The doctoral degree, the highest degree awarded, is earned after an advanced course of study that usually consists of original research, a dissertation, and extended written work. The traditional on-campus doctoral student takes four to ten years to complete the degree, but many doctoral programs online are structured to streamline the process. The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) is the most common doctoral degree; it is awarded in fields that range from philosophy to geology. Other frequently awarded doctoral degrees include the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Doctor of Engineering (Eng.D.), and Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.).
Doctoral Degrees Online
Not too long ago, if you wanted to get an online doctoral degree, you would have had a tough time finding one. There were far fewer online doctorate degree programs than master’s degree programs. However, online doctorate degrees are increasingly accepted. “It has spread like a good virus throughout education,” says Michael P. Lambert, Executive Director of the Distance Education and Training Council. Lambert points out that it’s not a stretch to earn any online degree, even a doctorate online, since doctoral students are already independent learners involved in independent research. He predicts that doctoral students will become much more common in ten years. Henry T. Radda, Ph.D., Director of the School for Advanced Studies at the University of Phoenix Online, comments that as perceptions about online degrees change, more potential doctoral candidates will consider getting their degrees online. One of the advantages of online doctorate degrees is that students are not just learning with and from people in their department, but with people from all over the world.
“People are reluctant to earn doctoral degrees by the time they get to that point. They go to a university and are told they have to quit their jobs or work part-time. I had to do twenty weeks of residency and move my kids 90 miles from home. An online doctorate is not any easier, but it does allow the flexibility to have a life while earning the degree.”
Dawn Iwamoto, Ed.D.
Dean, School for Advanced Studies
University of Phoenix Online
How it Works, Online
Online doctorate degrees are set up about the same as traditional departments. Students are expected to do concentrated independent research and critical thinking. They must work independently on a scholarly dissertation. At the University of Phoenix Online, candidates work with a mentor, chair, and committee members. Some courses are designed to be completely online, while others require a specific residency. In the third year, students must complete a collaborative case study that looks at real-world issues and scenarios with compounding problems. Teams switch between followers and leaders. Students must be in the online classroom five out of seven days and 15 to 20 hours a week, and they must attend three residencies in Phoenix.
