• 1-2 years
• Coursework in field of interest
• Requires thesis and thesis defense (or preliminary exam, if continuing on toward Ph.D.)
• Selection and performance of original research
• Timely progress and completion reports on their research findings as required by the major professor or funding agency.
• One or more manuscripts suitable for submission to a refereed scientific journal.
• May be terminal (i.e., can’t continue same studies toward a Ph.D.), or may be awarded immediately prior to starting a relevant Ph.D. program.

Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

• Highest earned academic degree
• 5 years, on average (if includes M.S. or equivalent experience)
• May or may not be combined with an  M.S. degree
• Requires conducting original research, some of which will be published in a scientific journal.
• Trains you to be a scholar and researcher.
• Requires a written dissertation and an oral defense of the dissertation.
• Required for a career as a university professor, high-level researcher, etc.
• Teaching experience may be required by serving as a graduate teaching assistant for undergraduate courses in the same department or school.