A credit hour Master of Science in Accounting program, for example, can be completed as quickly as seven months, while a credit hour Master of Business Administration program will take at least two years, depending on your enrollment status and the number of courses you take each semester.
Particular program requirements can also extend the length of your graduate education. Programs that require a thesis, lab work, or independent research typically take more time to complete than programs without these types of requirements. Keep in mind, the more classes you take per semester, the more quickly you will finish.
Completing one class at a time allows students to better manage the time demands of work, family, and other commitments. When deciding between full-time and part-time, remember that taking courses part-time will significantly increase the overall time it will take to complete your degree. Northeastern graduate programs, for example, define full-time students as individuals enrolled in at least nine and up to 16 credit hours per quarter.
Fortunately, many colleges and universities now offer a variety of online or hybrid learning options. Some are designed to lead to a doctoral degree while others are the "terminal" degree for a profession e. For full-time students, completing a master's degree usually takes 2 years. Doctoral degrees are the highest degrees possible. They usually require the creation of new knowledge via independent research.
Including the time it takes to write and defend a dissertation, this degree may take anywhere from years to complete. Whether you want to learn data analysis , public health , cloud computing , or something else entirely, online learning platforms like Coursera make it easy to learn from top experts from the comfort of your home and at your own pace. With a professional certificate , you gain focused training for a specific career. By earning one of these designations, you can show potential employers that you have the skills necessary to perform a specific job.
After completing this program, I got the chance to interview and landed a job as an IT Support Specialist! Some programs geared toward those just starting out in a new field require no specific experience. Others help you build on your current skill set to advance in a field or work toward an industry-recognized certification.
These certificates tend to take months rather than years to complete. Here are a few to consider:. Google Data Analytics. Facebook Social Media Marketing. Google IT Support. IBM Data Engineering. Google UX Design. Applicants to graduate programs must typically submit undergraduate transcripts, test scores, an application essay, and letters of recommendation. Most schools also require an application fee, though many programs offer waivers for low-income students.
Application timelines vary among schools and programs. Schools with rolling application deadlines may offer a decision within a few weeks, while some institutions require several months.
Most master's programs require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school. The applicant's undergraduate degree may or may not need to be in the same field as the graduate program.
Many schools maintain GPA requirements, though others evaluate applications holistically and do not require a minimum GPA. These tests assess skills in verbal and quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing. Applicants must often submit an essay and letters of recommendation. Essay topics often focus on the applicant's professional and academic goals.
Letters of recommendation usually come from former teachers or supervisors who can speak to the student's preparedness for graduate studies.
Both master's and doctoral programs help learners develop high-level knowledge and skills in a specialized field of study. Master's programs usually require years and prepare learners for a specific career path, such as business or nursing. Doctoral programs last years and require more intensive study and significant original research. Doctoral degree-holders often pursue careers in research or academia.
For careers in many fields, such as business, a master's is the highest required level of education. However, research-focused positions in fields such as math, science, and psychology may require a doctorate. Learners often transfer credits from a master's program directly into a doctoral program. In academic fields, such as history and philosophy, doctoral programs commonly require applicants to hold a master's degree.
Students can pursue a master's degree in nearly any professional or academic field. However, the most popular master's degrees focus on common career fields including business, education, and healthcare. This section outlines three of the most common master's degrees, highlighting typical curriculum requirements and career outcomes.
The most popular graduate degree in the United States, the MBA is the industry standard for business education.
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