One of the highest educational attainments available is the doctorate degree. When you complete a doctorate degree program, you are assumed to be a true expert in your area of study. Earning a doctorate degree can, in some cases, open doors to a better career and higher earnings. However, it can take quite a while to earn your degree. After all, in order to be considered an expert, you will need to complete a rigorous course of study. Few people have the time it takes to attend school full time and earn a doctorate degree. It’s fortunate, then, that technology has made it possible to study online and complete a doctorate program via the Internet.
Indeed, online doctorate degrees are becoming more common — and even more accepted. It is possible to complete a substantial portion of your doctorate studies from the comfort of your home, and on your own time schedule. If you are interested in earning your doctorate degree online, here is a helpful guide to what you need to know:
Did you know that you can get a doctorate in Ufology or Astrobiology? If you have a particular area of interest or passion, there might be a Ph.D program that interests you and allows you to demonstrate your advanced knowledge of the subject. In some cases, a doctorate might help you gain an edge with an employer — especially if you have an obscure specialty that a company is looking for.
Almost no subject is too obscure for a Ph.D. If you are willing to put in the time and effort, you can earn a doctorate in an area that represents a passion of yours. So before assuming your favorite subject is off limits for advanced study, consider these 20 doctorate degrees you might not know about:
Online Doctorate Degree FAQ:
We strive to maintain the most accurate and unbaised resource for students considering obtaining an online doctorate degree to evaluate their options. If you would like to see additional information added to our FAQ or have feedback, please email us.
List of All Available Online Doctorate Degree Programs:
Below are listed our regularly updated list of all available accredited online doctorate degree programs.
Online Doctorate in Agricultural Animal Breeding
Online Doctorate in Animal Nutrition
Online Doctorate in Poultry Science
Online Doctorate in Animal Science, Other
Online Doctorate in Agronomy & Crop Science
Online Doctorate in Agricultural & Horticultural Plant Breeding
Online Doctorate in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
Online Doctorate in Plant Sciences, Other
Online Doctorate in Food Science
Online Doctorate in Food Science and Food Technology, Other
Online Doctorate in Soil Chemistry/Microbiology
Online Doctorate in Soil Sciences, Other
Online Doctorate in Horticulture Science
Online Doctorate in Fishing and Fisheries Sciences/Fisheries management
Online Doctorate in Forest Sciences and Biology
Online Doctorate in Forest/Resources Management
Online Doctorate in Wood Science & Pulp/Paper Technology
Online Doctorate in Natural resources/Conservation
Online Doctorate in Forestry & Related Science, Other
Online Doctorate in Wildlife/Range Management
Online Doctorate in Environmental Science
Online Doctorate in Agriculture, General
Online Doctorate in Agricultural Science, Other
Online Doctorate in Biological sciences/Biomedical sciences
Online Doctorate in Biochemistry
Online Doctorate in Biomedical sciences
Online Doctorate in Biophysics
Online Doctorate in Biotechnology
Online Doctorate in Bacteriology
Online Doctorate in Plant genetics
Online Doctorate in Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
Online Doctorate in Plant Physiology
Online Doctorate in Botany/Plant Biology
Online Doctorate in Anatomy
Online Doctorate in Biometrics & Biostatistics
Online Doctorate in Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
Online Doctorate in Ecology
Online Doctorate in Developmental biology/Embryology
Online Doctorate in Endocrinology
Online Doctorate in Entomology
Online Doctorate in Immunology
Online Doctorate in Molecular Biology
Online Doctorate in Microbiology
Online Doctorate in Neuroscience
Online Doctorate in Nutrition science
Online Doctorate in Parasitology
Online Doctorate in Toxicology
Online Doctorate in Genetics, Human & Animal
Online Doctorate in Pathology, Human & Animal
Online Doctorate in Pharmacology, Human & Animal
Online Doctorate in Physiology, Human & Animal
Online Doctorate in Zoology, Other
Online Doctorate in Other Humanities
Online Doctorate in American/U.S. Studies
Online Doctorate in Archeology
Online Doctorate in Art History/Art criticism/Conservation
Online Doctorate in Music
Online Doctorate in Philosophy
Online Doctorate in Religion/Religious studies
Online Doctorate in Drama/Theatre arts
Online Doctorate in Humanities, General
Online Doctorate in Humanities, Other
Online Doctorate in Education
Online Doctorate in Research and Administration
Online Doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction
Online Doctorate in Educational Administration & Supervision
Online Doctorate in Educational Leadership
Online Doctorate in Educational/Instructional Media Design
Online Doctorate in Educational Statistics/Research Methods
Online Doctorate in Educational Assessment/Testing/Measure
Online Doctorate in Educational Psychology
Online Doctorate in School Psychology
Online Doctorate in Social/Philosophical Foundations of Educ.
Online Doctorate in Special Education
Online Doctorate in Counseling Education/Counseling & Guidance
Online Doctorate in Higher Education/Evaluation & Research
Online Doctorate in Teacher Education
Online Doctorate in Pre-elementary/Early Childhood
Online Doctorate in Elementary
Online Doctorate in Secondary
Online Doctorate in Adult & Continuing
Online Doctorate in Teaching Fields
Online Doctorate in Agricultural Education
Online Doctorate in Art Education
Online Doctorate in Business Education
Online Doctorate in English Education
Online Doctorate in Foreign Languages Education
Online Doctorate in Health Education
Online Doctorate in Family & Consumer Science/Home Economics
Online Doctorate in Mathematics Education
Online Doctorate in Music Education
Online Doctorate in Nursing Education
Online Doctorate in Physical Education & Coaching
Online Doctorate in Reading Education
Online Doctorate in Science Education
Online Doctorate in Social Science Education
Online Doctorate in Trade & Industrial Education
Online Doctorate in Teach Education & Professional Development
Online Doctorate in Other Education
Online Doctorate in Education, General
Online Doctorate in Education, Other
Online Doctorate in Professional fields
Online Doctorate in Communications, General
Online Doctorate in Communications, Other
Online Doctorate in Architecture/ Environmental Design
Online Doctorate in Family/Consumer Science/Human Science, General
Online Doctorate in Law
Online Doctorate in Library Science
Online Doctorate in Parks/Sports/Recreation/Leisure/Fitness
Online Doctorate in Public Administration
Online Doctorate in Social Work
Online Doctorate in Theology/Religious Education
Online Doctorate in Professional Fields, Other
Online Doctorate in Biology/Biological sciences, General
Online Doctorate in Biology/Biomedical sciences, Other
Online Doctorate in Health sciences
Online Doctorate in Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
Online Doctorate in Environmental Health
Online Doctorate in Environmental toxicology
Online Doctorate in Health Systems/Service Administration
Online Doctorate in Public Health
Online Doctorate in Epidemiology
Online Doctorate in Kinesiology/Exercise science
Online Doctorate in Nursing sciences
Online Doctorate in Pharmacy
Online Doctorate in Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Services
Online Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine
Online Doctorate in Health Sciences, General
Online Doctorate in Health Sciences, Other
Online Doctorate in Engineering
Online Doctorate in Aerospace, Aeronautical & Astronautical Engineering
Online Doctorate in Agricultural engineering
Online Doctorate in Bioengineering & Biomedical engineering
Online Doctorate in Ceramic sciences
Online Doctorate in Chemical engineering
Online Doctorate in Civil engineering
Online Doctorate in Communications engineering
Online Doctorate in Computer engineering
Online Doctorate in Electrical, Electronics and Communications
Online Doctorate in Engineering Mechanics
Online Doctorate in Engineering Physics
Online Doctorate in Engineering Science
Online Doctorate in Environmental Health Engineering
Online Doctorate in Industrial & manufacturing engineering
Online Doctorate in Materials science
Online Doctorate in Mechanical engineering
Online Doctorate in Metallurgical engineering
Online Doctorate in Mining & Mineral
Online Doctorate in Nuclear engineering
Online Doctorate in Ocean engineering
Online Doctorate in Operations Research
Online Doctorate in Petroleum engineering
Online Doctorate in Polymer & Plastics engineering
Online Doctorate in Systems engineering
Online Doctorate in Engineering, General
Online Doctorate in Engineering, Other
Online Doctorate in Computer and Information sciences
Online Doctorate in Computer Science
Online Doctorate in Information Science and Information Systems
Online Doctorate in Robotics
Online Doctorate in Computer and Information sciences, Other
Online Doctorate in Mathematics
Online Doctorate in Applied Mathematics
Online Doctorate in Algebra
Online Doctorate in Analysis & Functional Analysis
Online Doctorate in Geometry/Geometric Analysis
Online Doctorate in Logic
Online Doctorate in Number Theory
Online Doctorate in Statistics
Online Doctorate in Topology, Foundations
Online Doctorate in Computing Theory & Practice
Online Doctorate in Operations Research
Online Doctorate in Mathematics/Statistics, General
Online Doctorate in Mathematics/Statistics, Other
Online Doctorate in Physical sciences
Online Doctorate in Astronomy
Online Doctorate in Astrophysics
Online Doctorate in Atmospheric Science & Meteorology
Online Doctorate in Atmospheric chemistry and Climatology
Online Doctorate in Atmospheric physics and Atmospheric dynamics
Online Doctorate in Meteorology
Online Doctorate in Atmospheric science/Meteorology, General
Online Doctorate in Atmospheric science/Meteorology, Other
Online Doctorate in Chemistry
Online Doctorate in Analytical chemistry
Online Doctorate in Inorganic chemistry
Online Doctorate in Organic chemistry
Online Doctorate in Medicinal/Pharmaceutical chemistry
Online Doctorate in Physical chemistry
Online Doctorate in Polymer
Online Doctorate in Theoretical chemistry
Online Doctorate in Chemistry, General
Online Doctorate in Chemistry, Other
Online Doctorate in Geological & Earth Sciences
Online Doctorate in Geology
Online Doctorate in Geochemistry
Online Doctorate in Geophysics & Seismology
Online Doctorate in Paleontology
Online Doctorate in Mineralogy & Petrology
Online Doctorate in Stratigraphy & Sedimentation
Online Doctorate in Geomorphology & Glacial Geology
Online Doctorate in Geological and Earth Sciences, General
Online Doctorate in Geological and Earth Sciences, Other
Online Doctorate in Acoustics
Online Doctorate in Atomic/Molecular/Chemical physics
Online Doctorate in Particle (Elementary) physics
Online Doctorate in Biophysics
Online Doctorate in Nuclear Physics
Online Doctorate in Optics/Photonics
Online Doctorate in Plasma, Fusion
Online Doctorate in Polymer
Online Doctorate in Condensed Matter/Low temperature physics
Online Doctorate in Applied Physics
Online Doctorate in Physics, General
Online Doctorate in Physics, Other
Online Doctorate in Ocean/Marine Sciences
Online Doctorate in Hydrology & Water Resources
Online Doctorate in Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
Online Doctorate in Marine Sciences
Online Doctorate in Ocean/Marine Sciences
Online Doctorate in Psychology
Online Doctorate in Clinical psychology
Online Doctorate in Cognitive psychology & Psycholinguistics
Online Doctorate in Comparative psychology
Online Doctorate in Counseling psychology
Online Doctorate in Developmental psychology & Child psychology
Online Doctorate in Human Development & Family Studies
Online Doctorate in Experimental psychology
Online Doctorate in Educational psychology
Online Doctorate in Family Psychology
Online Doctorate in Industrial & Organizational psychology
Online Doctorate in Personality
Online Doctorate in Physiological psychology/Psychobiology
Online Doctorate in Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology
Online Doctorate in School psychology
Online Doctorate in Social psychology
Online Doctorate in Psychology, General
Online Doctorate in Psychology, Other
Online Doctorate in Social Sciences
Online Doctorate in Anthropology
Online Doctorate in Area studies
Online Doctorate in Criminology
Online Doctorate in Demography/Population studies
Online Doctorate in Economics
Online Doctorate in Econometrics
Online Doctorate in Geography
Online Doctorate in International Relations/Affairs
Online Doctorate in Political Science & Government
Online Doctorate in Public Policy Analysis
Online Doctorate in Sociology
Online Doctorate in Statistics
Online Doctorate in Urban Affairs/Studies
Online Doctorate in Social Sciences, General
Online Doctorate in Social Sciences, Other
Online Doctorate in Humanities
Online Doctorate in History
Online Doctorate in History, American
Online Doctorate in History, Asian
Online Doctorate in History, European
Online Doctorate in History, African
Online Doctorate in History, Latin American
Online Doctorate in Middle/Near East Studies
Online Doctorate in History of science, Philosophy of science
Online Doctorate in History of technology and Philosophy of technology
Online Doctorate in History, General
Online Doctorate in History, Other
Online Doctorate in Letters
Online Doctorate in Classics
Online Doctorate in Comparative Literature
Online Doctorate in Folklore
Online Doctorate in Linguistics
Online Doctorate in American literature
Online Doctorate in English literature
Online Doctorate in English Language
Online Doctorate in Speech & Rhetorical Studies
Online Doctorate in Letters, General
Online Doctorate in Letters, Other
Online Doctorate in Foreign Languages & Literature
Online Doctorate in French
Online Doctorate in German
Online Doctorate in Italian
Online Doctorate in Spanish
Online Doctorate in Russian
Online Doctorate in Slavic (other than Russian)
Online Doctorate in Chinese
Online Doctorate in Japanese
Online Doctorate in Arabic
Online Doctorate in Other Languages & Literature
Online Doctorate in Business Management/Administrative Services
Online Doctorate in Accounting
Online Doctorate in Banking/Financial Support Services
Online Doctorate in Business Administration & Management
Online Doctorate in Business/Managerial Economics
Online Doctorate in International Business/Trade/Commerce
Online Doctorate in Management Information Systems/Business Data
Online Doctorate in Marketing Management & Research
Online Doctorate in Human Resources Development
Online Doctorate in Operations Research
Online Doctorate in Organizational Behavior
Online Doctorate in Business Management/Administration, General
Online Doctorate in Business Management/Administration, Other
Online Doctorate in Communications
Online Doctorate in Communication research
Online Doctorate in Mass Communication/Media Studies
Online Doctorate in Film, Radio, Television
Online Doctorate in Film
Online Doctorate in Television
Online Doctorate in Radio
Online Doctorate in Digital Communication
What Else is an Online Doctoral Degree Called?
A doctoral degree is also referred to as a PhD degree. The PhD degree is derived from the Latin “philosophiae doctor,” which means “teacher in philosophy.” Also known as a Ph.D. or doctorate degree, a PhD is the highest level of educational document that can be earned in the United States and many other countries.
In addition, anyone who earns a PhD online degree or the via a campus college or university earns the title of “doctor.” This is true even if they are not a medical doctor. Someone with a PhD online degree is a doctor in English, history, math, or whatever subject it is awarded in.
What Sort of Skills Does A PhD Online Degree Teach?
Because a PhD is the highest degree you can earn online, students will be immersed in whichever subject matter they choose. For example, an English major can spend loads of credit hours on Shakespeare alone. Those seeking an online PhD degree in other arts will spend tons of time on paintings, music, poetry, etc.
For scientific PhD online degrees, a student begins by studying reference works and text books. Other items include scholarly journals, research papers, scientific publications, and even one or more thesis statements of their own. Loads of lab time is also one of the skills taught in a science online PhD degree.
What Kind of Career Can I Have With An Online Doctorate Degree?
Careers for those with an online doctorate degree are identical to students with a traditional campus phd degree. Careers can vary from research to leadership to teaching. For example, an online doctorate degree in the sciences can lead to a career in the lab for a research facility, corporation, or university. Those with a online doctoral degree in business can move to a management position fairly quickly. Another career for students who earn a doctoral degree online is to turn around and help others obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree.
Although when people think of a PhD, they often consider it the final degree that a student will obtain, however, increasingly this is not the case. Those with an online doctorate degree can also move on to get other degrees. For example, those who want to go into law can obtain a juris doctor (JD). Students who want to go into medicine and have the title of medical doctor can obtain a degree which is known as an M.D. If you have a online doctorate degree and would like a more advanced degree and career, a test may be called for. For example, a JD and license to practice law involve passing the BAR exam. Medical doctors in the United States and Canada are required to pass a similar exam called the MCAT before they begin their career.
What Types of Classes Are Given With The PhD Online Degree?
A PhD online degree typically requires anywhere from two to six years of additional study beyond the master’s level. To get a doctoral degree the student must complete a lengthy course of study, do research, and write or publish a dissertation. Because the PhD degree is so prestigious, it is estimated that only one out of one hundred Americans are doctors.
There are loads of credit hours involved in obtaining a PhD online degree. The four years and 120 credit hours involved in getting a bachelor’s degree are just the beginning. However, a plus of graduate classes is the smaller size and more intimate setting. PhD online degree students are also granted more freedom to stray from the standard curriculum and learn what interests them.
What is the Average Salary for Someone With an Online Doctorate Degree?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, professionals with doctorate degrees earn approximately $37,265 more each year than workers with bachelor’s degrees. Popular areas of study for PhD online degrees include education, engineering, business, and psychology.
A quick search on Payscale.com shows a snapshot of professionals and average salaries in each area. Those with a doctorate degree in education who work for a college or university can start at about $40,000 as a postdoctoral research associate or even move up to professor with an average salary of $80,000. The average salary for someone with a online doctorate degree in engineering is $85,000 and careers involve anything from researcher to mechanical engineer.
Those with an online doctorate degree who go into business or psychology can look to break the six figure average salary mark. A doctorate in business carries an average salary of $92,010 or even $116,889 if they work for the federal government. The average salaries for those in general or child psychiatry is $152,639 and $162,684 respectively. Other career choices for those with an online PhD degree in psychology include forensic psychologist, clinical, and other areas.
What Are the requirements for obtaining an online doctorate degree?
Each university or institute establishes the guidelines to earn a doctorate degree from their institution. Subsequently, each college or department in the university sets specific standards by which it awards an online doctorate degree which can vary degree by degree within the same institution. This can involve minors, second languages, or other requirements.
Usually obtaining an online doctorate degree involves students earning or studying for the equivalent of a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the same area or related one. A online doctoral degree student may also be asked to take specific graduate-level courses, keep grade average of 3.0 or higher, and even take one or more specialty tests. There are even universities and institutions that ask for all three.