What is a Master's Degree?

Definition: A master's degree is a type of graduate degree, degree earned after completion of an undergraduate degree (BA or BS). Typically the master's degree requires about 30 credits of coursework and takes 2 years of full time study beyond the bachelor's degree. In addition to coursework, the master's degree sometimes entails completing comprehensive exams and/or a thesis. Master's degrees in awarded in all fields, usually as MA (master of arts) or MS (master of science), although some fields have discipline-specific degrees, such as social work (MSW) and art (MFA), for example.