A Bachelor of Arts degree, B.A., is one of the most common degrees in the field. It encompasses all liberal arts and social sciences programs. The final degree granted is labeled as a Bachelor of Arts degree with the specialization stated at the end, such as Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. The degree generally takes four years to complete, and the entrance requirements differ for each program.
A Master of Arts degree, or M.A., can take anywhere from one to three years to complete, depending on the course as well as the student's ability. The degrees can be either research based, where a final dissertation is written, or course work based, where classes much like an undergraduate degree are taken. Occasionally, the degree can be both a combination of course work and a miniature thesis, or also require an internship or other experience in a certain field, such as in psychology. An undergraduate degree is almost always required to enter these programs.
A Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., is the most common final goal for those who wish to gain a great deal of specialization in their field. The degree itself can be taken in any discipline, though the final degree granted is the same. Greater specialization can be undertaken during the study of a Ph.D. A dissertation, under the supervision of a professor, must be written about a certain field of study, such as conflicts about water between Palestinians and Israelis when completing a Ph.D. in International Relations. Typically, the degree takes five years of study, however, it can take up to eight years. A master's degree is required to enter these programs, though sometimes a bachelor's with honors suffices.
An doctoral degree in education can also be taken after a Master of Arts degree has been achieved. However, this is more unusual as those who have taken an M.A. tend to take a Doctor of Philosophy degree. The Doctor in Education degree allows for specialization in teaching for those who desire to be higher learning educators or those who wish to expand on their previous knowledge.