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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 24 credits per academic year if the university
operates on a traditional two-semester system.
Master's Degrees
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.
Academic Master's: 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.
Professional Master's: 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, and urban planning. 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.
Important Difference: 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.
Doctoral Degrees
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 U.S, 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 Web sites or directly from individual departments.
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