Earning a master's degree opens up advancement opportunities in many fields. If you have reached the top of the ladder with your current education, going back for a master's degree can change that limit. For example, earning a master's degree in nursing may qualify you for a supervisory role or a position as a nurse practitioner. Looking at the minimum job requirements for positions above yours within your company gives you an idea of whether or not a master's degree will help you. The human resources department is another resource for determining whether you should go back for an advanced degree.
A career change is a motivator for some adult learners to go back for a master's degree. You have the opportunity to study a different area than you chose when you earned your bachelor's degree. The new degree gives you the educational background needed to change your career path. A field related to your original degree is often easier to navigate. For example, if your bachelor's degree is in theater, a master's degree in education could allow you to become a theater instructor. If you choose a completely different field, you may have more difficulty getting accepted into a master's program. Before going back to school for a career change, investigate the new field fully to ensure that you really want to pursue it.
Some adult learners enroll in a graduate program simply for the sake of expanding knowledge. Taking advanced courses in your field allows you to stay up to date on new trends. Master's courses often offer in-depth considerations beyond the scope of undergraduate courses. A graduate program allows you to focus on research in your field that you may not have the opportunity to do in the working world. After working in your field, you may discover you want to focus on a particular specialty. Earning your master's allows you to home in on that specialty.
A master's degree is a pathway to a doctoral degree for some students. After earning a master's degree, you may decide you want to specialize even further. A doctorate requires far more specific research than a master's degree does. The doctorate gives you more opportunities for career advancement and increased pay, as well as respect as an expert in the field. If a doctorate degree is something you've considered, earning your master's degree gets you started.