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Most people have a pretty solid understanding of what a bachelor’s degree is, but master’s degrees and Ph.D.s can often be fuzzier for many.
In this article, we’ll go over each of these degrees and what each one entails.
Key Takeaways:
| Master’s Degree | Ph.D. |
|---|---|
| A master’s degree takes about one to three years to obtain. | A Ph.D. takes three to seven years to obtain. |
| A master’s degree requires a bachelor’s degree. | A Ph.D. usually requires a master’s degree. |
| A master’s degree mostly involves coursework with one to two semesters dedicated to research for a thesis and/or capstone project. | A Ph.D. involves some coursework but mostly focuses on research for a dissertation. |
| A master’s degree can prepare you for almost any career. | A Ph.D. can prepare you for a career in research and/or academia. |
What Is a Master’s Degree?
A master’s degree – also called a graduate degree – is an advanced degree that people with an undergraduate degree can go on to obtain.
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A master’s degree takes about one to three years to obtain. This can change based on the program you pursue and how many classes you take per semester, but the typical master’s degree program lasts about two years.
Again, the actual amount of time a master’s degree requires depends on the program you’re in, how much time you have to dedicate to your classes and research, and how smoothly your research goes, but most master’s degree programs are designed to take two years to complete.
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A master’s degree requires a bachelor’s degree. This is the main prerequisite for starting a master’s degree. While some master’s programs require students to have bachelor’s degrees related to the graduate program, others don’t, allowing anyone with any area of expertise to enter as long as they meet the other qualifications.
One of these qualifications is often a passing score on a standardized graduate school entrance exam such as the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or TOEFL.
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A master’s degree mostly involves coursework with one to two semesters dedicated to research for a thesis and/or capstone project. This thesis or project (or combination of both) is a requirement for graduation and must be approved by and presented to the program faculty (called a defense).
While the student is working on this research, they’re usually taking classes as well.
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A master’s degree can prepare you for almost any career. You can find people with master’s degrees in virtually any industry, and you can find a master’s degree program for a wide variety of interests.
Some people choose to pursue their master’s in order to build a more advanced and/or specialized knowledge base in their field or to open up opportunities in an entirely different field than they’d originally been working in.
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What Is a Ph.D.?
A Ph.D. is a doctoral degree that many people pursue when they want to work in research or academia. It’s the highest degree someone can obtain.
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A Ph.D. takes three to seven years to obtain. Usually, though, it takes closer to five to seven years to obtain a Ph.D. The length of time it takes you to finish a doctorate program will depend on the particular program, how much time you have to spend on classes and research, and how long your dissertation takes to research and complete.
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A Ph.D. usually requires a master’s degree. Usually, your master’s degree has to be at least somewhat related to the Ph.D. program you’re trying to enter so that you have a solid knowledge base going into your research.
However, many programs combine their master’s degree and Ph.D. programs so you can start right out of undergrad and get it all done in one place. Sometimes these programs even take less time since they often require less research than two separate programs would.
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A Ph.D. involves some coursework but mostly focuses on research for a dissertation. Generally, Ph.D. students spend just a few years on coursework and focus the majority of their time conducting research and writing their dissertations.
This is because their research generally has to be more original than many graduate program projects are and often requires them to obtain their own funding, which can take time.
In addition to a dissertation, Ph.D. students also may have to pass a comprehensive exam before they can graduate.
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A Ph.D. can prepare you for a career in research and/or academia. If you want to continue conducting research in your field for a company or a university, or if you want to become a university professor, you’ll need a Ph.D.
As a result, many people obtain their Ph.D.s if they are interested in either of those options, even if they end up working in a regular job as part of their career as well.
Master’s Vs. Ph.D. FAQ
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Can you get a Ph.D. without a master’s?
Yes, you can get a Ph.D. without a master’s. Many Ph.D. programs in the U.S. will accept students who have only earned their bachelor’s degrees. However, usually, this means that the Ph.D. program is a little longer than it would be otherwise, as it also includes the master’s degree requirements.
Many students still prefer this route if they know they want to get a Ph.D., as it often still ends up being shorter than it would be to obtain their master’s degree and then a separate Ph.D. You should only take this route if you’re very sure that you want to get your Ph.D., though, as it requires a significant amount of time and money.
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Is a Ph.D. above a master’s?
Yes, a Ph.D. is above a master’s. A Ph.D. is the highest level of academic study, and a master’s degree is the second highest. Both are higher than a bachelor’s degree.
There are some master’s degrees, however, that are terminal degrees, which means there isn’t a higher degree than a master’s degree in that area of study. One example of this is a Master of Fine Arts (MFA). Because it’s a terminal degree, it’s considered similar to a Ph.D. in that field.
This is because a Ph.D. is a terminal degree in other fields of study and designates someone who has obtained the highest level of education possible in that field.
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What are the four types of degrees?
The four types of degrees are associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral. An associate’s degree typically takes about two years to earn and focuses on general education with a few specialized classes. These degrees are designed to prepare graduates to enter the workforce.
A bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years to complete and includes both general education and about two years of classes in the student’s chosen field. Typically, bachelor’s degree holders are eligible for careers in virtually any area, as well as many managerial and mid-level positions.
A master’s degree typically takes about two years to complete and includes both classwork and research in the student’s chosen field of study. Many students earn their master’s degrees because they want to take on an administrative or managerial role in the future.
A doctoral degree (which includes Ph.D.s) is a terminal degree for most fields, which means it’s the highest degree someone can obtain in that area. These degrees take between three and seven years to earn, and they focus mainly on research, although they have some classwork as well.
People who want to conduct research or work in academia often earn their doctoral degrees.
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Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.
