Dual Masters & PhD Programs

Graduate students have to do extra coursework for both a master's and a Ph.D.

Students who are pursuing graduate programs may consider studying for a dual master's and Ph.D. Usually, the master's degree is more classroom-based than the Ph.D., which is more research and teaching-oriented. A combination of the two can prepare a student well for a future career in academia. Moreover, these programs are more common than students might initially assume: many prestigious universities award a master's degree while a student is on the Ph.D. track. Here are several programs in different fields that award a dual master's and Ph.D.

Columbia University

Students of art history may be surprised to learn that many of the most renowned graduate programs in the field offer a dual master's and Ph.D. For example, Columbia University in New York offers students the opportunity to pursue a sequence of degrees, beginning with the Master of Arts, continuing to a Master of Philosophy, and culminating in the Ph.D. In this program, students complete their first master's degree and continue on to two more years of coursework.

Columbia University
1190 Amsterdam Ave.
New York, NY 10027
212-854-4505
columbia.edu

Brown University

Similarly to Columbia's program, Brown University's small graduate program in the History of Art and Architecture offers the joint master's and Ph.D. Brown awards students a master's degree after two years of coursework and a qualifying examination; candidates then continue with their own research, eventually culminating in the Ph.D. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown also offers its students numerous advantages, including a close proximity to the Rhode Island School of Design, one of the United States' leading art schools.

Brown University
64 College Street
Providence, RI 02912
401-863-1174
brown.edu

Stanford University

Many Political Science programs also offer a combined Master of Arts and Ph.D. degree. Stanford's well-known program in Political Science, for example, offers both degrees for students enrolled in the Ph.D. Prospective master's students take 45 credits, 25 of which have to be in graduate seminars; however, Stanford does not require a qualifying examination or thesis.

Stanford University
616 Serra St.
Encina Hall West, Room 100
Stanford, CA 94305-6044
[phone]

London School of Economics

Similar to Stanford, the London School of Economics offers a combined Master of Research and Ph.D. in Political Science, allowing students to benefit from both structured coursework as well as the research facilities available to LSE students. The program offers two different tracks, one which focuses more on qualitative analysis and another which focuses on quantitative research. LSE recommends that applicants have already completed a Master of Arts or Master of Science in a related field.

London School of Economics
Houghton Street
London, UK
WC2A 2AE
[phone]
lse.ac.uk

Yale University

Many English programs around the country offer combined master's and Ph.D. degree programs to their students. Two of the most celebrated programs, at Yale University and the University of Texas, are no exception. Yale offers Ph.D.-track students the opportunity to receive their Master of Arts if they complete six courses (receiving honors in at least one) and passing two language examinations.

Yale University
63 High Street, Room 109
P.O. Box 208302
New Haven, CT 06520-8302
[phone]
yale.edu

University of Texas

Similarly to Yale, the University of Texas offers a doctorate in English once students have completed their master's degree, completing at least 24 hours or additional classwork and satisfying the foreign language requirement. The University of Texas offers a wide variety of specializations, including Rhetoric and Ethnic and Third-World Literature.

University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station B5000
Austin, Texas 78712-1164
[phone]
utexas.edu

References

• Columbia University: Graduate Programs
• Brown University: History of Art and Architecture
• Stanford: Department of Political Science
• London School of Economics: MRes/PhD
• Yale University: Department of English