Considerations

• Make sure that distance education is right for you. Getting a PhD in any setting is challenging, but without actual person-to-person exposure, it can get extremely hard to keep everything going smoothly. While you'll reap the convenience of going through the program at home, you'll also miss out on the collegial atmosphere, contact with fellow students and the multitude of resources available on a typical college campus.
  On the other hand, you'll be able to use an academic library through the Internet, have the ability to order and receive textbooks at home, and be able to interact with professors and students in a virtual environment.
  Another popular option is combining on-campus and online learning, as many programs offer physical classes in addition to virtual instruction. This will give you more time at home while providing the many benefits of on-campus study. In all cases of online programs, make sure that your computer system is not too outdated and that you have a fast Internet connection.
  
  

Features

• Distance education has exploded in popularity over the last decade, and there are now numerous opportunities to pursue a degree online. Some schools that offer English PhD online programs include Pennsylvania State University, Utah State University (Extension) and Texas Tech University. On-campus/online combination programs are offered by Lehigh University, Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) and the University of North Dakota, among others (see Resources below).
  
  

Misconceptions

• It may seem like getting a PhD degree online is easier than actually going to a physical location to earn the degree. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about online education. You will have to invest more time into online study, since you will have to be very organized, participate in regularly scheduled virtual discussions and classes, spend time finding the right resources that are normally easily available on a physical campus, and will miss out on brainstorming sessions with fellow students that usually take place in campus hangouts, centers and libraries.
  
  

Warning

• A serious challenge in online education is finding a legitimate, accredited program. The Internet is full of offers of relatively cheap masters and PhD programs, but be aware that most are scams designed to part you of your money without providing a quality education.
  Use the link provided below to find legitimate and accredited programs, and follow up with extensive research on each program to make sure you will be getting your money's worth.
  
  

Potential

• Every year, more and more colleges and universities realize the potential of distance education to increase enrollment and offer "non-traditional" students the tools necessary to experience successful learning, so it is now becoming more acceptable to earn a higher degree online--as long as the program is recognized as legitimate.
  Sophisticated software, such as Blackboard, offer easy and intimate online interaction between teachers and students, and with better technology being introduced on a regular basis, the experience of distance education has the potential to one day play a much larger role in higher education than it has right now.