In most science majors, is it necessary to have a bachelors before getting a PHD or Masters?

Question

Especially for transferring to a UC. Do they require you have a bachelors first or can you simply take the core requirements then transfer into a Masters/PHD program?

I already have a bachelors in another field.

Answer 1

Admission to graduate schools and acceptance into a masters or doctoral program is much different than the process of admissions to an undergraduate school. Admissions to advanced degree programs are typically very competitive and many accept only some 10 to 25 percent of the applicants. There are the famously rare instances such as Dr. Jane Goodall who won acceptance to a doctoral program in anthropology without a bachelor's degree as a foundation. Please note that she is a rare exception to the rule.

The advanced degrees in scientific disciplines in particular rely on a thorough grounding in the foundations of the topic. The bachelors degree is the "basic training" that prepares one for advanced work. This knowledge base is required to understand and build upon a more extensive and refined fund of knowledge and skills through which one is able to make significant contributions to the empirical research literature of that discipline.

Answer 2

Since you already have a bachelors degree, you will probably just need to take the pre-requisite courses (science and math courses are sequenced) before taking the 500-600 level ones.

Also, you can take up to twelve hours in non-degree status (graduate level courses) before you are officially accepted into graduate school. At that time, these 12 credits will become part of your graduate work.

I highly recommend you get a UC Catalog of Courses, so you can see what courses you will need to take to prepare you for graduate school. You may want to meet with an academic advisor to have them evaluate your "unofficial" transcript, also.

Some colleges offer a separate masters and doctorate program, others combine them and accept you into one. In the latter, you begin work on your masters, and upon completion present your thesis which becomes the basis for your doctoral dissertation.

Best wishes.

Answer 3

You do generally need a BS or BA -- but you don't need it in that field. My PhD is in Finance -- but my undergraduate degree is in Mathematics. I got my PhD at UC-Berkeley.

I also got into a graduate program in Philosophy with my math degree.

Some schools will allow seniors to enter a graduate program without a degree -- giving them a combined degree. This is rare, and not usually available to students coming from a different school.

Answer 4

in case you desire to coach at a school you will want a doctorate that could take 6 years once you have your Bachelor's. maximum respected PhD classes want you to have a grasp's degree on your field earlier making use of. That takes 2 years plus the 4 years interior the PhD application. in case you desire to coach at at community college you like a grasp's degree (2 years) interior the sphere you desire to coach in or a minimum of a grasp's with 18 graduate point hours interior the situation you desire to coach.

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

You do need a bachelors degree in SOMETHING. If you've completed most of the courses in that program, however, it doesn't really matter what your degree is in - if you're prepared, you're prepared. But you do need a 4 year degree.

Answer 7

yes.