When intellects think about pursuing an advanced degree, many are familiar with the traditional approach. What’s unfamiliar though is the online education, which not only leaves students confused but also sceptical. One of the most frequent questions they tend to ask is: “Are online doctorates credible?”
The short answer to that is yes, and that comes as good news for professionals who want to acquire a doctoral degree, but can’t accommodate a traditional course of study.
Accreditation is a key element that contributes to the credibility of a program. Therefore, regional accreditation is crucial. Being regionally accredited means that the degree program has been reviewed by a third party that judges the requirements and curriculum, among other factors, to ensure that the criteria are met.
One benefit of online education is that it is a self-motivated, independent study. By gaining an online doctoral degree, students are able to prove to themselves and employers that they are driven and disciplined self-starters.
The credibility of an online doctoral program is important to employers, as the employers decide if your work experience and education qualify you for a job.
Credibility factors, however, can vary, based on the program, school and the perception held by the employer of online programs. When you decide to pursue an online doctoral program, it is best to do adequate research to find universities that have reputation for offering top-tier education.