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Walden University Online Business Degree
"The following information discusses Master's Degrees in general. Not all schools will offer all of the different types of master's degrees. Please use the navigation menu and click on the link of the school in order to see which specific programs they have."
General Information
A master's degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate or graduate course of one to three years in duration. In the United Kingdom it is sometimes awarded for an undergraduate course whose final year consists of higher-level courses and a major research project. In the recent standardized European system of higher education diplomas, it corresponds to a two-year graduate program to be entered after three years of undergraduate studies and in preparation for either high-qualification employment or for doctoral studies.
Types of Masters Degrees
MA, MS
The Master of Arts (Magister Artium) and Master of Science (Magister Scientiae) degrees are the basic type in most subjects and may be entirely course-based, entirely research-based or a mixture. The master's degree is intermediate between a bachelor's degree and a doctorate. In some fields or graduate programs, one customarily earns a master's before a doctorate; in others, work on a doctorate begins immediately after the bachelor's degree. Some programs provide for a joint bachelor's and master's degree after about five years.
Professional Masters Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Public Administration (MPA), are professional degrees focusing in management for the private and public sector.
MASc, MEng
The Master of Engineering degree is awarded to students who have done graduate work at the masters level in the field of engineering. While in the United States, candidates in engineering are typically awarded MS degrees, in the U.K. and Canada, they are generally given MSc or MEng degrees.
MEd
Master of Education degrees are similar to MA, MS, and MSc where the subject studied is education.
In the United States some states license teachers with a bachelor's degree but require a master's within a set number of years as continuing education.
MAT
Coursework and practica leading to a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree is intended to prepare individuals for a teaching career in a specific subject of middle and/or secondary-level curricula (i.e., middle or high school). The MAT differs from the MEd degree in that the course requirements are dominated by classes in the subject area to be taught (e.g., foreign language, math, science, etc.) rather than educational theory. Work toward most MAT degrees will, however, necessarily include classes on educational theory in order to meet program and state requirements. Work toward the MAT degree may also include practica (i.e., student teaching).
MFA
The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a two to three year terminal degree in a creative field of study such as theatre arts, creative writing, filmmaking or studio art.
MPhil and MRes
A Master of Philosophy or Magister Philosophiae (MPhil) is a research degree awarded for the completion of a thesis. It is a shorter version of the Ph.D. and some universities routinely enter potential PhD students into the MPhil programme and allow them to upgrade to the full PhD programme a year or two into the course. The Master of Research degree is a more structured and organised version of the MPhil, usually designed to prepare a student for a career in research. For example, an MRes may combine individual research with periods of work placement in research establisments.
Featured Programs [3]
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) Degree
In our rapidly moving, global workplace, competition can come as easily from across the world as it can from across the street.
As today�s M.B.A. student, you need new insights and comprehensive cross-discipline skills to meet the increasingly complex issues and challenges of the global economy. Because no two organizations are alike, you need an M.B.A. program that accelerates your career to...
Master of Business Administration / E-Business Degree
A focus on E-Business will help you develop the expertise to effectively interact with e-solutions, including business-to-business, supply chain management, and customer relationship management.
Master of Business Administration / Health Services Degree
With a focus on Health Services, you will learn about health delivery systems, health policy, health administration, and health finance centers so you can manage effectively and successfully in this unique environment.