Online Ph D Degree

Online Ph D Degree : Choosing a program that will demand respect

One reason some people shy away from getting an online Ph D degree, even if they want their Ph D and an online program is the only feasible way they have to attain it, is that they are suspicious of whether or not an online Ph D is actually “as good as” a traditional degree.

The truth of the matter is that an online degree certainly can be “as good as” a traditional degree–or even better than one–but to find the online Ph D that will suit your needs, you have to do some legwork, just as you would in researching traditional Ph D programs.

So how do you evaluate your online Ph D degree program options to decide whether or not a particular program is for you?

Accreditation

The first test of respectability for any program is accreditation.  You have to check and double check that the online program of your choice holds the highest form of accreditation, which is that by one of of the six regional accreditation associations.

Relevance in Your Field

This is where your research gets more intensive–get used to that, since you’ll be doing a lot of research as a doctoral candidate! What’s the buzz in your career field?  Where are the hot Ph Ds coming from?  Where are the best minds working?

Research the faculty in the department at the universities offering online Ph D degree programs in your field.  You want somewhere that not only has the best minds in your field, but has faculty which share your interests and focuses, and represent a good pool of options for your adviser.

Career

Consider your career goals carefully, as well.  If you are interested in staying in academia, you might choose a different online Ph D degree program than you would if you were going into the corporate world, even if your field of study was the same.