Why Pursue a Graduate Degree?
During periods of high unemployment, many students elect to enroll in graduate school rather than enter the job market. On the surface, the decision may seem like a default career move. In reality, the pursuit of an advanced degree is a long term career investment. According to the US Department of Labor, individuals with an advanced degree can earn about twice that of a person holding a bachelor's degree. Estimated over a lifetime, persons with a doctoral degree will earn an average of $3.4 million; those holding a master's degree will earn an average of $2.5 million.
Earning a baccalaureate degree is a remarkable achievement. However a master's or doctoral degree is often the key to attaining employment in many disciplines. Why? Today's global and dynamic workforce demands that its professionals acquire specialized knowledge and skills. In some occupations (e.g., accountancy, health, education, law and engineering) professional certification and licensure are contingent upon the acquisition of knowledge and skills that can only be acquired through advanced studies.
External Links:
Should You Go to Graduate School? (About.com)
Questions to Ask about Ratings and Rankings
A multitude of Web sites provide rankings and ratings about graduate education. It is helpful to know the distinction between the terms.
Rankings are ordered lists that position one institution (or degree program) above or below others. The public is exposed to rankings through “Top Ten” or “Best Programs” type lists. Keep in mind that the ranking criteria are established by the entity that issues the report. Also, methods to collect and analyze rankings data vary. Select criteria are “weighted” to factor into the final analysis more heavily than other criteria. Generally, the final placement of an institution on a ranked list is established by a total score across all criteria.
Ratings result from an assessment of an institution or degree program. Assessment involves research and evaluation processes that measure collective performance outcomes. Generally, the collection and analysis of data include rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods. Various forms of institutional assessment are used to accredit colleges, universities and some discipline-specific graduate degree programs. Thus, criteria for rating or accrediting a program or institution are established by the entity that issues the report.
External Links:
The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAU)
offers several resources on assessment.
North Carolina State offers
an extensive Web site on assessment and links to accrediting associations.
Faculty mentors, academic advisors, administrators, and media writers offer differing views on the value of rankings and ratings. Some believe that prospective graduate students should not be swayed by rankings and ratings. Others believe that third party reports are a good means to learn about the quality of an institution.
Pros: Third party reports are an independent source of information. Selection for criteria inclusion and methods of data collection and analysis are available. Information may be helpful in directing a person to programs of interest.
Cons: Not all institutions are included in reports. The selection of scoring criteria and importance (weight) placed on criteria can be subjective. A ranked list of institutions may be misinterpreted to mean that degree programs are comparable. Rankings are not an indicator of the rigor and quality of a graduate degree program. Rankings and ratings do not help a student determine if the degree program is a good match with their research interests, academic needs, and career goals.
External Links
A Website of the University of Illinois offers food for thought on college and university rankings. The site, entitled Caution and Controversy, also offers a rankings bibliography. As a middle ground to the pros and cons, prospective students can take two actions. First, become familiar with rankings and ratings. Read about the scoring criteria and data collection and analysis methods, including how criteria were weighted. Second, learn as much as possible about any program of interest through an exhaustive search of print and online publications. Review recruitment materials and Web sites with a critical eye. Check primary and secondary sources of information.
Synthesize the various sources of data to create a list of programs of interest. Place a call to a faculty member (usually a prospective mentor) to discuss how your research interests fit with the program. Ask to be placed in contact with current graduate students. If the program sounds promising, arrange for a site visit.
Ratings:
Under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences, The National Research Council has conducted three national studies of US doctoral programs—in 1982, 1993, and 2006. MU's ratings and rankings will be available as soon as data are released from the NRC (anticipated February 2009).
Findings from the 1993 NRC study are published as:
National Research Council. (1994). Research Doctorate Programs in the US: Continuity and Change.National Academy Press: Washington, DC. [Library call number Q 180.N334] The report is available for purchase from the National Academies Press
Rankings:
The Center for Measuring University Performance offers several publications that offer a discussion on rankings methodology and sources of specialized ranking reports (eg., by discipline, racial and ethnic groups.) Their e-report of Top American Research Universities (2007 edition) may be found on the Center's publications page.
PhDs.org, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund also offers graduate school rankings.
US News and World Report is a weekly magazine that has offered graduate school rankings since 1983.
A Note About Rankings and Ratings for Undergraduate Programs
Numerous other guides provide ratings and rankings for baccalaureate programs at US colleges and universities. One example is the Princeton Review. When viewing such guides and Web sites, please keep in mind that undergraduate programs and academic culture may be distinctly different from graduate programs and culture on the same campus. Be sure include a review of credible resources about graduate education also.
External Links:
The University of Illinois offers this Caution and Controversy article and a rankings bibliography.
Finding a Graduate Degree Program
Right for You
Prospective graduate students should gather and compare information about the institution, degree program, faculty, and surrounding community. Beyond ratings and rankings, factors to consider may include the degree completion requirements, opportunities for interdisciplinary study, level of faculty-student engagement, opportunities for student publication and conference travel, percent of graduates employed in field of study, and state of facilities, library collections, laboratories, and equipment.
Checklist: Additional factors to consider are included in this PDF checklist on finding a degree program that is right for you.
External Links:
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching offers a classification system that can help prospective students learn more about an institution.
The Council of Graduate Schools offers two helpful publications for prospective graduate students, including Graduate School and You: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students and Graduate Study in the United States: A Guide for Prospective International Graduate Students.
The US Department of Education's Web site, College Navigator, offers a searchable database of colleges and universities. This page also provides links to information other government pages about financial aid and careers.
Admission Deadlines
Deadlines are different for each graduate program at Mizzou. Check the deadline for your program