Online Doctorate Degree

Doctorates Available Online Nowadays?

This study examined the effectiveness of the virtual classroom concept for an online doctorate degree in management science. A traditional classroom lecture course was compared with the same course with an on-line component to determine if any difference in effectiveness emerged. The course with the on-line option was found to be as effective as the traditional course. In addition, several factors were studied to determine if any were associated with performance in the two instructional approaches. The students' grade point averages and classroom attendance were found to be associated with performance in both cases.

The rapidly expanding World Wide Web is changing the customer base of universities and colleges and the way they conduct business. Distance education has now become an important strategic issue for business schools, as it overcomes restrictions of same-time or same-place learning. However, distance education is far from a new concept or practice in higher education. The technology of distance education bas evolved quickly in recent years from the traditional correspondence courses and TV broadcasts to the pervasive yet personalized and interactive capabilities of the World Wide Web. This new medium now makes distance education a much more attractive tool for reaching new market areas and customers.

Certain business programs, in particular, can use this technology effectively because much of the course work involves lectures with little need for ancillary equipment or facilities (e.g., labs). Indeed, today more than 40 accredited U.S. business schools offer complete MBA programs through distance education. The Global Executive MBA program at Duke University, for example, is designed for working executives who are able to live anywhere in the world while participating in the program. A major component of the program is the delivery of instruction through interactive distance education technology that complements and extends the classroom experience. The current literature is sated with such examples of courses and programs that are offered on-line.