Applying for Online Doctoral Degree Programs
Students who are poised to enter an online doctoral degree program will likely already be familiar with how higher education application processes work, but here we will provide an overview of what to expect when you are applying to enter a doctoral program.
Doctoral candidates in the U.S. will need to show on their application that they have already completed two supporting levels of education leading up to the doctorate. The bachelor’s degree level (usually 4 years in duration) prepares the student with a standard undergraduate education, the foundation for graduate level work. Students complete various core classes (such as English composition, communication and mathematics) for a well-rounded education, but only about two of the four years are focused on a specific field of study. At the undergraduate level, students learn only introductory research methods.
The second supporting level of education that must be shown on your application to a doctoral program is the master’s degree level. Students who obtain a high enough GPA at the undergraduate level and meet other requirements set by a college can then apply for and complete a master’s degree program (usually 1-2 years in duration) in a chosen field of study.
Proof of these academic achievements is shown through providing your online university with an official transcript for the highest degree you have earned along with transcripts showing completed post-graduate coursework. Other requirements for online doctoral programs vary from school to school, but all application processes are meant to determine if the student can be successful in a graduate program. For example, Capella University’s admission requirements show that applicants for graduate programs must submit a resume, a purpose statement and for certain programs, letters of recommendation, so that the school can evaluate an applicant’s work history and achievements.
Certain doctoral degree programs and specializations will have other requirements for admission, such as licensing/certification. Also, you will need to have met minimum GPA standards for all completed academic work.
Let’s look at an example of a specific online graduate degree program. Admission into Vanderbilt University’s online/distance nursing doctoral program is competitive and requires three letters of recommendation and an essay. This essay is written to give the university an overview of your career goals, what you are interested in researching, what experience you have with research so far and the kind of faculty mentors you believe you will need. Admission requirements also show that a student must be interviewed by faculty either on site or via telephone. While this is just a sampling of Vanderbilt’s requirements, it is still a good example of a few things you can expect when applying for online doctoral degree programs. Contact your online university to find how their doctoral application process works.
