Look through the text and be ready to summarize its main ideas.

A master’s degree is the specialized academic course of study that’s intended to hone your professionalism in the area you choose. Master’s programs can last anywhere from one to three years depending upon the particular course you’ve chosen. During your master’s program you can expect to take classes and exams, and in some cases you may conduct research and write a thesis or dissertation. Depending upon the school you’re attending, you may also have the option of teaching, which can help defray the cost of your tuition as well as provide you with important experience.

*Master’s degree vs. bachelor’s degree*

In today’s world, because of the phenomenon of degree inflation, a bachelor’s degree is still valuable, but no longer seen as a mark of exceptional academic capability. Many people believe that in a competitive workforce, a master’s is the minimum needed to stand out from your peers and excel in your career. In most cases, your master’s level coursework will be more specialized and challenging than your bachelor’s level coursework. Generally speaking, your classes will be conducted as discussion-heavy seminars rather than lectures in which you’re passively learning. Service-oriented master’s programs can also require an internship or practicum, in which you’re placed at a site where you can learn skills hands-on. For example, if you’re obtaining your master’s in social work, you may spend time at a setting where you’re actually learning how to offer therapy and case management, rather than simply reading about it and discussing it in a classroom.

*Competitive career advantage with a master’s degree*

Master’s degrees are often, though not always, prerequisites for certain career paths. They’re often also necessary if you wish to obtain a doctoral degree. If you’d like to make a career switch, going back to school for your master’s is a great way to gain experience and facilitate that change. Similarly, if your chosen career path has nothing to do with what you studied as an undergraduate, you’ll likely need a master’s so you can get the education you need. In this case, it makes far more sense to pursue a master’s rather than go back for an additional bachelor’s since full time bachelor’s degrees take four years to complete. Many master’s programs are offered online, part-time and/or with evening and weekend classes to accommodate working professionals schedules. A master’s degree also allows you to upgrade your bachelor’s. If you obtained your bachelor’s from a college that isn’t particularly well known, a master’s from a well-reputed school can vastly improve your resume. Similarly, stellar academic performance at a master’s program can make up for ho-hum undergraduate grades.

*Types of master’s degrees*

There are many types of master’s degrees, and while these aren’t the only degrees available to you, they are among the most popular.

*Master of Arts or M.A.* An M.A. is a graduate degree in the Humanities, such as English or history. Some universities offer an M.A. for the social sciences such as psychology or sociology.

*Master of Science or M.S.* An M.S. refers to a degree in the Sciences, often including the social sciences. Many M.S. programs are course-based, research-based or a mixture of the two.

*Master of Business Administration or MBA* An MBA is a graduate degree that focuses on various areas of business including accounting, finance, marketing and human resources.

*Master of Fine Arts or M.F.A.* An M.F.A is a graduate degree in the visual, creative or performing arts. M.F.A programs often culminate with a major work or performance.

*Master of Music or M.M. or M.Mus.* An M.M or M.Mus is a graduate degree in an applied area of music performance, composition or conducting with a focus on music theory and history.

*Master of Physician Assistant Studies, or M.P.A.S.* An M.P.A.S. is graduate degree that trains and licenses healthcare professionals to practice medicine with limited supervision by a physician.

*Master of Engineering, or M.Eng.* An M.Eng. refers to a professional engineering degree offered as an alternative to the traditional research-based Master of Science.

TEXT 2 Taking a Post-Graduate Course

1. Read the text to find the answers to the following questions:

1) What does your research deal with?

2) What are you engaged in at present?

Last year by the decision of the Scientific Council I took post-graduate courses to increase my knowledge in economics. I passed three entrance examinations - in History, English and the special subject. So now I am a first year post-graduate student of the Orenburg State University. I'm attached to the Statistics Department. In the course of my post-graduate studies I am to pass candidate examinations in philosophy, English and the special subject. So I attend courses of English and philosophy. I'm sure the knowledge of English will help me in my research.

My research deals with economics. The theme of the dissertation (thesis) is "Computer-Aided Tools for...". I was interested in the problem when a student so by now I have collected some valuable data for my thesis.

I work in close contact with my research adviser (superviser). He graduated from the Moscow State University 15 years ago and got his doctoral degree at the age of 40. He is the youngest Doctor of Sciences at our University. He has published a great number of research papers in journals not only in this country but also abroad.

He often takes part in the work of scientific conferences and symposia. When I encounter difficulties in my work I always consult my research adviser.

At present I am engaged in collecting the necessary data. I hope it will be a success and I will be through with my work on time.

2. Read passage 2 and answer the following questions: What is the theme of your dissertation?

3. Read passage 3 and speak about your research adviser according to the following plan:

1. Doctor's degree.

2. Scientific publications.

3. Participation in the work of scientific conferences.

4. Inform your colleague:

Ø what candidate examinations you have already passed;

Ø what the theme of your dissertation is;

Ø how many scientific papers you have published;

Ø if you are busy with making an experiment.