---- Priya Shukla <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello Ecologgers! > > I'm wrapping up my fourth-year in environmental sciences at UC Davis and > have been looking at graduate schools. I notice that different schools will > offer either an M.S. or an M.A. degree. While I've heard there isn't a true > difference between the two degree types, I've noticed that many government > positions require an M.S. degree. I was hoping some of you could provide me > with some insight on the difference between the two degrees -- if there even > is one at all. Also, all else equal, would you hire an individual with an > M.S. over an M.A.?
The difference is simply whatever the institution offering the degree says it is. No accrediting agency says anything about a difference between a master of science and a master of arts. At some institutions that offer both in the same department, the master of arts is non-thesis, but that is not a consistent difference, and some institutions offer a master of arts with thesis. At others, sort of by default, all master's degrees in the sciences are called master of science, while those in the arts are called master of arts. Originally, by tradition, a degree with the specification "............... of science" trained one in a vocation of some sort, it was an applied degree, while one with the specification " ............ of arts" educated one in the liberal arts. I'd check those government job requirements again, and see if they don't simply specify a master's degree, perhaps with a minimum number of hours in certain disciplines. For what it's worth, I'd say get your degree from the most reputable school you can, take the courses that provide the content you expect to need for the jobs you want, and pursue a thesis track degree rather than a non-thesis, even if you don't expect to do research in the future. By completing a research track, you'll learn a lot more about your own capabilities than you ever will in courses. mcneely
