Many pros and cons need to be considered before deciding whether to attend a traditional campus or enroll in a distant learning program. While attending virtual classes would help the student save time and money on meals and commute, the cost for setting up a study area at home with high-speed Internet and access to the latest computer programs could increase. The student will not have access to facilities like labs and libraries or be able to participate in extracurricular activities such as attending in-house sports and music events if he or she cannot be physically present on campus. However, studying at home would mean that there would be more flexibility in schedule since recorded lectures could be listened to at any time and the pupil could interact online with a more diverse group of classmates located in different parts of the world.
Pursuing an online PhD in Psychology eventually becomes more of a matter of personal preference. While some students consider the lack of face-to-face communication with professors and colleagues as a major drawback, others prefer learning in a secluded environment at home as it allows them to focus on their assignments and work more independently. One must realize that online education comes with a certain lifestyle, and nowadays even some professionals in the field of psychology such as researchers, counselors and data analysts are required to work independently or online rather than in the typical office or hospital environment. Hence, if the student is planning to apply for online jobs or become a private practitioner, pursuing an online PhD in Psychology makes a lot more sense.
The field of study and level of degree can also have a big influence on the student’s final decision. Theory subjects that impart specific knowledge such as History, Math and Geography can be more effectively taught online since they require little or no hands-on training or group debates. For those pursuing a PhD in Psychology, online classes in Clinical Studies, Data Analysis and Research would be better choices compared to subjects such as School Counseling and Occupational Psychology since these require more in-person interaction. Furthermore, employers who are hiring for jobs that require a higher level of education are more demanding when selecting candidates, so getting an online PhD may not be as beneficial as getting a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree online.
Finally, there is the matter of credibility and prestige when it comes to evaluating degrees earned online in comparison to those acquired by attending on-campus classes. It seems that many employers prefer to hire students that have not attained their degree purely online, although as mentioned earlier this greatly depends on the nature of job that the employer is hiring for. This difference in recognition is the primary reason why the ranking for the top Psychology PhD programs in the United States differs greatly from the top online PhD programs. Stanford University, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Yale and UCLA are the highest ranked for PhD programs in Psychology, but when it comes to getting a PhD in Psychology online the top five institutes are University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, Ashford University, Saint Leo University and Capella University. It becomes apparent that online educational institutes are very much in their own niche and competing against one another rather than wanting to be compared to big names such as Stanford and Yale. Likewise, universities with traditional campuses realize that online education has become an enticing option for some students but on-campus education retains its own unique set of benefits.
In summary, one should keep the following points in mind when contemplating upon whether or not students should pursue an online PhD in Psychology:
• Travel and meals expenses decrease.
• Cost for building an at-home study area can go up.
• No access to campus facilities such as labs, libraries, gyms and auditoriums.
• More diverse/international students.
• No face-to-face communication with professors and colleagues.
• Online education is better for theory subjects/majors.
• The top 5 institutes for online PhD in Psychology are University of Phoenix, Kaplan University, Ashford University, Saint Leo University and Capella University.
Author: Nadeem Alim
Sources:
"NRC Ranking of U.S. Psychology Ph.D. Programs." Social Psychology Network.
"Online Degree vs. Traditional Degree." Distant Learning Programs.
"Online PhD in Psychology." Top 5 Programs: Doctorate & Doctoral Degrees.
"Top 10 Online Colleges for Psychology Degrees." The Best Colleges.
"What Are the Pros and Cons of Online Education?" Guide to Online Education.
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