Online PhD Programs

A doctorate degree, or a Ph.D. degree, is considered by most to be the most prestigious educational degree there is. It usually takes about five years to complete a doctoral degree. However, those who get to finish their Ph.D. studies get to have the best jobs and the best pay in the best industry leaders. A student of doctorate studies take courses in his or her own chosen field, usually in small independent studies. A Ph.D. degree requires a candidate to pursue an original research and then write a thesis or dissertation that is usually of book length. Finding a mentor within the academic community is also essential because a candidate would need to acquire letters of recommendations when they apply for job posts using their newly acquired diploma. Because the doctorate degree is an elite degree, it is very important to make sure that if an online university that offers online PhD programs is duly accredited by the proper education marshals. There are so-called diploma mills that abound the Internet which gives out degrees and diplomas in exchange for money but without providing the proper training and educational support that the students signed up for.

However, the candidates for online PhD programs are so far in the minority because of several reasons. Obtaining doctoral degree online costs a lot more than acquiring undergraduate degrees. It can also be time-consuming and very challenging because of the extensive amount of research and study involved in pursuing such an advanced education. Although, at first, online degrees are scoffed at and are not taken seriously, these days, especially through reliable accreditation programs, online degrees are increasingly becoming popular and relevant. Most courses available are Master's degree courses; however, currently, there are undergraduate courses and even online phD programs that have recently become widely available. The advantage of taking a doctoral degree online is the same for other degrees - you can study at your own time and pace and you can shorten the time a degree usually takes if taken in the traditional school setting. By studying online, the usual four to five years it takes to finish a doctoral degree can be shortened to three years, or even two years depending on the student. However, unlike a Master's degree that you can complete entirely online, a doctoral degree may require some form of school appearance. Because of the stringent research requirements and the dissertation documentations, a Ph.D. student may need to spend a semester or so to attend actual school classes or to discuss research proceedings with an adviser or two.

Any graduate of online PhD programs soon becomes a highly valued member of the global intellectual community. Those armed with such a degree usually take positions in the administration and/or teaching force. They are both the creators and the sharers of new knowledge in the field of their own choice, so having a doctoral degree is a really satisfying and deeply challenging endeavor. That something as valuable can now be acquired through online studies is a huge technological advancement that everyone should appreciate.

Dr. Christopher Williams is a guest writer at http://education.c-spots.com a website that specializes in college courses online and college degrees online. If you are looking for an accredited online universities, university degrees online, online degrees, online PHD programs, or masters degrees online, visit http://education.c-spots.com