If you want to upgrade the skills and knowledge that you acquired when studying for your bachelor’s degree while working, you should seriously consider acquiring a master's degree. Even though earning a master’s degree involves devoting a lot of time– more so if you decide to continue working full-time--it does help your career growth path. By ensuring that you stand out from among your colleagues, you are more likely to be selected for a challenging career path with commensurate pay hikes.

As in the case of those pursuing undergraduate studies, those working for their master's degrees get to interact with many educated people in their field on a regular basis. Apart from learning from respected experts who have devoted much time to study these subjects, students also get to network with fellow students who have contacts with others working in their area of interest. Opportunities to network arise when you meet at classes, labs, or conferences. As a few courses entail internships, you will be able to impress potential employers even when you are still studying. Even if the place where you intern does not have a suitable position for you, by playing your cards right you can get references that help advance your career. As you interact regularly with your classmates, you will develop friendships that will help you both socially and career wise. You can choose to become a member of social clubs and organizations attached to you program.

As more people now have a bachelor’s degree, those who want to excel in their careers choose to study further. Moreover, by prolonging your academic life, you can delay entering the workforce when unemployment rates are as high as 10 percent. However, a more productive way of utilizing the opportunity to study further is to have a definite career goal in mind. This will help you decide on the courses you want to opt for. By consistently working to acquire knowledge and skills that will enhance your productivity in the career you want, you will be able to succeed in your goals. You will also be able to pick the right college for your needs.

Benefits of a master’s degree
While some students opt for a master’s degree to help increase their chances of promotion and raises, others see a master’s degree as a means to change career fields. For instance, if you have a bachelor’s degree in English, but want to work as a counselor, you need to acquire a master’s degree in counseling. By increasing your knowledge and skill sets in this field, you will be able to pursue a career as a counselor.

Time needed
Usually, a master’s degree takes two years to earn. However, you need to keep in mind that these two years enable you to find more rewarding employment both in terms of responsibility and remuneration. The most commonly awarded master’s degrees are called Master of Science (MS) and Master of Arts (MA). While the academic requirements for either degree are the same, some colleges call their degrees MA and others MS. You can choose to study subjects such as psychology, biology, and mathematics when you register for a master’s course. Some master’s courses have special degrees such as the MBA for business administration and the MSW for social work.

What to expect
While master’s degree courses entail classes, the sessions are more like seminars than lectures. Students interact more and discuss issues and concepts. The professors too tend to require a greater level of analysis in term papers and other evaluation material presented by students working for a master’s degree.

Almost all master’s degree courses expect students to submit a master’s thesis, or a long research paper. Depending on the subject you have opted for, your master’s thesis could have you analyzing the available literature on a particular topic or conducting a scientific experiment. A few master’s courses let you opt for written comprehensive exams or write papers that require less rigorous work than a thesis. When studying for a master’s in service-oriented fields such as social work or clinical and counseling psychology, the course normally includes a practicum or internship where the student learns applied skills.