What Does It Take to Be a Masters Degree Holder?

After graduation, a lot of university graduates aim at boosting their academic and professional qualifications. They start to search for better opportunities in their desired career. Whether it’s related to the same undergraduate major or not, the first academic step taken is to study a masters degree.

Additionally, it is subject to priorities each graduate puts for the sake of higher endeavor and more quality of life. Several questions need to be answered to make sure that you are ready for a master’s degree.

On either professional or academic level, making a checklist responding to these questions would help greatly in making the decision:

What is a master’s degree? Is it worth time, money, and effort? What are the benefits of earning it? What are the types, learning styles, and duration of this degree? And last but not least what are the requirements needed to study a master’s degree? Setting the answers as measurable objectives would save time and effort later on.

Read More: Reason why you should study a Master’s Degree in Germany in 2023

What is a Master’s Degree?

A master’s degree is a graduate program that provides coursework, and sometimes an internship, in a particular field. It follows the level of undergraduate study after obtaining a bachelor’s degree. In addition, it is considered one of 4 types of degrees and the third highest in the hierarchical order of the university education:

1. 1. Associate
   2. Bachelor’s
   3. Master’s
   4. Doctoral

Read More: What is a Pre-Master’s program in Germany in 2023?

Is a master’s degree worth the time, money, and effort?

To answer this question, you should prioritize your career goals; a typical cliche question that would be asked in this situation is “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” if you see yourself in a profession that does not require a master’s degree from the junior level, but would increase the upward mobility within the corporate, then you want to pursue a masters in your industry along with your career development.

For instance to study a master’s degree in business, engineering, or education. Other professions require a master’s degree from the very beginning, like academia for example. In either case, they should best align one’s goals.

The element of commitment should be taken into consideration; time, money, and study effort are highly needed and required to achieve this goal, whether it takes one year or three, to pursue a master’s degree. Accordingly, earning potential will be a big factor in determining the value of the degree. 

The benefits of being a master’s degree holder

Despite the tightness due to committing to the master’s program, you would come out with remarkable benefits academically and professionally. Here is what to expect once you have a master’s degree:

• The Passion for the Subject:

Sometimes passion is the key to one’s motivation! When you love education in a specific field, you are more likely to want to keep learning. Owing to the academic and rigorous setting that comes with a master’s degree, you would be offered an unparalleled path to mastering this subject.

• Practical Application: 

As practicing is required in a lot of careers, during the program enrollment, the learning process accumulates upon the theoretical knowledge of the BA to absorb a practical application of the major.

• Research Opportunities:

Most programs of the master’s degree require research as part of the curriculum. Research opportunities give you the chance to delve into a deeper level in your area of expertise; create possible undiscovered findings, offer the possibility to get published, and reinforce your critical thinking for the current understanding of your subject matter.

• Superior Job Hunting:

The odds are likely to be in your favor best! The better education you get, the better opportunity comes. If you are a master’s holder, your degree would promote your excellence, dedication, perseverance, and time management. And assuredly your resume will shine among the tons of the others and guarantee superior job hunting, thanks to your master’s degree.

• Enhanced Credibility:

Not only superior job hunting, but a master’s degree also enhances your credibility. This degree would determine you as a hard worker, also would prove your solid background on a subject matter and give insight to employers that can avail your experience.

What does it take to be a masters degree holder?

In making the decision, having a master’s degree requires a timeline for the degree path and choosing a learning method. In this way, you want to be selective, not only in selecting the program but in the desired experience aimed at the end of your learning journey.

Some programs would be traditional on-campus universities with a specific destination- like to study in Europe for instance- online programs, or hybrids that guarantee both distance study and in-person experience. Whichever the option is, affordability, accessibility, and flexibility should be taken into consideration. Hence the duration of the program varies.      

Check out each path and its anticipated duration:

• Full-time program: 

The majority of master’s degrees are in campus programs and upon a full-time basis to graduate in two years.

• Part-time program: 

Part-time programs may take about 1.5 times longer to obtain the degree than a full-time student. That is to say to join anywhere from 3 to 5 years.

• Dual-degree program:  

Sometimes named a joint program. The duration of this path can take double the amount of time to graduate than a single-focus program. The enrollment time frame is between 3 and 4 years. Interestingly, following a dual-degree path is often faster than pursuing two separate degrees and when you use your time as a student to pursue two areas of expertise. 

• Online program 

Online programs are typically on-campus ones. That means it is expected to earn the master’s degree in two years. Plenty of online master’s degrees end in less than 2 years because of the accelerated, self-paced style of this option though.

Read More: Best online MBA programs for 2023

• Accelerated program

• The accelerated master’s degree program might be the optimum option to complete the degree in 1 year. This can shorten graduate study by an entire academic year and offer specialties that don’t need clinical or hands-on work. Condensed from a two-year program into a one-year program, it requires an ability to keep up with coursework and accelerate your study pace.

What are the requirements needed to complete a master’s degree? 

To obtain a master’s degree, there are many program credits required; the number of credit hours required to complete the curriculum. As credits range by degree and institution themselves, and usually most master’s degrees entail the completion of 30 to 60 credit hours.

In addition to that, Specific program requirements can also extend the length of your graduate education. Degrees that require a thesis, lab work, or independent research typically take more time to complete than others without those types of requirements.

In summary, becoming a masters degree holder is a good idea that should be considered the next right educational step for a better future. The optimum solution before this huge step is to research your preference to learn online or in person. All about master’s degrees and more are available on UniApp. After assessing the pros and cons of each, as well as the costs and program requirements, find a degree option that fits your aspired objective. Bearing in mind the commitment needed and expected to encounter programs that may range from one year to five years. And always remember that pursuing a master’s degree would offer a great addition to your career path.