Getting a Doctorate

New Ways of Getting a Doctorate

When you hear about doctoral study, you probably have a certain picture in your head of what that means.  Relocating to a school or university that has a good reputation in your field.  Taking up residency and participating in a teaching fellowship.  And maybe now the idea of you, yourself, getting a doctorate just doesn’t seem feasible.

In the past, studying for one’s doctorate was almost impossible for anyone who had a family, or a demanding career.  You more or less had to decide to devote your life to academia if you wanted to earn your PhD.

Distance Learning has made Getting a Doctorate More Convenient

Studying to earn your doctorate or other high level graduate diploma will always require much dedication and a sincere commitment to your field–that hasn’t changed, and it shouldn’t.  But thanks to distance learning and the ever evolving communication technologies of the Internet, studying for your PhD doesn’t have to mean moving yourself or your family, and it doesn’t have to mean spending long hours on campus, either.

Many traditional universities are now offering online doctorate programs.  Some online-only universities (those without any traditional campus set up) have garnered the resources and earned the reputations necessary to offer online PhDs as well.

Getting a Doctorate Online

Online doctorate programs make studying at home possible by offering the coursework portion of your degree through online classes.  Much of the research required by doctorate programs can be done online now, too.

Most doctoral programs do still have some residency requirements, but because many of their students are geographically distant, these programs are specifically designed to make the residency portions as simple and convenient as possible.  When getting a doctorate online, you may be required to fulfill a few four-day residency sessions, or have the option of spending a few weeks on campus once.