How to Find a Quality Distance Learning Program

Deciding to go back to school for a doctorate degree is a tough decision in its own right. Considering whether to go to school online or participate in a traditional program is another tough choice. Finally, you have chosen to attend an online doctorate program. Congratulations! Once you have crossed this bridge you’re home free, right? Sorry, but now you need to decide where to go for your online doctorate degree. Look for a quality distance learning program -- regardless of the degree level you hope to attain -- but it can be even more important for a doctorate degree. So, how do you know if the program you are interested in is a quality distance learning program?

A quality distance learning program will offer a variety of features that others might not. Check to see if the school is accredited. Depending on the field you are going into, you might also need to attend a program with specialized accreditation. An example is mental health counseling. CACREP accreditation is a requirement for licensure as a mental health counselor in many states; therefore, CACREP accreditation in a mental health program would be an indicator that the program is of high quality.

Read up on the reputation of the school. The Internet offers a wealth of information on virtually everything, so chances are good that if the school has a bad reputation you might be able to find out by looking online. All schools are likely to have a few dissatisfied students -- sure to take that into account when completing your research.

Ask the school if it is willing to let you talk to some of the alums. Most schools keep track of their alumni, so this may not be as hard as it seems. Not everyone will be willing to take time to talk to you, but if the school offers a true quality distance learning program, you should be able to find a few alumni willing to talk to you and sing the praises of the program.

Has the school won any awards for the online doctorate degree program you want to attend? Have they won any awards for the school in general? Keep in mind that not having any awards does not mean the school is of poor quality. Awards are just something else to consider if they are present.

Ask the school about their teachers. What are their qualifications? How much teaching experience do doctorate level teachers have? Are they leaders in their fields? It is not a good sign when recent graduates of a doctorate program are actually teaching your doctorate program. You want teachers who have experience teaching and also some experience in the fields they teach. You also want to be able to have contact with your teachers. A good doctorate program requires the student to be in constant contact with his teacher. Make sure your school meets this criterion.

A traditional university has a dedicated library full of research material. Many of these universities offer quality distance learning programs as well, which means that you, too, have access to this research facility. Even if you are not able to travel to the campus, most schools make a lot of research material available online.

An online university may not possess a large library full of books, but a quality distance learning program will have an online library available to its students. Research is very important in an online doctorate degree program, so you want to make sure the material you will have access to is adequate.

It is important to thoroughly research any distance learning program, and an online doctorate degree program is no different. A quality distance learning program should have no problem answering your questions and putting your mind at ease. If you run into something that makes you uncomfortable, simply find another program. You are investing a lot of time and money into your education and it should be something you are confident in.