The two graduate degrees offered in the United States are the
master's degree and the doctoral degree; both involve a combination
of research and coursework. Graduate education differs from
undergraduate education in that it offers a greater depth of
training, with increased specialization and intensity of
instruction. Study and learning are more self-directed at the
graduate level than at the undergraduate level.
Graduate courses assume that students are well-prepared in the basic
elements of their field of study. Depending on the subject, courses
may be quite formal, consisting primarily of lecture presentations
by faculty members, or they may be relatively informal, placing
emphasis on discussion and exchange of ideas among faculty and
students. Seminars involve smaller groups of students than lecture
courses, and students may be required to make presentations as well
as participate in discussions. Class participation, research papers,
and examinations are all important.
Degree requirements are stated in terms of "credits" (sometimes
called "units" or "hours"), and each course usually earns three or
four credits, generally reflecting the number of hours spent in the
classroom and the amount of other work involved. A student will
usually accumulate up to 48 credits per academic year if the
university operates on a traditional two-semester system. |
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The master's degree is designed to provide additional education or
training in the student's specialized branch of knowledge, well
beyond the level of baccalaureate study. Master's degrees are
offered in many different fields, and there are two main types of
programs: academic and professional.
The master of arts (M.A.) and
master of science (M.S.) degrees are usually awarded in the
traditional arts, sciences, and humanities disciplines. The M.S. is
also awarded in technical fields such as engineering and
agriculture. Original research, research methodology, and field
investigation are emphasized. These programs usually require the
completion of between 30 and 60 credit hours and could reasonably be
completed in one or two academic years of full-time study. They may
lead directly to the doctoral level. (See "Important Difference"
below.)
Many master's programs offer a thesis and a non-thesis option. The
degree is the same in both cases, but the academic requirements are
slightly different. Students in non-thesis programs usually take
more coursework in place of researching and writing a thesis, and
they take a written comprehensive examination after all coursework
is completed. Students in degree programs that include a thesis
component generally take a comprehensive examination that is an oral
exam covering both coursework and their thesis.
These degree programs are
designed to lead the student from the first degree to a particular
profession. Professional master's degrees are most often "terminal"
master's programs, meaning that they do not lead to doctoral
programs. Such master's degrees are often designated by specific
descriptive titles, such as master of business administration
(M.B.A.), master of social work (M.S.W.), master of education
(M.Ed.), or master of fine arts (M.F.A.). Other subjects of
professional master's programs include journalism, international
relations, architecture, urban planning, public administration
(M.P.A.), and public policy (M.P.P.).
Professional master's degrees are oriented more toward direct
application of knowledge than toward original research. They are
more structured than academic degree programs, and often require
that every student take a similar or identical program of study that
lasts from one to three years, depending on the institution and the
field of study.
Professional degree programs usually require completion of between
36 and 48 units (one to two years of full-time study), and usually
do not offer a thesis option. They do not always require that the
bachelor's degree be in a specific field, but they may recommend a
certain amount of prior study or coursework in the subject area.
One main difference between
master's programs is whether or not they are designed for students
who intend to continue toward a doctoral degree. Those that
specifically do not lead into doctoral programs are known as
terminal master's programs. Most professional master's degrees fall
under this category. Credits earned in terminal master's programs
may or may not be transferable or applicable in case you decide to
continue toward a doctoral degree later on.
Some institutions restrict admission to certain departments solely
to potential doctoral candidates, although they may award a terminal
master's degree to students who complete a certain level of
coursework but do not go on to their doctoral work. Other
departments require a master's degree as part of the requirements
for admission to their doctoral program.
Since policies vary from institution to institution and within
various departments of each institution, it is best to check
directly with individual graduate departments to determine the
structure and admissions policies for their master's and doctoral
candidates.
The doctoral degree is designed to train research scholars and, in
many cases, future college and university faculty members. Receipt
of a doctoral degree certifies that the student has demonstrated
capacity as a trained research scholar in a specific discipline.
At the doctoral level, the Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy) is the most
common degree awarded in academic disciplines. Other doctoral
degrees are awarded primarily in professional fields, such as
education (Ed.D. or doctor of education) and business administration
(D.B.A. or doctor of business administration). Doctoral programs
involve advanced coursework, seminars, and the writing of a
dissertation that describes the student's own original research,
completed under the supervision of a faculty adviser.
A comprehensive examination is given, usually after three to five
years of study and completion of all coursework, and when the
student and adviser agree that the student is ready. This exam is
designed to test the student's ability to use knowledge gained
through courses and independent study in a creative and original
way. Students must demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of
their chosen field of study. Successful completion of this
examination marks the end of the student's coursework and the
beginning of concentration on research.
The Ph.D. degree is awarded to those students who complete an
original piece of significant research, write a dissertation
describing that research, and successfully defend their work before
a panel of faculty members who specialize in the discipline. This
may take an additional two to three years. To earn a doctoral
degree, therefore, may take anywhere from five to eight years beyond
the bachelor's degree, depending on the field of study.
In the United States, you will find a variety of nontraditional
doctoral programs; these programs might have very different types of
requirements from the traditional programs. Prospective students
should be sure of what is required to enter any program they are
considering, and what is required to obtain the degree. This
information is usually available from university catalogs and
websites or directly from individual departments. |
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