There are two major types of graduate degrees--the master's degree and the doctoral degree. Both degree programs involve a combination of research and coursework. At this level of the education system in the U.S., there is a greater depth of training, with increased specialization and intensity of instruction. Study and learning are more self-directed and at the graduate level than at the undergraduate level. Maturity and discipline is a must in order to survive graduate school in the U.S.
The master's degree is designed to provide additional education or training in the student's specialized branch of knowledge. Master's degrees are offered in many different fields, and there are two main types of programs: academic and professional.
Academic Masters: The masters of arts (M.A) and master of science (M.S.) degrees are usually awarded in the traditional arts, sciences, and humanities disciplines. The M.S. is also awarded in technical fields such as engineering and agriculture. These programs usually require the completion of between 30 and 60 credit hours and could reasonably be completed in one or two academic years of full-time study and may lead directly to the doctoral level.
Many masters programs offer a thesis and a non-thesis option. If you opted for the non-thesis option, you will be required to take extra coursework and will have to pass a comprehensive examination that is an oral exam covering both coursework and thesis.
These degree programs are designed to lead the student from the first degree to a particular profession. Professional master's degrees are most often "terminal" master's programs, meaning that they do not lead to doctoral programs. Such master's degrees are often designated by specific descriptive titles, such as master of business administration (M.B.A.), masters of social work (M.S.W.), master of education (M.Ed.), etc. These types of degrees are oriented more toward direct application of knowledge than toward original research and usually require a completion of between 36 and 48 units (one to two years of full-time study), and usually do not offer a thesis option.
If you plan to continue your education toward a doctoral degree, make sure the program you get into is not "terminal" because courses taken in these programs are usually not transferrable toward a doctoral degree.
The doctoral degree is designed to train research scholars and, in many cases, future college and university faculty members. Receipt of a doctoral degree certifies that the student has demonstrated capacity as a trained research scholar in a specific discipline.
At this level, the Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy) is the most common degree awarded in academic discipline. Other doctoral degrees are awarded primarily in professional fields, such as education (Ed.D. or doctor education) and business administration (D.B.A. or doctor of business administration). Doctoral programs involve advanced coursework, seminars, and the writing of a dissertation that describes the student's own original research, completed under the supervision of a faculty adviser.
A comprehensive examination is given, usually after three to five years of study and completion of all coursework, adn when the student and adviser agree that the student is ready. This exam is designed to test the student's ability to use knowledge gained through courses and independent study in a creative and original way. Successful completion of of this examination marks the end of the student's coursework and the beginning of concentration on research.
The Ph.D. degree is awarded to those students who complete an original piece of significant research, write a dissertation describing that research, and successfully defend their work before a panel of faculty members who specialize in the discipline. This may take an additional two to three years. To earn a doctoral degree, therefore, may take anywhere from five to eight years beyond the bachelor's degree, depending on the field of study.
The main requirements for admission to educational institutions in the United States are:
1) a strong academic background - a bachelor's degree with a grade of at least a "B"
2) english proficiency (TOEFL) - most institutions require between 213 - 250
3) scores on standardized tests - GRE, GMAT MAT
4) adequate financial resources - most educational institutions require that you have enough money for at least a school year.