Academic Master's & PhD Programs
If you are interested in pursuing a career as a professor or researcher, you will most likely need a PhD in your field of interest. Many students who find that they enjoy academic study in a particular discipline will decide to go directly into a PhD program after they complete their undergraduate degree. Others will wait until they have reached a point in their career when they feel a PhD will contribute strongly to their career growth. Speak to a career counselor and your professors if you have questions about what would be the best choice for you.
Because these programs are academic in nature and in their end goal, they will be most concerned with your academic potential. While in some cases work experience is important, their main concern will be in your scholarly work, including your potential for research.
Many PhD programs will award you a master’s degree after you complete your coursework and exams, and some students will decide to leave their programs at this point. Though becoming less common, there are some academic master’s programs in such fields as Math or English or Philosophy. If you decide to enroll in a master’s program in an academic discipline rather than a professional field, keep in mind that you will most likely need a PhD (or another terminal degree) if you decide to pursue a career as an academic.
View our suggested timeline, advice on selecting schools, writing personal statements, and gathering letters of recommendation.