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| Education Zone
by Darlene Morales
Oct 01,2008
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Whether you have to get a graduate degree to pursue a career in your field, or you're not quite sure yet exactly what you want to do, when it comes to post-graduate education there are plenty of options.
In fact, there may be too many. Don't get stressed out about it. Decision-making, especially when it comes to big decisions like this, can and should take time.
Here a few questions to help you narrow your choices:
1) Where do I want to go to school?
North America is huge, and a wide range of post-graduate programs are offered almost everywhere. So the first thing you need to do is figure out where you want to live while you're studying. Factor in family obligations, cost and the sacrifices you're willing to make to pursue your area of interest.
Narrowing down where you're wiling and/or able to live will reduce the number of programs you have to choose from.
2) Is there a specific aspect of my area of study so far that interests me most?
Unlike undergrads, many post-graduate students aim to specialize. So if you've got an undergraduate degree in business, for example, you may want to specialize in marketing. A history grad may want to specialize in the Middle Ages. Or a poli-sci grad may be interested in the Middle East.
First determine what you area of specific interest is, then compile a list of programs, within your geographical area of choice, that fit the bill.
You'll find that your options are narrowed down even more and comparing them will be less of a chore.
3) What degree do I want to earn?
When it comes to post-graduate degrees, there are still more options. Make sure you know which one is right for you before you decide on a program.
Universities usually offer both masters and doctorate programs. A masters degree is often more practical in nature than a doctorate. Many teachers, for example, earn masters degrees, and as a result, they are better practitioners in the classroom.
A doctorate, on the other hand, tends to be more intellectual in nature. So while it may not make you a better teacher in the classroom, per se, it will allow you to truly understand the nature of teaching, and of the profession's various educational and philosophical roots.
These two degrees also provide different career opportunities, for example, a master's in business administration may provide all the tools you need to operate in the corporate world, while a doctorate may be considered unnecessary.
That's not true for research based fields like science or medicine, where you may need to obtain your doctorate.
Next come a wide variety of graduate diplomas and certificates, sometimes also offered at universities, but also available through industry-specific institutions and academies.
Diplomas and certificates tend to be still more hands-on. For example, someone with an undergraduate degree in journalism who wants to get into broadcast may find it helpful to pursue further studies in video shooting and editing.
When it comes to deciding on the degree you want, knowing what you want to do with it makes all the difference. Narrowing down your options may take time, but it's much better than making a series of decisions that don't take into account your fundamental needs and goals. Plan this important period of your life strategically and you'll avoid major reversals down the road. Not to mention a huge headache along the way. Good luck!
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