The Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D., is the highest academic honor a student can earn. Historically, only an elite few studied for this degree, which can require years of study and research. Distance learning, however, has made this degree more accessible to many students, allowing them to complete studies while working or taking care of a family.
According to the online Distance Learning College Guide, there are more than 100 programs across the country that allow students to pursue a Ph.D. Popular degree programs include the Ph.D. in education, educational administration, business administration, management, health care, psychology and information technology.
A typical Ph.D. requires students to complete a set of required courses, usually over a period of two to three years. After completing required courses, students must pass written examinations to demonstrate their mastery of the material in their chosen field of study. After passing the exams (sometimes referred to as comprehensive or qualifying exams), students work with a faculty member or a committee of faculty to develop an original research idea. Students then develop this idea into a dissertation, a book-length work of original research, that must be completed and presented for approval.
A Ph.D. program via distance learning allows students to complete the coursework required for their degrees online. By logging in to the required courses, students' class attendance is recorded. However, many distance learning doctorates require students to complete some of their work on an actual campus rather than strictly online. Students may have to go to a campus to use library facilities or to meet with dissertation advisers.
A Ph.D. via distance learning can be completed in four or more years of study, though exact time frames will vary with the type of degree, specific requirements and whether the student is full- or part-time.
One of the advantages of a Ph.D. program on a physical campus is the opportunity to work with and learn from fellow students. A Ph.D. program requires an enormous amount of reading--from books, academic journals and other sources. Doctoral students often form study groups to manage the required workload and help each other. This opportunity is less available to the distance learning student. In addition, distance learning allows less interaction with graduate school faculty.
Although distance learning Ph.D. programs have increased in number, so have diploma mill institutions and degrees of questionable quality. Students considering a Ph.D. via distance learning should check the accreditation of a program before enrolling. This information is often available from the U.S. Department of Education or from state higher education authorities.