You may be wondering if you need to attend a master’s program after earning a bachelor’s degree. This is commonly referred to as graduate school. As a graduate student, you will acquire specific skills and knowledge that will allow you to succeed in your career field. Graduate degrees come in a variety of forms. The purpose of this article is to provide information related to graduate school and the benefits of the various graduate degrees available.
Let’s Understand
A graduate school is an institution of higher education, offering advanced courses, which prepare you for a specific career or field. In most cases, you must first obtain your three-year or four-year undergraduate degree before applying to and attending graduate school, i.e. Master’s Program. The majority of universities offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
In graduate school, the curriculum is more specialized, and the expectations are far higher than in undergraduate school. These aspects allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter. Some of the programs at the graduate level include:
- Studies focusing on one subject in depth
- An assessment of your work by your professors and classmates
- Small class sizes that promote dialogue and collaboration
- Research experience, internships, teaching or other work experience
- Original research completed by each student
Furthermore, graduate school is different from professional school, which prepares students for a certain profession rather than focusing on an academic subject. There are some professional degrees that are also classified as graduate degrees, such as medical and law degrees.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is typically needed for acceptance into graduate school, as well as a high-grade point average during undergraduate studies. This standardized test is required by most graduate school programs to assess a candidate’s skills and knowledge. It is recommended that you take the GRE during your junior year of undergraduate study if you are planning to attend graduate school after completing your undergraduate degree.
(1) Master’s Program – A Concept
The following types of graduate degrees are typically offered by graduate schools:
- Master’s Program
- Ph.D.
- Special Degree
Master’s Program – A Brief
One of the most common graduate degrees is the master’s degree, which offers more advanced training in a particular subject after an undergraduate degree has been earned. These degrees are typically completed in between one and two years. Among the most popular master’s degrees are the following:
- Master of Arts program enables students to pursue subjects within the arts, humanities or social sciences, such as education, literature, foreign languages, geography, communication, history, and music.
- Master of Science program covers a broad range of science and math topics such as biology, computer science, psychology, analytics, engineering, and finance.
- Master of Fine Arts programs encompass a wide range of subjects, including photography, theatre, dance, film, graphic design, and visual arts.
- Master of Business Administration: Graduates of this program are prepared to pursue careers in areas such as management, accounting, finance, marketing, and communications.
- Master of Public Health programs prepare students for careers in community health and awareness, which include courses in environmental health, statistics, disease conditions, health policy, and other topics.
(2) Doctoral degree (Ph.D.)
To earn these advanced degrees, students typically do independent research, teach, and write and defend their dissertations. Depending on the subject and your prior working experience, a doctoral degree can take between three and eight years to complete. In order to teach or conduct research at a university or similar institution, students often earn their Doctor of Philosophy degree (Ph.D.). In order to be accepted into a Ph.D. program, you typically must either hold a master’s degree in a related field or / and have a specific amount of work experience in that field.
(3) Special Degree
Specialist degrees are often obtained after earning a bachelor’s degree. By earning a specialist degree, students are able to acquire specialized training and certification in a specific profession. Among the types of graduate degrees available are education specialist, psychology specialist, library science specialist, and many others.
Among the common specialist degrees that are considered professional degrees instead of graduate degrees are Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), and Doctor of Chiropractic (DC).
Advantage point
- Your goals may determine whether graduate school is beneficial for you personally and professionally. Graduate school can give you the following advantages:
- Gaining more expertise in your field can lead to better career opportunities and higher salaries. A master's degree may also qualify you for positions at higher levels of responsibility that you would not be able to obtain with a bachelor's degree alone.
- Obtaining a graduate degree is often a requirement for employment at colleges and universities as per UGC guidelines.
- An advanced degree allows you to gain knowledge in a field that you have a great deal of interest in that you would not be able to gain from a bachelor's degree alone.
- Students in graduate school are usually required to do research and have their work published in academic journals. By earning one of these advanced degrees, you will have the opportunity to publish your research, network with others in the industry, and impress potential employers.
-Makarand Bhatt
