What is a Graduate Degree?

There are two Categories of graduate degrees, both of which follow a basic degree, usually referred to as a Bachelor’s degree. These are a Master’s degree and a Doctorate degree.

Master’s Degree- Master’s degrees can be academic or professional. This field of academia continues to see growth with new areas of study developing all the time. One of the most well known Professional degrees is a Master of Business Administration (MBA). These degrees are designed for employment or advancement within a given field. Academic degrees, such as a Master of Arts or of Science, are designed for intellectual growth. A prerequisute to admission into a master's program usually requires holding a Bachelor's degree. Entry to a doctoral program often requires a master's degree. In some fields or graduate programs, work on a doctorate begins immediately after the bachelor's degree.
Doctorate Degree- A doctorate is an academic qualification of the highest level. It can be professional or academic. Professional doctoral degrees, such as a Doctor of Medicine or Psychology have a strong emphasis on application of skills, while academic doctoral degrees such as Doctor of Literature or Philosophy focus more on equipping students with the ability to advance knowledge in a particular field, through research and theory.

Master's degrees take one to three years to complete while Doctorates may require three to six years.

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