What is Graduate Education?

A graduate program involves specialized knowledge and concentrated study in one area. In this respect it differs from undergraduate study, which introduces you to a wide range of subjects, even though you major in one, and gives you certain general intellectual skills—reading critically, writing clearly, and arguing persuasively.

A graduate program is generally more focused on a specific area of interest and on acquiring specialized skills to practice a profession or do advanced research. However, it does not merely entail an additional number of courses. It requires active participation in research. Frequently internships to practice professional skills are part of the curriculum.

There are two kinds of graduate degrees, professional degrees and research degrees, and two levels, master's and doctoral.

At the master's level, a professional degree gives you a specific set of skills needed to practice a particular profession. It is generally a final degree. The research master's provides experience in research and scholarship, and it may be a final degree or a step toward a doctorate.

The professional master's degree may be in education, business, engineering, or some other area of professional activity. It will prepare you for a career in a particular area or will allow you to enhance your skills in your existing career. The master's degree in a research area can do the same, depending on your career aspirations and the area of the degree. It involves less commitment of time and money than does a doctorate, but it can lead to a career with greater responsibility and better pay than you might be able to have with a baccalaureate degree alone.

The master's degree usually takes one or two years of study. The professional master's degree often involves some type of internship or fieldwork. The research degree may involve writing a thesis or taking a comprehensive examination.

At the doctoral level there are also professional degrees and research degrees. The most common professional degrees are the M.D. for medical practice or the J.D. for law. These degrees are highly specialized, and more detailed information can be obtained by getting information from the Association of American Medical Colleges, http://www.aamc.org, or the Association of American Law Schools http://www.aals.org.

Source: Graduate School and You: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students - published by Council of Graduate Schools, 1999.