{"id":1297,"date":"2020-11-21T00:28:59","date_gmt":"2020-11-21T00:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admissionsly.com\/?p=1297"},"modified":"2024-02-13T06:41:45","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T06:41:45","slug":"graduate-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/admissionsly.com\/graduate-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Graduate Degree? Everything You Must Know in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
For individuals considering graduate school, it is of utmost importance that you clearly understand what makes up an advanced degree program. In the course of the guide, we’ll be discussing all you need to know about grad school \u2013 most times the question \u201cWhat is grad school\u201d pops up for undergraduates. This guide will take you through the different types of graduate programs, the cost, the time commitment required as well as enrollment conditions. The guide also contains some graduate degree<\/a> facts and what students should prepare for and expect at this level of advanced study.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A graduate program includes master’s degrees<\/a>, doctorate degrees, and PhDs. It provides an advanced level of understanding of different fields, as well as demonstrates commitments to lifelong learning that the majority of employers value. Those who choose to enroll in graduate school, in most cases, do so with determination, focus, and bearing career-oriented goals in mind, which all prepare the person for a considerably different type of learning environment as compared to the one experienced during undergraduate career.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Students who have decided to enroll as graduate students in any graduate school should determine if they are going for a professional degree and an academic degree, and which is right for them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Graduate degrees emphasize more on hands-on learning – in most cases, the program requires students to develop an in-depth understanding of the subject area, as well as complete a thesis or capstone project to demonstrate their knowledge. Graduate programs are advisable for individuals in specific fields of studies; for instance those in the Medical, education, and law fields, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can as well pursue any of the following graduate degrees: Master’s degree or Doctorate. The Master’s degree can be completed in about two years. The Doctorate program, on the other hand, requires four years or more in most cases. It comes with a lot of challenging requirements like researching, writing, and presenting dissertations. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let’s discuss the following Graduate Degree Types in detail.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Master\u2019s degree is a <\/span>graduate degree that has been designed to signify the mastery of a particular professional practice or field of study. Typically, a master’s degree takes from one to four years to complete; however, it can take more than that in some cases. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Amongst other reasons to obtain a master\u2019s degree, below are some of the reasons to get a master\u2019s degree:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of people have different reasons for deciding to further their education after their bachelor’s degree. A person who has completed a bachelor’s degree is qualified to take on the master’s degree program. However, here are some set of people for who the master’s degree is for:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n During your bachelor’s degree, you tend to gain a passionate interest in your field of study, in the bid to know more, and gain more knowledge in the subject should go for a master\u2019s degree program. Either you need to pursue in-depth research on the subject, or you wish to become an academic of that particular field and teach it to others, you can get them during your master’s degree years.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n To acquire further knowledge that will help you in pursuing your career or advancing in your current career or even changing a career choice, a master’s degree is needed. All you need to do is make sure that you confirm with employers or professional bodies to make sure the course you chose is recognized even before you apply. Lawyers, doctors, teachers, librarians, and physicists may all require postgraduate qualifications.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A master’s degree can help in the improvement of one’s knowledge, professional, and personal skill and even boost your employability status. It enables you to stand out from first-degree graduates and impress employers. A master’s degree qualification can also help you secure funding for your Ph.D. study.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n To apply for any master\u2019s degree, the person needs to have completed a bachelor\u2019s degree program and have attained a CGPA of 3.0. Some schools also require taking some entrance examinations like the GMAT and GRE. The requirements to get into graduate schools varies between schools which range from no required courses to highly specific or technical courses that must be completed before you can start the master’s degree program.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, some master\u2019s degree program requires a certain bachelor\u2019s degree or courses to be completed before a person can apply for them. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n While every institution and programs have slight differences, below are some of the similar graduation requirements:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In contrast to undergraduate programs, a master’s degree program requires a higher GPA to be completed. Every course taken during the master’s degree program needs to be taken with seriousness to avoid falling short of the GPA requirement.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n You must have completed all the credit hours, which are typically between 30-60 credit hours for most master\u2019s degree programs, and also take part in all the required courses.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The majority of master\u2019s degree programs require a project or seminar completion as the conclusions of your degree program. These projects might vary from professional-oriented projects to solve real-life problems, to research papers. Typically, a capstone project needs to be completed before graduation as part of a one-semester course.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is common in most cases. People think that completing all the education requirements without paying all the required fees gives you a pass. Make sure you plan and have your funds ready to graduate.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are lots of Master’s degree programs; however, the following are the most common types of Master’s degrees in the U.S.:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Doctorate Degree is the most advanced degree that can be earned, which symbolizes that you have mastered a specific profession, field, or area of study.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Doctorate degree requires a significant level of articulation and research. Those who earn this degree must have carried out thorough research on a specific subject or topic, conducted research and analysis on that topic, and then provide new interpretations based on the analysis made or provide a solution into the field.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The doctorate occupies top-tier professional positions for consulting and education career considerations. Their advancement in their current profession gives them an edge to stay relevant in their field. In most cases, completing a doctorate degree implies achieving a lifelong personal goal for such an individual.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Based on the career trends we are experiencing today, a doctorate is worth every penny spent.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Research shows that people with a doctoral degree earn 63% on average more than people with just a bachelor\u2019s degree. Some of the most remunerative and prestigious professions such as lawyers and doctors require a doctoral degree.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A doctorate is also a sure bet if you’re naturally attracted to academic Opportunities to increase your knowledge in a specific field. A doctorate also helps people who want to satisfy their insatiable appetite for learning and research on a certain field of study that you find interest in.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The wide-ranging benefits of having a doctoral degree exceed both practical and personal applications. This is true regardless of you pursuing a research-based or practice-based degree. Doctoral degree holders have the expertise and critical reasoning skills that are vital in high-level problem-solving and decision-making circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A doctoral degree is both challenging and financially draining. Depending on the subject matter, the course lasts for up to 3 to 4 years – with a lot of students dropping either due to failure or financial stability. Not everyone can achieve a doctoral degree.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n People with the following needs should go for a doctoral degree<\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A lot of students who pursue a doctorate do so due to their love and passion for a specific subject and wish to use their research time to make discoveries within that field. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Students with long-term career goals can also go for doctoral degree programs. For individuals looking to pursue a career in academics, a doctor\u2019s degree is an essential qualification \u2013 it allows them to continue with their research and also to teach students in universities.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people are born with curious minds, and for these people, a Doctoral degree will seem like a natural next step. Unlike the degrees before the doctorate, the program is less structured, which gives students room to research topics that are of interest to them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n A doctorate degree holder should be able to:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n To apply for a Doctorate degree program, there are certain entry requirements to be met before the application process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, a doctorate degree applicant will be required to show good undergraduate level performance \u2013 in most cases at least a second class upper honors degree (2.1). This also needs to be in a relevant discipline for the Ph.D. study.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n You also need a master\u2019s degree, in a relevant subject to be eligible for the Doctorate application. You also need to show great performance at this level, with a Merit or Distinction grade.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n To get a doctorate degree, students are expected to complete: Coursework requirements, Research requirements, examination requirements, oral defense, and financial requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Individuals that have achieved graduate degrees experience a \u201cleapfrog\u201d effect. A leapfrog effect is used to denote a situation where a person starts his or her career with higher jobs, without having to go through the introductory jobs in their field.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Research shows that of the 16 million people in the US, only 8% have a graduate degree, which in most cases results in a competitive advantage in a pool of candidates.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n The positive impact of a graduate degree on a person’s career is huge. It stands an individual out from the crowd and also has a positive impact on the earning of such a person as compared to those without a graduate degree.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n After finishing high school, most students get an undergraduate degree. An undergraduate degree can also be referred to as a bachelor’s degree or as an associate degree<\/a>\u2014and undergraduate degree obtained from a university or a college whichever is used.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Any degree above a bachelor’s degree is a graduate degree. This kind of degree includes a Doctoral degree or master’s degree. A master\u2019s degree can take around 1.5 to 2 years to complete while a Doctoral degree can take about 3 to 5 years.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat is a Graduate Program?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Quick Facts About Graduate Degrees<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Types of Graduate Degree<\/b>s<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Master’s Graduate Degree<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Benefits of master’s degree<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Who is it for?<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Characteristics of a Master\u2019s Degree Holder<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Requirements to Get Admitted for Master\u2019s Degree<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Eligibility for Completion<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Examples of Masters Degree Program<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What is a Doctorate Degree?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Is It for? <\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Who Is It for?<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Characteristics of a Doctoral Degree Holder<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The Requirement to Get Admitted in Doctoral Degree<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Eligibility for Completion<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Examples of Doctoral Degree Program<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What Does a Graduate Degree Do for Your Career?<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Graduate Vs Undergraduate Vs Postgraduate Degrees<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Undergraduate Degree<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Graduate Degree<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Post-graduate Degree<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n