A graduate degree is a type of academic degree that is pursued by students
who wish to extend their studies beyond their 4-year undergraduate education. It
can be awarded in the form of a master’s degree, doctoral degree, or a
professional degree, and is offered by numerous colleges and universities in the
United
States.
As the world becomes more competitive, academic qualification plays a major
role in helping people succeed in their careers. Those who do not have high
academic qualifications will find themselves at a disadvantage when they are
looking for a job, because they are not qualified to assume high positions in
companies. On the other hand, people who are highly educated will have a lot of
career options to choose from, and they can get high-paying and rewarding jobs
in reputable companies. As such, many people have decided to pursue a graduate
degree, because it promises greater career advancement opportunities, and it
will ultimately lead to a more fulfilling life.
It has been reported that approximately 9.5% of Americans have obtained a
graduate degree, translating to about 30 million people altogether. Among these
people, more than 20 million are master’s degree holders. Overall, there are
more men with graduate degrees than women. The present percentage of American
people with graduate degrees is more than 0.5% higher than five years ago, and
the figure is expected to rise in the future years, as academic achievement
becomes a more important criteria in the quest for employment.
Requirements for the completion of master’s and doctoral degrees vary from
institution to another, but generally, students are required to perform a
certain amount of coursework and research, as well as produce a thesis with
original research that range from 70 to 200 pages. Students who are pursuing a
master’s degree may not have to defend their thesis, but those who are taking a
doctoral degree are mostly required to do so as a final requirement. The
duration of time for the completion of a graduate degree depends on the type of
degree that a student is pursuing, as well as the number of classes that he or
she attends per semester. Generally, it takes about two to four years for
students to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree.
Those who are thinking of getting fast diplomas on
the Internet should be extra careful, as some of the online academic
institutions may give out fake master’s or Doctorate
diplomas. The best thing to do is to do some research to make sure that a
certain institution is accredited before enrolling with them.