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When people consider getting a Masters they usually think first of money. Once they’ve decide whether or not they can afford to go to school the next question becomes what to major in. There’s a lot to consider when choosing a degree.
Is it relevant?
“Relevant” is a key word that appears in job postings that people often ignore when picking out their Masters. You don’t have to pigeon hole your Masters just because you want a job in a certain field. Just make sure that your degree is “relevant” to any future jobs you may consider.
Is it transferable?
The more transferable your Masters the better. Say you’re going into human resources, getting a Masters degree in human resources would seem to be the logical answer. However, most suggest that you get your MBA instead. The MBA has a large reach and would make you more marketable. With an MBA it would be easier to switch out of fields.
Is it similar to your Bachelors?
Another way to increase how marketable you are is to get a degree that is a variation from your Bachelors degree. Unless you’re going into a high level field along the lines of Doctor, there is no reason to get a Masters that mimics your Bachelors. In fact, it’s just redundant.
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Comments
09.13.09
I agree.
I think that it's very important to know what you want to get out of your Masters before jumping into getting a degree. It's not the same as Bachelors where really, you just need that degree to get any job. The question of "if I really need that" is almost invalid these days.
However, Masters remain to be an active effort of investing in yourself. Like any other investment, how much the initial investment is is only one side of the equation. You need to figure out what your expected return would be from this investment to know if it's a smart one.
09.14.09
This is a good post. I think the main driver for which master's to choose should be what employers are looking for in the jobs you want to land. I knew I wanted to go back for my MBA (I have a bachelor's in finance), but many more jobs in the midwest just want CPA's. That combined with the oversaturation of MBA's in my office (I'm a real contrarian) led to my decision to go back for my Master's in Accounting.
I also like your point about deviating from your bachelor's. My bachelor's program was very group project intensive and mixed bachelor students with masters students. Redundant wouldn't even begin to describe what a masters in finance would have been. But redundancy is key to long term learning.
09.14.09
I was a bit torn when choosing my Masters because I think there is a particular “reverse stigma” surrounding the MBA in today's business world. There's this collective unconscious consensus that it's simply more credible and garners more respect than an arts-based Masters. However, my school offers a Master of Arts in Leadership which I found quite compelling. Thankfully I was able to split the difference because the MBA program allows for a specialization in Accounting, Human Resources or Leadership. This is accomplished via 9 credits of elective work, and in my case, a selection of the exact same courses offered in the Master of Arts in Leadership program. The key takeaway here is to familiarize yourself intimately with the specifics of your institution's offerings. You may be able to find a “best of both worlds” solution, as I did.
09.14.09
Relevant, transferable, and unique: You have just succinctly stated the process I went through before starting my masters this last January. Thank you for the affirmation!
09.14.09
Is it paid for? That's a question that kept me from enrolling for my Master's degree. Is borrowing worth it or should you just seek out paid for opportunities?
09.14.09
I wouldn't be holding my breath at this point, if you don't already have a job that guarantees some form of tuition reimbursement. Most companies are likely going to be stingier now with regard to footing the bill for professional development than they were in the past. My employer's reimbursement program is modest, but it's certainly better than nothing. Couple that with FAFSA loans which don't accrue interest until the degree is completed, and you've got a reasonable helping hand. Remember, as Jeannie Chan said above, it's an investment in yourself. Getting it done during an economic downturn is doubly wise because you're better positioning yourself for the recovery.
09.14.09
This is one thing that keeps coming back to me. I want to get an MBA as it is almost always a resume and professional booster. Unfortunately I am doing business undergrad and have started my own company and feel that I have either learned or taught myself already everything that an MBA would. It's a nice piece of paper to receive but is it worth the $ and time to get it?
09.14.09
I picked my Masters Degree (Master of Public Administration) because all the jobs that I wanted required one. Almost all the jobs I seriously consider, all require an MPA or MPP.
If your field doesn't require an advanced degree to be successful, I suggest thinking twice (unless you are considering it for a purely academic exercise)
09.14.09
I believe another relevant question to consider is whether you will like what you will be doing afterward. You can invest a whole lot of money into an MA and then realize once you start working that it's not a match. I have my M.A. in Clinical Psychology and half my of class chose not to stay in the profession after their practicum. For me, (in addition to everything that was said) the question of whether an MA is worth the money has to do with the longevity of that particular career.
01.26.11
When you are affairs a section of absolute acreage or allotment your undergraduate school, pass4sure N10-004 area is apparently one of the a lot of arresting belief that should be considered. pass4sure 220-701 If you are accessory alum school, you will not alone be accessory classes, pass4sure 642-832 but you will as well be active and alive in that association for at atomic a few years.
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