A Master's Degree Explained

What is a Master's Degree?
A master's degree is a degree above a bachelor's degree, designed to give you more expertise in your field or in another field you'd like to pursue. You must have an undergraduate, or bachelor's degree, before pursuing a master's degree. That is why going to school for your master's is called graduate school. This type of degree usually takes about two years to complete, yet grants you a lot of benefits such as a pay raise, more attractive resume, and more experience in your field. While some students enter a master's program right after graduating from college, or their undergraduate, many more wait until later when they know what type of field they want to pursue, or learn of the pay or professional benefits a master's degree can give. In fact, many master's programs are geared towards working adults, offering night and weekend classes to accommodate professional's schedules.

How To Get a Master's Degree
To begin a master's degree program, you must apply to schools, just like the college process. Many admissions requirements include a certain GPA, as well as qualifying scores on a test such as the GRE or GMAT. Some of these tests are offered in specific areas, so check what the requirements are for your chosen field of master's study before you apply. Once you are accepted, you will attend classes much like the ones for your undergraduate degree, but on a more advanced level. These classes usually include more discussion with higher-level thinking skills and analysis. Because so many working professionals pursue master's degrees, you'll find a wide variety of options for class schedules, such as a few nights a week or all day every Saturday. To complete your master's, you'll also be required to complete a research thesis or advanced research paper. For a hands-on field such as counseling or education, you'll have to complete an internship or practicum to put the skills you've learned into practice. Many employers will pay for part or all of your master's degree, so it's worth checking into. Some prepay, and some reimburse as long as you fulfill their minimum GPA requirements each semester. This can be a great way to get more education and get a pay raise or promotion after you graduate.

Types of Master's Degrees
The two basic types of master's degrees one can earn fall into two categories: MA (Master's of Arts) and MS (Master's of Science). Just as these two distinctions apply to undergraduate degrees, most MAs are awarded in the fields of humanities and social sciences, and most MSs are awarded in the science fields. Requirements such as credit hours and research thesis are similar in both. Some more specific types of master's degrees include, but are not limited to:

MAED-Master's of Arts in Education

MBA-Master of Business Administration

MSN-Master's of Science in Nursing

MFA-Master of Fine Arts

Many other master's programs exist in fields such as computer science, engineering, architecture, agriculture, music, justice administration, social work and sciences. Find out if there's a program that's right for your career field; it could be the ticket to a better job and higher pay. The more you learn about your field, the more attractive you are to your current employer as well as future ones, so the investment is well worth the time and money spent.

Sources:
gradschool.about.com
worldwidelearn.com