Job Discussion Forums

[megs]

Does anyone know of any online PhD programs in linguistics or TEFL? I have looked and looked for an online course, online during the year and summers spent at the university campus. The only program I have found so far is with the University of Phoenix, but it's in Educational Leadership. Any info. for me?

[Zero Hero]

I think you perhaps misunderstand what a PhD entails. In order to be successfully awarded a PhD you need to evince full understanding of the area in question in an oral viva and submit an original research thesis that contributes to current knowledge/understanding, etc., which you are examined on in your viva. In short, you must add to the relevant primary literature of the area. Accordingly, few if any PhDs have any taught element (except for perhaps input on research methods, etc.). In other words, there would not be anything to do 'online', save for perhaps conduct communications with one's research supervisor.

[Doglover]

[merlin]

From what I understand most of PhD "study" is independent research and so where you do it isn't an issue with the university. I really doubt they'd make you remain physically in the US and study the local dialect of West Palau, for example.
So here are the steps:
-Apply to a PHD program "back home"
-Do a few required courses (1-2 semesters maybe plus one summer)
-After one year tell them you can't possibly do the research into EFL learning in Country X while you're in country Y
-Spend the next 4-7 years in country x doing your research.
-Return to country Y and present your thesis.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi Megs:

Here is a list of Distance TEFL courses I've been working on and adding to over the past year. The MA & PhD programs are mixed in with the more generic TEFL certificate courses, so you'll need to take your time and scroll through the list.



accreditation by country



in the USA




http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ (US Department of Education)

http://www.msche.org/ (Middle States Commission on Higher Education)

http://www.chea.org/ (CHEA / Council for Higher Education Accreditation)

http://www.detc.org/ (DETC / The Distance Education and Training Council)

http://www.ncate.org/ (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education)

http://www.wascweb.org/ (WASC / Western Association of Schools and Colleges)

http://www.accet.org/index2.cfm (ACCET / Accreditation Council for Continuing Education)

http://www.citaschools.org/ (Commission on International & Trans-Regional Accreditation)



in Canada




http://www.cade-aced.ca/ (CADE / Canadian Association for Distance Education)

http://www.tesl.ca/ (The TESL Canada Federation Website / please refer to Standards)

http://www.accreditations.ca/ (Canadian Education and Training Accreditation Commission)

http://www.cicic.ca/postsec/indexe.stm (Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials)



in Australia




http://www.auqa.edu.au/ (AUQA / Australian Universities Quality Agency)

http://www.aqf.edu.au/register.htm (AQF / Australian Qualifications Framework)



in the UK




http://www.iatquo.org/ (IATQuO)

http://www1.tqi.ac.uk/ (TQi Homepage)

http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/ (Ofsted Homepage)

http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/ (Trinity College London)

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/index.htm (Cambridge ESOL)

http://www.britishcouncil.org/accreditation.htm (British Council)

http://www.collegeofteachers.ac.uk/index.htm (The College of Teachers)

http://www.odlqc.org.uk/ (ODL QC / Open and Distance Learning Quality Council)

http://www.actdec.org.uk/ (Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Courses / UK)

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/index.shtml (DfES / Department for Education and Skills / UK)

http://www.qca.org.uk/index.html (QCA / Qualifications and Curriculum Authority / UK)

http://www.accac.org.uk/ (Qualifications, Curriculum & Assessment Authority / Wales)



general information & discussion


http://www.matesol.info/ (MATESOL / free MA TESOL Guide)

http://www.postgrad.hobsons.com/ (Hobson's Postgrad UK Guide)

http://www.whichcourse.com/ (Which Course? / choosing a TEFL course)

http://www.eslbase.com/tefl_courses.asp (eslbase / information on TEFL courses)

http://www.eslcafe.com/discussion/dz1/ (Dave's ESL Cafe / Teacher Training Forum)

http://www.degreeinfo.com/index.html (DegreeInfo / distance learning info & forum)

http://www.teslreview.com/ (TESLreview / accreditation information & forum)



distance TEFL / TESOL & post-graduate TESOL studies


http://www.eddegree.com/ (George Washington University - USA / Distance MA in Education)

http://www.une.edu.au/arts/LCL/index.shtml (University of New England - Australia / MA Applied Linguistics)

http://www.education.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduatestudents/ (University of Manchester / MEd & MA TESOL)

http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/current/opacsprog.html (U of Southern Queensland / MA TESOL & Appl. Ling)

http://www.uts.edu.au/study/courses.html (University of Technology - Sydney / Distance MA in Applied Linguistics)

http://www.athabascau.ca/cll/english.html (Athabasca University - Canada / BA English & MA Integrated Studies)

http://www.le.ac.uk/se/courses/tesol_home.html (University of Leicester / MA or PhD in Linguistics & TESOL)

http://www.asian-efl-journal.com/TESOL_Certificate.php (Asian EFL Journal's FREE TESOL Certificate / NEW)

http://www.ef-tefl-training.com/teacherinfo/training/online/default.asp (EF Online Diploma in TEFL / NEW)

http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/pg/edu/gcteso/ (Charles Sturt University - Australia / Grad Cert TESOL)

http://www.lmu.ac.uk/lsif/sol/postgrad.htm (Leeds Met University - UK / offers several MA ELT degrees)

http://www.bangor.ac.uk/linguistics/ (University of Wales Bangor - Wales, UK / MA & PhD in Linguistics)

http://www.su.edu/sas/tesol/ (Shenandoah University - USA / Distance TESOL & MA TESOL programs)

http://www.ling.mq.edu.au/support/distance.htm (Macquarie Univ - Australia / MA Applied Linguistics)

http://study.massey.ac.nz/ (Massey University - New Zealand / a variety of Distance TESOL Degrees)

http://www.open.ac.uk/ (The Open University - UK / BA, MA TESOL, Cert, PGCE & Applied Linguistics)

http://www.aston.ac.uk/lss/english/index.jsp (Aston University - UK / Distance TESOL & MSc TESOL)

http://www.ling.lancs.ac.uk/study/masters/index.htm (Lancaster University - UK / Online MA in ELT)

http://www.theconsultants-e.com/courses/emt/index.asp (E-moderation / for Trinity Online Tutors)

http://www.dundee.ac.uk/languagestudies/ (University of Dundee - Scotland / Online MA in TMLA)

http://maxkade.miis.edu/call_online/index.html (Monterey Institute - USA / Online CALL certificate)

http://www.rdg.ac.uk/AcaDepts/cl/slals/pgcourse.htm (The University of Reading - UK / MA in ELT)

http://www.drexel.com/ (Drexel University / Online post-grad teaching degrees & TESL certificate)

http://www.cels.bham.ac.uk/prospectus/ODL/odlteflinfo.htm (University of Birmingham / MA TEFL)

http://online.phoenix.edu/ (University of Phoenix - USA / Distance MEd with specialization in ESL)

http://www.gelber-kaiser.de/TESL/index.html (Int. Faith Theological Seminary / MA Applied Ling)

http://www.shu.ac.uk/schools/ed/tesol/ (Sheffield Hallam University - UK / MA & PgDip TESOL)

http://www.teflinternational.com/m_ed_tesol.html (TEFL International / Distance MEd TESOL)

http://www.monash.edu.au/ (Monash University - Australia / Distance PGCE, Diploma & MEd)

http://www.smuc.ac.uk/lttu/actdec/index.html (St. Mary's College - UK / Distance Dipl TESOL)

http://www.swan.ac.uk/cals/ (University of Wales, Swansea / Online BA, MA & PhD in TEFL)

http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/index.html (University of London / Distance MA TESOL)

http://www.schooloftesl.com/ (School of TESL & Seattle University - USA / TESOL cert)

http://www.educ.utas.edu.au/users/tle/Tesol/ (University of Tasmania / MEd TESOL)

http://www.anaheim.edu/edu/index.shtml (Anaheim University / Online MS in TESOL)

http://www.uga.edu/academics/distance.html (The University of Georgia / Online MEd)

http://www.thedistancedelta.com/index.cfm (British Council & IH / The Distance DELTA)

http://www.bridgelinguatec.com/ (Bridge-Linguatec / CELTA, TEFL & Online certification)

http://www.intesolprague-teflcourses.com/index.htm (INTESOL Prague / Online & Hybrid)

http://www.teachenglish.co.uk/ (London Teacher Training College / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/pub/index.shtml (Penn State World Campus / Online MEd)

http://www.surrey.ac.uk/ALRG/ (University of Surrey - UK / MA TESOL & MSc ELT Management)

http://www.transworldschools.com/home.htm (TransWorld / Online CTESOL Cert & practicum)

http://www.englishtc.co.uk/ (The English Training Centre / 3 levels of Online TESOL certificate)

http://www.americanbritish.com/ (American British Teaching Group / Distance TEFL certification)

http://www.tesoltraining.co.uk/index.html (SGI / Trinity College Diploma or Certificate in TESOL)

http://www.intesolinternational.com/ (INTESOL / Online TESOL & Diploma in TESOL certification)

http://www.oxfordtefl.com/index.htm (Oxford TEFL / Trinity College Cert TESOL & Diploma TESOL)

http://www.wal.org/index.htm (Washington Academy of Languages / Distance Grad Cert TESOL)

http://www.tesol-education.com/ (Harrow Institute of Linguistics / Online TESOL certification)

http://www.extension.usask.ca/index.html (University of Saskatchewan / Distance CERTESL)

http://www.tesolplus.com/tesol_ol.php (ELS / Online TESOL cert with practicum in Adelaide)

http://tesol1.net/ (William Brewster TESOL Institute / Onsite in Jakarta, Online & BA TESOL)

http://www.english-international.com/ (English International / Distance TEFL certification)

http://www.thekennedyacademy.com/ (The Kennedy Academy / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.apu.edu/tesol/fieldbased/ (Azusa Pacific University / Field-Based MA TESOL)

http://www.bostontefl.com/index.htm (Worldwide Teachers / Online CTEFL & Cert TBE)

http://www.globaledcorp.com/index.html (GEC / hybrid TEFL & teach abroad programs)

http://www.innovative-english.com/ (Teachers Latin America / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.americantesol.com/ (American TESOL Institute / Online TESOL certification)

http://www.salemiu.edu/ (Salem International University - USA / Distance MEd TESOL)

http://www.lambert.edu/eli/eli_e.html (Lambert University / Online TESOL certification)

http://www.apu.apus.edu/index.htm (American Public University / Online BA in English)

http://distance.wsu.edu/degrees/ESLDistance.asp (WSU / Distance ESL Endorsement)

http://www.olionline.com/ (Open Learning International / Online TEFL, YL & Dipl. TEFL)

http://www.netlanguages.com/ (Net Languages - Barcelona / Online ELT certification)

http://unitedtesol.com/english/default.asp (United TESOL / hybrid TESOL certification)

http://www.traininglinkonline.co.uk/ (Training Link Online - Online TESOL certification)

http://www.global-english.com/ (Global English / distance learning TEFL certification)

http://www.uclaextension.edu/ (UCLA Extension / offers a variety of online courses)

http://www.tefltraining.co.uk/index.html (TEFL Training / Distance TEFL certification)

http://www.cui.edu/cui/cui_shell.aspx?id=2120 (Concordia University / Online MEd)

http://www.worldportesl.com/index.htm (Worldport ESL / Online TESL certification)

http://www.teflcenter.com/ (The TEFL Center / 120 hour Online TEFL certification)

http://www.onlinetefl.com/ (i-to-i Online TEFL / 'The Original Online TEFL Course')

http://www.onlinelearning.net/ (OnlineLearning.net / 'teacher education online')

http://www.excelsior.edu/ (Excelsior College / Distance BA or MA in Liberal Arts)

http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/ltc/efl/ (The University of York / Distance MA in TEYL)

http://www.englishteflcentre.com/ (English TEFL Centre / certificate & Diploma)

http://www.norwoodenglish.com/ (Norwood English / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.waveofenglish.com/ (Wave of English / Online TESOL certification)

http://www.ontesol.com/Welcome.asp (ONTESOL / Online TESOL certification)

http://www.winfieldcollege.com/ (Winfield College / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.teflireland.com/ot.shtml (TEFL Ireland / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.tefl-classroom.com/ (TEFL Classroom / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.eurolinkcourses.co.uk/ (Eurolink / Distance TESOL certification)

http://www.tefl-uk.com/ (TEFL-UK / 40 & 60 hour Online TEFL certification)

http://globaltesol.com/ (Global TESOL College / Online TESOL certification)

http://www.canadian-englishcenter.com/ (CEC / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.tesol-direct.com/ (tesol-direct / Distance TESOL certification)

http://tesol-academy.com/ (TESOL Academy / Online TESOL certification)

http://www.teflcorp.com/ol-home.htm (TITC / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.teflonline.net/ (ITTT / International TEFL Teacher Training)

http://www.tefl-prague.com/teflonline_public.htm (Tefl Online Prague)

http://www.online-tefl.co.uk/ (Project TEFL / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.teachercertificate.com/ (CETC / Online TEFL certification)

http://www.opentefl.co.uk/ (Open TEFL / Distance TEFL certification)

http://teacher-training.net/ (ICAL Online TESL/TEFL certification)

http://teflpro.com/ (PSL TEFLpro / Distance TEFL certification)



* reposted from The Master Index Thailand (FAQ 11)

* updated & links added 01 February 2006

[ls650]

An interesting and helpful link...
http://www.degreeinfo.com/

[megs]

Thank you to everyone for the information. Perhaps I should have referred to a 'distance' program instead of 'online'. In any case, I have some more investigating to do.

[Zero Hero]

'Megs', if I may, believe me, you don't want to be too distant from your supervisor (and I don't really think many or any universities would accept such an arrangement). I see now that the relationship the candidate has with his supervisor is one of most important aspects - if not the most important aspect - of the PhD. Writing a research thesis can be a lonely life and it is easy to go astray with one's work!

[merlin]

I'm not exactly sure what relevance geographic location has on providing encouragement. I mean, a physical pat on the back does feel good but I'm not sure if it's worth the drawback of being unable to do field research in REAL EFL environments.

[Zero Hero]

I do not mean encouragement. Indeed, I think that if you need encouragement to complete a PhD then the chances are you will never finish. Rather, I mean access to information and advice that can only be given orally, in a face to face manner. I suspect this may be a point that only those who have actually undertaken a PhD may recognise as important. I certainly would not have thought it so.

[merlin]

[Zero Hero]

No, it has more to do with sheer speed of vocal, as opposed to written, communication, and the need to modify and adjust one's points during discourse. Again, it would most likely not appear as an important factor to those who have not undertaken a PhD but will strike those of us who have as a given.

[merlin]

What about people who process information better in a visual/written medium than in an auditory/verbal one?

Then there's the issue of pondering and reflecting on what's said and what one is about to say - a big plus distance communication has over face to face. One tends to think and process information more in a distance course while a lot of time is wasted in face to face communication trying to force an idea or concept that just won't process until one has had a good night's sleep.

Laterally thinking I would like to point out that these are issues that would most likely not appear as an important factor to those who have not undertaken challenging exchange of ideas at a distance but will strike those of us who have as a given.

[Zero Hero]

Ideally, as a PhD candidate, you of course have both types of input. And I think you need both. At least, this seems to be the view taken by universities and PhD supervisors. But if I am wrong in that then you will have no difficulties finding an institution and a supervisor that will accept such an arrangement.

To return to my original point, the relationship between the candidate and the supervisor is, in my opinion, one of the most important factors of the period of a PhD, though I never imagined that this would be so before starting. Such relationships, again in my view, are difficult to build up at a distance.

All your points stem from the perspective of the candidate. You may also want to consider some of the practicalities from the point of view of the supervisor. Remember, people who can and will (there are many more of the former than the latter) supervise PhDs tend to be fairly serious people, and also tend to be rather busy. Remember also that they have to decide when your thesis is ready for submission, and must prepare you for your oral defence. They are one of only two other people (apart from yourself) at the viva, and they can't talk unless are requested by one of the other two examiners to do so. In short, in a sense, they put their name to your work (and certainly have to dedicate a considerable amount of time to you). Don't expect too many people to do that without having seen for their own eyes that it is you that is producing your work. It could be anyone answering emails after having 'due time for consideration', but no one can fake it for you in a one to one session where you are expected to answer points and queries very rapidly and clearly (as in the viva). Remember that at the viva you are examined on your thesis and the area in general. You are expected to evince full and complete understanding of the various topics and issues, and to have knowledge of different frameworks. This can often be quite aggressive (at least, in an intellectual sense). I have recently been informed, for example, that one examiner of mine will be the author of a series of papers against which my own thesis argues.

[AsiaTraveller]