Follow Your Bliss
A PhD represents a huge investment of time, energy, and money, so it’s critical that you pursue a topic about which you’re passionate. Your doctorate will be the culmination of your experience in academia and in the work-force, and the launching pad for career advancement.

To identify your field of study and your specialization, take into account what interests you, as well as what you plan to do with your doctorate. Research programs by reviewing departmental course descriptions online or in course catalogs. (See Resources for Web sites with program finders.)

Determine which doctoral degree is the best way to get where you want to go. Besides the PhD, other degrees at the doctoral level include Doctor of Library Science (DLS), Doctor of Public Health (DPH), Doctor of Science in Nursing (DSN), and Doctor of Education (EdD).

If you are currently in a degree program, talk to your professors about the doctoral programs they recommend. They may be able to help you network, as well as write letters of recommendation for you. Professional associations in your chosen field will also have information about graduate programs and may offer opportunities to network.

Finally, working in a specific field for a year or two can help you make a better decision about whether it’s right for you and what you’d like to study; it may also give you a competitive advantage as an applicant.

Your Advisor: Key to Your Success
Your dissertation advisor is as important a factor in your future success as the school’s reputation, especially if you plan to teach. Therefore, researching the professors in each department is critical.

Is there someone in the department who is qualified to teach your area of interest and supervise your research? If so, will that person be available to serve as your advisor? Sometimes professors with the most impressive credentials are the least available, or the person you hope to work with will be going on sabbatical.

You want to find someone with whom you can have a good relationship, so visiting the school to sit in on classes and meet with professors is an important step, either during the application process or after you’ve been accepted and are deciding between programs.

Online doctoral programs often have a faculty that spans the globe, not just one geographic area. This can offer you an even greater diversity of faculty experience to draw upon.

Department Life
In addition to your relationship with your advisor, your interactions with other professors and with your fellow students (your future colleagues) in the department will play a large part in your doctoral experience.

Make sure you feel comfortable with the environment. Is it collegial? Competitive? Liberal? Conservative? Is there a primary school of thought or learning methodology in the department? What is the professor-to-student ratio and the quality of teaching?

There is no substitute for visiting the department, sitting in on classes if possible, and talking to other students. If you are considering a distance-learning program, many of these questions still apply. Try to get a sense of how the online “classroom” environment suits you. You may find that you have access to a more diverse student population and one that includes working professionals with years of practical experience to offer.

Finally, explore the reputation of the department in your field. This may be more important than the school’s overall prestige if you plan to go into academia. If your degree is for advancement in a non-academic career, the school's overall reputation may matter more.

See Nuts & Bolts for other issues that may affect your decision about a program.