How to Get a PhD in Web Development

It is estimated that there are more than 1.7 billion Internet users in the world. Despite the size of this audience, the Internet's growth period is not yet behind it, since that audience represents only about a quarter of the world's population. Therefore, if you are looking for a career that taps into a tremendous existing and potential demand, working with the Internet is a natural choice.

The next question, though, is whether earning a doctorate in Web development is the right choice. This guide can help you answer that question by taking you through five steps toward launching your career via a PhD in Web development:

• Deciding if a PhD in Web development is right for you. This guide walks through some of the issues involved in deciding to pursue a doctorate, and also examines some of the specifics involved in focusing on Web development as your course of study.

• Considering where you want your doctorate in Web development to take you. Web development is a broader field than you may think, so before you start trying to pick a school, think about your eventual career objectives. Envisioning the specific aspects of Web development that you want to pursue might influence your choice of schools.

• Evaluating programs that offer a PhD in Web development. Starting with the full array of on-campus and online PhD programs, you can take a systematic approach to narrowing down the possibilities.

• Applying to a PhD in Web development. Especially if you are applying to multiple schools, you should use some simple time management techniques to make sure you meet all the appropriate application deadlines.

• Make the most of your PhD in Web development. Learn what you can do in addition to earning a doctorate degree that can make you more attractive to potential employers, and more effective on the job.

Taken step by step in this way, the process of pursuing your doctorate in Web development can become very manageable, and you should be able to proceed with confidence in each decision you make along the way.

Decide if a PhD in Web Development Is Right for You

To decide if a PhD in Web development is right for you, start by separating the decision into two component parts:

• Is Web development the right career for you?
• Will you benefit from earning a doctorate degree?

When contemplating the first question, it is important to understand that Web development is a broader field than Web design. It incorporates Web design as one of its elements, but it also involves other technical issues such as server support, database management, and site security. In addition, there is a non-technical, marketing element to Web development which encompasses things like content development and management, search engine optimization, and advertising.

Therefore, if your interest in Web development focuses purely on the design element, you might want to concentrate your education more exclusively on Web design. However, if you enjoy dealing with Web design as one of many elements within a broader technical and promotional context, then Web development might well be the right career for you.

Regarding the utility of a doctorate degree, assess whether or not a PhD in Web development would benefit your career plan. Certainly, if you plan to teach Web development at the college level, a doctorate degree should be an asset. Also, in an increasingly competitive job market, having a doctorate degree could be the edge that distinguishes you from other candidates. Finally, given the complex and fast-changing nature of Web development, a higher-level degree might be the best way to fully explore the subject.

The more conviction you have that a PhD in Web development may be right for you, the more success you are likely to have in earning the degree.

Shaping Your Career with a PhD

If pursuing a PhD in Web development seems like the next logical step, begin your journey by locating the right graduate program. Finding a program that fits your wants, needs, and academic interests is key to fulfilling your all-important career goals.

As mentioned above, Web development is multi-disciplinary field comprising different technical and marketing elements. One great thing about such a complex field is that it offers a range of different career opportunities. Here are some of the possibilities:

• E-commerce consultant. Many companies are still making the transition to e-commerce, so there is a demand for consultants who can assist with the strategic, tactical, and technical issues involved.
• Web site design or programming manager. Having an expertise in front-end design and programming issues can prepare you for a career where you are responsible for managing design and programming projects.
• Web site architecture designer and manager. If your interests tend more toward the hardware than the programming side, you could pursue a career where you are responsible for server interface and other architectural issues.
• Internet database administrator. Another key structural issue for many Web sites is database interface and maintenance, so this is a possible area of career emphasis.
• Web site content manager. Moving more to the promotional side of the field, developing content strategy and maintaining a smooth flow of relevant and up-to-date content is an important part of determining a Web site's popularity.
• Search engine optimization expert. Another promotional aspect of running a Web site is analyzing search trends and target audiences, and incorporating keyword content which can maximize the site's search results exposure.
• Internet advertising sales. Learning the various types of Internet advertisements and the fast-changing trends in their usage could make you well-suited to a career in Internet advertising sales.
• Internet marketing executive. Taking a broader view, having a mix of Web development expertise and management skills could prepare you for a career as an Internet marketing executive.
• Professor of Web development. If your interest in Web development leads you to want to teach the subject, a doctorate in the field could help qualify you for employment at a college or university.

It is useful to have a feel for which career you might eventually want to pursue before you start trying to pick a graduate Web development program. Having a sense of your career direction can greatly inform your choice of a school. Match your career interests with a school's areas of academic emphasis, availability of relevant course work, and faculty expertise.

Evaluate Programs that Offer a PhD in Web Development

Once you have a feel for the eventual career you want your PhD in Web development to lead toward, you can start the process of choosing a school.

While Web development is a fast-growing field, doctorates in the field are still relatively scarce. So, start by including as many possibilities as you can find, being sure to include both on-campus and online PhD programs. After all, while on-campus programs may have certain advantages, what could be more appropriate than earning an online PhD in Web development? The experience of participating in an online PhD program could give you detailed experience with Web site design and functionality issues, as well as valuable insights into the user's perspective.

Online guides and other directories can help you assemble your initial list of possible schools. Then, you can narrow down this list by answering some key questions:

• Which schools can you afford? Before you answer this question, spend some time at www.fafsa,gov, a U.S. Department of Education Web site that can help you understand various financial aid options. Once you estimate your eligibility for financial aid, you can compare this to the cost of various schools to find out which ones fit your budget. If your graduate school budget is tight, be sure to consider an online PhD in Web development as one way of keeping your costs down.

• Which schools are convenient to your location? An online PhD in Web development might also be the most expedient solution if you are having trouble finding appropriate programs in your area. On the other hand, if you live near a large population center or are willing to travel or move to attend school, you might prefer to attend an on-campus program. Another issue related to convenience is scheduling. If you are juggling multiple priorities such as a job and/or family, an online doctoral program might afford you the scheduling flexibility and ease of access that you need.

• Which schools are you likely to get into? Before you get too far down the road of considering a specific program, do a reality check: how does your academic record stack up against the school's admission standards? You may want to focus your time and attention on those schools where you have at least a fighting chance of being accepted.

• Which programs and faculties seem best suited to your interests? Based on your career goals, look for programs with the most relevant course work available. It is also a plus if faculty members have experience in the jobs or types of companies that interest you.

• Which programs have the best academic reputations? Online guides and published rankings can be a source of this information, and you can also get a sense of a faculty's stature by looking at its history of publishing books and articles. You should also look into a school's accreditation status--the U.S. Department of Education is a good source for information on that topic.

• Which campus environment suits you best? Some people prefer the excitement of a large campus, while others find the intimacy of a small campus the best learning environment. Still others might feel that online PhD programs are the best way of eliminating potential distractions. If you've found multiple schools that meet your other criteria, you can start factoring these qualitative issues into your decision.

The logic the progression of these questions follows is to start with some practical issues to quickly narrow down the list, and then move on to more subjective issues that might require a little more in-depth research.

Apply to a PhD in Web Development Program

Once you've chosen a PhD program, or at least narrowed the list down to a manageable few, you can start looking into application procedures. Web developers should have good project management skills, and you may need these skills to handle the application process effectively. You will likely have to prepare multiple materials, such as:

• An application
• Previous academic transcripts
• Standardized test score results
• Examples of work product or relevant writings
• Letters of recommendation

Multiply these steps by the number of schools to which you are applying, and you may find yourself working towards several different deadlines. Here's a tip: don't always start by working on the nearest deadline, because some steps may require more lead time than others. For example, you might be able to complete an application fairly quickly, but it could take more advance planning to arrange for a letter of recommendation or to take a standardized test. Create a schedule which accounts for both the deadline and the time needed for completion of each step.

Make the Most of Your PhD in Web Development

With any luck, before too long you could be out on the job market with a PhD in Web development to your credit. That credential can be even more effective if you augment it with these other career-enhancing steps:

• Stay up to date on the field. Before, during, and after your doctorate studies, you should regularly read professional and academic journals so you are aware of how Web development is evolving.
• Join professional organizations. Organizations such as the Web Developers Association of America can be good sources of technical information, career advice, and networking contacts.
• Gain relevant experience. If you are not already working in the field, look for internships, part-time jobs, or research projects that can give you some practical experience to complement your academic credentials.
• Maintain an updated portfolio of work. Given the nature of Web development, this can consist of links to sites you've worked on. Just make sure to check that anything you cite is still up and running effectively.

Again, the Internet audience is huge, and still growing. Earning a PhD in Web development can be one way of linking your career to this powerful trend.

Sources

• ECPI College of Technology
• FAFSA.com
• Foraker
• Internet World Stats
• U.S. Department of Education
• Webconsuls.com
• Web Developers Association of America