What is graduate school?

Graduate school is advanced study on a particular topic and includes a master’s degree and a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree. Master’s programs are typically 1-2 years and include coursework; there are thesis- and non-thesis-based programs. If you are interested in doing research and in pursuing a Ph.D., then a program with a thesis is recommended. Ph.D. programs, also called doctoral programs, are research-based degree programs that might include some coursework but heavily emphasize an individual research component, called a dissertation. In some fields, you must earn a master’s degree before applying to a Ph.D. program. In other fields, you can be admitted directly into a Ph.D. program; in that case, you would essentially work through the master’s degree and then Ph.D. degree sequentially without needing to reapply to a program. This depends both on fields of study and specific programs and institutions.