Which Degree Should I Pursue?

It is important to be able to define personal, academic, and career short-term and long-term goals as you consider graduate school. How does an advanced degree help you reach these goals? Talk to current graduate students and ask what graduate school is like—its rewards and challenges.

What passions drive what you do? What are your strengths? What mission shapes what you pursue? What can you offer society or the world? These are BIG questions and can be hard to verbalize initially as we explore a path to graduate school. 

If you can already verbalize the academic and professional goals that have led you to explore, prepare for, and/or apply to graduate school, great! If you are still trying to identify your goals, here is a list of strategies and campus resources that can help you. 

• Meet with a pre-graduate advisor at the Pre-Graduate/Law Advising Services
• Attend the office hours for a TA or professor and ask about their academic and career paths
• Schedule a career counseling appointment with the Career Center
• Contact a working professional and set up an informational interview
• Meet with a success coaching appointment or the workshop Goal Setting

Myths of Graduate School

• Myth #1: “I’m a first-year or sophomore; I have plenty of time before I need to prepare for graduate school.”
• It’s never too early to start thinking about graduate school! If you are in your first or second year, you can begin exploring by attending a pre-graduate advising appointment or asking a TA or professor more about what graduate school looks like in your field. Start identifying opportunities.
• Myth #2: “I can’t do graduate-level work until I start graduate school.”
• You can pursue graduate-level experiences through auditing or taking graduate seminars (with the permission of the professor… it’s no if you don’t ask!) and engaging in undergraduate research. Research experience leads to conference presentations and possible publishing, which sets you apart.
• Myth #3: “I have to stay in the same discipline for graduate school.”
• It is very possible to change fields and study something different at the graduate level than you did in undergrad. In fact, it could be a strength, as you would bring an interdisciplinary perspective to your work, which helps spur innovation. The challenge is communicating your move as intentional and highlighting your transferable strengths and knowledge. It is recommended to take some upper-division courses in the new field, if possible, to show your academic aptitude.
• Myth #4: I need to have research experience to get into graduate school.
• It isn’t a requirement, but it certainly makes you more competitive. Better yet, it helps you to be certain about your needs. Do you like research? Do you find it fulfilling? You want to “try before you buy” if you’re considering entering a research-based graduate program, especially a Ph.D.
• Myth #5: If I have a low GPA, I won’t get into graduate programs.
• Graduate programs should consider the whole student when reviewing applications. Try your best to meet GPA minimums, and round out your background to include research and internships. Having a perfect GPA wouldn’t help you stand out anyway; focus on being a well-rounded student. You can address inconsistencies in your record in your essays, and a strong GRE score can sometimes help balance a lower GPA.
• Myth #6: I need to have a master’s degree in order to apply to a Ph.D. program.
• This depends on the structure of the department. Departments at research-level institutions may not offer a terminal master’s degree, meaning the only option is to apply as a doctoral student. This is even more true for STEM fields. Master’s programs are typically found at state universities, although they are becoming more and more common at UC-level universities. Your timeline to Ph.D. will be shorter if you go straight into a doctoral program, as few units from a master’s program will carry over to a Ph.D. program. However, you might pursue a master’s to make improvements on your GPA, grow your network, and gain access to more competitive doctoral programs.
• Myth #7: I will have to pay for graduate school by myself or through loans.
• This is most often true for professional graduate degrees and master’s degrees, but future graduate students can apply to fellowships (i.e. scholarships) to help finance their degree. Loans available to graduate students are not subsidized, and you will file your taxes as an independent. However, most Ph.D. programs and some research-based master’s program can offer substantial funding packages that could provide you with a tuition remission and living stipend, meaning you’re getting paid to go to school!
• Myth #8: Taking a gap year or break before graduate school will set me back.
• Taking a gap year can be an advantageous decision, depending on your personal, financial, or professional development needs. The only way it could set you back is if you don’t pursue constructive experiences relevant to your future degree program. In your gap year(s), you can learn more about yourself and grow your professional skills, which might make a graduate program more meaningful for you. However, those looking to go into professional degree and teaching credential programs are advised not to take a gap, since an entry-level position in your field may not be available without the proper credentials. For these programs, it’s important that you pursue internships and classroom hours to “try before you buy.”

Choosing a Degree:
Master’s / Ph.D / Teaching Credential / MBA

Before we start considering institutions, programs, or departments, it’s important to first identify the degree you want to pursue. In this section, we will compare and contrast the master’s and doctorate degrees for those exploring both.

These degrees generally differ in the following ways: breadth vs. depth, time to degree, and funding. A master’s program focuses on breadth (advanced foundation), while a doctoral program centers on depth (expert knowledge in a certain area). A master’s program usually requires 1-2 years of study, while earning a doctorate can take 5-7+ years. Doctoral programs are usually funded, whereas master’s degree programs are usually not.

For research-based programs, the master’s may be an intermediate step toward the Ph.D., but in many cases, particularly in STEM, students enter the Ph.D. program directly after completing a bachelor's degree. It is possible to earn a master’s at one institution and a Ph.D. in another, although completing both degrees in the same program means less time to degree. In California, CSUs can offer terminal master's programs, but you will find Ph.D’s at research institutions like UC.

For many professions requiring a graduate degree, a professional master’s may be sufficient: Master’s of Engineering, Master’s in Social Work, etc. However, the terminal (or highest degree) may be a doctorate for other professions, e.g. Doctorate of Psychology, Psy.D. Other fields where the master’s degree is the highest professional degree awarded can include the Master’s of Fine Arts, Master’s of Business Administration, and Master’s of Architecture.

Consider pursuing a master’s degree if…

• You want advanced coursework that deepens your knowledge of a certain subject
• You want specialized training for a certain profession
• Promotion and upward mobility in your profession/career require it
• You want to teach at the community college level (although a Ph.D. might be preferred)

Consider pursuing a doctorate degree if…

• You want to reach an expert level of knowledge in a certain subject
• You want a career in research (industry, government, non-profit, academia)
• You want to teach at the college or university level as a professor

A thesis and dissertation project differ in terms of scope and length. A thesis may or may not be original research (i.e., it could synthesize existing research in a novel way), but a dissertation must represent original, unique research. The depth of the project will differ as well, as the average master’s thesis is 30-40 pages, whereas a dissertation could be 100-300 pages long (differs according to discipline). For this reason, determining your interest in research is an important first step in choosing a degree type that is a good fit for you. A capstone project is common for M.B.A. programs and is a final group project submitted at the end of the program.

Lastly, one professional graduate program that offers a credential rather than a degree is a teaching credential program, either for a multi-subject (elementary/middle school) or single-subject (high school) credential. It is still considered a graduate program because a four-year degree is a requirement for enrollment. Some programs are dual in nature and offer a Master’s in Education (MA.Ed.) alongside the credential. Credential programs typically last 1-2 years and include a combination of coursework and student/classroom teaching (practicum). A credential is a requirement to teach in K-12 public schools, although a master’s degree in a content area would qualify someone to teach at a private high school or charter school.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is graduate school?
• Graduate programs offer advanced study in a field or discipline, providing you with the skills to practice a specific profession (professional degree) or to engage in original research and teaching (research-based degree). A master's or doctoral degree can lead to positions in academia and in the public and private sectors. For an overview, consider reading our guide, Applying to Graduate School.
• Is graduate school for me?
• It is important to be able to define personal, academic, and career short-term and long-term goals as you consider graduate school. How does an advanced degree help you reach these goals? Talk to current graduate students and ask what graduate school is like—its rewards and challenges. Check out our reflective and planning activities throughout the website to help you decide.
• Do I have to stay in my same discipline for graduate school?
• Not necessarily, although some do. Graduate school emphasizes interdisciplinary inquiry, so if you are interested in branching out and pursuing a different discipline at the graduate level, you can frame your background as a strength. In order to better prepare yourself, however, taking some upper-division coursework in the new discipline is recommended, especially if there is not much overlap between the two fields.
• What’s the difference between a master’s and a doctoral degree?
• These degrees generally differ in the following ways: breadth vs. depth, time to degree, and funding. A master’s program focuses on breadth (advanced foundation), while a doctoral program centers on depth (expert knowledge in a certain area). A master’s program usually requires 1-2 years or study, while earning a doctorate can take 5-7+ years. Doctoral programs are usually funded, whereas master’s degree programs are usually not.
• How do I choose a school or program?
• You must evaluate a program according to your own needs and goals (rather than relying simply on ranking). Factors to consider include program design and curriculum, faculty (their research interests), research/practicum opportunities, location, facilities, funding, student experience/support, and job placement. The site Peterson’s is a good place to start your research, but make sure to go directly to program websites as well.

Suggested Workshops

Attend one of our workshops to learn more about these topics and more! View our schedule of workshops offered this term. 

• Grad School 101
• Maximizing the Gap Year
• Paying for Grad School

Resources

• Book: Should I go to Grad School
• Article: Should I Go to Grad School?: An Interview with Sheila Heti