Ph.D. and Doctorate Degrees Program:
As a doctoral student you will be required to take advanced courses your chosen field of study, these course are usually small seminars or independent studies. The coursework for this degree usually takes three to four semesters of full-time study. In addition to complete coursework, the doctoral candidate must pass written and/or oral qualifying exams, showing that they have a sufficient background to proceed with independent research. The qualifying exam is given by the candidate's committee. This committee usually consists of three to five professors in the candidate's program, who has agreed to guide the candidate's research. As a Ph.D. candidate you will then pursue original research and write a book-length thesis or dissertation. Once this is complete, you must orally defend its conclusions before your committee. When you have successfully defended and deposit the finished thesis or dissertation with the university, you have earned the title “Doctor”.

Popular online courses of study for a doctorate degree are:
PSYCHOLOGY (Ph.D.; PsyD): You may pursue the Ph.D. in Psychology and the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) through courses of online study. A PH.D. in psychology is a research and teaching degree while a Doctor of psychology is considered a counseling degree. Sub-specialties of these degrees include clinical psychology, counseling psychology, educational psychology, or organizational psychology.

EDUCATION (Ph.D.; Ed.D.): The Ph.D. in Education prepares you for academic teaching or administrative careers whereas the Ed.D. prepares you to become a primary and secondary school administrator or teacher.

ENGINEERING (PhD; DCS): Areas of study for an online engineering doctorate include computer science (also called a Doctor of Computer Science or DCS), electrical engineering, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering. Some programs award a Doctor of Engineering degree (D.Eng).

PUBLIC HEALTH (Ph.D.; DPH): Doctoral degrees in the public health field prepare graduates for administrative or research careers in community health or related social health fields, also including epidemiology. With a Doctor of Public Health degree (DPH) your area of work will generally be in public health policy studies.

BUSINESS (Ph.D.; DBA): With a Ph.D. in business or a Doctor of Business Administration degree you will be prepared for research and teaching positions in business.

HEALTH and MEDICAL (M.D.; Ph.D.): The goal of the M.D.-Ph.D. Program is to educate physician-scientists who will become leading researchers and educators. Online you may obtain a PH.D. in health administration studies.
As a doctorate degree holder you will create new knowledge and share that knowledge with professional peers at conferences and with the public through writing, media, and public presentations. Important considerations when obtaining a doctorate degree.

ACCREDITATION: Because the doctorate is an elite degree, program accreditation is always a serious concern. It is important not to be taken in by diploma mills posing as legitimate advanced degree-granting institutions. As a prospective student you should carefully assess the credentials of any university before committing program of doctoral study. Warning signs the prospective candidate should watch for are, schools offering easy and quick doctoral degrees.

Only an accredited school and programs of study can grant a doctorate. This advanced degree will be recognized by professional organizations, board of licensure, and potential employers. Both the degree-granting university and its accrediting agencies must be checked carefully and verified with the U.S. Department of Education.

MENTORING: Mentoring is crucial to the doctoral study. Faculty who teach and then form the candidate's committee will also write the letters of recommendation that eventually get you a job. The candidate benefits from the prestige of the scholars who serve on the committee and write on his or her behalf. One of the most valuable lessons of doctoral study is: Always work with the best people.

Professional Affiliation and Licensure Issues:
Before choosing to commit to a program of doctoral study, it is wise to see if the program has the stamp of approval of the professional organizations in that field. Some Ph.D.'s and other doctorates require an additional licensure before the degree holders can actually practice. For example obtaining Ph.D. or PsyD in psychology is not sufficient enough to set up a counseling practice. You will need to obtain licensing in your area. As a doctoral degree seeker you should make sure that the degree program is recognized by the licensing agency before investing in it.

Leaving aside the doctoral degrees such as the J. D. (Juris Doctorate) in law and the M.D. in medicine, the doctorate program still offers many degrees online. Online doctoral degree programs require as much as a year of residency and/or field work or other clinical experience with few exceptions. Some fields also require supervised practicum's leading to licensure.