Educationally, what is the difference between a Masters and Doctorate in Biology? Other than cost of program, length, title and needing a thesis for a Ph.D., what is the difference between the two? I’d like to earn one or the other because I love the content, but I would rather go with a Masters if the difference isn’t great.
It really depends what you want to do. If you’re thinking more along the Biomedical Engineering or Industry track, a Master’s is probably sufficient. However, if you want to do research, a PhD is de facto required.
With the Biology field, a PhD is almost required to do anything really worth doing, even if you go into BioME or industry, you’ll have more prestige and get paid more.
There are thesis-based MS programs, too. The difference between a Master’s thesis and a PhD dissertation is one of depth and scope.
Basically, the point of a PhD program is to teach you how to perform novel research on your own. It’s a research degree. You use it to specialize in one very specific thing (whatever your research topic/area is).
So it would not be of use to obtain a Ph.D. If I just want to learn, ok thanks
Also, aura, does that mean I can’t get one for general biology?
Correct. A student getting a PhD will have a very narrow research focus based on their and their advisor’s research interests. Look up some PhD dissertation titles in the area of biology (or any area, for that matter)–it’ll give you an idea of the type of focus that a PhD entails.
Research is the meat and potatoes of a PhD. Generally speaking, most Master’s students and PhD students will have to take about the same amount of coursework. The difference is that a PhD requires considerably more research culminating in the defense of a dissertation.