Incumbent graduate school students have a number of degrees to select from. Popular choices are the masters degree and doctoral degree. What makes these two degrees different from each other though?
Many students can attest to the fact that graduate school, either masters and doctoral, requires a very large commitment when it comes to work, time and energy. Often, a graduate degree can be too much for some. This is the case particularly for those who study and work simultaneously.
If you are planning to get a raise, a master degree may be a better choice since they are more career-oriented. Anyone hoping for a research-rich career would do better with a doctoral degree though. It is basically a mandatory requirement for professors to have a PhD.
Masters degrees are superior to bachelor's degrees though. Knowledge and expertise are increased through this program by people who have been in their jobs for a while. It is incorrect to think that a masters is required before a doctorate can be pursued.
The ability of doctoral degrees to create knowledge is an often undervalued component of these degrees. Doctoral degrees have a requirement for original research that allows individuals to contribute new knowledge to the field. It is the excitement at being able to contribute to the wealth of information in the field of study that draws many to the doctoral degree.
It takes notably longer to complete a doctorate than it does for a master. A full-time masters degree can be completed in two years. A doctorate degree takes much longer.
It is a little more costly to get a PhD simply because they take longer to finish before graduation. On the up side, doctorate degrees result in a better salary package at the end of the day. With these kind of benefits, students prefer the doctorate degree in terms of planning for the long term.
An important difference is the financial aid options available for these graduate programs. There is less aid for the masters degree program. PhD programs, however, may receive full scholarships with an attractive income.
However, one of the best things that both degrees offer is the ability of the student to focus on subject areas that interest him the most. While graduate school work is quite a lot, it is fun because it involves a subject of interest to the student. Perseverance then almost comes naturally.
There are fewer PhD programs than there are masters degree programs online. The bottom line is that if you really enjoy learning then a doctoral degree is definitely for you. But if you are looking for a promotion or expertise for potential career growth, a masters degree will definitely be the better choice.
