Master's Degree

In broad terms, entry into a master’s degree indicates that the student has sufficient preparation in a field of study to pursue greater specialization in that field. The degree program is designed to assure mastery of specified knowledge and skills, rather than an accumulation of credits beyond the baccalaureate.

The master’s degree normally requires two years of full-time study and the completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit beyond the baccalaureate. Some specialized master’s degrees may require more than this minimum. The basic components of the degree may vary in emphasis, but generally include a common core in the discipline; an integrative experience such as a seminar or practicum to synthesize the program’s content and/or to translate theory into practice; and a summative experience to measure achievement and intellectual growth such as a thesis (6 credit hours), project, research paper and/or comprehensive examination.

Academic credit applicable to the master’s degree is only awarded for those courses designed to expand and strengthen skills beyond the level of the baccalaureate. Degree credit is not awarded for courses that are remedial or designed to fulfill prerequisites for admission. No more than 50 percent of the program’s coursework may be at the 50000 level (i.e., graduate courses slashed/co-scheduled with undergraduate courses).

Majors within the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree tend to emphasize liberal learning and qualitative methods of scholarship within a specific discipline. M.A. degree requirements often favor electives outside the discipline of the major.

Majors within the Master of Science (M.S.) degree tend to emphasize professional preparation and quantitative methods of scholarship within a specific discipline where scientific methodology predominates. M.S. degree requirements often favor requirements within the major.

Professional master’s degrees implies preparation for professional and/or clinical practice. Generally, professional graduate degrees represent terminal degrees in their field. The resulting professional activity usually involves the giving of service to the public in the chosen field.

Kent State offers 19 professional master’s degrees:

• Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)
• Master of Arts in Economics (M.A.E.)
• Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
• Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)
• Master of Education (M.Ed.)
• Master of Engineering Technology (M.E.T.)
• Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) via Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts (NEOMFA) consortium
• Master of Geographic Information Science (M.G.I.Sc.)
• Master of Healthcare Design (M.H.D.)
• Master of Landscape Architecture I (M.L.A.1)
• Master of Landscape Architecture II (M.L.A.2)
• Master of Liberal Studies (L.S.M.)
• Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.)
• Master of Music (M.M.)
• Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)
• Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)
• Master of Science in Accounting (M.S.A.)
• Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.)
• Master of Urban Design (M.U.D.)