How to Get an Online Doctorate Degree

The new post graduate education and learning model for busy adults who are interested in getting an online doctorate degree is to take online courses from a university or online institute. Many prestigious seminaries offer theology degrees online as well as online MBA degrees. The same eligibility standards, enrollment criteria and doctorate degree requirements apply as in the traditional classroom model. In most cases the difference lies in course schedules, delivery methods and costs. To learn how to get an online doctorate degree, take these steps.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Research online universities, seminaries or online institutes. Review their online doctorate programs paying special attention to accreditation, pre-admittance requirements as well as the time, course load and costs related to getting an online doctorate degree.

2. Determine your preferred learning style. Are you a visual learner who prefers online presentations, videos, charts and graphs; or do you like listening to audio recordings and pre-recorded lectures from professors? If you must have face-to-face live contact with professors or other students, you may wish to search for online doctorate programs that offer a blend of seminars, audio and video presentations.

3. Check enrollment criteria and assess your experience and previous education when choosing an online doctorate degree focus or major. For example, decide whether you want to study for a doctor of ministry degree (DMin) or a general doctor of arts degree with a focus in a particular course of study.

4. If you currently have a bachelor's degree, consider enrolling in an online doctorate program that allows you to earn a master's degree while completing the requirements for the online doctorate degree. Once you have satisfied the requirements for the master's degree, it is usually awarded automatically as you continue further study.

5. Most online universities use independent study/research and seminars as the core of their online doctoral programs. These seminars and related workshops make up the first two to four semesters (about two to three years) followed by a written and oral exam to prove mastery of the course work. Permission to perform independent study will depend on passing the exam, which is administered by a team of professors who agree to oversee the research as well as coach dissertation preparation.

6. Independent study and dissertation preparation can take another year or two and to earn the online doctorate degree you must be able to defend the dissertation and research before the same team of professors.

7. Getting an online doctorate degree is a serious commitment, which can be even more difficult because of the diligence and personal discipline that must be exerted to keep up with course work and assignments. Therefore, BEFORE making a final choice you must decide why you want a doctorate degree and if the online university model is right for you.

[PBreech]

on 12/26/2009 Excellent resource on how to Get an Online Doctorate Degree.

[katecrittendon]

on 5/2/2009 I would love to do this. Thanks for the info on online doctoral degrees.