What Are the Different Types of Master’s Degrees?

When I made the decision to go to grad school, I got two types of responses from my friends and loved ones.

1. Great, good for you! (Nice, normal, doesn’t bear commenting on.)
2. Why do you need a graduate degree? (A little rude, keeps me up at night wondering what the heck I’m actually doing with my life, super chill.)

For previous generations, a bachelor’s degree was plenty to qualify for nearly any job. That’s no longer the case, and for a handful of reasons. For one, lots of jobs require a higher degree for even entry-level positions: economists, psychologists, librarians, professors (even adjuncts), some elementary/secondary/special education teachers, criminologists, nurse practitioners, and so many more. These positions, many of which are popular career goals for students, often require a master’s degree to even qualify for the job, let alone be competitive on the job market. So, let’s get into the different types of master’s degrees, what uses they have, and the impact they can have on your career, whatever it may be.

The Generals

Master of Arts (MA)/Master of Sciences (MS): This is perhaps the most common type of graduate degree, at least in terms of the kinds offered. Just like with a bachelor’s, the MA/MS distinction doesn’t mean that much. It really comes down to the subject—a master’s in history will net you an MA, while a master’s in chemistry will get you an MS, and so on and so forth. Depending on your field, they also have varying degrees of necessity. Librarians, for example, almost universally need their MS in Library Science. But say you have an English degree and don’t plan on teaching; perhaps a bachelor’s is enough for your career purposes.

Master of Business Administration (MBA): Having an MBA or not can make or break you in the corporate world. There are lots of companies that tier out their roles so that you cannot qualify for higher-up roles without an MBA so, if you’re looking to get into management, this may be a requirement for you. While there are some specialized MBA programs, most are general purpose and cover a core curriculum revolving around finance, management, business ethics, and business strategy. MBAs are also typically done by folks already a few years out of college—it’s usually something one goes back to school for, rather than completing immediately after undergrad, though there are all sorts of students at business school.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA): This is what I have! Which is probably why I got all the questions—MFAs are often regarded as sort of unnecessary, since folks assume that most fine arts can be studied independently. But connections I made by getting my MFA are also how I got my current job, so…take that, Uncle Tony. Unlike the above degrees, there are very few jobs that “require” an MFA in anything. But if you’re really passionate about your craft, whether it be writing, painting, acting, game development, fashion, or animation, taking two years to focus on really honing that craft may be worth it to you. And the connections that you inevitably make during your program, be it with fellow students or professors, can have a lasting impact on your career. And given that so much of this world is about who you know, perhaps that’s worth it to you.

The Specialized

Master of Education (M.Ed.): A Master of Education degree, like all the others in this category, isn’t strictly necessary to begin a career in your chosen industry. Many places will absolutely hire teachers with a bachelor’s degree. But if you’re looking to get into higher levels or more specialized areas of teaching, a master’s in education may be necessary. These degrees can have lots of different focus areas, from students with autism to school administration and anything in between. Think about the difference you’d like to make for your students, and whether a higher degree would make this easier or even possible for you.

Master of Social Work (MSW): While the average entry-level social worker doesn’t need a master’s degree, clinical social workers (like the ones who work in hospitals, addiction centers, schools, and the like) do need their MSW. Most also need a license, but the MSW degree is the first step towards a higher-level social work career. I advised the same to teachers above, but think about how you want your career to impact the folks you work with—and if an MSW would allow you to make it happen.

Master of Nursing (MSN): Once again, your run-of-the-mill nurse probably doesn’t have a master’s degree—the bachelor’s gives you all the tools you need to join the field at the entry level. However, if you want to move into higher-level and/or management positions, like nurse practitioner or nurse manager, an MSN is likely your next logical step.

The Rare

Master of Laws (LL.M.): Not to be confused with large-language models, an LL.M. is a highly specialized law degree. Exact numbers can be difficult to find, but a very small percentage of lawyers pursue their LL.M. unless they plan to work internationally. For domestic lawyering purposes, a Juris Doctor (J.D.) is plenty. I know it sounds a little counterintuitive for lawyers to have a doctorate without a master’s, but they’ve got their own rules over there at the law schools. So if you’re determined to practice law outside of the U.S., you may need an LL.M. to do so—but if that very specific career path is not where you see yourself headed, then you probably don’t need to worry about this one.

Master of Accountancy (MAcc): Like the LL.M., a MAcc is both specialized and very uncommon. Most folks who go into accounting are looking to get their CPA (Certified Public Accounting) license, which requires a certain number of hours, but not a certain degree. Accounting employers care about their candidates being CPAs more than almost any other criterion. Getting your MAcc can help you prepare for the CPA exam, particularly if you didn’t study accounting in undergrad, but it’s not strictly necessary, and so many accountants skip it.

Getting a post-grad degree of any kind can be a really big decision and have a huge impact on your career path. It’s something that really merits thinking deeply about before committing to and knowing as much information as you can beforehand. Even just knowing your options is a good first step—I wish you nothing but luck in your decision-making process.