Understanding Master's Degrees at the U of M

All programs are designed to educate students in their chosen degree path and prepare them for professional or academic work.

Master's

Master's degrees are primarily for people who are seeking more education in a chosen field in preparation for specific work.

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Master of Arts programs are administered through the Graduate School and have a theoretical research focus. Master of Arts programs are more competitive than Master of Education programs, as the Graduate School has higher admissions standards.

Master of Arts programs available in Rochester include Adult Education and Human Resource Development. Students with specific career goals, such as pursuing a Ph.D. or an Ed.D., are encouraged to discuss the issue of selecting an M.A. or M.Ed. with an advisor to determine the right choice for them.

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Master of Education programs are provided by the College of Education and Human Resource Development and rely on coursework that can be applied directly to work settings. Students with specific career goals, such as pursuing a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. are encouraged to discuss the issue of selecting an M.A. or M.Ed. with an advisor to determine the right choice for them.

Master of Science (M.S.)

The Master of Science degree is customarily for persons who anticipate entering research and development. It is also the standard required degree for continuation on to many Ph.D. degree programs, usually in the social sciences and humanities.

The degree is offered under three options:

Plan A

Completion of a minimum number of graduate-level coursework credits and a thesis research project of at least 10 credits. This option is available for BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY (BICB), COMPUTER SCIENCE and ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING.

Plan B

Completion of a larger number of minimum graduate-level coursework credits and a professional project or paper. This option is available for BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY (BICB), and COMPUTER SCIENCE.

Plan C

Completion of graduate-level coursework including 3 credits with project, written report, and oral presentation course experience requirements. This option is available for ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING only.