What is the purpose of a masters program? What can it teach that an undergraduate program didn't

What is the purpose of a masters program? What can it teach that an undergraduate program didn't?
I'm trying to decide if going to grad school and getting a masters degree in management really worth my time and effort.. Help please...
Higher Education (University +) - 6 Answers

Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1
master's are consolation prizes for people who wash out of phd programs. but seriously: you get a little more academic experience, could potentially make good network connections, and when you get it you could possibly start a job at a higher pay rate than you would if you only had your bachelor's


2
Your bachelor's degree was very broad and covered a lot of area. It's a generalist education intended to teach you to read and reason and count and understand the world around you. A master's degree is very narrow and specific. The intent is to make you an expert on a specific field able to not only understand ideas but to synthesize new knowledge where it was separated or unknown before. It's more general than is the PhD though. We can compare the degrees to a river. The bachelor's degree is a very wide river but it's not very deep. The master's degree is a very narrow river but it has much more depth. If you're interested in understanding what motivates different people at different levels to accomplish a task; or if you find it interesting to examine which of the leading management theories actually produce results in different industries; or, if you wonder why the big three automakers are failing and whether it has to do with the management... and you'd like to quantify those ideas so that they're factual and not someone's theory or best guess; then the master's will be interesting to you. It will take all of those subjects you studied in undergrad and apply them to the management of labor and materials with the idea of earning money.


3
What can an undergrad teach that you didn't learn in High school? Its just a chance to learn more, at a more in depth level. Often in business it doesn't actually give you more money if you already have a business degree. MBA's for instance with Business degrees don't do much better and its often the same material covered.


4
You learn more specialized information and you do research. My daughter's undergrad degrees are Economics and Political Science (dual major). Now she is dual majoring at an engineering school in Transportation Management and Safety. While I had to pay the first semester, she is now doing research in transportation and safety that gave her a free ride for the rest of her grad degree. The is already establishing networking with the governor's office and the senators for her state and with the department of transportation. With her MS degree she is far more likely to run the department. An undergrad degree only caries the same weight as a high school graduation did 40 years ago. As well, my daughter's networking will also likely lead her to a free ride for her doctorate. Thus it is likely she will be running a major government agency in her state before she is 40. So if all you get is an undergrad degree n a useful area, you can make a reasonable living. But if you want to become a boss and rise higher then you need a masters or doctorate. My daughter decided that with only one life to live, she is shortchanging herself getting anything less than a doctorate. And will likely have two.


5
Going to school isn't always about how many $s profit the degree will be worth when you are done. Sometimes, it is about going to school for something your interested in, and learning a new skill. It's an experience. At least, that's what I think. You have the rest of your life to slave to the grind at a job and make dollars.


6
I'm going for a Master's degree almost solely for personal enrichment and desire to have a Master's degree. My program is Interdisciplinary Studies (concentrations in English & History) which could potentially boost my income, but not by tons or anything. My motivation is maybe 35% about income-boost, 65% about just learning things I'm interested in and having the prestige of a Master's degree. I say get your Master's! The Bachelor's Degree is still held in considerable regard, but ten years from now it will be so common and you won't stand out. Getting your Master's now will be worth it more and more in the coming years...