It is possible to get a Ph.D. without a master's degree, according to Peterson's Graduate Schools. Students with a high grade point average at the undergraduate level may be able to bypass a master's degree and go straight to a doctoral program.
Moving straight to a doctoral program without a master's can be the right choice for people who want to work in a highly competitive field. Purdue University says research-based jobs and academic positions require a Ph.D. most of the time. This also saves tuition money and at least two years of time.
Although bypassing a master's degree can seem like a fast pass to career success, University of Florida research professor Peter Frederick says it is risky because having a master's and Ph.D. can work better in the academic job market. And a master's program can prepare students for Ph.D. course work, sometimes cutting down on research time. Some schools do not accept students into doctoral programs without a master's degree.