Question about Master's degree?

Question

I heard that you shouldn't get your Master's degree from the same institution that granted you your Bachelor's degree. Is there any truth to this? Does it look better to potential employers if your degrees are from separate institutions?

Not to be rude, but, please, if you don't have personal experience (have a Bachelor's/ Master's, work in educational administration, are on the hiring committee of an educational institution) don't answer. I don't need answers like, "Sounds right to me". Thanks.

Answer 1

Here's the bottom line:

In certain areas of study, it is a common practice to go to a different university for one's Master's degree. This is for three reasons.

First, for graduate study, one is shooting for the most prestigious program to which one can gain admission, particularly if one intends to pursue the PhD.

Second, in terms of choosing a graduate program, one is seeking to study with certain professors whose fields of specialization dovetail with the student's interests and goals.

Third, attending a different university will expose the student to a different and wider array of theories and methods used in the field of study than the ones to which the student was exposed in undergraduate work. In graduate study, this is critical.

Unless a student is in a field like education, social work, or fine arts, where the MA (or MFA) is sufficient (and usually the terminal degree attained), then attending the most prestigious graduate school possible is the usual aim. Even in those fields, there are exceptions, such as when a student wishes to become an administrator or innovator in the field. There are also exceptions in the sciences, for instance, when an undergraduate student has an outstanding working relationship with a professor, and has specific interests in working on that professor's specific projects in a laboratory.

I hope this clarified things, and best wishes to you!

Answer 2

I haven't known anyone to have a problem if they have both the Bachelor's Degree and the Master's Degree from the same institution ...

However, they may look at the time between the degrees, and if there is no visible work experience that would lend them the information on how you perform in the working world -- then that could POSSIBLY be the one reason where this situation would be looked at in a different manner.

Me -- well, I earned my UGrad and Graduate Degrees from Different institutions -- but of course -- the reason was that I was serving on Active Duty in the Military, and due to changes in Duty Stations, the institutions where I obtained my UGrad and Grad Degrees from was DIFFERENT -- because I had to deploy, meet TDY commitments, and they had to have not just accreditation, but also be approved for study relating to the Military Occupational Speciality which I was in ...

Answer 3

Rude is fine when you're dealing with higher education. Ask people that know what they are talking about. My personal opinion is that you should earn your Masters in a school that is well reputed in your area of interest. I attended one college when I was interested in Journalism, went on to a crappy law school, changed my plans to a Masters in Education and found the best one in my area. I don't know that it necessarily looks better to employers but would you want a doctor from a back-water, just show up with a pencil and we'll pass you school, or one from Yale working on you? I feel confident that I based my decision on where I would receive the best and most marketable education in my area of interest. Employers are concerned with your knowledge base and whether you are able to demonstrate your abilities in your chosen position. The better the process the better the product. Choose the program, not necessarily the school. If your undergrad is at a school with an equally impressive Masters program in your area of interest, stay; if not, start looking.

Answer 4

Most employers don't mind if you have your two degrees from one single institution or seperate institutions. Employers these days will look at both the units you studied (if coursework) as well as what program you completed. As long as the quality of the teaching is good, and the classes taken are relevant, it doesn't matter!!

Answer 5

I know several people who have not only earned their AB and AM degrees at the same institution, but have gone on to get their PhDs there as well (myself included). I suppose it depends on the field you're interested in going into AND on the university/college, but I haven't known anyone who has had a problem as a result of this alone.