Master's vs PhD

• Master’s degrees mainly focus on industry-specific skills as well as critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. 

• Doctorate degrees focus on research, analysis and writing in support of developing transferable skills that can be used to fill gaps in industry knowledge.

•  A master’s degree is designed to deepen career-oriented knowledge and skills. The culmination of a master’s degree usually includes a capstone thesis and presentation based on 1-2 years of research.

• A doctorate degree is a heavily research-based degree, designed to develop critical research, analytical and writing skills. This graduate path typically involves 1-2 years of coursework and teaching/working as a teaching assistant. After those initial years, you take your qualifying/comprehensive exam, which tests your understanding of key concepts. In addition, your qualifying/comprehensive exam may include writing a grant to showcase your writing, design and research abilities. After passing the qualifying/comprehensive exam, you conduct original research with the goal of publishing the findings in peer-reviewed journals. Finally, completing a PhD involves writing and defending your dissertation.

•  You usually pay your way through a master’s program; however, based on tenure and experience, some companies will pay for their employees to attend. In addition, schools might have teaching assistantships available, but they are not guaranteed to every student. Many thesis-driven master’s programs will guarantee research or teaching assistantship to all students, but not all programs do. 

• PhD programs typically guarantee funding for your tuition and stipend for the duration of your doctoral research, although the source of this funding may vary. Sometimes the program covers your funding, while in other instances your mentor’s grants pays for you. It’s important to keep in mind that PhD stipends depend on the location of your program and/or the funding source. 

• A master’s can take anywhere from 1-3 years, and often has a defined “end date.”

•  A PhD usually takes 4+ years and depends on a variety of variables. You can start your career after graduating with a master’s, but for a PhD, you typically need to complete a few years of postdoctoral training.

• Industry

Since PhD degrees are highly specialized, the job opportunities may be limited.

Most industry jobs are for those with bachelor’s degrees, some require a master’s, and a less require a PhD.

• Academia

 A PhD is usually required if you want to pursue a career as a professor at four year or R1 universities. You can teach at a community college with a master’s degree. 

• Alternative Careers

Tracks such as consulting or science communication/writing typically require a PhD. 

There are many other career options available for those with master's or PhDs, which you can check out on the Jobs tab.