Posted by Meredith King on December 2, 2021 Show
You might wonder whether to pursue a master’s degree. What can you do with it? Not only is there the satisfaction of gaining additional knowledge, skills and credibility, but you also may become more financially secure. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), people with master’s degrees earn $240 more per week than those with bachelor’s degrees, and $607 more per week than those with associate’s degrees. They have lower unemployment as well: 4.1 percent for master’s-degree holders versus 5.5 percent (bachelor’s) and 7.1 percent (associate’s). Even more, jobs requiring a master’s degree are projected to grow the fastest — by almost 17 percent from 2016 to 2026, the fastest of any education level, the BLS notes. Master’s: The Degree of Choice for Advanced StudyMost people who attend graduate school end up graduating with master’s degrees. In 2019-20 academic year, of the 659,834 graduate degrees and certificates awarded, 80 percent were master’s degrees, according to the Council of Graduate Studies (CGS) and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Board. Of the more than 1.7 million students currently enrolled in graduate school in the United States, 72.9 percent are pursuing master’s degrees or graduate certificates. Sydnee Viray, M.Ed., director of admissions and enrollment management at the University of Vermont, has watched this increased interest in master’s-level programs not only in her current role with the university’s Graduate College but also previously as a counselor in the UVM Career Center. “Many fields are seeing the need for master’s-level studies at some point in the career progression,” Viray says. “If someone wants to advance, the master’s degree is used as a tool to highlight. We’re even hearing anecdotally that some entry-level positions are requiring master’s degrees.” For instance, in past years, some K-12 school districts would cut salary costs by hiring only graduates with a bachelor’s degree, she explains. Down the road, those districts would pay teachers to obtain their master’s degrees. Now, many districts want teachers with a Master of Education (M.Ed.). This serves two purposes: It ensures teachers have master-level knowledge right out of the gate. And it also places the additional tuition burden on the teacher, not the district. Master’s Degrees As a Requirement for Professional TrainingWhen Mary Beth Barritt, assistant director of the UVM Career Center, talks to undergraduate students and alumni who are considering returning to school, especially those focused on working in industry and not academia, she describes two types of master’s degree programs. “One is professional training, where you need specific training to enter that profession,” Barritt says. “To be a physician’s assistant, you need that degree; to be an occupational therapist, you need that degree; to be a counselor, you need a master’s degree of some type, whether it’s psychology or an M.S.W. (master’s degree in social work).” The BLS lists other professions requiring a master’s degree upon entry to the field, including:
Master’s Degrees As a Tool to Make You More MarketableThe other type of master’s program, Barritt says, “is where you will get a better job in a field because you have the additional study of a master’s.” Examples, she says, include:
In addition a master’s can make you more appealing in the fields of:
Trends in Master’s-Level ProgramsViray sees a number of trends in master’s-level programs. In academia, including at UVM, programs are becoming more interdisciplinary. Of course, this was always the case; for instance, a biology major studied chemistry and the environment. But now the walls are coming down, and there are more degree programs that straddle several disciplinary areas. She sees this trend across the board in:
Another trend is the increase in online education, allowing professionals to work on master’s degrees while still working in the field. Over 43 percent of graduate students in the United States attend part time, according to the CGS-GRE survey. When looking at master’s only public colleges and universities, 60.3% of graduate students were enrolled part-time in the fall of 2020. The three largest broad fields of study – education, business, and health sciences – were also the fields with the largest proportions of part-time graduate students. This flexibility, coupled with more professions requiring advanced study, has led to an increase in the number of Americans holding master’s degrees, according to Viray. The Master’s of Public Health program at UVM experienced a surge of interest as the pandemic highlighted the importance of epidemiology and biostatistics. Above, Jan K. Carney, MD, MPH, MACP. Associate Dean for Public Health and Health Policy at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, talks about what public health means. Which Master’s Degrees are Experiencing Growth?The CGS/GRE survey also reported the percent change in enrollment in master’s-level programs by broad field from 2019 to 2020. Enrollment is growing in the following fields: Biological and Agricultural Sciences, +8.7% Most master’s-level programs take one year of intensive study or two to five years, depending on how much you need to balance work, school, and other responsibilities – and how much time your college allows you for degree completion. With the time and money it takes to pursue a graduate program, you need to be ready for the commitment. “Some good reasons for attending graduate school would be if you are thinking about a profession that requires it,” Barritt explains, “or a profession where it’s advantageous to obtain additional schooling to give you a deeper skillset and make you a better job candidate.” Explore Master’s Programs at UVMEditor’s note: this post was originally published in 2014 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy. What can you get Master degrees in?What are the types of master's degrees by subject/coursework type?. Master of Arts (MA) ... . Master of Science (MS, MSc) ... . Master of Research (MRes) ... . Master by Research (MPhil) ... . Master of Studies (MSt) ... . Master of Business Administration (MBA) ... . Master of Library Science (MLS, MLIS, MSLS) ... . Master of Public Administration (MPA). What is the easiest thing to get a masters in?Easiest Online Masters Degree Programs. Business Administration.. Communications.. Criminal Justice.. Education & Teaching.. Educational Leadership.. Healthcare Administration.. Human Resources.. Human Services.. What masters degree is hardest?What are the hardest degree subjects? The hardest degree subjects are Chemistry, Medicine, Architecture, Physics, Biomedical Science, Law, Neuroscience, Fine Arts, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Economics, Education, Computer Science and Philosophy.
What title do you get with a masters?Master's degree – Level 7
Master's degrees come with titles such as Master of Arts – MA, Master of Science – MSc, Master of Engineering – MEng, Master of Research – MRes and Master of Laws – LLM.
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