Online PhD & Doctoral Degree Programs

Above an associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degree, a doctorate degree is the highest level of academic degree. While medical doctors hold an M.D. (Medical Doctorate), there are also doctorate degree programs offered in nearly every subject area. A doctorate degree is usually heavily focused on research and in some career fields, having a doctorate can mean a much better salary and career choices.

What is an online doctorate degree?

An online doctorate degree normally takes about 4 years to complete. Some students receive their master’s degree first, but depending on the school and subject area this might not always be necessary. If you are already in possession of a master’s degree, however, then receiving your doctorate might not take as long.

An online doctorate degree usually requires around 90 to 120 semester credit hours, or 30 to 40 college courses. This can vary, though. Some doctorate programs online require their students to complete a research thesis to be completed while others are designed as “practitioner’s degrees.” With this, you might have to be involved in a type of internship program. You may have to set this up yourself although your school should be able to assist you in this endeavor.

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What can you do with a doctorate degree?

Job opportunities for those with an online doctorate degree vary by the subject matter that the degree is in. An individual holding an MD will normally be a practicing physician, although they might teach as well. A person with a doctorate in Psychology might be licensed by their state and see individual patients.

It is not always necessary to have a doctorate degree. To get the best paying jobs in some fields, however, you might need one. Psychology, engineering, and teaching are just a few examples where an online doctorate degree can be very beneficial.

On the other hand, not all teaching positions at the college level require doctorate degrees. In some instances, especially at the community college level, a master’s degree might be considered.

What type of online doctorate degree programs are there?

There are not as many online doctorate degrees available as there are associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees. The ones that are usually found are those that require doctorates for licensing, like teaching or psychology. You can also find some online doctorates in business since business is a popular degree program.

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A few online doctorate degree programs include: PhD in Education, PhD in Public Health, PhD in Counselor Education, PhD in Management, PhD in Psychology, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Business Administration.

A few careers require their professionals to have a very specific type of doctorate degree. If you wish to be a principal or superintendent, for instance, your state Board of Education will want a master’s or doctorate degree in education. Therefore, it’s very important to find out what is required by your state licensing board before you sign up for any online degree program in engineering, nursing, accounting, education, or counseling.