthily dissertation. After they have completed their dissertations, students are required to defend their research in front of a committee of professors. Once they have successfully completed this step, students graduate from their programs and become known as doctors.
Accreditation
Since PhD programs are very prestigious, students pursuing PhDs should seek accredited programs. Many universities claim they have accredited programs when in actuality they do not. Students should evaluate a program before they make the time and financial commitment to complete it. Some universities claim their programs are easy to complete when many of these claims come from non-accredited schools.
Since most companies, professional organizations, or state licensing boards will only accept candidates with PhDs from accredited universities, it is very important for students to only enroll in programs offered by these schools. Accredited schools must be vetted by the Department of Education and other organizations.
Professional Affiliation and Licensure Issues
In conjunction with holding a PhD, individuals desiring to receive promotion within their selected career are often required to join professional organizations, so it is recommended for individuals interested in enrolling in PhD programs to check with professional organizations they may eventually be interested in joining to see if these organizations accredit these programs.
In some professions, individuals with PhDs are required to acquire extra licenses before practicing. This is the case for people with psychology PhDs desiring to offer counseling services. It is recommended before enrolling in a PhD program to make sure it is accredited by licensing agencies.
Popular Fields for Doctoral Study
There are a variety of doctorate programs available to pursue, including the most popular ones, law and medical programs. Students who complete online programs are often required to complete a residency or clinical work program before acquiring licensure. Graduates of some programs must complete supervised programs before getting licensed.
The following are popular PhD programs that can be completed online:
- Psychology (Ph.D.; PsyD)
Many PhD psychology programs can be completed online. Students interested in offering counseling services should complete a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) program while those wanting to teach and conduct research should complete a traditional PhD psychology program. Students can develop expertise in a variety of specialties, such as organizational, clinical, or counseling psychology.
- Education (Ph.D.; EdD)
Educational PhD programs are designed for people interested in college or university administrative positions while people interested in secondary school administrative careers should complete EdD programs.
- Engineering (PhD; DCS)
There are various engineering PhD programs that can be completed online. After completing certain programs, graduates receive a Doctor of Engineering (D. Eng) title. Available online programs include mechanical, civil, electrical, or computer engineering.
- Public Health(Ph.D.; DPH)
Those who are interested in working in community health administrative positions should consider completing an online PhD public health program. Individuals who complete Doctor of Public Health (DPH) programs spend a portion of their time in these programs studying healthcare policy.
- Business (Ph.D; DBA)
Those interested in teaching or conducting business research should consider enrolling in a Doctor of Business Administration program.
Whatever PhD program a student selects, it will be time consuming and difficult. However, it is very rewarding since students contribute new information to academic debates at conventions and in written publications.
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Online Doctorate and Ph.D. Degrees Available
The following is a selection of top doctorate and Ph.D. programs. To learn more about a specific program select a degree below.
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