Terminal MA vs ph.D

<p>What are the pros and cons of getting a terminal M.A. and then doing a Ph.D. program instead of doing an MA en rounte to a Ph.D?</p>

<p>You may pay more for the masters, if you can get in to a PhD program you ought to be funded, though some masters do offer tuition remission and TA/RA funding.</p>

<p>You may need the masters to improve your profile (increase GPA, better exposure to research, etc) to qualify for your optimal PhD</p>

<p>It depends on your field. I can only speak to the humanities, so I will confine myself to that.</p>

<p>Terminal MA programs are often funded (although some are not - YMMV), and allow students to act as RAs or TAs. They are also venues in which students can hone their preparation in languages, method and theory, and in the literature of their intended subfield. Terminal MAs are also great places to work closely with faculty, who will then furnish PhD applicants with strong letters of recommendation that can provide evidence of the applicant's ability to work at the graduate level. Many terminal MAs are rather nurturing environments, where students can get close mentoring. A good terminal MA DGS will provide lots of guidance to students preparing their PhD applications.</p>

<p>All of these factors can be summarized in this way: A terminal MA can often serve as a launching pad to a PhD program that would otherwise have been out of the applicant's reach.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, attending a terminal MA program means you will have yet another round of applications in 2 years (this time to PhD programs), and these costs can add up. Moving costs (to the location of the PhD program) must also be factored in. An unfunded MA would also cause a student to accrue debt.</p>

<p>^^ don't remind me of the unfortunates... :(</p>

<p>But you may not want to be in a MA program in a department that also offers PhD and you'll be in classes with PhD students. It can be a sink or swim environment because the professors may pay more attention to the PhD students who are funded and you are not (and thus you have to worry about supporting yourself, way more than PhD students do). You might also miss out on the close interactions that the PhD students have just because they're doing the same track, and you're just <em>there</em> for two years.</p>

<p>But if you have a program that you're interested in that offers both terminal MA and courts to PhD students, ask the MA students, not the PhDs, for their experience with the program. A very good program in the situation should consistently remind the professors that MA students need to be nurtured too so it can boost its reputation for sending them off to top programs.</p>

<p>I believe the question of terminal masters versus a masters en route to a doctorate degree is field specific. What field is the OP considering?</p>

<p>I wouldn't say terminal master's are "often" funded...they are "sometimes" funded. You are far more likely to be funded in the natural sciences than in the humanities, I'd wager.</p>

<p>This is also field specific as Par Alum has noted. In my field, a terminal master's is almost a requirement before passing onto the Ph.D -- I'm a rarity, and that's because I'm in an interdisciplinary program. Many Ph.D programs in my field require a terminal master's (the MPH, or another master's degree) before applying for the doctoral programs. In my "secondary" field, though (psychology) it is about as common as not to have a master's before continuing to the Ph.D.</p>

<p>in biology or biomedical sciences it is rare to have a funded terminal master's program. In these fields, terminal masters are geared toward non-PhD careers, for example in biotechnology. In these fields, en route masters are also rare in today's doctorate programs.</p>

<p>Furthermore, most biomedical terminal masters are often really just post-bac programs for pre-meds trying to raise their GPA</p>

<p>English is the field.</p>

<p>Will getting a terminal M.A. hurt my chances of getting in a Ph.D. program? Some people say yes; others say getting an M.A. can help you get into a better program. What do you think? (My field is Rhetoric and Composition).</p>

<p>Generally if you don't have a major in that subject, a MA will be good. If you did major in that subject, you're better off getting your MA in a similar field (like interdisciplinary studies). Or if your GPA isn't really up to par with competitive PhD programs- thea adcoms will note that upward trend in your MA program and be confident that you can, after all, handle the grad level coursework.</p>

<p>So, if I majored in English, it would be better not to get an M.A. in English?</p>

<p>Right. It's the preferable route, you don't need to sit in another round of lit classes to bore you out when you should be getting closer to your dissertation. Ask your profs and see what they think about your preparation. It's always a good idea to apply to a mix of PhD and MA programs. Especially if you don't get in for PhD and the profs at the PhD programs give you a feedback and they say something like "more experienced applicants" or "many of them have had grad level coursework done..." Big fat hint to go to the MA program. Again, ask your profs for clarification.</p>

<p>But do you think Ph.D. programs in English will not want someone who already has a BA and MA in English, or is your advice just to reduce the tediousness for me with having to retake classes?</p>

<p>When you are considering programs, contact the DGS of each one. ASK what their PhD placement rate is.</p>

<p>This question is essential because many MA programs are "feeder programs" to PhD programs. Many others are not. You need to know about the nature of each program to which you are applying.</p>

<p>By saying that some MA's are "feeder" programs into the Ph.D., do you mean that that program allows you to get a Ph.D. at that same school, or by "feeder" program, do you just mean that the M.A. allows you to pursue a Ph.D. at any school?</p>

<p>Actually, my MA is not terminal (the program I'm in has a Ph.D. program, but it requires you apply separately). What are the pros and cons of doing an MA and PhD in English separately vs. doing the MA en route to the Ph.D.?</p>

<p>Wait a minute, if you're in the MA program, then why are you asking this? You can drop out with just an MA after your pass your comps and not do the PhD there if you want to transfer schools...? (although it might not be a good idea to do this route...)</p>

<p>Ask your own professors in the program.</p>

<p>I am already in the M.A. program, but the M.A. program at my school is separate from the Ph.D. program. Yes, they are in the same department and field. In order to do the Ph.D. program at my school, I would have to apply to it after I finished the M.A. Students who have MAs from other institutions are able to apply to and complete the Ph.D. program at my institution without redoing the M.A. (Although, the M.A. program requires 10 courses and the Ph.D. requires another 10, so it might take almost as much time. So, basically, at my school the M.A. is not earned en route to the Ph.D. I thought that this meant that the M.A. was terminal, but I found out that an M.A. was considered terminal only if that school did not have a Ph.D. program, which mine does. Once I complete the M.A. from this institution, will Ph.D. programs have a bias against a student with an M.A. already in hand. I plan to apply to the Ph.D. program at my current school, but I'm hoping I have other options as well.</p>

<p>eng00, there shouldn't be a bias against you with a master's degree. If your professors really like you and you've done well in your courses, it may increase your chances of staying at the school. It's still not a guarantee because PhD admissions is very competitive. Also apply to other programs. You may have to take more courses once you're admitted to a PhD program.</p>

<p>Anyone know know good terminal masters programs/schools?</p>