Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Darkness]

Just curious who here has their master's degree, and in what, and if they could tell me a bit about doing their master's.

I'm thinking about pursuing my Master's when I get home, and just wonder what is involved...

[kangnam mafioso]

i have a masters in english; here's what's involved: 2-3 years of coursework and possibly a thesis (longish paper 100 pages or so on a particular area of focus). most programs have a thesis option where you can choose to do the paper or take extra classes in lieu of it. most graduate students take 2-3 courses per semester and are teaching assistants (teaching a lower-level composition class or assisting a full professor with his or her class) or graduate assistants (helping a professor with research, etc) in exchange for a tuition waiver and stipend ($950 a month or so at most average universities). despite the free tuition and stipend, you will probably have to get some student loans to make ends meet.

[tzechuk]

MSc International Business, Birkbeck College, University of London, UK.

[Darkness]

As far as money and loans etc go, I'm not worried about that.

I'm more curious as to what is involved with getting it, and getting into the program...

That helped though thanks, any more input would be great!

[jaganath69]

If you can't distinguish the correct context for possessives, you might want to think twice about getting one.

[bluelake]

MA in Korean studies

[Corky]

If you're doing a residency programme where you attend classes on campus, you'll first need the prerequisites, which means you may have to do a qualifying year or term before you enter the programme. I'm not sure about on-line degrees though. Typically, prerequisites include fourth-year BA seminar classes and other major-related courses.

The MA classes are very different from undergrad. They are typically seminar style, so students do a lot of research and present seminars during 3-hour classes. The prof tends to introduce the content and then let the students take it from there. At least, that's how my English MA went.

There's a lot of reading involved (usually a lot of theory in the form of journal essays, which accompany a primary text), and the papers are a lot longer than in undergrad.

If you enjoy doing research and then talking about it, then you'll enjoy doing a masters degree. If not, then you probably won't like it.

After a year of courses, usually students write a thesis over a year, and then they defend it in front of a committee. On-line degrees are different, but I don't know much about them.

[cubanlord]

I am currently working on my Master's through Shenandoah University (http://www.su.edu). I would strongly recommend you checking out the site.

[TECO]

[Bibbitybop]

First, you need to think about WHAT you are going to get a Master's in. Is it English? Political Science? Biology? Business? All these are going to demand different things from you.

Next: What country are you thinking about applying in? Universities vary from country to country, and in the US, qualifications and demands differ from school to school.

Third, and this should probably be first, but fk it: What do you want to AFTER you get your Master's?? If you want to work at a job that requires the Master's, get the Master's. If you don't know what you want to do and are thinking the Master's will give you something to do, then you are right. A Master's program will give you something to do for 2 years (in the US, it's 2 years, even 1 if you buckle down), but you may end up no better than you were with a bachelor's IF you don't plan ahead. The teaching experience you can gain by obtaining an assistantship is wonderful, but it's not a "teaching certificate" and you may find yourself going after jobs you only need a bachelor's degree for.

Fourth: You need to contact the schools you are interested in attending, or at least schools that offer a Master's program in your field. They can tell you the specific details about requirements, costs and efforts involved in the program and the potential jobs you can get with it. Dave's esl cafe is NOT the place to get certified info about "what a Master's program is like." Just look at jaganath69's answer. Then, look at his handle. "69, dude!"

[edited for alcohol induced typos]

[J.B. Clamence]

Programs vary considerably from field to field. Also, there are different kinds of programs. Sometimes there are even different options within the same university, such as a MA with a thesis for people planning to pursue a PhD later, or no thesis for those who are not.

[jaganath69]

[4 months left]

What exactly is considered a Masters Degree? What I mean is for example a lawyer or accountant - they don't technically get a "Masters Degree" but obviously the extra study they do would be considered the same as a Masters Degree. In Korea would they be considered as having a Masters Degree when applying to a University? (I am not 100% sure of this, that is why I am asking and correct me if I am wrong ) The reason I ask is would a CFA or CMT be considered in the same category? Although they are not a Masters Degree the amount of studying put into the courses would be similar to a Masters.

[stumptown]

[Cerebroden]