Why You Need a Master's Degree

College degrees used to be rare. Employers were willing to pay a premium for someone with a bachelor's degree. Bachelor's degree signified a level of skill that went beyond the average employee.

Times have certainly changed. Current mentality is that everyone should go to college. While making college more accessible financially through loans and scholarships has certainly been beneficial, most colleges have become more accessible to lower standards as well. A bachelors degree in 2010 often represents much less work than a bachelors degree in 1910.

Originally people went to college to stand out in the job market. As more people graduate with bachelor's degrees this is no longer the case. Standing out in the job market requires either going to a prestigious school were getting an education that goes beyond the average.

Education at the Masters level provides this additional designation. Masters degrees typically take 18 months to four years to complete -- significantly less than most PhD programs.

Bachelor's degrees include much general education with a moderate amount of focusing your major. Masters degrees on the other hand are very focused with minimal general education requirements.

A master's degree in your field can help you stand out in a crowded job market. It isn't a silver bullet to getting a job, but can often be very beneficial. Employers expect the traditional education will make you more productive and skilled. They are often willing to pay more for this higher level of productivity. Of course it's up to you to realize those expectations.

A master's degree can be a great aid to your career. There are a number of options for online classes and nontraditional students that make it much easier to get an advanced degree than it has ever been. Along with a good work ethic and finely honed skills, a master's degree can be winning ingredient in career success.