What's That Degree For? An Overview of Common Graduate Degree Programs

Making the choice to pursue a master's degree or PhD is a big decision—deciding on a particular area of focus can be an even bigger decision.

Prior to selecting an area of graduate study, it's important to have a clear understanding of how your degree may apply to a variety of professions in the social-impact sector. More specifically, you’ll want to know how a degree fits into your unique career path well before finishing a program.

Not sure where to start? Below you'll find an overview of common grad degrees and programs, including details on how they may direct your career path. For a deeper dive, click the degree name at the top of each section.

Graduate Degrees in Journalism

Journalism is a versatile field with job opportunities such as public relations, publishing, investigative reporting, broadcasting, and political critique, among others. Graduates use their skills as writers, editors, and broadcasters to inform and engage the public on important issues of the day.

A master’s in journalism program can run anywhere from ten months to two years, and many place a strong emphasis on connecting communications basics with the actual processing and presentation of information to the public. They do this by conducting interactive classes, requiring field experience—such as internships or participation in campus media—and fostering discussions with local professionals.

Most graduate schools in journalism either require or strongly recommend between three to five years of work experience and/or demonstrated interest in journalism before applying. This includes freelance writing or editing for a local or school publication, internships, and undergraduate courses in journalism or media.

Graduate Degrees in Public Health

Public health is a broad field focusing on reducing health disparities and increasing health care equity, quality, and accessibility. Graduates with a master’s in public health work on disease prevention and health education in a variety of specializations, from environmental health to nutrition.

Most full-time master of public health programs run for two years, although international graduate programs tend to be one year long. Due to its broadness as a field, the study of public health is divided into areas of specialization such as behavioral science and health education, biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health services administration, international or global health, maternal and child health, nutrition, and more.

Graduate Degrees in International Relations

International relations is a field encompassing everything from human rights and sustainable development to economics and policy analysis. Graduates with a master’s in international relations develop and apply a global perspective on a variety of complex issues that transcend national boundaries.

A master’s degree in international relations (also referred to as international affairs) usually requires two years of full-time coursework. Like other professional graduate programs, international relations curricula place a strong emphasis on connecting the theoretical with the practical. Experiential learning is often encouraged and sometimes required, and is achieved through internships with international organizations as well as semesters abroad.

Because international relations is a wide-ranging and interdisciplinary field, graduate programs offer you the flexibility to explore and cultivate a number of intellectual and professional interests within the degree area, including foreign languages, economics, communications, and public policy.

Graduate Degrees in Community Psychology

Community psychology is a specialization linking social-impact service with clinical psychological inquiry. Graduates of community psychology programs often devote their careers to advancing theory, research, and collaborative action to promote positive well-being, increase empowerment, and advance social justice.

Degree programs in community psychology can range from four to six years. This is because most of them offer non-terminal master’s degrees—meaning you’ll be applying for a PhD in community psychology or a related field (of which community psychology is an elective specialization) and will acquire your master’s degree along the way. As a result, it will likely take longer than a typical graduate program to complete your coursework, fieldwork, capstone project, and doctoral dissertation.

Graduate Degrees in Education

Education is a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary field that encompasses areas of focus including administration, teaching, mentorship, and counseling. Graduates with a master’s in education create and foster systems, policies, practices, and environments that enable students to grow and develop.

A master of education degree usually requires one to two years of coursework. Students typically begin by choosing a concentration, such as arts education, physical education, student affairs, school counseling, leadership, or administration, and then move on to explore various intellectual and professional interests within those areas of focus.

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Curious about getting to know more about which grad school programs can advance your social-impact career? RSVP for Idealist’s Grad School Fair in NYC on October 9th!