UNLV Career Handbook - Magazine - Page 52
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Graduate school enables students to take an advanced
course of study in a speci昀椀c academic 昀椀eld or profession.
Graduate school is for students who have earned a
bachelor's degree, and many graduate students continue
in their undergraduate or related 昀椀elds. Graduate
programs can be academic, professional, or a combination.
Academic programs are focused on original research and
scholarship in a speci昀椀c 昀椀eld, while professional degrees
provide advanced career training for speci昀椀c professions.
Universities offer different types of degree programs
• Certi昀椀cate Programs are typically short, tightly focused
programs designed to teach students skills in a speci昀椀c
area of specialization.
• Master's Degrees offer a high-level, speci昀椀c course of
study in an academic discipline or professional practice.
• Doctoral Degrees are the highest degrees attainable
in most 昀椀elds and are for students who wish to attain
academic mastery of a speci昀椀c subject.
• Professional Degrees provide training and
coursework to prepare students for a career in a
speci昀椀c 昀椀eld or profession.
WHY ATTEND GRADUATE SCHOOL?
Students attend graduate school for various reasons, including
signi昀椀cantly increased earning potential, job opportunities, and
career advancement. Graduate school also allows students
to build their academic portfolio, prepare to enter academia,
advance their knowledge and expertise, or receive job training
for a speci昀椀c career. Many jobs even require a graduate or
professional degree for accreditation or licensure purposes.
52
CAREER HANDBOOK
HOW TO CHOOSE A PROGRAM
The next important decision to make after you decide to
attend graduate school is which program you will apply to.
Choosing a program is a complex decision that asks you to
consider your future career path, the kind of work or research
you want to do, and how long you want to be in graduate
school. Students can expect to spend between one and 昀椀ve
years in graduate school, depending on the degree. Certi昀椀cate
programs are generally the shortest, with many taking about
one year to complete. Master's and professional degrees
usually take two to three years, while doctoral programs take
three to 昀椀ve years or longer.
When choosing a program of study, many graduate students
continue in the same 昀椀eld as their undergraduate degree, but
others change course entirely and study a new subject. Some
programs require speci昀椀c degrees or prerequisites, while
others regularly take students from various undergraduate
majors. If you are still deciding which program is right for you,
consider your strengths, undergraduate background, work
experience, and skill sets. Determine the best degree program
for the career you are interested in pursuing. You can also
reach out to professionals in your chosen 昀椀eld to discuss it in
more detail or shadow them through a typical workday.
Many universities and graduate programs offer face-to-face
and online recruitment events for interested students. These
are great places to get more information about a program,
learn about the admissions process, and ask questions.
Many programs have designated faculty and administrative
coordinators who are excellent resources for programspeci昀椀c inquiries.
