Taking college courses online is a great way to save time and get through your degree as quickly as possible, but anyone looking to get Ph.D online should know that online graduate degrees aren’t the same as online bachelor’s degrees. Since a Ph.D is essentially a research degree and not a coursework degree, most degree specializations require in-person attendance at a research institution. For Ph.D degrees that require extensive research, such as computer science and mathematics, colleges may offer part of the degree online, but most of the work must be done on campus with other students and professors.
Certain Ph.D degrees are offered completely online, and if you’re interested in one of these areas, there’s no reason you shouldn’t pursue your research with an accredited university that offers your Ph.D online. These degrees will allow you to go into post-secondary teaching or continue doing research; they include such diverse areas of research as psychology, nursing, public health and social work. You can earn a Ph.D or a doctoral degree, such as a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) or Doctor of Information Technology (D.I.T.).
How Is an Online Ph.D. Completed?
The types of Ph.D degrees that are offered online typically involve 75 to 80 hours of coursework and several residencies, which can be fulfilled over the Internet for some students. Residencies are necessary to learn what you need to know as an expert in your field. You will become more deeply involved with the Ph.D program of your choice once you begin your first residency. These virtual or on-location appointments give you experience doing research and working in a professional academic environment, according to Next Scientist. By the end of your first residency, you will be well on your way to obtaining the command and confidence you need to complete your Ph.D. A residency gives you experience communicating with other professors and doctoral students about issues relevant to your research, and it allows you to analyze the literature and spoken ideas you encounter throughout your appointment.
Some online Ph.D programs focus more on practice than coursework, and during this process, you will have a chance to produce original academic work for which you can take credit when creating promotional material for your career. The types of Ph.D programs that focus on practical experience teach students how to gather data related to a specific problem and analyze the data to find solutions. Areas of study such as social work, education and nursing require a larger amount of practical experience than research.
Cost of an Online Ph.D
Traditional Ph.D students usually pay their way through school by working for their professors as assistant professors or teaching assistants. This arrangement isn’t always possible in an online degree program because students do coursework from a distance. Additionally, online Ph.D programs are only offered by private, for-profit universities, which charge significantly more per credit hour than public colleges. An eight-year Ph.D program can cost as much as $1,000 per credit hour for 75 to 80 hours, bringing the total to roughly $75,000 to $80,000 for tuition alone.
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A Ph.D carries prestige and greater opportunities, and attending classes online can be a life-saver for working adults and parents. The extremely high cost of an online Ph.D and the decreasing academic opportunities for professors are a couple of reasons to think carefully before you get Ph.D online.