On line Doctorate Degree Programs… Worth considering?
So are on line doctorate degree programs really the “real thing”? If you’ve thought about getting your doctorate, and think online programs might offer you better programs, you’re right. But are they viewed with just as much respect as traditional doctorate programs?
In the past there has been some academic prejudice toward on line doctorate programs. But that prejudice is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
Really, doctorate and PhD programs are far better suited for distance learning study than undergraduate programs, although acceptance of this has come slowly, due mainly to academia’s adherence to its own traditions. Doctoral and PhD study in general are research oriented more than they are coursework oriented, and graduate students are, by the time they are applying for PhD and doctorate programs, experienced professionals who are able to prioritize time and generally have a strong personal sense of ambition and motivation.
So on line doctorate degree programs make sense. They make sense in other ways, too. For example, finding the right advisor is paramount when you’re choosing a doctoral program. Geography, in this case, is pretty limiting, because by the very nature of doctoral level study finding the advisor and the academic department at a college or university equipped to equip you with what you need for your very specific choice of topics can be difficult.
On line doctorate degree programs erase the distance factor. You may, of course, need to travel during your research, and you may need to spend some time in residency (usually very limited) even with an online degree program. But you’ll have many options to choose from and far more flexibility if you go with online vs. on-campus oriented programs.
As the prejudice against on line doctorate programs continues to abate, more and more PhD and other doctoral candidates will consider them. Perhaps in time they will become the new tradition.