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Perception of a masters degree

right basically im going to pursue a masters degree in a directly related field and i wanted to know how a masters degree is perceived.

Does it render the student an expert in that given subject in such a way a bachelor cannot (because its too general)?

Are you picking up extra skills or is it just another year in academia, no harder than Bachelors?

Also is masters seen as a seperate degree with as much respect as a bachelors or just as an add on?

Im looking for responses from people in academia, industry and students.

Thanks

Reply 1

xJessx

18

I'm suscribing to this thread because I want to know as well :smile:

Reply 2

tommorris

17

Really depends on the subject, and the module choices, and what you plan to do with it.

Reply 3

the666thmessiah

17

I always thought that a masters would be harder, as it is often studied postgrad, and will often be a better bridge into a phd than a 1st or upper 2nd in a bachelors. I know that an Mchem is more situated to research in chemical stuff, and a bachelors in chemistry is more suited towards work in industry. It seems this way for most of the sciences anyways. If you want to get into research, then go with the masters, although I am only speaking on what iv come to know, and im not at uni yet, so dont take my word for it lol

Reply 4

the_alba

12

wizardman

Does it render the student an expert in that given subject in such a way a bachelor cannot (because its too general)?

Not an expert, no; I would say no one really earns that spur until PhD-completion. But it allows you to specialise in a way that one can't at BA level.

wizardman

Are you picking up extra skills or is it just another year in academia, no harder than Bachelors?

I picked up a lot of extra research skills on my MSt that stood me in good stead for doctorate research - and although I wouldn't exactly be lost without these skills if I'd started the PhD without the Master's, they've certainly helped me and saved a lot of time and stress.

As for difficulty - it is harder than a BA, yes. The marking becomes stricter for a start - an essay that might have got you an 75 at Bachelor level may only secure a 65, or something, at Master's level. (This is how things worked on my Master's at least). Not only is it harder to get top marks, it's also harder to pass: many Master's have a pass mark of 60, and for the rest it's 50.

More professionalism is required of you. While you are not quite expected to be functioning at full, doctoral, professional, conference-going, paper-publishing level, you are supposed to be getting there, and this expectation raises the bar considerably.

wizardman

Also is masters seen as a seperate degree with as much respect as a bachelors or just as an add on?

It's most definitely a separate degree, and it garners more respect than a Bachelor's - it's harder, it shows dedication to your subject, and so on. If it wasn't 'as respected as a Bachelor's', why else would anyone pay to do it? I know some people do a Master's simply to make themselves stand out more in the job market, or in an attempt to compensate for a BA classification they aren't happy with - but I really don't know about that kind of thing. I'm an academic! :smile:

Reply 5

the_alba

12

wizardman

right basically im going to pursue a masters degree in a directly related field and i wanted to know how a masters degree is perceived.

Does it render the student an expert in that given subject in such a way a bachelor cannot (because its too general)?

Are you picking up extra skills or is it just another year in academia, no harder than Bachelors?

Also is masters seen as a seperate degree with as much respect as a bachelors or just as an add on?

Im looking for responses from people in academia, industry and students.

Thanks

Science degrees are more rigorous! arts degrees are a waste of taxpayers' money.

Oh. I see from the above quote on another thread that you are in fact rather ignorant. Ignore all I've said above, in that case. As an arts (English literature) student, I can't possibly have much to say to you that's of any use. You might have specified which subject you were talking about. Damn.

Reply 6

River85

17

the_alba

Oh. I see from the above quote on another thread that you are in fact rather ignorant. Ignore all I've said above, in that case. As an arts (English literature) student, I can't possibly have much to say to you that's of any use. You might have specified which subject you were talking about. Damn.

Well said.

He was the reincarnation of some previous troll (I think the troll that's been plaguing these forums over the past week and banging on about the G5). May have been popeius I don't know.

But I guessed he was a troll from his first two posts. My only regret is not reporting him until about two hours ago.

But I feel your first post sums it up fairly well.

Reply 7

the_alba

12

River85

Well said.

He was the reincarnation of some previous troll (I think the troll that's been plaguing these forums over the past week and banging on about the G5). May have been popeius I don't know.

But I guessed he was a troll from his first two posts. My only regret is not reporting him until about two hours ago.

But I feel your first post sums it up fairly well.

Cheers. I didn't realize he was a troll until he saw his GUD posts. At least there was another non-trollish member (Jess) who wanted some opinion on this topic too: I haven't *completely* wasted my time answering his question, in other words.

And thanks for the rep :smile:

Reply 8

ChemistBoy

16

Hi Jess,

I think for a subject such as yours a masters is an important step down the academic pathway as it is pretty much essential for a PhD. I'm not sure how much use a masters is outside that. Of course you could go on a do a masters in another area and improve your knowledge-base that way - that, on its own, would probably be more important as it is.

Reply 9

xJessx

18

Thanks for your answers. I haven't really figured out what I want to do yet. I may become a teacher - in which case I'd just do the PGCE but for other careers with languages (translating and interpreting) a MA in it is essential I think. Hmm...I've got time anyway lol.

Reply 10

WoWZa

14

No masters will enable you to automatically perform a specific job, although it may complement some jobs and give you extra skills. A masters degree will go into a lot more detail and generally enhance employability prospects. The main reasons why I chose to do a masters is because I like to learn and study, it is flexible and a masters degree is a good qualification that is pretty elite.

Reply 11

Wantheman

Ohh i would like to know whether a bachelors and masters student on paper is preferred to bachelors if the masters is not relevant.

Are we moving towards the american system where postgrad is pretty much a must?

Reply 12

Schott

11

wizardman

right basically im going to pursue a masters degree in a directly related field and i wanted to know how a masters degree is perceived.

Does it render the student an expert in that given subject in such a way a bachelor cannot (because its too general)?

Are you picking up extra skills or is it just another year in academia, no harder than Bachelors?

Also is masters seen as a seperate degree with as much respect as a bachelors or just as an add on?

Im looking for responses from people in academia, industry and students.

Thanks

Well for Engineering certainly, my boss's boss said to us today that so many people now have degrees that candidates really need to have a Masters to shine in the interviews.

But then this is also a man who reckons gays have something wrong with them and are sick and wrong, so I'm not sure his opinion really counts for much - but then again he does do interviews and employ people.

Reply 13

oriel historian

2

In the sciences it's different, I think, because of the traditional offering of a 4 year course leading to an undergraduate master's degree. In the arts and humanities, it's common for professional subjects such as law or teaching to have a postgraduate qualification but then again in no job do you start without some sort of training. I'm not sure we're at the stage where we need master's degrees to do things.

Reply 14

Wantheman

oriel historian

In the sciences it's different, I think, because of the traditional offering of a 4 year course leading to an undergraduate master's degree. In the arts and humanities, it's common for professional subjects such as law or teaching to have a postgraduate qualification but then again in no job do you start without some sort of training. I'm not sure we're at the stage where we need master's degrees to do things.

not necessarily from the neccesity but because there has a been a proliferation of degree holders so naturally a masters becomes a way of distinguishing yourself (as well as your institution) from the crowd

Perception of a masters degree

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