What is a Graduate Degree?
Graduate education provides a student with advanced training and education within a specific topic. Depending on your ultimate goals, the experience may encompass coursework, research, and teaching. Earning a graduate degree is essential for working in research, product development, and academia. A graduate degree may also enable you to advance an industry career more quickly.
Graduate study is generally centered around a “problem” or “question” that you decide and frame, usually under the guidance of a faculty member. Graduate education is concerned less with completing a broad array of courses and developing general knowledge (like a bachelor’s degree). Instead, as a graduate student, you will complete a smaller number of courses, spend more time conducting various kinds of academic research, and write a thesis/dissertation in the model common to that discipline. In some engineering fields, a graduate degree is strongly encouraged, or even required, in order to advance further as a practicing engineer.
You may choose to pursue a graduate degree immediately after completing a bachelor’s degree, or you can choose to attend graduate school after working for a few years.
Types of Graduate Degrees
The UC Davis College of Engineering offers three types of graduate degrees: the Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The right degree for you depends on your academic and career goals, as well as how much emphasis you want to place on research.
Master of Science (M.S.)
Focus: Advanced technical knowledge and research
M.S. programs provide advanced study in engineering and related fields. Coursework may include seminars, laboratory or field work, and research. Depending on the program, students complete a thesis, exam or capstone project.
Typical time to completion
- About 2 years for a thesis-based degree
Cost
- Tuition and fees vary by program. View current graduate tuition and fees.
- Funding opportunities may include Teaching Assistant (TA) and Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) appointments. Learn about graduate student employment.
What you can gain
- Advanced knowledge in your field
- Specialized technical expertise
- Research and analytical skills
- Preparation for a range of engineering careers or further graduate study
Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
Focus: Advanced, career-oriented engineering education
M.Eng. programs provide advanced study in engineering and related fields with an emphasis on applied knowledge and professional preparation. Coursework may include seminars, laboratory or field work, and hands-on projects. Programs generally require little or no research and culminate in a capstone project.
Typical time to completion
- As little as 9 months for select master's programs
Cost
- Tuition and fees vary by program. View current graduate tuition and fees.
What you can gain
- Advanced technical knowledge
- Specialized engineering skills
- Experience applying engineering concepts to real-world problems
- Preparation for specialized engineering careers
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Focus: Original research and advanced expertise
Ph.D. programs provide advanced education and training in engineering and related fields. Students complete advanced coursework and conduct original research under the mentorship of faculty. The degree culminates in a dissertation based on original research.
Typical time to completion
- About 4–5 years
Cost and funding
- Admitted Ph.D. students receive funding that covers tuition, fees, health insurance and a living stipend.
- Students are generally expected to be supported by a faculty member by their second year.
What you can gain
- Deep expertise in a specific area
- Experience conducting original research
- Faculty mentorship
- Preparation for careers in research, academia, industry and other fields requiring advanced expertise
Degree requirements, time to completion and funding opportunities vary by program. Contact a graduate advisor for more details.