(ThyBlackMan.com) There are many reasons one might choose to pursue a master’s degree. For some careers, it’s simply required; you won’t get terribly far as a psychologist with only a bachelor’s degree, after all. For others, it’s about learning, reaching ever higher within the bounds of formal education. The most common reason that people decide to go for a master’s, however, is to make leaps in their careers and see the higher levels of income that career advancement brings. Those former two categories of people already know precisely what it is that they’re looking for—if you want to be a psychologist, you’ll need a graduate degree in psychology, and if you’re just there to learn, you’ll choose whatever interests you at the moment. But what about everyone else, like those whose careers have little to do with their undergraduate major? How can people who are primarily interested in moving their careers forward choose a degree?
The first thing to consider is what you’re already doing, and where you hope to go. Educators, for example, might see boosts in pay from earning a master’s degree in the field in which they teach, but they would likely still be performing the same job with the same duties. An educator who wanted to transition to administrative positions, such as principal, would be better off looking for a degree program in
educational leadership, so knowing what you want is key to making this decision. Master’s degrees can also facilitate career changes, if so desired, providing the education needed to get a running start in a new field. To continue with the theme of educators, a research scientist could, for example, pick up a master’s in education and transition to being a high school science teacher in most states.
If you aren’t looking for a major career change, and you’re not in a field like medicine where job titles correlate strongly with specific degrees, it can be a lot less obvious what to do. Business degrees are a great option for people working in offices or large businesses, as they are predominantly designed to help students build the skills needed for high-level positions that come with a corresponding pay bump. With a focus on skills like leadership, managing groups, and budgeting, MBA programs offer dedicated students what they need to make the jump from working in a department to leading it.
MBA degree programs can also come tailored to fit with existing talents and knowledge, allowing you to both build your knowledge base in your specialty and develop new abilities that aid in climbing the corporate ladder. New specializations within MBA are becoming available all the time, providing education in revolutionary technologies like cryptocurrencies and blockchain which are highly in demand. There are more conventional options as well, of course; MBA in management are still among the most popular degrees each year, primarily because of their flexibility. Leadership skills are key to any organization that’s trying to move towards a goal, no matter its focus, and often a lack of experience with management is the only thing holding some people back from a promotion. And that’s without getting into any of the dedicated business management careers, like project manager, that one could take on after earning their master’s.
Returning to school for a master’s degree can have major impacts on your career, but as always, it’s important to think carefully about your plans and expectations. For some, further honing their existing specialty will be the right move, while others may need to build a whole new specialization for themselves in order to facilitate the career change they’ve been dreaming of. MBA offer a flexible path through a variety of fields that can conform to the dreams of many, but they aren’t one-size-fits-all, and only you can decide what the right road forward is. So long as you’ve done your research and made an informed decision, you can feel confident in the bright future ahead.
Staff Writer; Terry Jones