The
two graduate degrees offered in the United States
are the master's degree and the doctoral degree;
both involve a combination of research and coursework.
Graduate education differs from undergraduate
education in that it offers a greater depth of
training, with increased specialization and intensity
of instruction. Study and learning are more self-directed
at the graduate level than at the undergraduate
level.
Graduate courses assume that students are
well-prepared in the basic elements of their field
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study. Depending on the subject, courses may be quite
formal, consisting primarily of lecture presentations
by faculty members, or they may be relatively informal,
placing emphasis on discussion and exchange of ideas
among faculty and students. Seminars involve smaller
groups of students than lecture courses, and students
may be required to make presentations as well as participate
in discussions. Class participation, research papers,
and examinations are all important.
Degree requirements are stated in terms of "credits"
(sometimes called "units" or "hours"),
and each course usually earns three or four credits,
generally reflecting the number of hours spent in the
classroom and the amount of other work involved. A student
will usually accumulate 24 credits per academic year
if the university operates on a traditional two-semester
system.
Master's Degrees
The master's degree is designed to provide additional
education or training in the student's specialized branch
of knowledge, well beyond the level of baccalaureate
study. Master's degrees are offered in many different
fields, and there are two main types of programs: academic
and professional.
Academic Master's: The master 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. Original research, research
methodology, and field investigation are emphasized.
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. They
may lead directly to the doctoral level. (See "Important
Difference" below.)
Many master's programs offer a thesis and a non-thesis
option. The degree is the same in both cases, but
the academic requirements are slightly different.
Students in non-thesis programs usually take more
coursework in place of researching and writing a thesis,
and they take a written comprehensive examination
after all coursework is completed. Students in degree
programs that include a thesis component generally
take a comprehensive examination that is an oral exam
covering both coursework and their thesis.
Professional Master's: 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.), master of social
work (M.S.W.), master of education (M.Ed.), or master
of fine arts (M.F.A.). Other subjects of professional
master's programs include journalism, international
relations, architecture, and urban planning. Professional
master's degrees are oriented more toward direct application
of knowledge than toward original research. They are
more structured than academic degree programs, and
often require that every student take a similar or
identical program of study that lasts from one to
three years, depending on the institution and the
field of study.
Professional degree programs usually require completion
of between 36 and 48 units (one to two years of full-time
study), and usually do not offer a thesis option.
They do not always require that the bachelor's degree
be in a specific field, but they may recommend a certain
amount of prior study or coursework in the subject
area.
Important Difference: One main difference between
master's programs is whether or not they are designed
for students who intend to continue toward a doctoral
degree. Those that specifically do not lead into doctoral
programs are known as terminal master's programs.
Most professional master's degrees fall under this
category. Credits earned in terminal master's programs
may or may not be transferable or applicable in case
you decide to continue toward a doctoral degree later
on.
Some institutions restrict admission to certain departments
solely to potential doctoral candidates, although
they may award a terminal master's degree to students
who complete a certain level of coursework but do
not go on to their doctoral work. Other departments
require a master's degree as part of the requirements
for admission to their doctoral program.
Since policies vary from institution to institution
and within various departments of each institution,
it is best to check directly with individual graduate
departments to determine the structure and admissions
policies for their master's and doctoral candidates.
Doctoral Degrees
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 the doctoral level, the Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy)
is the most common degree awarded in academic disciplines.
Other doctoral degrees are awarded primarily in professional
fields, such as education (Ed.D. or doctor of 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, and 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. Students must demonstrate a comprehensive
understanding of their chosen field of study. Successful
completion 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.
In the U.S, you will find a variety of nontraditional
doctoral programs; these programs might have very
different types of requirements from the traditional
programs. Prospective students should be sure of what
is required to enter any program they are considering,
and what is required to obtain the degree. This information
is usually available from university catalogs and
Web sites or directly from individual departments.
Who is eligible
Any one who has:
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A consistently good academic record |
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Sufficient financial support |
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Proficiency in English |
For admission into graduate study (Masters / Doctorate
degrees) you must have completed 16 years of formal
education. Most bachelors programs in Pakistan
(with the exception of programs such as engineering,
architecture etc.) are of two or three year's
duration.
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