美国研究生学位主要分为硕士和博士:

n 硕

u 学术性硕士学位(Academic Master’s) 

u 职业性硕士学位(Professional Master's) 

n 博士

一、美国研究生学位-硕士

硕士学位又分为学术型硕士学位和职业型硕士学位。

1、学术型硕士学位(Academic Master's):MA, MSc,30-60个学分,1-2年完成。可攻读博士。Usually awarded in the traditional arts, sciences, and humanities disciplines. The M.S. is also awarded in technical fields such as engineering and agriculture. 学术型硕士学位又可以分为2类:

1) 论文(thesis option):论文答辩+综合考试

2) 非论文(non-thesis option):修课+书面综合考试

2、职业性硕士学位(Professional Master's):职业导向,如商科、新闻、国际关系、建筑、城市规划等,36-48个学分。MBA, MSW(Social Work), M. Ed, MFA, MPA, MPP等。不要求thesis,也不要求有相关本科专业背景。属于Terminal Degree,do not lead to doctoral programs。职业性学位如果以后要攻读博士,一般修的硕士学分不会转到博士课程。

二、美国研究生学位-博士

博士:5-8年

· Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy) 最普遍。

· Ed.D. or doctor of education

· D.B.A. or doctor of business administration

· M.D.

注:学术型硕士学位和PhD型学位一般需要和学校教授联系

专业分类

一、从大的方向上,专业可以分为两大类:

1、Liberal Arts and Science Programs 文理型专业:

·Science自然科学 

·Social Science 社会科学 

·Humanities人文科学

2、Professional Programs 职业型专业: Business, Law, Medicine, Engineering, Education, etc.

二、从具体专业类别上,可以分为以下十一大类别:

Business  Library & Information Studies 
Law  Social Sciences & Humanities 
Medicine  Health 
Engineering  Public Affairs 
Education  Fine Arts 
The Sciences   

三、专业方向

Business: Education: Engineering:
Accounting  Curriculum and instruction  Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical 
Entrepreneurship Education administration & supervision  Biological / Agricultural 
Finance  Education policy  Biomedical / Bioengineering 
Information Systems  Educational psychology  Chemical 
International  Elementary teacher education  Civil 
Management  Higher education administration  Computer Engineering 
Marketing  Secondary teacher education  Electrical / Electronic / Communications 
Nonprofit  Special education  Environmental / Environmental Health 
Production / Operations  Student counseling & personnel services  Industrial / Manufacturing 
Supply Chain / Logistics  Technical / Vocational  Materials 
Human resource   Mechanical 
    Nuclear