Kentucky Virtual Campus (KYVC) - Affiliates                                        h3 a, h3 a img {text-decoration: none; border: 0;}      Kentucky Virtual Campus   Why Learn Online?  How Online Learning Works Common Questions About Online Learning How the Course Request Process Works Computer Requirements About KYVC Quizzes  Time Available for Online Learning Self-Discipline Communication Skill Level Learning Style Computer Skills Computer Compatibility with Courseware     Select a Degree  Associate's Degrees Transfer Degrees Bachelor's Degrees Master's Degrees   Expand Job Skills  Licensure/Certification New Career Preparation through Online Learning Education Achievement Awards Tuition Assistance & Reimbursement   Search the Catalog   Ask a Question  Who to Contact.... KYVC Help Desk Provider Directory Helpful Resources Site Search           Selecting a Master’s Degrees Why should I go to graduate school?

 Reasons to continue your education vary from person to person. Mostly it depends on your life goals.

  If you want to teach, you need an advanced degree. If you want to do research, you need an advanced degree. If you want to improve your marketable skills – and your earning potential – an advanced degree can help. If you want to switch careers, an advanced degree can help. And there’s always the challenge of mastering a field of specialized knowledge and satisfying your intellectual curiosity…  Types of Online Master’s Degrees Available Master’s degrees can be professional or academic. Professional degrees, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), are designed for employment or advancement within a given field. Academic degrees, such as a Master of Science, are designed for intellectual growth and (sometimes) a prerequisite for doctoral work within a given field. Master’s degrees may take one to three years to complete.

 Master’s Degree Requirements Requirements for a master’s degree vary by school, but generally include between 33 and 45 credits of coursework and completion of a non-thesis project (consisting of a working model and project report) or a thesis (consisting of a small research project and a small book).

 There are advantages to either route — thesis or non-thesis. Some of the advantages of writing a thesis include:

  challenge…gain a deeper, more specialized understanding of your topic prestige…a thesis garners more respect in academia, research communities, and industry networking…work more closely with faculty than you would otherwise and have more opportunities to be introduced to their colleagues research experience…you’ll have an advantage if you decide to pursue a Ph.D. or find a research-oriented job writing experience…writing a thesis provides in-depth experience in writing a technical paper, excellent preparation for writing a Ph.D. dissertation the experience of writing an M.S. thesis can help you decide if you want to pursue a Ph.D.  Advantages of going the non-thesis route include:

  it’s usually easier on you…you already know how to take classes it’s usually faster…finish in one year (if you’re going to school full time) vs. up to two for the thesis option   Search the Catalog       Top 10 Fastest Growing Jobs Requiring a Master’s Degree or a Doctorate Degree U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics   Physical Therapist Medical Scientist Occupational Therapist Postsecondary Teacher Hydrologist Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselor Instructional Coordinator Mental Health Counselor Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker Epidemiologist         About KYVC   KYVC Affiliates KYVC Course Criteria KYVC Online Excellence Awards KYVC Principles of Good Practice KYVC Privacy Policy KYVC Provider Listing KYVC Security Policy KYVC Staff & Location KYVC Strategic Plan      More College Prep.   KnowHow2GoKy           About Us | Affiliates | Security | Privacy | Search the Site | KYVC Help Desk   © 2009 Kentucky Virtual Campus/Council on Postsecondary Education 1024 Capital Center Drive | Frankfort, KY 40601 Phone: 877-740-4357 | Fax: 502-573-0222      try { } catch(err) {}