When a person pursues and receives a master of arts degree, he builds on the knowledge and work experience he received while earning his bachelor's degree. For example, if someone earned a master of arts in English, he now has more understanding of how to analyze historical literature and can use this knowledge as a teacher.
All master of arts degree program applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree with a good grade point average. In addition to the application, applicants will need two or three letters of recommendation and a mission statement, which outlines a student's career and academic goals. They also should take the graduate record exam (GRE), which is a standardized test in subjects such as math and reading comprehension.
Every master of arts degree program is different in terms of how long it takes to complete, but in general the average time is two years. In some schools, students can start working toward a master's degree while finishing a bachelor's degree.
During the first year of a master's program, students are completing mainly classroom coursework that's related to their field. Some classes are more research-based than others. In the last year of study, students prepare for their thesis paper, which is a long research assignment that they must verbally defend in front of a committee before graduation.
In some fields, a master of arts degree isn't necessary to advance your career. For example, if you received a bachelor's degree in fine arts, you can find work in various art galleries or become self-employed by owning your own gallery.