University of Southern California (USC) Distance Education Network (DEN) a good option? ?

If you think a PhD may be something you want to pursue in future, then you're right to be wary of online degrees. But if you have a particular PhD program in mind, go ahead and contact them to discuss the situation. But it seems like most academics still look down on online degrees, no matter where you get them. Thus I'm wary, as you are, of the USC program.