Online PhD Degree Programs

Ph D Distance Learning: Pros and Cons

How to know whether or not Ph D distance-learning programs are right for you?  Of course, it can be hard to tell when half the stuff you read seems unreservedly “for” distance-learning doctoral programs, and half seem vehemently “against” it.  So here’s a little bit more of a balanced look at your online Ph D options.

Pros

• No relocating/commuting/etc. You don’t have to relocate, regardless of how far away the school which is running the program of your choice is.  This is a big deal for doctoral level study, since finding a program which suits your goals can mean looking farther afield.  And even if the program is close enough to commute, in the case of traditional study, that in itself can be as big a problem as relocation.
• The ease of working and researching from home. Now that so many scholarly resources are accessible online, you’ll have a much easier time researching from home than you would have a few years ago.  You won’t be spending all your time in a dim, musty library basement, with a Ph D distance learning program.

Cons

• You won’t have the physically present resources a university offers. Ph D distance learning does offer some drawbacks.  As much information as is available online, there are still resources which you can only access if you’re on campus.  This can be more or less an inconvenience depending on your field of study, of course.
• No teaching fellowships. Reduced or eliminated residency requirements are great for a lot of reasons, but one of the main ways to offset the financial cost of your doctoral degree has always been to participate in teaching fellowships.  Most online Ph D distance learning programs don’t offer this.
• Self motivating. You won’t have your advisor looking over your shoulder as much, and this can make you more likely to procrastinate–never a good thing with doctoral study.