Humble beginnings
The concept of a Master’s degree has its roots in the University of Michigan in as early as the 1850s. During this time, it was being initialized as an alternative study path. However, it soon paved the way for criticism. Skeptics often found fault in the Master’s program as being almost like an alternative to a legitimate doctoral program. Therefore, it was seen as reconciliation for all those who could not complete a doctorate or for those who lacked other more ‘genuine’ qualifications. However, this was more of a misconception, if today’s demand for a Master’s degree is anything to go by.

The rising popularity of the Master’s degree
Today, statistics and facts support the immense demand for Master’s degrees in various fields of study ranging from management, finance, information technology and even healthcare, which has recently emerged as a very popular segment. Another interesting reason in the growing demand for a Master’s degree is the growth of ‘specialization’. More and more organizations are realizing that success clearly rests on specialization. A recent trend seen is the rise in the number of women pursuing a Master’s degree. Master’s degrees typically have varying durations and schedules depending on the type of degree – ranging from 24 semester credit hours to 60 semester credit hours. Recently there have been some innovative changes to the standard curriculum as was being followed earlier. Now more emphasis is being placed on balancing practical real world situations with theory. This is the primary reason for the rise in ‘practitioners’ who offer real world scenarios to implement acquired skills during the course. Read More