I am considering an PhD. Does anyone know what the requirements are, how long it takes?

Question

Also, has anyone went through an online PhD program?

Answer 1

First, it is unclear if you are asking about admission requirements, or requirements for successful completion of a Ph.D. program. Second, requirements (in both cases) can vary from field to field. Third, you have not indicated whether you already have a Master's degree. However, I'll try to provide you with some basic information.

If you do not already have a Master's degree, you should apply to (and complete) Master's programs first, or combination Master's/PhD programs. If you DO have a Master's degree, then of course, you will want to apply to PhD programs only.

In order to gain admission to a combination Master's/ Ph.D. program, you must:
- have very good test scores (usually the GRE is the appropriate exam to take, but it depends on the field)
- have excellent letters of recommendation from your undergraduate professors (most importantly, from those in the field in which you intend to study)
- have an excellent undergraduate GPA (if there are blemishes on your record, they should be OUTSIDE of your intended field)
- show, in your application statement, your preparation for graduate study in this field. You should demonstrate familiarity with current research and especially, current theory in the field. You should also be clear about your own specific research interests. It is generally a good idea to submit an example of your recent work (a research paper, for example).

A Master's degree usually takes 2 or 3 years (including coursework and thesis) to complete, again, depending on the field.

A PhD usually requires two years of coursework, a year or so of completing language requirements (usually French, German, and any languages relevant to your specific area of specialization) and qualifying exams, and another year (or sometimes more) of researching, writing, and defending the dissertation. Some fields also require (or encourage) internships, fieldwork or lab research, which can add another year to the time necessary to complete the degree.

Most successful PhD candidates complete the degree in 5 to 7 years, although many take a few years more, especially if they are working full-time while researching and writing their dissertation.

As to online PhDs, they are utterly worthless in academia. I also doubt (although I have no concrete proof) that they have much value in the business world, since it is common knowledge that a PhD requires close mentoring from professors and advisors, guided research, and oftentimes, fieldwork, internship, and/or lab requirements. None of this could be accomplished well online. Most successful business executives do not have PhDs anyway; the terminal degree in business is usually the MBA.

I hope this helps!

Answer 2

Good answer, previous poster.
Average time to get PhD in sciences = 5-7 years. Yes, there are many "professional students" out there who waste time and are in their 8th or more year of study.
Think very carefully if you want your PhD. How badly do you want it? Are you willing to go through the stress? This is NOT like college where you are pretty much handed the degree after 4 years; you have to earn your PhD. Therefore like the previous post said, you might want to consider first getting your master's.
Online PhD = worthless. Nobody in academia is going to take you seriously.

Answer 3

I am beautiful certain that in case you desire a phd in philosophy you input a phd application after undergrad. These do not make a difference among ma and phd. Its only one lengthy application. I am no longer targeted of this, however after your 4 years of undergrad it must take you approximately 6 years to get a phd.