For
those who want to go for graduation but are not sure how to choose a what
Masters Degree should they get, this article will break down the different
types that exist in various institutions across the world. The names of degrees might change depending
on the continent or the university educational system.
Firstly,
a general question that pops up in every mind is WHY MASTERS?
Everybody
has their unique reasons to pursue their master's degree. Some popular reasons
are as following:
- It opens up career advancement opportunities
- To develop specialist knowledge
- It encourages flexibility and lifelong learning
- To build your network(like-minded
individuals)
- A Sense of Personal Accomplishment:
- It can be a smart steppingstone
- Secure Protection During a Career Change
- It’s a research opportunity
Generally, based on the method of
graduating, the two types of
Master’s Degrees are course-based or taught degrees and research-based
degrees
Course-based
degrees are structured with course modules
that are taught through Lectures, Seminars, and Distance learning. They are
similar to undergraduate degrees in the methods of teaching. The students
follow a set of courses specified by their advisors and choose a field of
study. The courses might require writing academic papers, doing projects,
exams, and quizzes.
Research-based degrees are such that they require the student to conduct
their research projects in a specific field of study. The student does not have
a structured set of courses to take, so they have more extended projects.
Research students have mentors and advisors who help guide them throughout
their work, but in general, they work on their own. Research-based degrees
given their nature take longer to complete than course-based degrees.
Besides
the general distinction, there are also other types of Master’s Degrees based
on subjects or fields of study.
TYPES OF MASTER’s DEGREE:
Master of Arts(M.A.):
The Master of Arts is the degree that students get after studying in the
humanities or social sciences which includes the subjects like Art, Economics, History,
Music, Linguistics, Etc. MA is a course-based
degree that usually takes one and a half to two years to get.
Assessment is done through quizzes, projects, and exams. Usually, because of
the nature of the subjects that fall within this degree, students at the end might
be required to do a dissertation through independent research.
Master
of Science(M.Sc.):
The Master of Science degree is
awarded to students who study more research-oriented subjects such as Physics, Mathematics,
Chemistry, Engineering, Computer Science, Etc. It is a course-based degree because it is
taught through lectures and evaluation is done through examinations. However,
there is more research in the sense that students have to work in laboratories
and have projects to do. Many students get confused about the difference
between an MSc vs MS degree, but in essence, they are equivalent.
Master of Technology (M.Tech):
The Master of Technology is offered in
the field of engineering. Generally spanning 2 years, this is a very popular
course among the types of master’s degrees. A candidate can pursue an M.Tech
degree after completing their graduation in the field of engineering. The most
popular fields of study for M.Tech include Software Engineering, Civil
Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology, Electronics and
Communication Engineering, etc.
Master of Research degree (M.Res):
The
Master of Research degree is a research-based Master’s Degree. It
is intended for students who are seeking to go into academia and conduct
research throughout their careers. Most students who get a Master of Research
degree continue to also finish their Ph.D.
Masters in Business Administration (MBA):
The
Masters in Business Administration is one of the subject-based Master’s
Degrees which gives students broad training to become
equipped with the skills they need to manage businesses. This program is
designed for those aspiring to become involved in the corporate management
chain. Candidates with a graduate degree in any
field (arts, science, commerce, etc.) are eligible to pursue an MBA, which
makes it one of the most popular types of master’s degrees. Generally of 2
years, this course can be pursued in different specializations like Marketing,
Finance, Entrepreneurship, etc.
Masters
of Public Administration (MPA):
Whereas the MBA is for students who
want to work in the private sector mostly, the Masters in Public Administration
is for those who want to work in the government, non-governmental organizations
(NGO), or not for profit organizations. The MPA gives students skills so they
can effectively govern and focus on public policy. They take courses on
budgeting, statistics, political economy, public policy, and others. The courses
are all highly discussion-based requiring a lot of reading and writing of
essays and academic papers. In the end, there might also be a thesis or a
dissertation that the students need to do to graduate. There are different
variations to it, such as Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Master of Public
Policy (MPP), Master of Urban Planning (MUP) Etc.
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil):
A Master of Philosophy is an advanced research degree that can be pursued in
different subjects across all streams. Generally of two-year duration, this
degree aims to polish the research and analytical skills of a candidate. Aspirants
who are interested in pursuing an MPhil course, need to first meet the eligibility
criteria set. The criteria may vary under different universities, however, the
basic eligibility set is that candidates need to have secured at least 55%
marks in the subject in which they want to pursue an MPhil degree at the
postgraduate level. Candidates are usually shortlisted for admission in an
MPhil course based on their performance in an entrance exam followed by a
Personal Interview (PI) round.
Master of Public Health:
The
Master in Public Health is someone who is interested in combining aspects of
the medical profession with public policy. These individuals graduate with the
MPH degree and go on to work in the public health sector or in different NGOs.
They strive to make public health more affordable, equal, and fair for all
citizens of a nation. The MPH degree can be discussion and research-intensive
depending on the university, and students may be required to have a medical
background. However, many universities accept students with different
Bachelor’s Degrees on the condition that they finish preliminary courses which
teach them a few basic skills they need before starting their masters.
Master of Law (LLM):
The Master
of Law is given to individuals with a legal background mostly. LLM degree can
only be pursued by students who have completed their undergraduate degree in
law i.e. LLB. The specializations offered in an LLM degree include Criminal
Law, Administrative law, International Law, etc.
Master of Social Work:
The
Master of Social Work is a degree given to students who aspire to become
involved in improving the lives of the less advantaged individuals, groups, and
communities. The degree can be a clinical degree with more focus on counseling
and therapy for clients, or it can be a policy-related degree. Those who take the policy route to a
Master of Social Work will work with public policy stakeholders to influence
and advocate how these disadvantaged groups are treated. In general, the MSW is
a degree that requires a lot of reading, writing, and research.
Master of Education(MEd, MSEd, MIT, MAEd, MAT):
Students
enrolled in a Master of Education program are focused on all areas of
education. They can go on to become certified teachers or specialize in special
education, curriculum creation, counseling, education policy, and others. The
Master of Education can also include different certifications and requires
intensive research in the candidate’s area of interest.
The MEd
should not be confused with the Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT).
The MAT degree is an advanced graduate degree that helps teachers in
improving their teaching skills as well as advance their careers.
Master of Library Science(MLS, MLIS,
MSLS):
The Master of Library Science will give students the skills
and knowledge to be able to operate in and work efficiently in a library. The
degree requires learning theory, as well as applying that knowledge in practice
through internships and research to gain the professional capabilities required
for the working positions.
Master of Engineering(MEng):
The
Master of Engineering students can take two paths, the academic and the
professional one. The academic path prepares students by teaching theory and
practice and is quite research-intensive. Students are sometimes required to
produce excellent research and become published in an engineering journal. The
professional path is more focused on preparing students to work in engineering
fields so it is more based on practice rather than theory. Besides doing
research, students also participate in training, workshops, and do internships.
Master of Architecture (MArch):
Students
enrolled in a Master of Architecture program graduate and continue to become
licensed architects. The program is focused on practice and students are
required to do internships, exams, and final projects to receive their license
of practice. The coursework is also intense, but it can be different depending
on the type and subject of architecture that students are interested in, and it
is also best to check the curriculum to decide which programs to attend.
Master of Fine Arts (MFA):
This is
for the creative professions. Students can take different subjects to get an
MFA. It can be fields such as painting, photography, design, creative writing,
filmmaking, or theatre. The coursework is focused mostly on practice with
students taking first theoretical courses and then doing projects to apply
them. The degree is awarded following the final assessment which can be done
through a major project or a performance.
Related
to the MFA are also specific art degrees such as a Master of Music (MM, MMus),
which requires students to specialize in an area of music. This can be either a
musical instrument or others such as conducting performance, or composition.
We will be covering detailed every master's
degree option and its career prospects very soon. Till then, stay connected.