This is more of the type of discussion had on the sister forum, but there are technical issues on that forum with sign-up that prevent me from asking. So I figured I'd ask here.

What are some notable examples of distance learning doctorate holders who've held tenure track positions at universities, permanent teaching faculty positions at LACs/SLACs, full-time paid researchers outside of academia etc. or who managed a career-shift after their DL doctorate? How common is this? 

Speaking anecdotally, I had a class taught by a professor during my second Master's degree who got a Professional Doctorate from Regent, but she also wasn't full-time faculty. The program I was in itself also offered a functionally DL Doctorate program geared mainly towards mid-career military and diplomatic personnel, though it had produced one Doctoral graduate who now participates in thought-leadership via writing and speaking engagements, full-time, for a prominent think tank. 

The common received wisdom I've heard about DL doctorates over the years is that they're often functionally (not so much in the substance of the coursework/research program) box-ticking exercises for mid-career managers in the private sector (eg the same reason online MBAs are so popular), federal civil servants at the higher end of the GS scale, military personnel, etc. 

itt tl;dr what usually happens to DL Doctorate holders:

• In Academia 
  
• Outside of Academia 
  

Background:

When I had just finished high school, my parents forced me to go to medical school to become a nurse. I was very young and inexperienced at that time, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do in my life, so I agreed. Additionally, I am from a small town (a rural area) in a developing country in Southern Europe, and in my town there was only this medical school. Maybe this is the main reason why my parents so deliberately wanted me to study there. They didn’t pay anything for my education because I had very strong high school grades.
The whole education consisted of four years, including clinical practice and theoretical studies. However, I had no interest in this field, so I started working full time (six days a week) in a local factory, where I could pay for all my expenses and feel quite good financially, while continuously missing medical college for three years. During my third and fourth years, COVID-19 even helped me avoid expulsion from school.

In general, since my school was in a small rural area, my professors were not very motivated to teach students. Corruption and nepotism were widespread in this college. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents, so I continued studying as best as I could. Sometimes I paid for my exams, and sometimes professors simply gave me a passing grade without any effort on my part. I barely passed the national exam at the end of my education.

Finally, I received a diploma without having any real nursing knowledge, and I never planned to work in this profession because I truly hated it. After finishing this college, I started working in multiple fields, traveled to many places, and learned English from scratch. I also started a career in accounting, working remotely for a U.S. firm. Additionally, I earned an Associate’s degree in accounting (and I am currently working on a Bachelor’s degree Accounting and CIS) from Thomas Edison State University, since this college charges the same rate for international students abroad and accepts various types of credits, such as ACE credits.

I am fascinated by accounting and computer science, and I am also good at programming. I feel that I really want to immigrate to the United States, and the most transparent and fastest pathway for me is the EB-3 nursing visa. It is relatively easy to find an employer, and I already have the education I mentioned above. However, in addition to that, I need at least one year of bedside experience and to pass the NCLEX-RN exam for an agency to accept me.

I thought I was capable of doing that, so I found a job as an OR nurse in my home country. However, I feel overwhelmed by all of this information (yesterday was my first day), and I am starting to hesitate about what I should do with my life. I also started NCLEX preparation, but I realize that I don’t know basic anatomy and biology. My coworkers also think that I am incompetent in this job because I don’t know anything. But will work under constant supervision at least a few month, so I am confident that I will not harm any patient.

Now I am very confused about what I should do next. Should I give a chance to myself or just quit?

Background:

When I had just finished high school, my parents forced me to go to medical school to become a nurse. I was very young and inexperienced at that time, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do in my life, so I agreed. Additionally, I am from a small town (a rural area) in a developing country in Southern Europe, and in my town there was only this medical school. Maybe this is the main reason why my parents so deliberately wanted me to study there. They didn’t pay anything for my education because I had very strong high school grades.
The whole education consisted of four years, including clinical practice and theoretical studies. However, I had no interest in this field, so I started working full time (six days a week) in a local factory, where I could pay for all my expenses and feel quite good financially, while continuously missing medical college for three years. During my third and fourth years, COVID-19 even helped me avoid expulsion from school.

In general, since my school was in a small rural area, my professors were not very motivated to teach students. Corruption and nepotism were widespread in this college. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents, so I continued studying as best as I could. Sometimes I paid for my exams, and sometimes professors simply gave me a passing grade without any effort on my part. I barely passed the national exam at the end of my education.

Finally, I received a diploma without having any real nursing knowledge, and I never planned to work in this profession because I truly hated it. After finishing this college, I started working in multiple fields, traveled to many places, and learned English from scratch. I also started a career in accounting, working remotely for a U.S. firm. Additionally, I earned an Associate’s degree in accounting (and I am currently working on a Bachelor’s degree Accounting and CIS) from Thomas Edison State University, since this college charges the same rate for international students abroad and accepts various types of credits, such as ACE credits.

I am fascinated by accounting and computer science, and I am also good at programming. I feel that I really want to immigrate to the United States, and the most transparent and fastest pathway for me is the EB-3 nursing visa. It is relatively easy to find an employer, and I already have the education I mentioned above. However, in addition to that, I need at least one year of bedside experience and to pass the NCLEX-RN exam for an agency to accept me.

I thought I was capable of doing that, so I found a job as an OR nurse in my home country. However, I feel overwhelmed by all of this information (yesterday was my first day), and I am starting to hesitate about what I should do with my life. I also started NCLEX preparation, but I realize that I don’t know basic anatomy and biology. My coworkers also think that I am incompetent in this job because I don’t know anything. But will work under constant supervision at least a few month, so I am confident that I will not harm any patient.

Now I am very confused about what I should do next. Should I give a chance to myself or just quit?

Your Location: Tampa, FL
Your Age: 45
What kind of degree do you want?: Bachelor's and possibly eventually a Master's.
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 70 - AA in Accounting from Palm Beach State College.
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: None, but I plan on going through Study/Sophia depending on the degree plan chosen.
Any certifications or military experience?: No.
Budget: 12k-16k
Commitments: I work full-time, business hours. Weekends free. I am married, so I'll need to balance studying with nurturing my marriage. 
Dedicated time to study: Evenings and weekends.
Timeline: ASAP, but I'm realistic about how much I can comfortably complete in a session/semester.
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: None

I have 29 years of accounting/ 23 years of managerial experience and I want to increase my employability with a bachelor's degree.  I've put together 3 different degree plans featuring WGU/UMPI.  Based on cost alone, the BS in Accounting from WGU is equal to the BABA in Accounting from UMPI though WGU will take me 3 sessions/1.5 years and UMPI will take 7 sessions/56 weeks. 

It's been 25 year since I've been in college so I'm looking for the "easiest" path toward my bachelor's.  I don't have time to muck about and fail so I'll be dedicated to studying/working, but if anyone has any insight on which might be the "best" path forward, I'll take your feelings/judgement into account 100%!

WGU Cons: I'm worried about what master's programs I'll be able to transfer my degree to in the future if I decide not to continue at WGU for MAcc.

UMPI Cons: I'm not thrilled about having to revisit Spanish I and some other Gen Eds even if I'm doing it through Sophia/Study.  (Spanish was a pre-requisite to getting INTO the community college so I took 2 years of Spanish in High School just to qualify to attend.)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...sp=sharing

Thank you in advance for reading and weighing in!

Caye

Hello! I recently received my BS in Accounting from Missouri State and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for MTAX/MST/MT etc. programs. My only hard requirements are online and AACSB, as I would like to start as soon as possible and admittedly have procrastinated applications a bit. Current options that seem appealing to me are Widener (for Taxation and Financial Planning specifically) and St. Johns, though St Johns seems to have "conflicting" information regarding the deadlines. So I was wondering if anyone had experience/recommendations/comments with regard to this type of program. Thanks!

I would like to wish all of the students here in the IC Forums Classroom a very Happy New Year 2026 and of course hoping that you all come closer to your academic goals this year too!

- ShotoJuku (Brian) 
Senior Moderator
IC Member Since 2006

I would like to wish all of the students here in the IC Forums Classroom a very Happy New Year 2026 and of course hoping that you all come closer to your academic goals this year too!

- ShotoJuku (Brian) 
Senior Moderator
IC Member Since 2006

Interested in hearing what you all have planned for 2026 in terms of your educational goals.

I am planning to finish up my MBA, get some Coursera certificates, and start another masters while I continue plugging away at UoPeople. I must admit, the latter feels like quite the slog some days with all its required discussion posts, but I want to stick with it as the material is interesting and relevant to my work.

As the title states I’m looking at the easiest/fastest online degree completion for someone transferring in another 90 credits.  At one time years ago I had a degree completion done by TESU and needed about 25 hrs.  Since they went to the capstone and since most of their upper lvl business courses required proctored exams with essays I’d prefer something easier just to check a box for a job that requires a bachelors at my current employment for a promotion.   Any help and advice is appreciated.

Your Location: Midwest US
Your Age: Late 30s
What kind of degree do you want?: Currently need 60 hours for licensure as a paraprofessional. Eventually want to get an AA/AAS and BA (long shot, but it's the plan)

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 52

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:  Have modern states voucher for one exam, need to take the exam in a few weeks. 

Any certifications or military experience?: Short term paraprofessional license in Illinois. 

Budget: Cheaper the better.

Commitments: Occupied full time (work and parenting)

Dedicated time to study: 2 hours a day

Timeline: Summer 2026

*I am native Hindi speaker and was looking into getting credit via ATCFL or equivalent. Suggestions welcome.

I am currently first trying to obtain 60 hours for full paraprofessional licensure.  I would like to eventually obtain an associates degree as I am just a few classes away from such (I need to take a science class, and an English class).  While a BA is a long shot, I am not opposed to pursuing an AA/AAS that meshes easily with an eventual BA.

Looking into - UWisconsin system (some colleges offer the AA degree with eventual path to a BA), Upper Iowa University, UMPI, TESU, WV Community College System (the few options that remain). 

Currently, UMPI looks quite appealing, but it is far so regional recognition may be an issue (has anyone experienced this?).