Persistence in doctoral programs has historically been low with less than 50-75% of students graduating from their programs. Though research has been conducted on self-directed learning and doctoral programming, research is scant on self-directed learning readiness in doctoral students and mode of learning (i.e., online or in person). The purpose…

Online graduate degree program offerings are increasing in popularity, and online graduate students need support to acclimate to their degree programs. Online orientations have been effective in undergraduate programs; however, there is limited research on the effectiveness of online orientations in online graduate degree programs. The problem…

This article compares the hireability of doctoral graduates of online and traditional public affairs programs in the United States. In this context, "hireability" refers to the measure of how likely it is that someone may be hired. There has been an expansion in the number of awarded doctoral degrees, particularly through online degree…

This study examined the relationship between grit, conscientiousness, and online doctoral grade point average. Self-reported grit scores were calculated using the Grit-S scale and conscientiousness scores were calculated using the Big Five Inventory. Grade point average was self-reported; however, it was also verified by a screen shot of the…

The purpose of this dissertation study was to research the experience of nontraditional adult learners enrolled in an online program years after completing a degree in a traditional, brick-and-mortar institution. In the context of this study, a nontraditional student was a learner with a delayed start to a terminal degree after undergraduate work.…

Purpose: The introduction of technology in education has been a strategic objective at both the governmental and educational institutional levels long before COVID-19. However, the acceleration to e-learning caused by the pandemic disrupted the traditional classroom environment overnight forcing the entire sector at all levels, school,…

Online doctoral education is expanding; however, there is a paucity of research on the predictors of student success in these programs. Institutional leaders struggle to provide the academic environment and interventions to help online doctoral students make continual progress and complete their doctoral research, especially in open enrollment…

Distance librarians working with an online doctoral program at Johns Hopkins University are asked by both students and faculty to provide a large amount of library support -- without being embedded into the curriculum or the individual courses. Program administrators and faculty were resistant to allow librarians into the course management system…

Online learning remains a convenient educational delivery route for students; however, universities continue to report high attrition rates, specifically in Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) programs. High attrition rates leave universities and students with financial and emotional consequences. In previous studies, researchers identified student…

This article describes major but common pitfalls in teaching undergraduate students to engage in critical analysis of sport through two separate large-scale online sport sociology courses (KIN 142 and KIN 249) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Three instructors at varying stages in their careers as graduate students, and…

This study aims to understand the learning experiences and challenges of international students enrolled in Master's and PhD programs in various institutions who were forced to transition to online learning during the pandemic. In particular, the study explores the experiences and perceptions of seven non-native English-speaking international…

Despite the importance of interpersonal contact to students' sense of community, little is known about how online students form relationships outside of class. Drawing on interviews with 20 students from one online doctoral program, I explore the ways in which distance learners create community outside of class. In the case study I explore how…

Online doctoral students from different cross-cultural generations may disconnect when dissertation chairs fail to understand how students' worldviews impact doctoral students during the dissertation-writing process. Because of the changing needs of digitally connected Generation Z students who will enter online doctoral programs by the mid-2020s,…

The aim of this systematic literature review was to ascertain the best practice available to provide high-quality online support to students during their thesis stage of an Online Doctorate in Higher Education programme. The review process involved a synthesis of available research literature to arrive a comprehensive and trustworthy picture. For…

Centering social justice into social work practice is vital to the profession, but both "what" and "how" to accomplish this task are pedagogical challenges in social work education. This teaching note introduces an elective course open to both Master of Social Work and doctoral students to develop holistic competence for…