Is it possible to earn PhD degrees online in any discipline of medical science?

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• 
  Michael Halasy · Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

  Yes, you can, and despite the naysayers, the disruptive innovation in higher education is a move to online degrees. I would NEVER advise to give clinical education degrees online, as patient care requires too much hands on activity, and close supervision, but academic degrees are different. I earned my research doctorate, a DHSc (Doctor of Health Sciences) which has an applied research focus online. My PA education however, was in a classroom.

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  Yes, you can, and despite the naysayers, the disruptive innovation in higher education is a move to online degrees. I would NEVER advise to give clinical education degrees online, as patient care requires too much hands on activity, and close supervision, but academic degrees are different. I earned my research doctorate, a DHSc (Doctor of Health Sciences) which has an applied research focus online. My PA education however, was in a classroom.

  May 17, 2012
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  Amanda Hobbs · University of Sydney

  Many universities offer higher research degrees in off campus, distance education mode but there would still have to be some on campus contact. I have recently completed at PhD at University of Sydney in this manner as I lived 500km from the university and continued full time clinical practise throughout my canditature. I chose with my supervisor to attend the university in the first year or so 4 times a year with email and phone contact negotiated as needed. As I progressed with my reseacrh I needed to increase my on campus contact and in the last 6 months attended 2 days on a monthly basis. That one on one contact is important to reduce isolation and to form strongly working relationships. Some universities however will insist on some regular on campus time eg weekly.

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  Many universities offer higher research degrees in off campus, distance education mode but there would still have to be some on campus contact. I have recently completed at PhD at University of Sydney in this manner as I lived 500km from the university and continued full time clinical practise throughout my canditature. I chose with my supervisor to attend the university in the first year or so 4 times a year with email and phone contact negotiated as needed. As I progressed with my reseacrh I needed to increase my on campus contact and in the last 6 months attended 2 days on a monthly basis. That one on one contact is important to reduce isolation and to form strongly working relationships. Some universities however will insist on some regular on campus time eg weekly.

  May 19, 2012
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  Francis Mwema · FHI 360

  I have been looking for this kind of PHD program online.

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  I have been looking for this kind of PHD program online.

  May 22, 2012
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  Luis Pinet-Peralta · University of Maryland, Baltimore County

  Most quality distance-education programs will have some on-campus component, and I agree with Michael that there are good options out there for non-clinical areas. Having said that, be careful how you choose your institution and pay close attention to how the degree is structured. PhD-level research will almost invariably require you to have close contact with your mentor and with other institutional resources, so you should expect a quality program to include some on-campus requirements for your degree. In my experience, programs that offer PhD level work entirely online are not a good choice and will not offer the rigorous structure required for a doctoral degree. This can translate into few professional opportunities in the long run.

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  Most quality distance-education programs will have some on-campus component, and I agree with Michael that there are good options out there for non-clinical areas. Having said that, be careful how you choose your institution and pay close attention to how the degree is structured. PhD-level research will almost invariably require you to have close contact with your mentor and with other institutional resources, so you should expect a quality program to include some on-campus requirements for your degree. In my experience, programs that offer PhD level work entirely online are not a good choice and will not offer the rigorous structure required for a doctoral degree. This can translate into few professional opportunities in the long run.

  Oct 10, 2012