Ph.D. Online or With Little Residency: History, Political Science, or Humanities

I have two friends who approached me over the weekend, knowing of course that I am "into" distance education. One is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in history or political science; the other, humanities. I have done some research, and I can find little in the U.S. in these areas in the online method of delivery or with little residency. Preference, of course, goes to RA schools.

Is there a program--a "great find"--of which I am not aware in one of these three disciplines? Perhaps someone with more vast knowledge than I in distance education matters can assist.

Anyone?

basrsu

 

UF has a PhD in Humanities.

 

This Union Institute & University program has an emphasis on Humanities
http://www.tui.edu/cohort/curriculum.asp

 

Best results are in South Africa.

Stateside:
Union is a possibility but you need deep pockets
University of Florida however you better know Latin

There might be an alternative at a university located in Texas.... soon...say 2008, but the vicious rumor has it, that the school will only take ten students a year...Yep, a whopping ten students a year. Thats everyone too, including campus students....so you will have to compete against the MA groupies who have already positioned themselves for some serious Departmental Dean butt smoochin'
-Gavin

 

I know that the American Public University System is a possibility, too...but who knows how far into the distance we'll see that occurrence?

basrsu

 

I wish APU would kick something off....last I heard APU had stalled out.
Gavin

 

As others have indicated, there's some pretty slim pickings in those subject areas. The main set of hits from American and British universities depend upon how you might want to define "Humanities." Here's what I've got:

Old Dominion University - PhD in English
University of Pennsylvania - PhD in Literature and Criticism
University of Nottingham - PhD in English Literature
Pacifica Graduate Institute - PhD in Mythological Studies
University of Florida - PhD in Latin and Roman Studies or Classical Civilization

I'd be willing to bet that there's more offerings coming out of Australia. Look at Charles Sturt and the Queensland group first. Someone else said to look at South Africa. Go to UNISA first.

 

I looked at the UF website for the MA and PHD in Humanities. It seemed like the MA is totally residential. For the PHD, a person had to be in residence for at least one year (24 credit hours). Am I not reading something, but it doesn't appear as though this is low-residency (though compared to 4-7 years of other graduate programs, I guess it may be).

Advice?

 

UFL offers a Master of Latin and a Master of Arts in Latin. They do not offer an MA or Phd in Humanities via distance learning.

http://www.distancelearning.ufl.edu/

- Tom

 

The University of Florida does offer PhD programs in Classical Civilization and Latin & Roman Studies via distance.

 

Thanks Ted! I missed that tab on the website.

- Tom

 

Aside from the Union Institute's PhD in Humanities and Society and the University of Florida's PhD in Classics, there are few other options. One could try a dissertation only doctorate after the UK model.

 

If DETC is okay, Harrison Middleton University, formerly known as the College of the Humanities and Sciences www.chumsci.edu , offers an EdD degree which emphasizes the History, Philosophy, and Politics of Education.

 

Low Residency PhD Humanities

This may be an old discussion; however, the topic is very relevant. It looks like Salve Regina is offering a low residency PhD in Humanities that might be interest to many of you. It looks like it is new and just starting. The first deadline is April 1, 2010. It may not be all online, but it appears that there just might have been some progress in alternative access to PhD in humanities. If this is case, yeah Salve Regina. May many other universities follow in your footsteps! The market definitely needs more programs like this.

http://www.salve.edu/graduatestudies/programs/doc/
http://www.salve.edu/graduatestudies/programs/doc/IRFC.pdf

 

In the New England area Salve Regina has a good academic rep but watch out, it also has a rep for being rather expensive.

 

I agree. In fact, I think many of the PhD programs are off their rockers when it comes to pricing. Let's not even talk about Union. However, from what I remember they charge around 625/per credit, which is right in line with other B&M colleges such as Nova, give or take a few dollars.

 

If DETC Is Okay ...

Harrison Middleton University www.chumsci.edu now offers a Doctor of Arts program.

 

Their MA in Humanities is by distance learning, but I don't see where it says the PhD is low residency.

 

It's in the linked PDF file:

There are four five-day residencies in a one year period. While that is quite a bit, the Fellows complete 39 credit hours in a year before starting the dissertation.

 

I am also looking for an online PhD in Political Science. I have completed two of three years already under the British system, but withdrew in 2004. When I was ready to return, my supervisor had retired and the department had changed direction, so there was no one left to supervise me. I've since taken a job with less pay, but now have the time to finish, so I need something which is affordable out of pocket (I've maxed out my loans). I looked at UNISA abroad which looked promising, and had gone through a lengthy process of trying to get my credentials approved, but they balked at accepting my MA transcript because they did not like the format in which the university issues their transcripts. It is done in a "letter" style, but contained my marks and the university's seal and was sent to their ICAI office in Canada straight from Lancaster, but they insisted it was not my academic record, and after much go around I decided to abandon them as a prospect. Does anyone know of anywhere else? Affordability and the ability to do it distance is the key. I don't mind going outside of the US but don't want the run-around I got from UNISA.