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> Most masters classes are simply just repackaged versions of undergraduate classes, maybe with a little more depth. Depends on the country. Masters degrees ca

> Most masters classes are simply just repackaged versions of undergraduate classes, maybe with a little more depth. Depends on the country. Masters degrees can be research which are the first year of a Ph.D. or they can be taught degrees. In the latter they are usually called "conversion" courses where there's intensive focus on filling in gaps in education for somebody moving to the field. E.g. moving from an Economics B.Sc. to a Computer Science degree. Where I was educated the Computing Science undergraduate degree is the equivalent of any Masters degree in the same subject. There is nothing in the subject matter that would be of value as another degree as it isn't advancement. It would be merely repackaged undergraduate courses like you suggest.

dragonwriter 5y ago
> In the latter they are usually called "conversion" courses where there's intensive focus on filling in gaps in education for somebody moving to the field. Well, or they are first professional degrees (e.g., the MBA, MFA, etc.)
CalChris 5y ago
In the US, those gaps are usually noted and you fill them with upper division courses and if necessary, lower division. Actual graduate courses are quite different from undergraduate even covering the same subject matter. Lower division is problem sets. Upper division is problem sets + project. Graduate is project + research paper.
- thegginthesky 5y ago
  I understand GP's point, education can vary widely depending on the country. For example, in my home country an undergraduate degree in engineering is normally 5 years where - first 2 years are very standard undergraduate courses (your lower division) - last 3rd and 4th years are the upper division you describe - 5th year is a graduation project that can be 50 to 100 pages long (almost a thesis) + upper division courses and maybe a research paper (depends if you had a scholarship of sorts) So when a person goes to do a master in this country, the experience is almost one of a PhD, while the PhD experience is very intense.
maccard 5y ago
I did a hybrid masters in CS - half the year was taught and half the year was research. Of the 6 classes I was taught 2 of them were undergrad level (and they were 3rd/final year level at that), and the rest were definitely a level above undergrad. Most were actively learning about the state of the art in their areas, or very close to it. Of the 15 or so students, 5 of us had our names on papers from the research we did for the second period. My experience may be atypical, but I definitely believe there is a range available, and it's unfortunately up to a student to try to discern the two.
- ghaff 5y ago
  And ones that are solely or mostly classroom courses can even be taken by people who majored in the field undergrad. I know someone who did one years ago at a top school. Which surprised me a bit at the time because, although I did have classes in my Master's program, the real value was in my thesis, some additional related research, and an unrelated project.

dragonwriter 5y ago

> In the latter they are usually called "conversion" courses where there's intensive focus on filling in gaps in education for somebody moving to the field. Well, or they are first professional degrees (e.g., the MBA, MFA, etc.)

CalChris 5y ago

In the US, those gaps are usually noted and you fill them with upper division courses and if necessary, lower division. Actual graduate courses are quite different from undergraduate even covering the same subject matter. Lower division is problem sets. Upper division is problem sets + project. Graduate is project + research paper.

thegginthesky 5y ago
I understand GP's point, education can vary widely depending on the country. For example, in my home country an undergraduate degree in engineering is normally 5 years where - first 2 years are very standard undergraduate courses (your lower division) - last 3rd and 4th years are the upper division you describe - 5th year is a graduation project that can be 50 to 100 pages long (almost a thesis) + upper division courses and maybe a research paper (depends if you had a scholarship of sorts) So when a person goes to do a master in this country, the experience is almost one of a PhD, while the PhD experience is very intense.

maccard 5y ago

I did a hybrid masters in CS - half the year was taught and half the year was research. Of the 6 classes I was taught 2 of them were undergrad level (and they were 3rd/final year level at that), and the rest were definitely a level above undergrad. Most were actively learning about the state of the art in their areas, or very close to it. Of the 15 or so students, 5 of us had our names on papers from the research we did for the second period. My experience may be atypical, but I definitely believe there is a range available, and it's unfortunately up to a student to try to discern the two.

ghaff 5y ago
And ones that are solely or mostly classroom courses can even be taken by people who majored in the field undergrad. I know someone who did one years ago at a top school. Which surprised me a bit at the time because, although I did have classes in my Master's program, the real value was in my thesis, some additional related research, and an unrelated project.