The value that the workplace puts on advanced degrees and credentials has fueled an explosion in the number of people seeking master's degrees. "The New York Times" reported in 2007 that the number of master's degrees awarded since 1980 has nearly doubled. With the proliferation of opportunities to pursue additional education, such as online degree programs, that growth is likely to continue (see Resources below).
In the United States, most master's degree programs require between 30 and 60 credit hours, and take 1 to 3 years to complete. The number of credit hours required for a master's degree varies with the type of degree, university and whether the degree program requires the student to write a thesis.
Most Master of Arts/Master of Science degree programs require 30 to 36 credit hours. Whether the specific degree requires a thesis varies, but in general, most master's degree programs in the liberal arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences require completion of a thesis.
Some professional master's degrees, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Public Administration (MPA), require 42 to 48 credit hours or more. Many of these degrees, however, do not require the student to complete a thesis.
An increasing number of universities are luring master's students into additional years of study by offering dual-degree programs, which offer two master's degrees. Examples include master's degrees that join science with public policy, business with education, or engineering with environmental science. Dual master's degree programs require more credit hours--some as many as 90--and more time to complete.