General Education Degree

"The following information discusses Master's Degrees in general. Not all schools will offer all of the different types of master's degrees. Please use the navigation menu and click on the link of the school in order to see which specific programs they have."

General Information

A master's degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate or graduate course of one to three years in duration. In the United Kingdom it is sometimes awarded for an undergraduate course whose final year consists of higher-level courses and a major research project. In the recent standardized European system of higher education diplomas, it corresponds to a two-year graduate program to be entered after three years of undergraduate studies and in preparation for either high-qualification employment or for doctoral studies.

Types of Masters Degrees

MA, MS

The Master of Arts (Magister Artium) and Master of Science (Magister Scientiae) degrees are the basic type in most subjects and may be entirely course-based, entirely research-based or a mixture. The master's degree is intermediate between a bachelor's degree and a doctorate. In some fields or graduate programs, one customarily earns a master's before a doctorate; in others, work on a doctorate begins immediately after the bachelor's degree. Some programs provide for a joint bachelor's and master's degree after about five years.

Professional Masters Degrees

Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Public Administration (MPA), are professional degrees focusing in management for the private and public sector.

MASc, MEng

The Master of Engineering degree is awarded to students who have done graduate work at the masters level in the field of engineering. While in the United States, candidates in engineering are typically awarded MS degrees, in the U.K. and Canada, they are generally given MSc or MEng degrees.

MEd

Master of Education degrees are similar to MA, MS, and MSc where the subject studied is education.

In the United States some states license teachers with a bachelor's degree but require a master's within a set number of years as continuing education.

MAT

Coursework and practica leading to a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is intended to prepare individuals for a teaching career in a specific subject of middle and/or secondary-level curricula (i.e., middle or high school). The MAT differs from the MEd degree in that the course requirements are dominated by classes in the subject area to be taught (e.g., foreign language, math, science, etc.) rather than educational theory. Work toward most MAT degrees will, however, necessarily include classes on educational theory in order to meet program and state requirements. Work toward the MAT degree may also include practica (i.e., student teaching).

MFA

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a two to three year terminal degree in a creative field of study such as theatre arts, creative writing, filmmaking or studio art.

MPhil and MRes

A Master of Philosophy or Magister Philosophiae (MPhil) is a research degree awarded for the completion of a thesis. It is a shorter version of the Ph.D. and some universities routinely enter potential PhD students into the MPhil programme and allow them to upgrade to the full PhD programme a year or two into the course. The Master of Research degree is a more structured and organised version of the MPhil, usually designed to prepare a student for a career in research. For example, an MRes may combine individual research with periods of work placement in research establisments.

Featured Programs [5]

Master of Arts in Teaching

University of Saint Mary The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree program, developed in cooperation with Pearson Achievement Solutions, combines the traditions and the rigorous standards of University of Saint Mary with the most effective tools in quality distance learning. This program is designed to meet the needs and demands of classroom practitioners by linking theory to best practices in the classroom.

The...

Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning

Kaplan University The Kaplan University online Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning degree offers a professional development opportunity for practicing K-12 teachers and other educators seeking to enhance their classroom performance. Degree candidates will read, analyze, and critique both historical and current educational research studies to prepare them to assume the role of instructional leaders dedicated to...

Master of Education (Iowa)

Kaplan University The Kaplan University online Master of Education program is expected to start in 2005. The curriculum prepares degree candidates to become qualified teachers at the K-12 level.

The program is designed to help you become proficient in nine program competencies, which are based upon national and state professional standards for beginning teachers. Each course requires you to gain knowledge and...

Ph.D. in Education / Self-Designed

Walden University Educators who are interested in pursuing an area that is not among the specializations currently offered may develop their own specialization with the approval of the faculty chair. Current students have developed self-designed specializations in curriculum areas, such as math education, science education, art or music education, and literacy, as well as in discipline areas, such as English...

Education

Central Washington University's Department of Education is dedicated to equipping graduates with the tools necessary to take on any number of positions in the current diverse educational field. The program provides comprehensive academic road-map which facilitates the growth of today's students into tomorrow's educational leaders.