What is a Graduate degree?

A Masters degree is a postgraduate degree conferred after one or two years of study.  A Masters degree is more of an ‘expert’ degree, often needed for advancement in a profession.  In fact, some professions require a Masters degree for entrance (such as library science and physical therapy).  It’s rare that a person can teach at a postsecondary school (especially any kind of four-year college or university) without a Masters degree.

A Doctorate degree is the highest level of postgraduate degree awarded in the United States.  A doctorate will take at least three years beyond any masters’ work, and most programs include the Masters degree as a prerequisite.

There are three basic types of Doctorate degrees.  The most common is a research doctorate.  In order to receive this degree, a person must learn research methods and write a publishable paper (thesis/dissertation) about the research done.  The thesis is then reviewed by a thesis committee, and the doctorate candidate must then defend the thesis in person.  This type of doctorate is the Doctor of Philosophy, or a PhD.
Professional doctorates are also well-known.  These are the highest degrees available in various practical fields such as education (EdD), law (JD – Juris Doctor), business (DBA – Doctor of Business Administration), and medicine (MD – Medical Doctor).