A Master's Degree is, typically, the next step in the degree process after one has earned a Bachelor's Degree. It usually takes around two years to earn this degree, after a Bachelor's Degree has been obtained, and provides a higher qualification for employment along with the preparation necessary for later doctoral studies. In general, coursework for this degree can be either classroom or research-based, though, more often than not, it is a combination of the two. While admission to a Master's Degree program normally requires someone to have already earned a Bachelor's Degree, in some cases, relevant work experience may qualify a potential candidate.
• Master of Arts - In general, students pursuing this degree are studying subjects in the Fine Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, or Theology.
• Master of Science - This degree is typically awarded to students studying the sciences and, occasionally, the social sciences.
• Master of Education - Used by education professionals to progress in their field. Specific categories of this degree include Counselor Education, Educational Administration, Adult Education, and Academic Enrichment.
• Master of Divinity - In many Christian denominations, and a few other religions, this degree is a standard requirement for ordination ot the priesthood, pastorship, or other appointments.
• Master of Business Administration (MBA) - This is one of the most popular of the Master's Degrees available. After the first year, in which a wide breadth of courses are usually covered, students attempting to obtain this degree generall concentrate on a specific area, such as accounting, human resources, corporate strategy, or marketing.
• Master of Health Administration - This degree provides training in health policy, economics, and project and program implementation. It is designed to give students of health disciplines a greater understanding of management issues as well as preparing them for senior management roles later in life.
• Master of Public Administration - Students studying for this degree learn about public policy as well as project and program implementation. It can focus on local, state/provincial, national/federal, and supranational levels, as well as in the nonprofit sector.
• Master of Engineering - This degree program is usually takes two-years to complete and is offered as a coursweork-based alternative to the more traditional research-based Master of Science Degree.
