What Can You Do with a Master of Arts Degree?

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

A Master of Arts degree can lead you to advancements in your field, help you hone your skills, and set you up to become a lifelong learner. It may also help you if you're interested in careers in fields like education, human services, and journalism.

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A Master of Arts (MA) is a graduate degree that can deepen your knowledge of a subject in the humanities, social sciences, and arts. Through an MA degree program, you can gain important knowledge and skills needed for a variety of careers, including in fields like education, art and design, languages, journalism and communications, and human services. You may also qualify for more senior roles because a growing number of employers prefer advanced education. Outside of your career, you may even experience personal growth and acquire lifelong skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving.

Earning a Master of Arts degree can open doors to exciting career pathways and opportunities for advancement. To decide whether this might be right for you, explore different areas you can earn an MA in, the advantages of a graduate degree, and the job outlook for graduates.

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What is an MA (Master of Arts) degree?

A Master of Arts degree is a graduate degree that focuses on a specific concentration within the liberal arts or humanities, such as English, philosophy, art, or a foreign language. It usually takes about two to three years to earn your MA. In addition to taking advanced courses in your subject area that may include seminars, discussions, and academic research and writing, your program may also expect you to complete a thesis or capstone project.

What can you do with a master’s degree in the arts?

Master of Arts degrees allow you to work in a variety of fields. Other master's degrees, like certain Master of Science (MS) degrees, the Master of Education (MEd) degree, and the Master of Business Administration (MBA), prepare students to pursue specific career paths or industries. A Master of Arts may also prepare you for a designated career path, but you'll also likely gain valuable—and versatile—transferable skills that you can apply in a broad range of industries. For example, the research, language, and critical thinking skills you'll typically gain in a Spanish language master's program can lead to work in translation, interpretation, international relations, and numerous other areas.

Some common subjects that can lead to a Master of Arts degree include:

  • Art history

  • Journalism and mass communication 

  • Languages (classical languages, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, etc.) 

  • English 

  • Education and related topics, like educational psychology  

  • History

  • Political science

  • Sociology

  • Philosophy

  • Religion 

  • International affairs

  • Comparative literature  

Take a closer look at some common MA fields of study and where they might lead you in your career.

Education

Many people who earn a Master of Arts degree often end up working in education. As a matter of fact, many people who are already teachers or working in education will seek a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) or education to expand their career choices. It's also a great option for people who have bachelor's degrees in other topics and would like to transition to teaching. People who earn this degree typically work as:

  • Elementary and secondary school teachers 

  • Special education teachers

  • Principals and school administrators 

  • School or career counselors 

  • Education coordinators at museums, zoos, and aquariums 

  • Educational consultants 

  • Corporate trainers 

  • Curriculum developers

Art and design

While a Master of Arts degree is more about liberal arts than fine arts, you can earn a Master of Arts degree in subjects that focus on your creative side, like art history, art and design, art therapy, dance, and music. This type of master's degree can help you hone your talents and may lead you to one of these careers:

  • Art teacher

  • Animator

  • Graphic designer

  • Museum director 

  • Dance instructor 

  • Performing artist 

  • Museum educator 

  • Music teacher 

  • Music therapist

  • Art therapist  

Languages

Earning a master's degree in a foreign language can open up opportunities in any field where there may be a language barrier that requires communication. You might find jobs in both the public and private sectors, such as:

  • Translator 

  • English as a foreign language teacher  

  • Foreign correspondent  

  • Civil service employee

  • Intelligence specialist 

  • Linguist 

  • Drug enforcement agent

  • Foreign service officer

  • Health care interpreter 

Journalism and communications

An MA degree in journalism or communications can help you advance your career or lead to opportunities in journalism, advertising, public relations, new media, and mass media. Some potential jobs in these areas might include:

  • Staff writer 

  • Editor

  • Copywriter

  • Broadcast journalist

  • Political campaign manager 

  • Event manager 

  • Public relations manager 

  • Advertising manager

  • Social media marketer

  • TV or film producer

  • Digital marketer 

Human services

If you’re interested in serving others, you may choose a Master of Arts that can lead to a career in human services. You might select a degree concentration like sociology, social sciences, counseling, therapy, criminal justice, or human services. This can lead to careers like:

  • Social worker

  • Health care administrator 

  • Mental health counselor

  • Researcher

  • Education administrator 

  • Marriage and family therapist 

  • Case manager

  • Community outreach worker 

  • Probation officer

  • Occupational therapist 

  • Public policy consultant 

  • Substance abuse counselor

Advantages of an MA degree

You might choose to earn a Master of Arts degree for a variety of reasons, including career advancement, specialized knowledge, and skills development.

Career advancement

Many people choose to get a Master of Arts degree to help advance their careers. You may want to strive for a promotion or move into a leadership or management position, and a master’s degree may be a requirement—or a way to help you stand out from other applicants. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in addition to earning more per week, master’s degree holders have a lower unemployment rate than those with an associate or bachelor’s degree [1].

Specialized knowledge in a field

You might want to advance your knowledge in a particular field, not because you're aiming for a promotion, but because you want to be better at your job. You may learn about new technology or methods that are prevalent in your field now compared to when you first started or earned your bachelor's degree. With an MA degree, you may be able to make a greater contribution to your job or even offer your skills and knowledge as a consultant.

Acquiring skills and lifelong learning  

Perhaps you want to learn more about a subject because it interests you or you'd like to hone your skills, like writing or research. According to a survey by CarringtonCrisp, 74 percent of adults want to join an organization that encourages lifelong learning [2]. Survey respondents cited increasing their earning potential, learning new skills, and refreshing their current skills as top motivators.

Job outlook 

You'll find that many careers that may require a Master of Arts degree are projected to grow between 2023 and 2033. According to the BLS, careers in social and community services may grow at a rate of 299,400 new openings per year over the next decade [3]. That includes jobs like marriage and family therapists, school counselors, probation officers, social workers, and mental health counselors. 

The BLS also projects that education, training, and library careers may grow at a rate of 868,000 new openings per year between 2023 and 2033 [4]. That includes careers like museum curators, ESL teachers, special education teachers, and general elementary and secondary education teachers. 

Art and design careers are expected to grow at a rate of 87,900 new openings per year percent between 2023 and 2033, according to the BLS [5]. Media and communications careers may see a growth rate of 109,500 new openings per year [6]. 

What is a typical Master of Arts salary?

Because of the varied professions you can enter with your MA degree, the salary you earn is highly dependent on your specialization and the career you pursue. However, Glassdoor estimates that the average MA base salary is $73,181, as of December 2024 [7]. 

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Earning a Master of Arts degree allows you to specialize in a field of your choice, opening exciting career pathways in industries such as art, journalism, human services, and more. Whether you’re interested in new professional opportunities or specialized knowledge, you can earn an online master’s degree from leading universities on Coursera. Learn more about how earning a master’s degree online could fit in with your life and goals.

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Article sources

1

 US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Employment Projections, https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm.” Accessed February 11, 2025.

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