If you are on the hunt for doctoral programs, you’ve come to the right place!
Generally, doctoral degrees can be both research-based or applied degrees, signifying the highest specialisation in any field. Doctoral programs are best suited for students possessing a master’s degree.
In the following article, we’ll cover the top online doctoral programs that you can join depending on your interests and career goals. We have picked courses from various universities and domains so you can choose easily.
Top 10 Online Doctoral Programs
1. upGrad: Global Doctor of Business Administration
upGrad offers the Global Doctor of Business Administration program with SSBM Geneva. It’s a fantastic course for management professionals who want to enter the C-Suite or pursue upper-management positions in their organisation. The program takes around 36 months to complete and is entirely online. Moreover, the program offers 12+ specialisations to choose from, including but not limited to:
- Machine learning
- Human resource management
- Data science
- Energy management
- Global supply chain management
- Finance
- International business leadership
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
The program only costs INR 6 lakh, including taxes. Along with these advantages, the course offers dedicated learning support, international networking opportunities and personalised student support. Completing the DBA program will allow you to become a thought leader in your field. It starts on August 31, 2021.
2. John Hopkins University: PhD in Education
John Hopkins University is among the global leaders for the top online doctoral programs. Their PhD in Education program equips you to meet the various challenges present in the educational sector, become better involved in public policy development, apply content area expertise, and develop national models of educational practice. The tuition fee of JHU’s PhD in Education program is $45,260.
After completing this program, you’ll be ready for leadership roles in various educational organisations, including schools, colleges, and non-government agencies.
3. John Hopkins University: Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
Public health has always been a vital branch, but the COVID-19 pandemic created a rapid upsurge in interest in this field of study. The Doctor of Public Health program is for mid-career public health professionals who want to pursue leadership roles in domestic and international public health organisations. The program allows you to translate research findings to practice and lead in different public health settings. You can pick from a range of specialisation tracks:
- Health equity and social justice
- Environment health
- Health policy and management
- Implementation science
DrPH alumni have mid to senior-level positions in different organisations and government agencies. It takes around 5–9 years to complete the DrPH program. The tuition fee for this program is $59,184. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis without a set deadline, so you can apply anytime.
4. NSU Florida: Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
The Doctor of Education program is for students who want an advanced career in the education sector. The Ed.D program is different from conventional PhD programs as it focuses more on application than research. The program helps you further your career as a teacher, principal or leader of an educational institute.
The program doesn’t have testing requirements in the admissions process. Concentrations available in this program include higher education leadership, organisational leadership, human services administration, special education, among others.
The per-credit cost for NSU Florida’s Doctor of Education program is $1,460. Usually, it takes students 2.5 to 3 years to complete the program. Admissions for this course are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
5. NSU Florida: PhD in Criminal Justice
The PhD in Criminal Justice trains you through an interdisciplinary focus. It’s an online doctoral program that offers the opportunity of researching multiple areas. This is particularly well-suited for candidates who want to enhance their knowledge of criminology and make advances in the field. The core courses cover the theories of crime, applied statistics, the social-psychological relation between the police and society, and additional subjects. Similarly, the program offers three specialisation tracks:
- Organisational leadership
- Behavioural science
- Juvenile justice
You can pick the one that matches your interests. The program offers three semesters every year, and it takes around two and a half years for students to complete this PhD program. The per-credit cost for this program is $1,205. The program has a total of 60 credits. Start date for applications is August 23, 2021 and you can apply until December 12, 2021.
6. Capitol Technology University: PhD in Artificial Intelligence
Capitol Technology University, known as CapTech in short, is among the most renowned institutes for offering top online doctoral programs. Their PhD in Artificial Intelligence program allows you to become an expert in AI. The program is centred around how computers match the decision-making process of a human brain and how you can enhance the same. The program is delivered online and allows you to learn flexibly at your own pace.
It has two-degree completion options. You can follow the dissertation option or the publication option. Some modules present in this program include artificial intelligence research background, research proposal., future demands, and doctoral defence. Capitol Technology University charges $933 per credit for doctoral programs and a $100 admission fee. This program has a total of 60 credits. The final date to apply for the upcoming session is December 1st.
7. Capitol Technology University: PhD in Aeronautical Science
The aviation sector has always been a place for innovation and growth. The PhD in Aeronautical Science by CapTech allows you to become a driver of change in this field. You’ll be working on real problems and sometimes in aviation companies to create new ideas during the course. The program requires you to step in with a research idea and at least a committee chair. Once you enrol, you will work with the chair and the research committee to develop your research proposal and produce original research that can be published.
The program’s curriculum covers strategies for aviation, aviation research methodologies, aviation doctoral writing, etc. The per-credit fee for this course is $933, and there are a total of 60 credits in the program. You can apply until December 1st to join this program.
8. Capitol Technology University: PhD in Product Management
The PhD in Product Management program prepares a professional to enhance the existing business opportunities and meet the challenges faced in product management. It’s an online research-based doctoral program where students can engage in research. They can even publish their research without facing the limitations of conventional course models. After the completion of CapTech’s PhD in Product Management program, you’ll be eligible for the following roles:
- Senior Vice President, Product Management
- Managing Director, Product Line
- Vice President, Channel and Product Management
- Business Development Consultant
The closest deadline to enter their doctoral batch is August 15, 2021. After that, the next batch would start on December 1st 2021. The per-credit fee here is $933.
9. George Washington University: DNP — Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The Doctor of Nursing Practice under the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program allows nurses to function at the highest level of clinical practice. It equips them with the skill and expertise required to translate advanced knowledge into practice and apply design and policy with ease. It also enhances the innovative skillsets of nursing candidates to enhance the existing healthcare systems and create patient-centric outcomes.
The curriculum combines behavioural change theories, nursing science, motivational theories, psychotherapeutic frameworks, and neuroscience to give a holistic view of the relevant subjects. The admission deadline for this program is December 1st. The program requires 72 credits in specific fields for completion. The specified tuition fee at GWU is $56,935.
10. George Washington University: DNP — Executive Leadership
GW’s Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership is for nursing professionals who want to pursue upper management positions in healthcare. The course focuses on entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial approaches to leadership and uses projects to strengthen the learning process. The program allows the candidate to apply what they have learnt in real-life situations and navigate the country’s complex health care environment.
This doctoral program is excellent for students and professionals who want to advance their careers in the healthcare industry. The admission deadline for this program starts from December 1st and ends on May 15th of the following year. The program requires the DNP students to complete at least 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours and earn 43 credits. The tuition fee at GW is $56,935.
Conclusion
A doctoral program requires a high level of commitment. Pick a course that matches your budget, your career aspirations and allows you to advance in your desired field. Online doctoral programs are a relatively new concept, but they are gaining popularity as the pandemic has shifted traditional classroom learning to the digital learning model.
What are your thoughts on these programs? Which one would you pick?
Let us know in the comments below!
