Master's degree

A master's degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate or graduate course of one to three years in duration. In the United Kingdom it is sometimes awarded for an undergraduate course whose final year consists of higher-level courses and a major research project. In the recent standardized European system of higher education diplomas, it corresponds to a two-year graduate program to be entered after three years of undergraduate studies and in preparation for either high-qualification employment or for doctoral studies.

North America

MA, MS, MSc, MSE, AM, SM

The Master of Arts (Magister Artium) and Master of Science (Magister Scientiæ) degrees are the basic type in most subjects and may be entirely course-based, entirely research-based or a mixture. The master's degree is intermediate between a bachelor's degree and a doctorate. In some fields or graduate programs, one customarily earns a master's before a doctorate; in others, work on a doctorate begins immediately after the bachelor's degree. Some programs provide for a joint bachelor's and master's degree after about five years. Some universities use the Latin degree names, and due to the flexibility of Latin word order, Artium Magister or Scientiæ Magister may be used at some schools.

Related Topics:
Bachelor's degree - Doctorate - Latin word order

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MASc, MEng

The Master of Engineering degree is awarded to students who have done graduate work at the masters level in the field of engineering. While in the United States, candidates in engineering are typically awarded MS degrees, in the U.K. and Canada, they are generally given MSc or MEng degrees. (An example of an MEng-awarding U.S. university is the University of California, Berkeley, of which the Civil & Environmental Engineering department offers both MS and MEng degrees.)

Related Topics:
Master of Engineering - Engineering - University of California, Berkeley

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In Canada, the Master of Applied Science (MASc) is awarded to master's students with a research focus (having completed work leading to a thesis), while an M.Eng. is awarded to master's students with a coursework focus.

Related Topics:
Canada - Thesis

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MPhil

In the United States and Canada, a Master of Philosophy or Magister Philosophiae (MPhil) degree is sometimes award to ABD (all but dissertation) doctoral candidates who have completed all coursework, passed their written and oral examinations, and met any other special requirements before beginning work on the doctoral dissertation.

Related Topics:
Master of Philosophy - Dissertation

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MAT

Coursework and practica leading to a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is intended to prepare individuals for a teaching career in a specific subject of middle and/or secondary-level curricula (i.e., middle or high school). The MAT differs from the MEd degree in that the course requirements are dominated by classes in the subject area to be taught (e.g., foreign language, math, science, etc.) rather than educational theory. Work toward most MAT degrees will, however, necessarily include classes on educational theory in order to meet program and state requirements. Work toward the MAT degree may also include practica (i.e., student teaching).

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Professional Degree

Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Public Administration (MPA), are professional degrees focusing in management for the private and public sector.

Related Topics:
Master of Business Administration - Master of Public Administration - Professional degrees

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The Master of Social Work (MSW) is a semi-professional degree preparing students to become social workers.

Related Topics:
Master of Social Work - Social workers

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MEd

Master of Education degrees are similar to MA, MS, and MSc where the subject studied is education.

Related Topics:
Master of Education - Education

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In the United States some states license teachers with a bachelor's degree but require a master's within a set number of years as continuing education.

Related Topics:
United States - Teacher

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MFA

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a two to three year terminal degree in a creative field of study such as theatre arts, creative writing, filmmaking or studio art.

Related Topics:
Master of Fine Arts - Theatre arts - Creative writing - Filmmaking - Studio art

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MLA, MLS

The Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) and Master of Liberal Studies (MLS) are interdisciplinary degrees, awarded in a variety of subjects, usually following the completion of master's thesis or capstone project. They are often undertaken for personal enrichment.

Related Topics:
Master of Liberal Arts - Master of Liberal Studies

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MLS, MSIS

A Master of Library Science (MLS) degree is the culmination of an interdisciplinary program encompassing information science, information management, librarianship, and/or related topics. Modern variants include Master of Information Studies (MSIS), Master of Librarianship, Master of Library and Information Studies, et al.

Related Topics:
Library Science - Information science - Information management - Librarian

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