2027 Online Homeland Security Doctorate Programs for First-Time Doctoral Students
Choosing an online homeland security doctorate is a high-stakes decision, especially if this would be your first doctoral program. The field now spans emergency management, cyber resilience, intelligence, counterterrorism, public safety leadership, and critical infrastructure protection. The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a May 2024 median salary of $86,130 for emergency management directors, showing why advanced leadership preparation can matter.
This guide helps working professionals compare program types, support systems, costs, timelines, and career fit before committing to doctoral study.
Key Things You Should Know
- The best online homeland security doctorate for a first-time doctoral student is usually one with regional or institutional accreditation, structured research courses, clear dissertation or capstone milestones, and faculty whose expertise matches the student's career goal.
- Doctoral study is a major time and cost commitment: many online homeland security-related doctorates require roughly 3 to 6 years, and graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year in federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans before considering other aid.
- Career value depends on the role: BLS data for May 2024 lists $86,130 as the median salary for emergency management directors, while information security analysts had a $124,910 median salary and strong projected demand, making specialization choice important.
Which Online Homeland Security Doctorate Programs Are Best for First-Time Doctoral Students?
The best online homeland security doctorate for a first-time doctoral student is not simply the most recognizable school name. It is the program that matches your professional goal, gives you enough structure to learn doctoral research, and has faculty support in your intended area, such as emergency management, intelligence, public administration, cyber policy, national security, or criminal justice leadership.
Because dedicated "homeland security doctorate" programs are relatively uncommon, students often compare homeland security doctorates with related doctoral pathways in criminal justice, public safety, emergency management, public administration, cybersecurity policy, and security studies. If you are still deciding whether a doctorate is necessary, it may help to compare doctoral options with an online criminal justice degree or a specialized master's program before moving into doctoral work.
The table below summarizes common online doctoral pathways that may fit first-time doctoral students interested in homeland security. Use it to compare academic orientation, ideal student profile, and the level of independent research you should expect.
| Doctoral pathway | Best fit for first-time doctoral students who want to | Typical final requirement | Main trade-off |
| PhD in Homeland Security, Criminal Justice, or Public Policy | Conduct original research, teach, publish, or move into research-heavy policy roles | Dissertation | Strongest research focus, but usually the most demanding for students new to doctoral scholarship |
| Doctor of Criminal Justice with homeland security concentration | Apply advanced theory to public safety, law enforcement, intelligence, or justice administration | Dissertation, applied dissertation, or doctoral project | Often more practice-oriented, but may be less ideal for students seeking tenure-track academic roles |
| Doctor of Public Administration or public policy doctorate | Lead agencies, manage policy implementation, or evaluate homeland security programs | Dissertation or applied policy project | Excellent for governance and leadership, but may include less tactical homeland security coursework |
| Doctorate in emergency management or disaster science | Work in disaster resilience, continuity planning, public health preparedness, or crisis leadership | Dissertation, capstone, or applied research project | Strong emergency management fit, but narrower than broad homeland security programs |
| Cybersecurity or information assurance doctorate with policy focus | Specialize in cyber resilience, infrastructure protection, risk management, or security governance | Dissertation or applied research project | High labor-market relevance, but may require stronger technical preparation |
For first-time doctoral students, the safest program choice is usually one that makes expectations visible before enrollment. Look for published curriculum maps, dissertation milestones, faculty biographies, sample research areas, student support services, and candid information about residencies or synchronous sessions.
Common red flags include vague dissertation language, unclear faculty availability, no public accreditation information, very aggressive completion claims, or admissions messaging that makes doctoral work sound like an ordinary online master's program. A doctorate is a research or advanced applied-practice credential, not just a longer set of graduate classes.
What Should First-Time Students Expect From an Online Homeland Security Doctorate?
An online homeland security doctorate prepares students to analyze complex threats, lead security or emergency management organizations, evaluate policy, and produce doctoral-level research or applied scholarship. First-time doctoral students should expect a sharper shift from consuming information to creating original analysis.
Most programs combine advanced coursework with research methods and a final doctoral requirement. Coursework may cover terrorism and counterterrorism, intelligence analysis, critical infrastructure, emergency management, cyber risk, homeland security law and ethics, interagency coordination, public policy, leadership, and quantitative or qualitative research methods.
The table below compares the experience of master's-level study with first-time doctoral study. This distinction matters because many strong master's students are surprised by how much more self-directed doctoral work becomes.
| Area | Master's-level expectation | Doctoral-level expectation | What first-time doctoral students should do |
| Reading | Understand assigned scholarship and professional material | Synthesize, critique, and identify gaps in existing research | Practice writing literature reviews before the first research course |
| Writing | Produce graduate papers and applied reports | Develop publishable, evidence-based arguments with strong methodology | Ask programs about writing labs and dissertation editing support |
| Research | Use evidence to support analysis | Design original or applied research that meets doctoral standards | Review whether the program teaches both qualitative and quantitative methods |
| Time management | Follow course deadlines | Maintain progress during independent research phases | Create a weekly study schedule before enrolling |
| Professional application | Apply concepts to workplace problems | Generate defensible recommendations for policy, leadership, or security systems | Choose a topic tied to a real career objective |
Online delivery does not mean the program is easier. A first-time doctoral student may have fewer campus disruptions, but the academic expectations are the same: sustained reading, original thinking, research design, careful writing, and regular feedback cycles with faculty.
Students who are not yet comfortable reading research articles, writing long analytical papers, or working independently may still succeed, but they should choose a highly structured program. If the idea of a dissertation feels overwhelming, an applied doctorate with a capstone or doctoral project may be a better first doctoral pathway than a traditional PhD.

What Admissions Requirements Should First-Time Applicants Expect for an Online Homeland Security Doctorate?
Admissions requirements vary by institution and degree type, but most online homeland security-related doctorates expect applicants to show graduate-level academic preparation, professional maturity, and a clear reason for pursuing doctoral study. First-time doctoral applicants should read requirements carefully because "online" does not mean open admission.
Many applicants come from criminal justice, emergency management, public administration, cybersecurity, intelligence, military, law enforcement, public safety, public health, or business continuity backgrounds. If your background is adjacent rather than directly related, compare prerequisite expectations and consider whether a master's-level bridge, certificate, or related program would be more appropriate first.
The table below summarizes common admissions requirements and what they mean for students who have never applied to a doctoral program before.
| Requirement | What schools may ask for | How first-time doctoral applicants should interpret it |
| Graduate degree | Master's degree from an accredited institution, often in a related field | A master's degree helps, but it does not automatically prove readiness for doctoral research |
| GPA | Minimum graduate GPA, often around the B range or higher depending on the school | A lower GPA may require stronger professional experience, writing samples, or conditional admission |
| Professional experience | Leadership, public safety, military, cybersecurity, emergency management, or policy experience | Experience can strengthen the application if it connects directly to doctoral goals |
| Statement of purpose | Career goals, research interests, and reason for choosing the program | This is where you prove fit, not just interest |
| Writing sample | Graduate paper, policy analysis, research paper, or professional analytical report | Schools use this to judge whether you can handle doctoral-level writing |
| Recommendations | Academic, professional, or leadership references | Choose recommenders who can discuss analytical ability and follow-through |
| Interview | Faculty or admissions interview in some programs | Use it to ask about mentorship, dissertation expectations, and student outcomes |
Applicants comparing the cost and structure of earlier graduate preparation may also want to review criminal justice master's or bachelor's pathways and the broader criminal justice degree price before assuming a doctorate is the next best step.
Before applying, first-time doctoral students should complete a readiness check. This is especially important for working professionals who have been away from academic writing for several years.
- Review your last three graduate-level papers and ask whether they show evidence-based argument, proper citation, and sustained analysis.
- Identify one or two homeland security problems you could study for several years without losing interest.
- Confirm whether your master's coursework included research methods, statistics, policy analysis, or program evaluation.
- Ask admissions whether prerequisite courses, transfer credits, or leveling courses are available if your background is not directly aligned.
- Estimate weekly study time honestly, including reading, writing, research, discussion posts, and faculty revisions.
A common mistake is applying with a broad goal such as "advance my career in homeland security" without defining the problem, population, agency setting, or leadership pathway the degree is meant to support. Strong applicants can explain why doctoral training is necessary for their specific next step.
Support for new doctoral researchers is one of the biggest differences between a workable online doctorate and a frustrating one. First-time doctoral students should not assume faculty guidance will be extensive unless the program explains how advising, methods training, dissertation committees, and academic support are organized.
Strong programs usually build research capacity gradually. Instead of expecting students to arrive with a dissertation fully formed, they use early courses to teach literature review, problem development, research design, ethics, data collection, and scholarly writing.
The table below shows support features that matter most for students entering doctoral study for the first time. These features are not extras; they can affect whether students make it through the transition from coursework to independent research.
| Support feature | Why it matters | Question to ask before enrolling |
| Doctoral orientation | Introduces expectations, technology, academic policies, and research milestones | Is orientation required, live, recorded, or self-paced? |
| Research methods sequence | Builds the foundation for dissertation or capstone work | How many methods courses are required, and do they cover both qualitative and quantitative methods? |
| Writing center | Helps students improve scholarly writing before dissertation drafts become high-stakes | Does the writing center support doctoral dissertation chapters or only course papers? |
| Library and research consultations | Helps students locate peer-reviewed literature, policy sources, and data | Can online doctoral students meet individually with librarians? |
| Faculty advising | Keeps students aligned with research expectations and realistic timelines | When is a dissertation chair assigned? |
| Peer community | Reduces isolation and improves accountability | Are cohorts, research groups, or virtual residencies available? |
Doctoral research in homeland security may involve sensitive topics, public agencies, vulnerable populations, operational procedures, or restricted information. Students should expect training in research ethics and institutional review board requirements, especially if they plan to interview public officials, first responders, security professionals, or community members affected by disasters or threats.
First-time doctoral students should avoid programs that treat research support as optional or informal. A helpful admissions advisor should be able to explain who supports students at each stage, what happens if a dissertation chair changes, and how students receive feedback when a proposal is not yet ready.
The dissertation, capstone, or applied project shapes the entire doctoral experience. For first-time doctoral students, this final requirement often determines whether the program feels manageable, relevant, and worth the investment.
A dissertation usually requires original research that contributes to the field. A capstone or applied doctoral project may focus more on solving a real organizational, policy, or practice problem. Neither option is automatically easier; the better fit depends on whether your goal is academic research, executive leadership, policy analysis, or applied problem-solving.
The table below compares common final doctoral requirements in homeland security-related programs. Use it to decide which model aligns with your career goal and research readiness.
| Final requirement | Primary purpose | Best fit | Potential challenge for first-time doctoral students |
| Traditional dissertation | Produce original scholarly research | Students considering academia, research, policy institutes, or evidence-based leadership roles | Requires strong methodology, sustained independence, and tolerance for multiple revisions |
| Applied dissertation | Use doctoral research to address a practical professional problem | Working professionals who want research depth with direct workplace relevance | Still requires rigorous design and evidence, even when the topic is practice-based |
| Doctoral capstone | Create an advanced solution, evaluation, or policy product | Executive, agency, or practitioner-focused students | May be less suitable for students whose primary goal is traditional academic research |
| Portfolio or publishable paper model | Build a set of scholarly or applied research products | Students who prefer staged outputs instead of one large dissertation | Requires consistent productivity across several projects |
First-time doctoral students should ask how early the final project begins. Programs that delay dissertation thinking until the end can leave students with too many decisions at once. A better structure introduces research interests early, then narrows the topic through coursework and faculty feedback.
When comparing final project models, use a practical checklist rather than relying on program marketing language.
- Ask whether students choose their own topic or must select from faculty-approved research areas.
- Confirm when the dissertation chair or project advisor is assigned.
- Request examples of recent dissertation, capstone, or applied-project topics.
- Ask how often students meet with advisors during the proposal and final writing stages.
- Find out whether the program has clear milestones for topic approval, proposal defense, institutional review, data collection, and final defense.
- Ask what support exists if a student's original topic becomes unworkable because of data access, agency approval, or ethical limitations.
A common mistake is choosing a topic because it sounds impressive rather than because it is researchable. In homeland security, access matters. A student may want to study classified intelligence workflows, but a feasible dissertation may need to focus on public policy documents, emergency planning, open-source intelligence practices, or interviews that can be ethically approved.

Online homeland security doctorates can be flexible, but flexibility varies widely. Some programs are fully asynchronous, while others include live classes, virtual residencies, campus intensives, weekend seminars, or scheduled dissertation meetings. First-time doctoral students should define flexibility in practical terms: when you must be online, how quickly assignments move, and how much independent work is expected.
The U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics has continued to report strong participation in distance education after the pandemic-era surge, and graduate programs have kept expanding online and hybrid options. For doctoral students, this means more access, but also more responsibility to verify format details before enrolling.
The table below explains the online formats you are most likely to encounter. This matters because two "online" doctorates can feel very different once the term begins.
| Format | What it usually means | Best fit | Risk to verify |
| Asynchronous online | Coursework can be completed within weekly deadlines without required live class meetings | Students with rotating shifts, public safety schedules, deployments, or caregiving responsibilities | Less real-time interaction may make self-discipline and proactive advising more important |
| Synchronous online | Students attend live virtual sessions at scheduled times | Students who want faculty interaction and structured discussion | Live sessions may conflict with work shifts or emergency response duties |
| Hybrid or low-residency | Most coursework is online, but some campus visits or intensives are required | Students who value networking and face-to-face dissertation support | Travel, lodging, missed work, and family logistics can increase total cost |
| Cohort-based online | Students move through courses with the same group | Students who want accountability and a built-in peer network | Less flexibility if you need to pause or change pace |
| Self-paced or individually paced | Students have more control over speed within school limits | Highly independent students with strong research and writing habits | Can lead to isolation or stalled progress without strong advising |
First-time doctoral students should not choose the most flexible format by default. Highly independent formats can be harder for students who have never completed a dissertation or capstone. A structured calendar, regular faculty contact, and cohort accountability may be more valuable than maximum scheduling freedom.
Before enrolling, map a realistic doctoral week. Include course reading, discussion participation, writing, research, meetings, family time, commute time, and unpredictable work demands. If the schedule only works when nothing goes wrong, it probably is not realistic for a multi-year doctorate.
Cohorts, mentorship, and student support can strongly affect the first-time doctoral experience because doctoral work is both intellectually demanding and isolating. Online students do not have hallway conversations, informal campus study groups, or easy access to faculty offices, so the program must create connection intentionally.
A cohort model can help students build momentum because peers move through classes together. However, cohort pacing can become restrictive if your job involves deployments, shift work, emergency response activation, or unpredictable travel. Mentorship matters even more during the dissertation or capstone phase, when students no longer have the structure of weekly classes.
The table below compares support models that first-time doctoral students should investigate. The goal is to identify whether the program has a real doctoral community or simply delivers online courses.
| Support model | Benefit | Possible drawback | Best question to ask |
| Cohort model | Creates peer accountability and predictable sequencing | Less flexibility if life or work interrupts progress | What happens if I need to stop out for one term? |
| Individual faculty advising | Allows closer alignment with research interests | Quality may vary depending on faculty workload and availability | How many doctoral students does each faculty advisor supervise? |
| Dissertation committee model | Provides multiple expert perspectives | Feedback may take longer or conflict across committee members | What is the expected feedback timeline for proposal drafts? |
| Virtual residencies | Builds community and focused research progress | May require fixed attendance and additional fees | Are residencies required, optional, virtual, or in person? |
| Career and alumni support | Helps students translate doctoral work into advancement | May be less developed for niche homeland security pathways | Can I speak with alumni in roles similar to my goal? |
Mentorship should also match the student's subject area. A program may have excellent criminal justice faculty but limited expertise in infrastructure resilience, public health preparedness, cyber policy, or intelligence studies. First-time doctoral students should review faculty publications, professional backgrounds, and research interests before applying.
One common mistake is assuming that online doctoral students receive the same level of mentoring automatically. In reality, mentoring systems vary. Ask direct questions about meeting frequency, draft turnaround times, dissertation chair assignment, committee changes, and whether students can change advisors if research interests evolve.
Most online homeland security-related doctorates take several years because students complete advanced coursework before moving into dissertation, capstone, or applied-project work. Time-to-completion depends on transfer credits, enrollment intensity, dissertation progress, work schedule, and whether the program has fixed course sequencing.
Cost also varies significantly. NCES graduate education data published in recent federal summaries continues to show that tuition differs by institution type and sector, but doctoral students should compare total cost of completion rather than only cost per credit. Fees, residencies, technology charges, dissertation continuation credits, books, travel, and delayed completion can change the real price.
The table below gives a practical cost-and-time framework rather than a promise of exact pricing. Use it to compare programs consistently when schools publish tuition in different ways.
| Factor | What to compare | Why it matters for first-time doctoral students |
| Credits or units required | Total credits after transfer evaluation | A lower per-credit price may not save money if the program requires many more credits |
| Tuition model | Per-credit, per-term, flat-rate, or subscription-style tuition | The cheapest option depends on how quickly you can realistically complete courses |
| Transfer credit | Maximum graduate credits accepted and relevance rules | Prior master's coursework may reduce time and cost, but only if accepted |
| Residency requirements | In-person, virtual, optional, or required intensives | Travel and lodging can add meaningful expense |
| Dissertation continuation | Fees after coursework if dissertation work continues | Slow progress can increase cost after classes are finished |
| Employer support | Tuition reimbursement, professional development funds, or agency education benefits | Employer aid may reduce borrowing but can include service obligations |
Graduate students using federal aid should understand loan limits before enrolling. For federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, graduate and professional students may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year; borrowing beyond that may involve Graduate PLUS Loans, institutional aid, employer funding, military education benefits, or out-of-pocket payment.
When estimating total cost, gather every required charge rather than focusing only on tuition. This is also a good point to compare related fields, such as public safety, cybersecurity, or the best online environmental health and safety programs, if your career goal is broader risk management or compliance rather than homeland security leadership specifically.
Program websites may present costs differently, so create your own estimate using the same categories for each school.
- Total tuition based on required credits after confirmed transfer credit evaluation
- Mandatory fees, technology fees, graduation fees, and dissertation or continuation fees
- Books, software, research tools, transcription, survey platforms, or data access costs
- Residency travel, lodging, meals, parking, and missed work if in-person sessions are required
- Interest and repayment impact if you plan to borrow rather than pay as you go
- Opportunity cost, including reduced overtime, delayed promotion applications, or fewer consulting hours
A doctorate can be financially reasonable when it supports a clear advancement path, employer requirement, teaching goal, research role, or leadership transition. It is a poor financial fit when the student cannot identify a role that values the credential, when borrowing would create unsustainable debt, or when a lower-cost master's, certificate, or professional credential would meet the same objective.
An online homeland security doctorate may support advancement in leadership, policy, research, teaching, consulting, emergency management, intelligence analysis, public safety administration, cybersecurity governance, or critical infrastructure protection. However, outcomes depend heavily on prior experience. A doctorate usually enhances an existing professional profile; it rarely substitutes for field experience, clearances, technical skills, or agency-specific qualifications.
Labor market data shows why specialization matters. BLS reported a May 2024 median salary of $124,910 for information security analysts and projected much faster-than-average growth for that occupation over the 2024 to 2034 period. For homeland security doctoral students, this does not mean a doctorate is required for cyber roles, but it shows that cyber policy, risk governance, and infrastructure protection can be valuable specialization areas when paired with relevant experience.
The table below connects doctoral pathways to possible career directions. It is not a guarantee of employment or salary; use it to decide whether the degree aligns with roles that actually value doctoral-level preparation.
| Career direction | Relevant doctoral focus | Typical value of the doctorate | Additional factors employers may weigh |
| Emergency management leadership | Disaster policy, resilience, continuity, public administration | May support senior agency, consulting, or program evaluation roles | Incident command experience, certifications, government experience, and leadership record |
| Homeland security policy or analysis | Security policy, terrorism studies, intelligence, interagency coordination | May strengthen policy research, strategy, or advisory credentials | Writing samples, security clearance eligibility, agency background, and analytical experience |
| Criminal justice or public safety administration | Criminal justice leadership, law enforcement policy, homeland security operations | May support executive leadership or teaching opportunities | Command experience, management record, state requirements, and professional reputation |
| Cybersecurity governance | Cyber policy, risk management, infrastructure protection, information assurance | May support executive, compliance, research, or policy roles | Technical skills, certifications, security frameworks, and industry experience |
| Higher education teaching or research | Research methods, homeland security theory, public policy, criminal justice | May be required or preferred for full-time faculty roles | Publications, teaching experience, dissertation quality, and institutional hiring criteria |
Some readers considering homeland security may also be interested in investigative careers. For example, understanding FBI profiler salary and education expectations can help distinguish between practitioner investigative pathways and doctoral-level leadership or research pathways.
The doctorate is most likely to be useful when the student can name the target role, identify why doctoral preparation matters for that role, and connect the final research project to a real professional problem. It is less useful when pursued mainly for prestige, general career uncertainty, or the assumption that any doctoral credential automatically raises earnings.
How Should First-Time Students Choose an Online Homeland Security Doctorate Program?
First-time doctoral students should choose an online homeland security doctorate by working backward from the career goal, then testing whether the program provides the right academic structure, research support, affordability, and flexibility. A strong program fit is personal: the same doctorate can be excellent for one student and wrong for another.
Start by deciding whether you need a research doctorate, a professional doctorate, or a different credential. A PhD is usually better for students who want research, publication, or academic pathways. A professional doctorate may be better for students who want applied leadership, executive practice, or policy implementation. A certificate, second master's, or professional certification may be enough if your goal is a specific operational skill.
Use the following sequence to compare programs in a disciplined way. Each step is designed to prevent a common first-time doctoral mistake.
- Define the job or professional role the doctorate is supposed to support, including whether it is academic, executive, policy-focused, technical, or consulting-oriented.
- Verify institutional accreditation through recognized accrediting information, and confirm whether any employer, agency, or state requirement applies to your target role.
- Compare degree type, curriculum, and concentration options against your intended specialization, such as emergency management, cyber policy, intelligence, or public safety leadership.
- Review faculty expertise and ask whether faculty currently supervise dissertations or projects in your topic area.
- Request written details about dissertation, capstone, residency, synchronous class, and continuation-fee requirements.
- Ask how many transfer credits may apply and whether a formal transfer evaluation can be completed before enrollment.
- Build a total cost estimate using tuition, fees, aid, employer support, travel, books, research costs, and expected time to completion.
- Speak with current students or alumni if possible, especially students who entered with similar work schedules and research experience.
- Ask about completion support, including advising frequency, dissertation milestones, writing help, library consultations, and procedures if progress stalls.
- Choose the program only if the academic expectations, cost, schedule, and career value still make sense after reviewing the full commitment.
First-time doctoral students should also know when to wait. If you do not yet have a clear research interest, cannot protect weekly study time, need a credential for a role that does not require a doctorate, or would need to borrow more than you can reasonably repay, pausing may be the smarter decision.
The best online homeland security doctorate is the one you can complete, afford, and use. It should give you enough structure to grow into doctoral research while still aligning with the professional problem you want to solve.
Other Things You Should Know About Homeland Security
No. Emergency management focuses on preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating disasters. Homeland security is broader and may include terrorism, border security, intelligence, cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, public health preparedness, and interagency coordination.
Usually no. Academic programs generally do not require a clearance for admission. However, some jobs that students pursue after graduation may require background checks, clearance eligibility, citizenship requirements, or agency-specific screening.
It can, especially if the doctorate includes a strong research component and the student builds teaching experience, publications, or subject-matter expertise. Hiring standards vary by institution, and a doctorate alone does not guarantee a faculty position.
Yes. Certifications in emergency management, cybersecurity, risk management, continuity planning, or public safety leadership can complement a doctorate by showing applied expertise. The best combination depends on your target role and employer expectations.
- Online Doctorate Degree in Management - Homeland Security https://www.coloradotech.edu/degrees/doctorates/management/homeland-security
- 2025 Most Affordable Homeland Security Degrees Online https://www.onlineu.com/most-affordable-colleges/homeland-security-degrees
- Top Online Master’s Degree Programs in Homeland Security for 2025 https://www.onlinemastersdegrees.org/best-programs/homeland-security/
- Exploring PhD Completion Rates: How Many Finish on Time? https://wallyboston.com/phd-completion-rates/
- Earn a Doctorate Degree in Homeland Security https://www.criminaljusticeprograms.com/specialty/doctorate-in-homeland-security/
- Earning an Online Doctorate in Homeland Security https://www.gograd.org/online-phd-programs/best-homeland-security-degrees/
- Doctoral Degrees in Cybersecurity | CyberDegrees.org https://www.cyberdegrees.org/listings/doctoral-degrees/