A postgraduate (or simply graduate) degree is any degree beyond a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚. Learn more about types of postgraduate degrees and whether earning one could impact your career.
Postgraduate degrees are also often simply called 鈥済raduate degrees,鈥 a term used to describe master鈥檚, professional, and doctoral degrees. According to information from the US Census Bureau, 14 percent of US adults ages 25 and older hold a postgraduate degree as of 2022 [闭.听
Getting a postgraduate degree may open new career opportunities or increase your earning potential. Learn more about postgrad degrees, including the different types available and what you can do with one.听
The term 鈥減ostgraduate degree鈥 covers everything from postgraduate diplomas to master鈥檚 degrees to doctoral degrees. Essentially, any degree that requires an undergraduate (产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚) degree as an admissions prerequisite is a postgraduate degree. You might choose to pursue a postgraduate degree for a variety of reasons, including to change career paths, specialize in a highly technical field, or move into a career in research or education.听
While these can sound like two entirely different terms, they are interchangeable. Both refer to degrees that come after a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree, including master鈥檚 degrees and PhDs.听
Pursuing a postgraduate degree can help you gain specialized knowledge, demonstrate your dedication to your field, and even boost your networking capabilities. Postgraduate degrees fall into three main categories: master鈥檚, professional, and doctoral. Explore your degree options.
For many students, a master鈥檚 degree is typically the next degree pursued after earning a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree. Depending on the university and field of study, you might earn a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Science (MS). You might also find more specialized master鈥檚 degrees. Popular options include:聽
Master of Business Administration (MBA): Business was the most common field of study for master鈥檚 degrees conferred in the 2021 to 2022 school year, according to the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics []. Earning an MBA could be useful if you want to work in sales, finance, marketing, accounting, or supply chain management.
Master of Public Health (MPH): Many MPH programs focus on approaches to building healthier communities through public policy. Depending on the program you choose, you may be able to specialize in areas like epidemiology, occupational health, global health, health data analysis, or nutrition.听
Master of Social Work (MSW): If you鈥檙e interested in a career as a licensed social worker, you鈥檒l first need to earn an MSW degree from an accredited program. Some programs focus on clinical social work鈥攚orking directly with clients鈥攚hile others focus on social work as it relates to community organizing or advocacy.听
Master of Fine Arts (MFA): Many artistic media fall into this category. Earning an MFA might mean undergoing an in-depth study of creative writing, painting, sculpture, photography, or theater.听
Professional degrees are master鈥檚 or doctoral programs designed to help you prepare for specific career fields. Common examples include master鈥檚 degrees like the Master of Architecture (MArch), as well as doctorate degrees like the Doctor of Medicine (MD), Juris Doctor (JD), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), or Doctor of Dental Science (DDS).
Doctoral degree programs are the highest academic degree you can earn. Common examples include PhDs and professional doctorates such as Doctor of Education or Doctor of Nursing.
Universities sometimes award postgraduate diplomas or certificates (also called graduate certificates) as a shorter alternative to master鈥檚 degrees. Both can demonstrate to potential employers that you鈥檝e gained advanced skills in a specific area of study, which could make you a more competitive job candidate.
One of the biggest requirements for admission to a postgraduate degree program is already having a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree, with a few exceptions. For example, a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree/Juris Doctor (law degree) accelerated program may allow you to apply and enroll in law school before completing your undergraduate requirements.听
The typical prerequisites for advanced degree program admissions vary depending on the type of degree you鈥檙e seeking. Consider the following:聽
For a master鈥檚 degree, you鈥檒l need to graduate from an accredited college or university. You may also need to take the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), provide an academic writing sample and letters of recommendation, and write a personal statement.
For a professional degree, you typically need to provide your transcripts, take a standardized admissions test like the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), provide letters of recommendation, and write a personal statement.听
For a doctoral degree, you鈥檒l need a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree and a master鈥檚 degree from an accredited educational institution. You鈥檒l also need to submit references or a letter of recommendation and a personal essay in addition to meeting minimum GPA requirements.
The amount of time it might take you to earn your postgraduate degree can vary widely depending on a variety of factors. The first consideration is the type of degree you鈥檙e pursuing. The average amount of time for earning a master鈥檚 degree is 1.5 to two years, while the average time it takes to earn a doctoral degree is anywhere from four to six years. Postgraduate diplomas and certificates can take as little as a year to complete.
The type of advanced degree isn鈥檛 the only factor that can affect how long it takes to earn a postgraduate degree. Other notable factors include:聽
Whether you attend full-time or part-time
Whether you decide to take time off to gain professional experience or to earn additional money to continue your schooling
Whether you pursue online courses or additional courses between semesters, which may help you graduate faster
Whether you have access to an accelerated degree program or an opportunity to earn micro-credentials, which allow you to earn certificates that you can stack toward your advanced degree
Whether you鈥檝e got ample support from academic advisors and mentors, which can help you complete your schooling faster, particularly in PhD programs
If you鈥檙e wondering if getting a postgraduate degree is right for you, it helps to ask yourself a few questions. No one right approach to a postgraduate education exists because it depends on so many factors, most of which are specific to your personal situation. Pursuing a postgraduate degree requires you to make a significant investment of time and money. To evaluate if it might be worth it for you, consider these four questions:
Does it fit your career goals? Not every job and role requires an advanced degree. More importantly, if you鈥檙e considering a career that does require one, will you be happy with the day-to-day activities, responsibilities, and hours? Take some time to shadow professionals or conduct an informational interview to get a solid feeling for the role you鈥檙e considering and to make sure you鈥檙e choosing a career that will be fulfilling.
What鈥檚 the earning potential? Graduate school may require you to take out significant loans. To decide if it鈥檚 worth paying for, consider whether you鈥檒l ultimately be earning enough once you鈥檙e working to make that debt worth it. Research average starting salaries and job opportunities to inform your choice.
Will it increase your networking opportunities? By enrolling in a postgraduate program, you can sharpen the necessary skills in your field of study with practical experience. Additionally, the relationships you create with key industry professionals could help you throughout the rest of your career.
Are there alternatives that might be a better fit? While a postgraduate degree might be the right choice for one person, a professional certification or online course might be a better option for someone else. Look at some job descriptions on sites like LinkedIn to see the common requirements for the jobs you鈥檙e interested in, and let that guide your decision on where to invest your time and effort.
Many advanced degrees open the door to possibly earning higher salaries, but just as the job outlook varies from job to job, so does your earning potential. Research from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that earnings are highest among people with a master鈥檚 degree, professional degree, or doctoral degree [闭.听
According to that data, if you have a 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 degree, you can expect to earn a median weekly salary of $1,493. With a master鈥檚 degree, that increases to $1,737. Doctoral degrees and professional degrees are close in earning potential: If you have a doctoral degree, the median weekly earnings amount to $2,109, while with a professional degree, the median weekly earnings amount to $2,206 [].
A postgraduate degree can increase your earning potential and expand your career opportunities. As you consider the types of postgraduate degrees you might pursue, browse degrees from top universities available on 糖心vlog官网观看, including 产补肠丑别濒辞谤鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees as well as graduate certificates and diplomas in fields like computer science, machine learning, data analytics, and strategic leadership and management.
United States Census Bureau. 鈥, https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/educational-attainment-data.html.鈥 Accessed December 13, 2024.
National Center for Education Statistics. 鈥, https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_323.10.asp?current=yes.鈥 Accessed December 13, 2024.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 鈥, https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2024/data-on-display/education-pays.htm.鈥 Accessed December 13, 2024.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.