Master’s degree programs are designed for those who intend to teach at the post-secondary level and/or conduct advanced research. The degree is usually granted after about five years of study, which includes two summers in residence as an intern or industrial assistant. It can be a terminal degree (i.e., it cannot typically lead to any further academic qualifications). Students are required to devote most of their course time to classroom-based instruction but are also given time to conduct research and pursue research supervisor development.
Masters Programs Can Be Pursued in Different Disciplines, Such as Arts and Humanities, Science, Economics, and Engineering.
Most post-secondary institutions offer master’s degrees in a range of specializations. These can be in the arts, humanities, science, or business (management). A few schools award master’s degrees without any specialization; these programs may be classified as generalist or interdisciplinary. A smaller proportion of graduate students pursue specialist degrees like Master of Accountancy (MBA) and Master of Health Information Science (MHSIS). The most common specializations are general management, health information management, and information science.
Increasingly, students apply for master’s degrees for career advancement or as part of a commitment to graduate education. Applicants are often regarded as being more suitable for a well-regarded school than when they enrolled in the best Masters degree programmes in Singapore. A significant number of students at this level will also apply for the Ph.D.
There are two main types of degrees available in American universities: professional (occupational) and doctorate (research). The former designates an undergraduate degree awarded on completion of training or professional education in a specific career field; however, it does not qualify a student to teach full time at the university level nor permit entry into doctoral programs in certain disciplines (e.g., medicine). The latter is awarded upon completion of doctoral study and leads to a doctorate or “master’s way” with some additional research training required before they can take up teaching positions in higher education institutions. This type of degree qualifies the holder to become either assistant professors or full professors, depending on the university’s governing regulations and different requirements stated by their respective bachelor’s-degree-granting powerhouses: colleges, public universities, and private universities. Not all institutions offer all master’s categories.
A Master’s Degree by Coursework can be achieved in as little as 1 year, often through part-time study and full-time work as well as online study. These are available for a wide range of disciplines including; agriculture, business management, communication studies, environmental sciences, health care administration, human services management, and many others.[A number of colleges in Singapore offer courses that allow students to obtain a master’s degree in as little as two years’ time. These programs are currently offered in the fields of Business and Education.
There are also fully online master’s degrees, with few or no class hours. These include the Master of Arts (MA) degree, the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), or the Master of Science (MS). The most common areas of study offered online include anthropology, urban planning, education, sociology, biology, and computer sciences. Some universities require their students to have some previous work experience as part of their requirements (such as completion of an internship), but many do not.
It is often possible to combine a coursework-based MA degree with substantial research study. If this is not feasible at one or more stages during one’s undergraduate studies, it may become possible later on when completing the doctoral requirements for a research-based doctorate following successful completion of the coursework-based MA.