Online PhD Programs and Degrees

Online PhD programs and degrees are designed to be flexible and accommodating for busy professionals. PhD and other doctoral programs are considered to be terminal degrees in most disciplines.

Doctoral candidates represent the most dedicated individuals in their chosen field, and are often considered authorities or experts in their discipline. In most programs, at least four to six years is required to complete all program requirements which include courses in one's area of study, research, and a dissertation or thesis for example with online education doctoral programs. In preparing for Graduate School keep in mind that many universities require students to take (and pass) either the GRE, the MAT, GMAT for business school, or LSAT for law school. This is often a condition for admission to the PhD program, and it is important in helping prospective students make informed decisions. Doctoral degrees are offered in a variety of disciplines including education, public health, health education, business administration, business management, law, human services, nursing, pharmacy and other areas.

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Online PhD Program Summary

University of Phoenix - PhD degrees in Business, Education, Health, and Social Sciences.

Capella University - Online - PhD degrees in Education, Human Services, Organization and Management, Psychology, Information Security, Instructional Design.

Walden University - PhD degrees in Public Policy and Administration, Business Administration, Applied Management and Decision Sciences, Health, Human Services, Public Health, Doctor of Business Administration, and Education.

Grand Canyon University- Doctorate in Organizational Leadership.

A.T. Still University - Doctorate Degrees in Health Education and Health Science.

Liberty University - Doctorate degrees in Theology, Education, Ministry and Counseling.

Colorado Technical University Online - Doctor of Computer Science, Doctor of Computer Science in Enterprise Information Systems, Doctor of Management.

University of the Rockies - Doctor of Psychology

The University of Liverpool - Doctor of Education (Higher Education), Doctorate of Business Administration

Northcentral University - Graduate - Doctor of Education (EdD), Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (PhD), Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD), Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage & Family Therapy, Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD), and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education, Business, and Psychology.

PhD Education and Training

Instructional Design PhD: Areas of study in online PhD programs include distance education, e-learning, educational technology, and instructional technology, and instructional design programs of study.

Online PhD Programs in Theology: Areas of study include religious studies, theology, divinity, Christian studies, Bible studies and other areas.

Education PhD and Doctoral Programs: Areas include educational administration, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction (C&I), elementary education, early childhood education, special education, secondary education, educational technology, and K-12 education. Many programs also offer certification.

Online PhD Programs in Criminal Justice and Legal Programs, Public Policy, Public Administration: Areas of study include criminal justice, homeland security, public policy, public administration, emergency and disaster preparedness among other areas.

Online PhD in Human Services: Human services online PhD programs involve working in problem-solving skills, crisis intervention, and case management and referral procedures for clients and patients.

Online PhD in Health: Health care degrees cover a wide range of concentrations that include public health, health education, nursing, and health care administration.

Online PhD Degree Programs in Psychology and Counseling: Specializations include industrial psychology, organizational psychology, school psychology, mental health counseling, clinical psychology, educational psychology, professional counseling, and executive coaching.

Online Business Programs with Doctoral Degrees: Areas of concentration include Accounting, Business Administration, Business Leadership, Finance, Human Resources, International Business, Management, and Marketing among other areas.

Online PhD Programs in Computer and Information Technology: Online PhD programs and degrees in computer and information technology prepare students to work in computer networking, operating systems, database development and maintenance, software development, and project management.

Law and Legal Degrees: Law degrees are prepare students for careers in justice administration, law enforcement, and other related areas after completing the Executive JD Program or the Doctor in Juris Doctor.

Careers with a PhD Degree

Careers with a doctoral degree vary depending on the area of concentration and expertise, but most graduates from campus and online PhD programs choose to go into higher education teaching, higher education administration, and research. Others choose to become independent consultants while others work for research firms, and government agencies.

Expected Salary and Projected Career Growth

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the average weekly income for someone with a PhD to be around $1500. This is almost three times more that a person with a bachelor's degree. Some examples of salaries by profession are:

• Assistant Professor, Postsecondary - $40,457 - $87,652
• Associate Professor, Postsecondary - $49,448 - $102,499
• Research Scientist - $44,372 - $114,277
• Physical Therapist (PT) - $49,982 - $74,504
  Professor, Postsecondary - $50,717 - $152,669
• Postdoctoral Research Associate - $32,927 - $60,393
• Veterinarian - $45,590 - $99,907

Many graduates from online PhD programs earn anywhere from $60,000 to %150,000 depending on the doctoral specialization.