Pursuing an Online PhD by Patricia Pedraza Nafziger

"While studies show an average 50 percent completion rate for students pursuing a PhD, those who are successful tend to have strengths in perseverance and both oral and written communication." BellaOnline's Distance Learning Editor Patricia Pedraza-Nafziger reported. 

The decision to pursue a PhD does not come casually. The time invested in obtaining a PhD is usually twice as long as acquiring a bachelor’s degree, and the cost associated with it can set you back a few years if you do not qualify for financial aid, work for a company that offers a tuition reimbursement package, or have another means to pay tuition. Nevertheless, many millennials are finding themselves on the path toward attaining a PhD, including myself. One of my motivators was realizing how this long-term commitment could enrich my future. My first concern was age. I asked myself, “Am I too old to pursue a PhD?” However, my view of life is this: Take each day as it comes. Of course, having goals is important, but you still need to find pleasure in each day. That philosophy can be applied to your PhD journey as well if you have a passion for your area of research. The PhD journey will simply become part of your daily life, a challenging yet rewarding journey each step of the way.
 
Nevertheless, as in any other degree program, there may be PhD coursework that simply does not interest you. The advantage of a PhD over other degree options is that you can incorporate your area of research within assignments in less desirable courses. Essentially, each course provides you with an opportunity to conduct further research in your area of interest in some capacity.
 
I have had an extensive career at the Boeing Company, and the organization I support places a lot of value on higher education. I happen to have a passion for certain areas within the information technology field which is a part of my daily work life, so pursuing a PhD in information technology seemed like the next logical step. Opportunities are simply more available if you have a PhD degree to edge you past your competition.
 
While studies show an average 50 percent completion rate for students pursuing a PhD, those who are successful tend to have strengths in perseverance and both oral and written communication. If your writing skills are weak, take a series of writing courses prior to beginning your PhD journey. Most universities offering a PhD program also provide prerequisite writing courses that will improve your skills. Make no mistake; researching and writing will be the majority of the work involved in achieving a PhD.
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Additional resources  
10 Best Online PhD Programs for 2016 | OEDb.org

Teaching Adult Students Online: A Corporate Geek Girl's Journal (Distance Learning) (Volume 2)

Teaching Adult Students Online:
  A Corporate Geek Girl's Journal 
(Distance Learning) (Volume 2)

Amazon writes, "Throughout her career in information technology Patricia has witnessed a transformation in how conglomerates hire, train, and share information. Gone are the days of on-site interviews, face-to-face staff meetings, and in-house corporate training. Those changes have been motivated by advancements in technology, and this steady pace of change only appears to be accelerating."

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; First edition (April 7, 2015)
Visit Amazon's Patricia Pedraza-Nafziger Page 

Source: BellaOnline