I. Graduate School

What kinds of graduate degrees are there?

Graduate programs are highly specialized, which means that not all programs are available at all schools. There are many graduate schools and many different kinds of programs, so you will have to research to find which schools offer what you are looking for.

There are two main tracks, or types of graduate fields: 1) academic/research oriented, which focuses on expanding and disseminating the body of knowledge, and 2) professional, which focuses on applying knowledge. Note, however, that academic/research fields entail applying knowledge, just as professional fields entail research and expanding the current body of knowledge.

There are also several levels of degrees, each requiring a considerable investment of time:

• Certificates (usually 1 year, or less)
• Masters (usually 2-4 years)
• Doctorate (usually 4-10 years)

Graduate programs offer a wide variety of degrees. The most common academic/research degrees are the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), and Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD). Examples of professional degrees include Teaching Certificates, Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Education (MEd), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Architecture (ArchD), Juris Doctor (JD), and Doctor of Medicine (MD), to name just a few.

Why should I attend graduate school?

People attend graduate school for myriad reasons. Some of the most common reasons include:

• To study a subject in more detail. For example, after completing a Bachelor degree in Sociology, you might attend graduate school to specialize in juvenile delinquency.
  
  
• To study a subject that was not offered at the Bachelor level. For example, degrees in specialized fields such as Educational Administration, Public Health, or Astrophysics are available only at the graduate level.
  
  
• To study a new subject or change fields. Many students use graduate school as an opportunity to enter a new field. For example, an Art major may decide to enter medical school, or a Psychology major may choose to study creative writing. Those who are considering changing fields should be aware that many graduate programs have specific prerequisites.
  
  
• To obtain a credential or degree necessary to begin practice in a particular field. For example, those who plan to teach must first complete a teaching certificate, and psychologists must complete a degree in clinical psychology before they can begin practice.
  
  
• To become eligible for better, higher paying jobs. In general, those who complete graduate degrees earn more and have more career options than those who hold a Bachelor degree. Higher salaries and better jobs are not, however, the best reasons for pursuing a graduate degree. Graduate degrees offer no guarantees: many skilled laborers and business executives earn very high salaries with a Bachelor degree and expertise.
  
  

Students sometimes continue on into graduate school because they are comfortable as students and do not yet want to enter the work world, or because they cannot think of anything else in particular they would like to do. Students who attend graduate school for these reasons are often disappointed and often do poorly because graduate school is markedly different from the undergraduate experience.