Ph.D. degrees being awared at Emory University.
Dozens of accredited colleges and universities offer online Ph.D. programs. From early childhood education to beam physics, here is what you might want to know about colleges that offer online Ph.D.s and what you can expect after your acceptance.
Where to Find Programs
According to Jonathan Liu, more than three dozen accredited universities now offer the Ph.D. program online. You can earn a Ph.D. in beam physics from Michigan State, an engineering Ph.D. from Colorado State University or a Ph.D. in agricultural education from Texas A&M. You can find the listings for most doctoral programs on Jonnie's Distance Learning website.
Getting Admitted
Getting into an online Ph.D. program can be easy or difficult, depending on the type of degree program and school that you choose. All schools require a master's degree for entry and most also require that you take the Graduate Record Exam. You should expect to score over 1,000 on the GRE to enter most Ph.D. programs. Some schools require short residencies, usually one or two semesters.
The Path to a Degree
You'll need to complete more than 90 hours of graduate credits to receive a Ph.D. This includes courses in research methodology and your major. You'll be assigned an adviser who will guide you through the initial course selection process. After you have completed your coursework, your selected (or assigned) committee of faculty members will approve your program or require that you take additional classes. While you are still completing classes, you'll be called a "doctoral student." The next step is to become a "doctoral candidate."
In order to become a doctoral candidate you'll need to demonstrate expertise in your subject area by passing a series of preliminary examinations, called qualifying exams at some universities. These involve two formats, oral and written. Which type of exams you have to take depends on your program. Although most online Ph.D. programs only require written exams, some may require that you travel to the university for an oral exam. Preliminary exams are extensive and may take weeks to complete. Expect to be grilled about every area of your chosen discipline.
Doctoral candidates must contribute a substantial body of work, called a dissertation, to their discipline. This thoroughly researched work must be approved by a faculty committee. During the defense of your dissertation, you will answer questions from faculty members on every aspect of the dissertation. A defense is also expected in online Ph.D. programs. During the dissertation phase of doctoral study, you'll sign up for "dissertation credits" instead of normal classes. You will research your topic and produce a dissertation. It is not unusual for dissertations to exceed 100 pages. You may also have to travel to campus for your dissertation defense.
Tags: online programs, require that, beam physics, become doctoral, become doctoral candidate