The Purpose of College vs. Graduate Studies
Categories: US Education News
A graduate degree is meant to bolster someone's expertise within a field in which they have already demonstrated significant potential. That differs from a college education, which usually includes general education classes in fields like biology and history. A primary goal of a college education is to provide students with "a broad understanding of human civilization," says Robert C. Bird, a professor of business law at the University of Connecticut's business school. Jana Hunzicker, associate dean for academic affairs at Bradley University's college of education and health sciences in Illinois, notes that a college degree is often the baseline credential required for entry-level positions."Most students who pursue a master's degree have a fairly clear idea of what they want to do next in their career," she wrote in an email. And "by the time a student seeks a doctoral degree, he or she has likely reached a point of feeling that they have learned or done as much as they can do without seeking further expert instruction."Here are several other key differences between college and grad school that experts say prospective grad students should keep in mind.