Is a Master's Degree Worth It?
Learn more about evaluating whether a master's degree is the right decision for your future.
November 24, 2021
Article
Earning a degree can be a rewarding way to deepen your knowledge, develop key job skills, and increase your career opportunities. With these resources, you can make the best choice for you and your unique educational journey.
Explore degrees from top universities
University of Pennsylvania
Skills you'll gain: Vital Signs, Respiration, Health Assessment, Anatomy, Health Care, Patient Treatment
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
California Institute of the Arts
Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Logo Design, Digital Design, Color Theory, Adobe InDesign, Brand Strategy, Style Guides, Branding, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Creative Design, Design, Visual Design, Adobe Photoshop, Design Strategies, Design Reviews, Design Research, Storytelling
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Data Visualization, Interactive Data Visualization, Big Data, Data Visualization Software, Data Analysis, IBM Cognos Analytics, Statistical Analysis, Data Mining, Dashboard, Apache Hadoop, Data Collection, Tree Maps, Excel Formulas, Apache Hive, Microsoft Excel, Data Quality, Data Cleansing, Data Import/Export
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Earning your degree is a big commitment, but it can also yield big rewards. As you consider the next step in your higher education, bookmark these resources and guides for each step along the way. Explore advice and information on:
That depends on the degree you’re interested in earning. Many of the bachelor’s degrees on Coursera from US-based institutions, such as Georgetown University’s Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, allow students to transfer some previously earned college credits. Some, like the University of North Texas’ Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences and Bachelor of Science in General Business, are degree completion programs and require transfer credits in order to enroll.
Each university determines the number of pre-approved transfer credits that may count towards the degree requirements according to institutional policies. Check with each degree program for more information.
You can also build credit toward an online degree program by first enrolling in university pre-approved courses, specializations, and certificates on Coursera. If you decide to apply and are admitted, the courses you’ve completed may count toward your degree requirements.
Yes, typically a bachelor’s degree is required to pursue a master’s degree, though it doesn’t have to be the same subject or field.
However, some master’s programs on Coursera do not require a bachelor’s degree for admission. These include the University of Colorado Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Master of Engineering in Engineering Management, and Master of Science in Data Science, which offer performance-based admission.
Many degree programs with Coursera’s university partners are designed to be pursued part-time or full-time, depending on your availability.
Undergraduate degrees take between two and six years, depending on the amount of college credit you’re able to transfer (if applicable) and the length of each degree program. For instance, BITS Pilani recommends dedicating 25 hours per week to your courses, while the University of London recommends 28 hours per week.
Graduate degrees can take between one and three years.
From certified public accounts to physician assistants, many careers require you to have a master's degree before you can work in the field. Some of those include physical therapists, audiologists, architects, nurse practitioners, postsecondary educators, genetic counselors, school administrators, social workers, librarians, marriage counselors, clinical psychologists, and archeologists.
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