Accredited Online PhD Program
Making the Decision to Apply or Enroll in an Accredited Online PhD Program
More options for getting your PhD are a good thing, right? If you’re already pulling your hair out trying to decide where to send off applications–or if you’re past that bit, and trying to decide where, and whether, to enroll–though, more options can make you feel just that much crazier.
Take a breather. You’ll have plenty of time to stress once you’re defending your dissertation. You love this stuff, or you wouldn’t even be considering a PhD–admit it!
So, have you weighed the pros and cons of doing an accredited online PhD program yet?
Online programs aren’t for everyone, and they shouldn’t be, of course. There are some aspects of distance learning PhD programs that can be great advantages–or disadvantages–depending on your situation.
If you’re already developing a strong career, as many potential PhD candidates are, you may appreciate the opportunity to take a teaching fellowship position as you work on your doctorate–in theory. But in practice, maybe you’d rather not, even if it means working harder for grant money or paying out of pocket. Accredited online PhD program requirements don’t often include a teaching fellowship requirement, which can be a huge advantage to someone who would prefer to stay at their current job.
An accredited online PhD program can also be an excellent option if you want to pursue your PhD in a highly specialized field, or one that isn’t available near you. If you are set on having an advisor interested in the same subfield you are, that can severely limit (or eliminate) choices nearby. But with an accredited online PhD program, you can often find exactly what you’re looking for–and enroll–without having to relocate.
There are a lot of factors to keep in mind when deciding on a program–but deciding on the right one will be well worth it.
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