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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Museum director
Dance instructor
Performing artist
Museum educator
Music teacher
Music therapist
Art therapist
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
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
TV or film producer
Digital marketer
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
You might choose to earn a Master of Arts degree for a variety of reasons, including career advancement, specialized knowledge, and skills development.
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].
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.
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.
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].
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.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Employment Projections, https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm.” Accessed February 11, 2025.
CarringtonCrisp. “It’s not the destination but the journey that counts, https://www.carringtoncrisp.com/news/news-and-articles/its-not-the-destination-but-the-journey-that-counts/.” Accessed February 11, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Community and Social Service Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/home.htm.” Accessed February 11, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Education, Training, and Library Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/home.htm.” Accessed February 11, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Arts and Design Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/home.htm.” Accessed February 11, 2025.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Media and Communication Occupations, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/home.htm.” Accessed February 11, 2025.
Glassdoor. “How much does a Master Of Arts make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/master-of-arts-salary-SRCH_KO0,14.htm.” Accessed February 11, 2025.
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