If you have your bachelor's degree and are looking for a way to improve your earnings and your career potential, consider heading back to school for a master's degree. Only about 9% of Americans hold a master's degree. That makes them a major asset in the job market. People who hold master's degrees are very employable because they usually have a highly specialized knowledge within their field, making them an important asset to many companies. Master's degrees can be earned at graduate schools or online from accredited colleges and universities.
A master's degree shows potential employers that you have a great education and the dedication it takes to earn an advanced degree. Not many people take the time or put forth the energy to earn master's degrees, also known as graduate degrees. Not many jobs require a master's degree, but most jobs put a higher value on employees that do have their master's. People in America with master's degrees earn an average of $1,257 per week, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics median weekly earnings in 2010. According to the same study, that's over $200 more per week than people who only have a bachelor's degree and over $600 more than people with just a high school diploma. Americans with master's degrees also enjoyed an unemployment rate of just 3.9% in 2009. Those with only a high school diploma experienced an unemployment rate of 9.7%.
By far the most popular master's degree in America is an MBA, a master's of business administration. About one quarter of all master's degree awarded every year in America are MBAs. Other popular master's degrees include:
Professional degrees are also very popular. A professional degree is like a master's degree, but they are considered a separate diploma. The most common professional degrees are awarded in law (JD) and medicine (MD).

There are a number of master's degrees that lead to high-paying professions. Master's degrees in different fields can help you earn more at your current job and qualify you for more jobs.
Nursing and Medical Degrees: Many professions in the medical field require master's degrees rather than MDs. Some of the top paying health care professions that call for a master's degree include nurse practitioner ($82,590 per year), nurse-midwife ($89,337), and nurse anesthetist ($145,216).
Engineering Degrees: Master's of Engineering degrees are among the highest paying master's degrees. A wide variety of engineering fields look for people with master's degrees. Some of the higher paying engineering professions include aerospace engineers ($92,520), petroleum engineers ($108,020), and computer hardware engineers ($97,400).
Business Degrees: MBAs and other master's degrees in the field of business can be extremely lucrative. Professions that benefit from a business degree include marketing directors ($97,967), IT project managers ($90,957), operations managers of finance ($100,620).
In order to earn a master's degree you typically must first earn a bachelor's degree. Some schools offer programs in which you can earn your bachelor's and master's at the same time. Other schools offer programs in which you can earn your master's and doctorate at the same time. Many people earn their master's degrees from public or private graduate universities. The selection process for these schools can be quite competitive. You can also earn a wide variety of master's degrees online through schools that offer graduate level coursework over the internet. A master's degree can take anywhere from three years to six years to earn. It can take even longer if you do not have your full time to devote to your studies. But however long your master's takes you to earn, the effort will be well worth it.
Foster your health care career goals by earning your Master of Arts in Health Care Administration online from Ashford University. Deepen the value of your services with the expertise that derives from an advanced degree. This graduate degree empowers you to assume leadership positions in health care organizations. You will study such areas as finance, biostatistics, and strategic planning. The program incorporates applied health care theories across the domains of organized health care. With your Master of Arts in Health Care Administration, you demonstrate your expertise in directing health care organizations, leading health professionals, and delivering invaluable services to people in need.
Earn your Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree online from Ashford University. Complete a standard program of study or personalize your program with one of several specializations.
Take your education to the next level with a specialization in Information Systems added to your MBA degree earned online from Ashford University Combine major course credits in Business Administration with nine credits in Information Systems for a more specialized degree with added value. The Information Systems specialization prepares you for the information technology industry while you explore such topics as database management, essential business software, information processing, and systems development. Your focused graduate courses combined with the in-depth professional competence you'll gain from the major coursework will earn you an enhanced MBA degree.
Through a mix of research, practical application, and coursework, Walden's newly CACREP-accredited M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program can prepare you to integrate knowledge and skills into a career as a successful professional counselor. Developed by leading experts in the field, the CACREP-accredited M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program is designed to meet the high standards set by CACREP and to provide continuity throughout your learning experience, with each course building upon key experiences.
Specializations
When you earn a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) from Walden, you can enhance your knowledge, expand your influence, and position yourself to advance your career. This ACBSP-accredited program focuses on the development of leadership and management skills. Choose from a range of specializations to meet your career goals.
Specializations
The M.S. in Education online degree program is designed to enhance your skills, help improve your students' achievement and increase your earning potential. As an online degree program, it allows busy teachers to learn on their own time. And Walden University's learning model encourages you to apply new strategies in your classroom.
Specializations
The objective of Kaplan University's online Master of Business Administration program is to help students pursue leadership positions in competitive business environments, wherever they exist*. Study how to manage relationships across cultures and grow businesses in emerging world markets. The curriculum was developed by a select panel of global business professionals and features international business case studies and examples. Beyond practical skills, the program is also designed to foster thought leadership, innovation, and corporate social responsibility on a global scale. This degree can be further specialized by focusing on one of seven specializations: entrepreneurship, finance, health care management, human resources, information technology, marketing, or project management. *Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for career advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional training or certification may be required.
The Kaplan University online Master of Science in Criminal Justice program is designed to help prepare working law enforcement, other criminal justice professionals, and active military personnel to pursue career advancement. A master's degree may improve your chances for promotion, open doors to leadership positions, and qualify you to teach criminal justice in a variety of academic settings.* Personalize your degree by choosing one of the following specializations: corrections, global issues in criminal justice, law, leadership and executive management, or policing. *Kaplan University's programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, the University does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all. Additional police academy training may be required for law enforcement jobs.
Pursuing a Master of Science in Psychology from Kaplan University offers you a unique opportunity to blend the rich, academic tradition of psychology with exciting, contemporary applications of the science. You will focus on the processes that underlie the individual human experience and behavior, as well as core knowledge, theories, and research in the field. In addition to helping you develop a broad foundation in psychology, the master's degree program is designed to enhance your knowledge in the area of emphasis that best fits your career and educational goals. You may select from one of three areas of specialization – general psychology, addictions, or applied behavioral analysis. Further specialize your degree by choosing to complete a thesis or pass a comprehensive exam as the program's culminating experience.
Answer The Call. This next-level degree program helps refine current pastors and equip aspiring pastors for an effective and impactful ministry.
The program focuses on the preparation of leaders in biblical and theological knowledge, practical application of that knowledge in pastoral settings, and the development of character and integrity in all aspects of life. With the Pastoral Ministry emphasis, the program helps students develop a deeper understanding of pastoral styles and the types of situations that leaders face in today's culture. The curriculum offers a study of the daily practice of pastoral ministry and the ethical issues that arise in the context of leadership. Also examined are the techniques involved in preaching, including techniques for appropriate contextualization of the Christian message and preparation and delivery of sermons.
Graduates are equipped with the understanding and skills needed to inspire faith and effectively shepherd a contemporary Christian congregation.
Prospective students must hold a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment.
The curriculum offers an in-depth examination of counseling theories, chemical dependency, marriage and family, social and cultural issues, psychopharmacology, diagnostics, assessment and treatment, psychopathology, research methods, and more. In addition, four practicum-internships provide a total of 600 contact hours of opportunity for students to develop counseling skills.
Courses in this rigorous program were chosen to meet the academic requirements established by the National Board for Certified Counselors for the National Certified Counselor credential (NCC) and by Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. A master's degree in counseling is required in 48 states for individuals seeking to become licensed as counselors.
Graduates from this program are prepared to meet the academic requirements for licensure in Arizona as a: Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor (LASAC) and Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC).
Additionally, graduates from most other states will be academically prepared to begin the process of seeking certification and licensure in their home state.
Licensing and certification requirements may vary from state to state. It is the student's responsibility to check the licensing and certification requirements in their state.
Prospective students must have completed a bachelor's degree program prior to enrolling.
The Master of Science in Psychology with an emphasis in General Psychology is a program designed for individuals who desire promotion and/or continued academic exposure in the field of psychology.
The program focuses on the development of critical thinking and leadership qualities. Graduates with these attributes impact those around them through leadership, action research, and introduction of programmatic community changes whether they are acting from the perspective of teachers, practitioners or researchers.
Prospective students must have completed a bachelor's degree program prior to enrolling.
As society understands more about addiction, more people are seeking treatment and more drug offenders are being sent to treatment programs rather than prison. As a result, demand for substance abuse counselors is expected to increase much faster than demand for most other occupations through 2018.
This next-level degree program is designed to meet the needs of learners who wish to pursue a career as an addiction counseling professional. The program prepares students to treat substance abuse and dependency disorders. Courses provide a comprehensive survey of counseling theories, group counseling, social and cultural issues, psychopharmacology, family issues, and more. In addition, a supervised internship provides 150 contact hours of opportunity for student to develop their counseling skills.
In many states, a master's degree is required for the highest level of licensing or certification. Graduates of this program are prepared to meet the academic requirements for licensure in Arizona as a both a Licensed Associate Substance Abuse Counselor (LASAC) and a Licensed Independent Substance Abuse Counselor (LISAC). Additionally, program graduates from most other states will be academically prepared to begin the process of seeking certification and licensure in their home state.
Licensing and certification requirements may vary from state to state. It is the student's responsibility to check the requirements in their state.
Prospective students must hold a bachelor's degree prior to enrollment.
Registered Nurses who are driven to expedite their professional mobility and who do not yet possess a BSN degree should consider our Accelerated RN to MSN online program. This program delivers an intensive, streamlined course of study that awards both a BSN and an MSN upon completion.
The Nurse Educator specialization is designed for RNs who want to develop and train nurses to meet the challenges of a rapidly developing and continually changing healthcare environment.
If you want to learn how to craft the compelling stories behind film, television, games, and other entertainment media — and gain the skills to effectively market your work — Full Sail University's online Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts Degree Program can give you the tools you need. You'll explore concepts including visual storytelling, character development, screenwriting and storyboarding for a variety of media — building a diverse portfolio and the business know-how to pursue your dream career.
Course Highlights Include:
The changing world of journalism requires professionals to have an updated skill set to keep up with today's media consumers. Full Sail University's Online New Media Journalism Master's Degree Program teaches the skills needed to report and distribute the news for new media audiences by blending traditional methods with emerging technology. You'll learn how to produce multimedia content, use social media to engage audiences and promote your work, and publish and distribute content across digital delivery platforms.
Course Highlights:
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