A master's degree takes between two and three years and includes a comprehensive exam which questions related to each student's thesis focus as well as information from various graduate school classes. A master's degree student will also complete an extensive thesis research project. Each student selects a thesis topic related to her specialization that focuses on an area of her specialization that is unique from all previous research. Master's degree classes offer a specialized education meant to prepare a student for a career in the professional world. Some master's programs offer a non-thesis track, which substitutes alternate coursework for the thesis, such as education classes which prepare a student to teach at a high school level.
A Ph.D. takes between five and six years to complete, or three to four years if a student completes their master's degree work before entering a doctoral program. A Ph.D. student completes a comprehensive exam and thesis project by the end of the third year in a doctoral program. Students who complete their master's degree work prior to entering a Ph.D. program can substitute their master's thesis work and comprehensive exam for this requirement. The Ph.D. student completes a dissertation project by the end of the sixth year of work. This dissertation should represent an important advance in the student's field of specialization.
Master's degree classes focus on the specific professional needs of the related fields. The intention is to teach students the skills needed to thrive in a professional environment. This includes skills unique to each field, such as research techniques, teaching philosophies and advanced business techniques. Many master's degrees prepare students for leadership -- in fields such as business management or educational leadership.
Ph.D. programs teach students the skills they will need to work within an academic or research environment. This includes working as professors teaching those skills to the next generation of students. The Ph.D. program is the highest academic degree program available.