Sunday, October 24, 2010

Online PHD Courses

Online PhD courses are ideal for busy professionals, stay-at-home parents or those located in remote areas with no easy access to higher education. Also sometimes called "distance education" or "e-learning," online PhD courses can help you reach your educational goals and start a career in science, teaching, technology, finance or industry. Here are some considerations to keep in mind when choosing an online PhD course.
From Essentials: PhD Basics

    Considerations

  1. Assess if distance education is right for you. Getting a PhD in any setting is challenging, and enrolling and completing online PhD courses can be daunting. While you'll reap the convenience of going through the course at home, you'll also miss out on the collegial atmosphere, contact with fellow students and the multitude of resources available on a typical college campus. On the other hand, you'll be able to use an academic library through the Internet, have the ability to order and receive textbooks at home, and be able to interact with professors and students in a virtual environment.
    A popular option in e-learning is combining on campus and online courses, as many programs offer physical classes in addition to virtual instruction. This will give you more time at home while at the same time provide you with the many benefits of on-campus study. In all cases of online courses, make sure that your computer system is not too outdated and that you have a fast Internet connection, as the latest, fastest computer systems will make the course run smoothly and you will avoid many problems that can arise due to outdated technology.

    2. Features

  2. Finding an online PhD course is not too difficult, since in the last decade e-learning has exploded in popularity and there are now numerous opportunities to enroll in an online PhD course in almost any discipline. Some schools that offer combined master's and PhD online courses include Lesley University, Walden University, Drexel University and Florida State University. On-campus/online combination programs are offered by Lehigh University, University of Maine and Michigan State University, among others (see Resources below).

    3. Misconceptions

  3. Online PhD courses are by no means easier than traditional, brick-and-mortar university classes. You will actually have to invest more time into online study, since you will have to be very organized, participate in regularly scheduled virtual sessions, spend time finding the right resources that are normally easily available on a physical campus and will miss out on brainstorming sessions with fellow students that usually take place in campus hangouts, centers and libraries.

    4. Warning

  4. One of the biggest pitfalls of online education is finding a legitimate courses. While looking online, you may come across offers of relatively cheap Master's degree and PhD courses that lead to earning a degree, but be aware that most are scams designed to part you of your money without providing quality education. Use the link provided below to find courses from legitimate and accredited online programs, and follow up with extensive research on each program to make sure you will be getting your money's worth.

    5. Potential

  5. Taking PhD courses online has become more accepted in recent years as the popularity of distance learning continues to soar. Software--such as Blackboard--offer easy and intimate online interaction between teachers and students, and with better technology being introduced on a regular basis, the experience of distance education has the potential to one day play a much larger role in higher education than it plays right now.


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