Top Doctorate Degrees in Healthcare Available Online
Ready to take your healthcare career to the next level? Pursuing a doctorate degree online can help you get there. Discover top available degrees online and what your future can look like after graduation.
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As a healthcare professional, you know that there is always more to learn. No matter how hard you study, that fact isn’t going to change. Taking the opportunity to earn your doctorate degree makes space in your life for ongoing learning and new expertise. But many people don’t want to put their careers on hold in order to pursue an advanced degree — after all, you can’t have your cake and eat it too, right? Wrong. When you earn your healthcare doctorate online you get all the benefits of a traditional classroom with the flexibility to keep living and working on your own terms.
Still, you may be nervous about the idea of earning an online doctorate. Certainly, virtual classrooms are still relatively new, but you owe it to yourself to do your research and choose the program and style that suits your needs and goals. To that end, we’re here to demystify the online healthcare doctorate. In this article, we’ll talk about what you can expect from an online doctorate and how to ensure you are in a quality program. To get you started on your search, we’ll highlight some top programs in every healthcare discipline. Before we’re done, we’ll also look at what you can do with your doctorate after graduation and what your degree might mean for your career. So, join us for this crash course in online healthcare doctorate programs.
Benefits of an Online Doctorate Degree in Healthcare
Online doctorate degrees are extremely popular in the healthcare field because they offer the flexibility you need to manage your work and other responsibilities alongside your studies. Having the option to work during your doctoral studies is a huge advantage. First, you’ll have a paycheck coming in. That’s always a good thing. Second, in the healthcare industry, professional experience can be just as important as your academic credentials. So, if you’re able to study and develop work experience at the same time, you’ll be away ahead of the game when you’ve finally turned in that dissertation. Flexibility is just the tip of the iceberg though. We’ll talk through some of the other benefits of earning your healthcare doctorate online below.
Top Doctorate Degrees in Healthcare Online
What types of healthcare doctorates do people earn online? Lots of them! Since you can pick from thousands of programs from around the world, you have plenty of options. That being said, some courses of study are more popular than others. If you’re interested in learning about the best types of online healthcare doctorate degrees and programs, this section is for you. Below, we’ll highlight ten of the most common and well-respected types of online healthcare doctorates.
Doctor of Audiology
Doctoral degrees in audiology are typically four-year programs and most schools require applicants to possess a master’s degree in the field when they apply. Doctor of audiology programs are designed for students who wish to work in patient-facing roles, while the PhD in audiology is for those who want to pursue a career in academic or scientific research. All students in these programs learn how to study, assess, and treat hearing problems and hearing disorders.
Online Component
Doctor of audiology programs require some in-person coursework and lab training, but distance students can complete most of their coursework online. Required classes at this level include acoustics, calibration, and instrumentation, child language acquisition, measurements of hearing, and clinical research design.
Healthcare Careers for Doctor of Audiology Degree Holders
Audiologist: A doctorate in audiology will prepare you to work with patients directly and conduct interdisciplinary research in laboratory settings as audiologists. Most of them work in specialized doctor’s offices with patients who suffer from hearing and other ear-related issues. Audiologists make a median annual wage of $77,600. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a job growth of 13% by 2029.
Doctor of Chiropractic
Designed to teach you about the diagnosis and treatment of issues with the human musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are often considered to be practitioners of a form of alternative medicine. Chiropractic school consists of extensive coursework and clinical rotations. Some schools may also require students to complete an internship or community-based project.
Online Component
Your coursework in these programs will cover a lot of ground, including biology, physiology, diagnosis imaging, spinal adjustments and manipulation, and diagnosis techniques. Most of the degree requirements can be completed online. Any internships, residencies, or community-based service for-credit will need to be conducted in-person.
Healthcare Careers for Doctor of Chiropractic Degree Holders
Chiropractor: These professionals work directly with patients who suffer from issues with their nerves, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and bones. They conduct tests, make spinal adjustments, advise patients on healthy living habits, and correct patients’ posture. Chiropractors make the median annual wage of $70,340. Professionals in this area can expect a 4% job growth by 2029.
Doctor of Science in Dentistry
Most dentistry programs take four years to complete. While the curriculum will vary among programs, you can expect a heavy course load in the biological sciences and clinical education through simulation programs. There are also in-person components where you’ll need to work with patients directly for clinical studies. Dentistry programs ensure that learners are prepared to care for all types of patients, including the chronically ill, those with special needs, geriatric patients, and children.
Online Component
For most Doctor of Science in dentistry programs, the first two years of school is spent completing foundational topics in online courses including biochemistry, microbiology, pharmacology, anatomy, and oral pathology. The third and fourth year will be a combination of online simulations and hands-on, in-person clinical work.
Healthcare Careers for Doctor of Science in Dentistry Degree Holders
Dentist: These doctors practice in tandem with dental hygienists and other professionals to work directly with patients, treating their gums, teeth, and overall mouth health. They repair or replace damaged teeth, apply whitening agents, prescribe antibiotics, make x-rays, teach patients about dental hygiene, and more. These professionals make approximately $159,200 per year. By 2029, BLS projects that the number of available positions in this field will grow by 3%.
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Online DNP programs are designed to prepare nursing professionals for leadership roles in healthcare. They typically work in clinical or administrative settings. These programs allow you to develop a specialization in one of these two categories and is required for nurses who wish to work in advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) roles. These programs usually take full-time learners 2-6 years to complete, depending on their level of education when they enter a DNP program. For students have already completed their Bachelor of Science in Nursing, BSN to DNP programs online also exist to help accelerate the process.
Online Component
Most of the coursework requirements for the DNP can be completed remotely while clinical hours are completed in-person in hands-on healthcare settings. Required online classes for these programs include ethical and legal issues in advanced practice, professional leadership and nursing practice, biostatistics, and epidemiology. Remote learners may also need to complete a DNP project that’s either research- or practice-based.
Healthcare Careers for Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Holders
Clinical Research Director: These DNPs conceptualize, design, and carry-out clinical research projects that strive to improve the quality of patient care professionals provide on a daily basis. They often work in hospitals, clinics, and research institutions. Clinical research managers make approximately $115,913 per year. BLS projects a 32% job growth for these professionals by 2029.
Clinical Nurse Specialist: These advanced practice registered nurses may specialize in a variety of areas, including women’s health, critical care, rehabilitation, or oncology. Their work often extends beyond patient care to help the healthcare system develop more cost-effective and higher quality treatments. Students interested in this profession can also consider a more focused online clinical nurse specialist (CNS) program. BLS reports their median annual salary at $82,380 with an expected job growth of 10% by 2029.
Nurse Midwife: These professionals are APRNs who specialize in family planning services, gynecological exams, and prenatal care. They often work directly with [patients and deliver newborn babies. They may also serve as maternity care providers and online certified nurse midwife (CNM) programs exist for students who are interested in this specialty. Nurse midwives make a median annual wage of $105,030 per year. BLS projects a 12% job growth by 2029.
Nurse Practitioner: Nurse practitioners (NP) are primary and specialty care professionals and usually train to work with a specific patient population. They may provide care in hospitals and clinics, often in areas including psychiatric and mental health, geriatric health, and pediatrics. BLS reports that NPs make a median annual wage of $109,820 and projects a 52% job growth by 2029.
Doctor of Optometry
This specialized healthcare degree prepares students to become primary eye healthcare providers. The programs typically require applicants to possess bachelor’s degree at the time they apply. Optometry programs are usually four years long. The wide-reaching curriculum covers instruction in contact lenses, vision sciences, practice management, vision therapy, and optics. Learners also need to complete between 1,200-2250 clinical hours in order to graduate, depending on the program and state requirements.
Online Component
Distance students in optometry programs can finish most of their degree requirements online. Remote courses for these programs often include biochemistry for optometry, pathophysiology, ocular physiology, diagnosing and prescribing, and posterior segment ocular disease.
Healthcare Careers for Doctor of Optometry Degree Holders
Optometrist: These doctors work directly with patients by providing eye exams, vision therapy, vision rehabilitation, vision screenings, and more. The majority of these professionals work in optometrists’ offices. BLS reports their annual median wage at $115,250 and projects a 4% job growth by 2029.
Doctor of Pharmacy
Doctor of pharmacy degrees take four years to complete. Depending on the program, some pharmacy programs accept undergraduate students who have completed two or three years of the appropriate pharmacy prerequisites. These programs prepare learners to pass the necessary licensure exams and meet state requirements in order to pursue a career as a pharmacist or related role.
Online Component
The Pharm.D. usually takes 60-90 credits for graduation. Aside from the necessary in-person rotations, many schools offer this degree entirely online. Required classes often include pharmacogenetics, medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics, non-prescription therapies, pharmacy law, and pharmacy literature analysis and drug information.
Healthcare Careers for Doctor of Pharmacy Degree Holders
Pharmacist: With the assistance of pharmacy techs, these professionals work in pharmacies and ensure that individuals receive the correct prescriptions and drugs as prescribed by other licensed healthcare workers. Pharmacists work with prescribers to make sure patients avoid negative drug interactions and take their medications in a safe manner. They make a median annual wage of $128,090. BLS projects that available positions in this field will decrease by 3% by 2029.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
Online Doctor of Physical Therapy programs often take full-time students three years to complete, including a clinical internship and capstone project. Some schools offer a BS/DPT program for learners without a bachelor’s degree. These programs take about six years to finish. Learners in this area usually choose a concentration area to focus their studies, including health science, exercise science, natural science, or athletic training.
Online Component
Most of the requirements for the DPT degree can be completed online, including the common prerequisite courses that schools expect incoming learners to complete. Online DPT classes often include life span development, patient/client management, pharmacology, and physiology. Required clinical hours must take place in-person at an approved facility, however.
Healthcare Careers for Doctor of Audiology Degree Holders
Physical Therapist: These professionals work directly with patients to help them improve their quality of life and mobility through personally designed exercise regimens, patient education and counseling, and hands-on care in PT facilities. They may work with patients of all ages, including those with injuries, health conditions, and disabilities. These therapists make a median annual wage of $89,440. Professionals in this area can expect a 18% job growth by 2029.
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
DPM programs usually require applicants to possess at least three years of undergraduate work, including the necessary prerequisites in physics, chemistry, and biology. Online DPM programs often take students 3-4 years to complete, including an in-person podiatry residency. DPM programs will prepare you to obtain licensure, which is required in every state to practice.
Online Component
Most DPM online programs offer the majority of their required courses online, including medical ethics, medical research, practice management, histology, and biochemistry. These classes typically make up the first two years of DPM school. The remaining two years focus on patient care and clinical sciences, which will have some in-person requirements on campus or in approved facilities.
Healthcare Careers for Doctor of Audiology Degree Holders
Podiatrist: These doctors offer surgical and medical care for patients’ lower leg issues, feet, and ankles. They also diagnose illnesses and treat all types of foot injuries. Podiatrists make a median annual wage of $126,240 and can expect the available positions in the field to remain about the same in 2029 as they were in 2020.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Full-time students usually need four years to complete a DVN program. The first three years are dedicated to bookwork, laboratory studies, and some in-person exposure in clinical rotations. The last year is often dedicated almost entirely to clinical rotations and other hands-on training scenarios.
Online Component
For most colleges and universities with an online DVM program, the majority of the non-clinical studies requirements can be completed remotely. DVM students can expect to complete classes such as animal clinical pharmacology, animal theriogenology, veterinarians and public policy, infection prevention, and emerging infectious diseases. Even though veterinarians may wish to work with a particular animal population upon graduation, they receive training that allows them to serve most species of animals.
Healthcare Careers for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree Holders
Veterinarian: These professionals often work in dedicated veterinary facilities alongside vet techs. They care for animals while striving to protect public health and pet owners. In addition to examining animals and diagnosing health issues, they may conduct surgery, prescribe medications, and put down animals with extreme health issues that are unable to be treated.
