Get Ahead by Getting a Doctoral Degree Online

Economic turmoil can cause many changes as a ripple effect. One of those is the increase in numbers of people attending school. These may be people who never had advanced educational experience and have now lost their jobs. But more and more often, non-traditional students these days already have post-secondary school degrees and are looking to get advancement at work or perhaps a better hold on the job they have. The advancements in technology allow those workers to keep their full-time jobs and attend school at the same time, even earning a doctoral degree online.

Business Administration is one of the most popular areas to earn a doctorate degree online. Business degrees allow graduates to work in a variety of professions from marketing to management to entrepreneurship. They are also offered by most online universities such as University of Phoenix and Walden University.

The courses required for these doctoral degrees online are typically critical thinking, research, ethics, and general business courses. Some require a dissertation, and nearly all require residency courses. The cost for the PhD online program will be between $45,000-50,000 depending upon how long it takes the student to complete the degree.

These schools are reluctant to suggest how long it will take to get the PhD online, but they will give a general idea if prospective students call and talk about the specifics of their program. Full-time students usually take 15 credits per semester, making the doctorate degree online a two-year process.

Education is also a popular PhD online program. Most teachers are required to continue their education, so obtaining an advanced degree is a good way to fulfill that requirement; gain more knowledge, especially about online teaching techniques; and perhaps gain advancement or a raise. This degree is also offered by a wide variety of online schools.

The doctorate degree online for education is largely more research-based than the business degrees. Besides research classes, courses include leadership and social theory. Nearly all require a dissertation for the education doctoral degree online as well as residency courses. These costs are a bit less than those of business degrees overall, from about $37,000 and up.

Psychology is also one of the most sought-after degrees today, and many students are taking advantage of the opportunities to receive that doctorate degree online. Many of the students I encounter in my online work are obtaining their PhD online, often from Capella University.

A doctoral degree online in psychology typically requires a number of history, theory and development courses in addition to a dissertation. Capella may look like it requires less research than some other institutions, but many of the courses listed have a research component. The costs for these doctoral online degree programs typically run a few thousand dollars more than the Business Administration degree, largely due to internship programs that are part of the residency requirements for the doctoral degree online in psychology.

The growing world of technology is always seeking workers, and it certainly makes sense that people with such interests would want to pursue a doctoral degree online. Not as many "universities" offer such degrees, but a number of "tech schools" do, even at the doctorate level.

Survey courses, methods courses, and research courses are typically part of the curriculum for this degree. Some institutions require a dissertation, some require work experience, and some require distance from the date the Master's was obtained. Those that post costs run about the same as the Business Administration degree for the PhD online in technology. Others refuse to give out such details without talking to a campus counselor. Some students may assume that a "tech" degree like this would take less time than other doctorate degrees online. However, like the other degrees, the approximate equivalent of 60 semester credits is required.

Like technology jobs, pharmacy work has been touted lately as one of the best-paying professions that is always looking for help. Practicing pharmacists are looking to increase their knowledge to allow more flexibility in their job choice. Few places offer advanced degrees online in pharmacy, but University of Florida Online is one of them. Their program was created both for the pharmacist who is already licensed and has received a B.S. in pharmacy.

This is a three-year program that is meant to augment previous learning and familiarize students with current and changing technology and drug management. The cost for the program is about $35,000. Several clinical days are required, but the University says they will be located near the student.

Students looking to obtain a doctorate degree online can find many more choices than they could just five years ago. While the costs have dropped, they are still a more expensive option than a brick-and-mortar school, yet the online programs have their own advantages. Many online schools allow students to customize their PhD online experience, and the flexibility is unparalleled. A doctoral degree online is a great way to advance in today's workplace.

References:

Capella University. www.capella.edu.

University of Florida. www.ufl.edu.

Walden University. www.waldenu.edu.