Best Online PhD Degrees in Humanities Studies

An online doctorate in humanities studies may be ideal for certain lifestyles and personalities. Degree seekers who have busy schedules, demanding family life or work obligations or who might not have ready access to study resources close by, often take advantage of and thrive in online doctorate programs. Additionally, an online doctorate can be very cost-effective and will allow students to work at their own pace. Students may choose to be enrolled part-time or full-time. An important aspect of an online doctorate program is planning. Students will need to work closely with an academic advisor to stay on track and complete the program in time. An example of a doctorate program that works well within the online format including a doctorate in Humanities Studies as practical or lab work is limited in this program.

Admission to a Ph.D program in Humanities Studies can be competitive. Applicants will require an undergraduate degree with a proven record of excellence from a recognized university or evidence of satisfactory work at the postgraduate level. Typically, a Ph.D program will also require some background in the field of study. However, if an applicant does not have the necessary background, one can make up for it with the required number of credits in the subject. Other documents needed for your application include a good transcript, an autobiographical statement, a statement of goals, two letters of recommendation and an academic writing sample based on your chosen field of specialization.

An online Ph.D in Humanities Studies is very different from an undergraduate degree. For most full-time students it requires a commitment of 60 hours per week. The program requires a tremendous amount of reading and writing, attending and teaching classes, grading papers and helping the respective department in many ways. The course load and credit requirements will vary greatly depending on the subject being studied. For example, the typical coursework in an online doctorate in a Humanities Studies program will look like the coursework for the Ph.D in Philosophy from California Institute of Integral Studies. This program requires students to complete 36 course units, a dissertation proposal and the dissertation. The course units are divided into required and elective coursework in the field of specialization. The online doctorate in Theology at Atlantic International University is an example of a program that does not have any fixed curriculum and requires the student to design a curriculum with their advisor based on their own needs and requirements.

How Long is an Online Doctoral Humanities Studies Program?

The time required to finish a Ph.D in Humanities Studies varies greatly depending on the individual and the requirements of the institution. A typical Ph.D takes seven to eight years for a student to submit their dissertation.

There are many different Humanities areas that offer online doctoral degrees. The coursework for the degree will vary greatly depending on the field of research. Often, students will also be allowed to pursue interdisciplinary studies and combine coursework from two or more departments. For example, a Ph.D in Humanities Studies focusing on Gender Studies may have coursework such as Women Philosophers, Mystics and Wisdom Teachers, Ecofeminist Philosophy and Activism, Critical and Liberatory Methods of Inquiry and Reflections on Consciousness, Empowerment and Spirituality. A Ph.D focusing on Theology will have core courses such as Understanding the Bible, The New Testament, Dynamics of World Religion and Hebrew Script Post Bible Judaism. Some courses are common to the online Ph.D in Humanities Studies, irrespective of the specialization such as the Doctoral Seminar, Research Methods and Theories and Methodologies.

Doctoral Seminar

This course allows students to review work in their specific discipline and strengthen their research and critical analysis skills. These are essential skills that are needed irrespective of the specialization one chooses. Students discuss and work on theoretical approaches relevant to their specific fields. Seminars incorporate analytical writing assignments and require a final project or paper.

Research Methods

The course examines current and historical approaches to conducting research within the researcher's discipline. Doctoral students read prominent texts to analyze different approaches, study certain quantitative and qualitative research methods and become familiar with industry-standard software. The course is relevant for and helps the student develop the skills required to complete the final dissertation.

Theories and Methodologies

Doctoral students explore dominant theories and methods within their respective discipline. Students explore theoretical approaches and examine the evolution of certain theories in their discipline of study. Students also analyze how scholars work with topics through various theoretical lenses. Students who are working on practice-oriented subjects may also explore the connection between theories and practices in this course.

Introduction to Continental Philosophy

This is a common course for a Ph.D in Humanities Studies that specialize in Philosophy. Here, students read, in great detail, the works of continental philosophers such as Kant, Descartes and Benjamin and try to analyze their arguments. Students typically complete a final paper that gets them to interpret and analyze the main theories and ideas discussed during the course.

Humanities Studies incorporates a wide range of disciplines and hence, there can be many different specializations in this field. Students may choose to specialize in History, Religion, Language, Literature, Arts, Music or Social Work . Some common specializations include:

• Area, Ethnic and Cultural Studies: Students who wish to develop a grasp over a specific ethnicity or culture may choose this doctoral specialization. The program systematically explores the traditions, history, language and culture of a specific people.
• Communications and Public Relations: An online Ph.D in Communications and Public Relations engages students across various content and creative networks. Students choose to focus on health, environment, intercultural, international and organizational communication.
• English: An online doctoral degree in English combines courses in writing, theory of rhetoric and, disourse and textual studies. Students investigate different literary texts in various contexts. Students are also trained to understand how different texts are affected by form, the technology of composition, purpose, audience, cultural location and communities of discourse.

After the completion of the required coursework, students work with their respective advisors to design specific areas of study and topics of investigation. The student is required to prepare for and pass their qualifying examinations and submit a proposal of their dissertation detailing their project. Once the dissertation proposal is approved, students may begin work on their dissertation. This stage requires significant reading and research, archival work and any kind of practical work which may be part of the proposal. The dissertation usually comprises an introduction and conclusion along with four full-length chapters. Most students usually submit their dissertation between the sixth and eighth year of study. They also have to defend their dissertations in front of committee members. A dissertation defense is comprised of faculty members who probe the student and ask questions about the research described in the dissertation. The degree is granted on the successful defense of the dissertation.

Many programs may also have specific coursework that students have to take during the process of writing the dissertation. These courses are meant to help with the writing process. Some common examples of such courses include Dissertation Proposal Writing and Completion and Dissertation Writing Seminar. These courses may carry credits that are necessary for the completion of the program but most of these courses are ungraded.

One of the most important aspects that students consider while looking for an online doctoral program is the availability of a suitable mentor or advisor. A lot of the work completed during the program will be a collaboration between the student and their advisor. Hence, looking for programs that have faculty that can guide a student in the direction they wish to go with their research is a key prerequisite to finding a suitable program. Accreditation for online programs is also another important aspect.

Funding opportunities and the availability of paid teaching and research positions are also important. A Ph.D is usually a funded degree but, in many cases, programs may have tuition fees. Funding opportunities, as well as paid teaching and research assistantships, help to pay for tuition. Moreover, teaching and research opportunities at the program level provide important skills that will be required later in one's career. However, teaching may require some on-campus duties to be fulfilled. Considering whether a program is completely online or partially online is important and the student needs to choose a program that aligns with their lifestyle requirements. In the case of a partially online program, students will be required to visit the campus a few times a year.

Accreditation is important when considering online doctoral programs. Accreditation shows that the program meets the educational requirements of the state and provides quality education. Employers often depend on accreditation to determine whether a student possesses a quality education. Moreover, accredited programs make it easier to transfer credits between programs if so required. Two of the main organizations for accreditation in the United States include the private Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the federal US Department of Education. Both these organizations maintain searchable databases of accredited online Ph.D programs which make it easier for students and administrators to verify the status of a program.

Accreditations are also useful for securing financial aid for a Ph.D program. Federal loan programs and many scholarships are only available for students enrolled in an accredited program. Many companies also offer tuition assistance to employees who plan on returning to school and many employers restrict their offers to schools with regional accreditation.

A doctorate represents the highest educational degree in any field. Hence, individuals with an online doctorate often get employed for roles that require a high level of responsibility. Depending on their discipline, an online Ph.D in Humanities Studies offers many different career choices. For example, a doctorate in History, English, Political Science or Art can lead to a position in research and academia. Individuals with doctorates in administrative fields can also get jobs in higher education administration such as the position of the Academic Dean or Provost. Doctoral degrees also develop skills in organization, research and data analysis and prepare students for managerial and analyst positions. Some common positions held by graduates with a doctorate in humanities studies include college professor or lecturer, government policy analyst, project manager, researcher, academic administrator and high school teacher or principal. Graduates will possess the skills to be hired across a variety of different industries.

College Professor or Lecturer

Teachers in the postsecondary sector work with adults and can teach different academic subjects. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a college professor in 2020 was $80,790 per year. The projected growth rate for jobs in this position is 9% which is much faster than the growth rate for average jobs in the United States. Higher education institutions usually require professors to hold a doctoral degree in their field to teach and positions can be very competitive.

Historian

Historians analyze, research, interpret and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources. Historians may be employed by the government, universities or museums. According to the BLS, the average salary of a historian in 2020 was $63,100 per year. The projected growth rate for jobs in this field is 3% which is similar to the average growth. While not a prerequisite for the job, a historian who wishes to lecture at the college level is usually expected to hold a doctorate in History.

Market Research Analyst

The research required by a doctoral program trains student to work with large volumes of data and conduct research at the market level. One of the main activities of a market research analysts is to research market conditions with the aim of identifying the potential sales of a particular product or service. According to the BLS, the No InterWiki reference defined in properties for Wiki called "average salary of a Market Research Analyst https"! is $65,810 per year. The projected growth rate for jobs in this field is 18% which is much faster than the growth of average jobs in the United States.

Programs usually offer a stipend to doctoral students in Humanities Studies for the research work that they perform. Numerous scholarships, grants and fellowships are available at both the institutional and federal level for students to help offset the cost of tuition. The Citizen Scholarship is a sweepstake that provides $2,500 each month and $15,000 per year to doctoral students at accredited institutions. The National Endowment for the Humanities also provides the NEH Summer Stipends to support individuals pursuing advanced research in the Humanities. A stipend of $6,000 is provided usually for two consecutive months of full-time research and writing. The National Humanities Center provides a fellowship to 40 researchers in the Humanities from September through May. Lastly, students may also file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA with the program in question. Most accredited programs are eligible for FAFSA and the amount of aid depends on the length of study and student's financial circumstances.