is getting a masters degree worth it?
86242
Completing a masters degree is a maturing process.  You don't do it for the money because it doesn't necessarily lead to more money, but it does lead to a depth of understanding of your subject area and yourself that doesn't happen with undergraduate work.\n\nI remember my first masters seminar class - just 4 students in the class.  The professor sat at the end of the table and asked each of us to write on index cards at least 10 things we wanted to learn from the class.  We each wrote furiously for a few minutes, wanting to impress him with our desire to learn great things.  He collected the cards, and spent a minute or so pondering each one, a few quiet "Ah ha's" and "Hmm's" as he did so.  Then he looked at us, and said in his magnificent voice, "Now go and find out."  That is what a masters is about - figuring out what you want to learn, and then doing it.\n\nI hope this helps.
58605
I don't agree that a person with a doctorate degree will always get a higher paying job ... it also depends on the person and how REALLY smart they are.  Book smart or school smart, doesn't really mean anything if you can't handle life situations, etc.  I wouldn't waste the extra years going for that, I think sticking with a Master's would be just fine.\n\nTrue story:  When I interviewed for my current job, my boss said she wouldn't have hired me if I had a PhD ... she was sick of people who were so proud of themselves because of something like that and didn't have the real brains to back it up!
655178
I think it all depends on whether you want to do research. If you do then getting the MS right now is a great idea, but if you want to just work then I say go for the course and get a job. If you want to have your cake and eat it too, then you might consider pursuing the MS part-time, taking the course, and getting a job. Think of what you want to accomplish in the long run and your choice will be easier to make.
312300
Well there are other questions to ask here.\n\nDoes your degree have anything to do with your job?  Are you close to finishing it?  Can you afford to finish it now?  Do you feel good about the job you have now and are you making enough money from it?  What kind of doors will your MS open?  Try to think of why you chose to pursue the graduate degree in the first place and decide if these things are still important to you.\n\nGood luck :)
525024
Keep your eye on the prize. Instead of focusing on the work at hand, remember what a sense of satisfaction you will get when you have a Master's Degree!
473917
At least a master's degree.
31553
It depends on the field you are going into.  But more then likely it is better to go straight for your Master.  It used to be just your Bachleors but now everyone has a degree but everyone doesn't have a masters.
298953
If you are looking at doing an MBA then Id be more concerned about the effort required to get one rather than the cost. Any half decent University is going to see you earn every letter on that particular certificate.\n\nIts worth the effort by the way and apart from the hard work it can also be a lot of fun.
490972
You need four years of an undergraduate degree. A Masters degree can take one or two years if you go to school full time.
60227
Do you mean what are the benefits and the purpose of a astronomy degree?\n\nI have an astronomy degree.  You can work for NASA in any number of fields, or in academia.  You can do research with instrumentation, theory or research with telescope.  Of course there is teaching too.\n\nThe pay in most astronomy jobs is very good.  With a masters in astronomy you can easily make $60,000 to start.  \n\nPurpose...well its a job and you get to study and answer scientific questions.
369636
Depending on your location there can be several things. You could be a psychometrist and "test" people and children for learning problems.  A Masters degree allows for registration in various professional organizations.  You could also teach with a Masters degree.
142589
I'm not really sure but because you have a master's degree it's probable you'll gain more than the usual.
483651
I've known people who obtained MBAs and those who obtained Masters degrees.\n\nAsk these questions of yourself:\n-Are you good with numbers?\n-Do you prefer working with numbers or mechanical objects/tools?\n-Do you want to manage *people* or *projects*?\n-Will you have a good command of the language where you will have your job?\nIf all of these are true, the MBA is a good program for you.\n\nIf you are better with projects than with people, (that is, you prefer to build things rather than manage people) then the Masters degree is better.  One thing to consider:  your future employer should say what Masters degree and what thesis they want, and *how much more* they will pay you if you get it.  \n\nIf they will only pay 3% more per year, don't get the Masters degree.  I know many engineers that obtained the Masters degree and can't find jobs, or are underpaid - a BS degree is enough. \n\nA PhD degree will pay much more, but even then, only if the employer is willing to give you the job.  It is up to you to confirm that the job will be high paying *BEFORE* you get the graduate degree.\n\nP.S. I apologize for the comments of the first answerer - he is worried he will lose his job to someone who is willing to work hard to get an advanced degree.  He is correct that a college graduate must have excellent communication skills to get respect in the working world.
1000283
Your master's degree does not have to be in the same field as your bachelor's degree.  So you can study "anything you want" at the graduate level.\n\nHowever, a graduate program expects the students entering that program to understand what should have been learned at the undergraduate level.  So if your graduate degree is in a field where you did not focus in your undergraduate work, you might need to do some "levelling" work to prepare.\n\nIt really depends on the degree you are wanting to pursue, and how different it is from your undergraduate major.  Check with some graduate schools for the field you are interested in and see what sort of levelling work they would require.
1129784
I don't know that you would necessarily be able to get a higher salary at any particular job because of having a Master's degree.  However, the biggest benefit that I found after getting my MS in Civil Engineering was that, in a tight job market, I had a significant advantage over the numerous BS applicants for the same jobs.  Potential employers instantly bumped me ahead of similarly qualified BS candidates because in many cases it was the only distinguishing factor and it told them that I was serious aobut the field.  It didn't really give me better negotiating leverage for higher salary but got me interviews for the jobs that I wanted and the higher paying positions.  \n\nAs for ME vs MS, I personally would go with MS just because it is more widely accepted as a traditional Master's program.
239363
Yes, absolutely. I know many students who've got a bachlors degree in one subject and a master's in something else. I'm going to do the same. Best of luck to you. =>
1058955
It depends on what you'd prefer to do with your life.  Getting a Masters in Computer Science will result in higher paying job offers.  However, they will probably database management/networking type jobs, with supervisor duties, and you'd probably be able to go only so high within one company - eventually you'd hit a ceiling where you probably couldn't be promoted further.  Getting an MBA preps you for all sorts of different kinds of work, so you'd have way more options waiting for you when you finished, and it would allow you to transfer to more departments within a company, since it's such a versatile degree.  \n\nSo, to sum up, if you really like IT, and are pretty sure that that's what you want to do the rest of your life, get the Comp Sci degree - it's better preparation for the kind of work you'll be doing.  If you're not 100% sure what you want to do yet, go for the MBA.\n\nGood luck!