The University of Florida announced that David McClister of Tampa has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in the classics and will therefore become the nation's first ever student to earn an online doctor of philosophy degree in classical studies.

The only distance learning graduate program nationwide to address the classics was created to provide teachers of Latin an option for more in depth study. The program remains the only online doctor of philosophy degree option offered at the University of Florida.

McClister, a full-time professor of Biblical studies, enrolled in the classical studies program in 2003. The father of four children chose the online program option so as to be able to pursue a doctoral degree without putting his work or his personal life on hold.

McClister studied the Greek works of the Jewish historian Josephus. The professor plans to continue teaching but is in hopes of publishing his dissertation.

In contrast,to the singular doctorate of philosophy degree, the University of Florida's College of Pharmacy has awarded 1,245 doctor of pharmacy degrees online since 1994 while the College of Public Health and Health Professions have awarded 1,164 doctor of audiology degrees online since 1998.