I'm about going for a professional masters in Information Technology. Right now, I'm not really abreast with the differences between a professional masters and an academic masters. I'd like y'all to shed light on the pros and cons of a professional masters and the disadvantages as well as the advantages it has over the regular academic masters.

I'd like to have this on the front page so I can get more contributions.

academic masters if u plan on getting a PhD later. Pro masters has no progression. More like certification.

Professional master is terminal, that you can't further to PhD. Professional master is ideal for someone in the industry.
Academic masters is not terminal, you can become a professor if your career is academics.

*paying rapt attention , perhaps views and opinions could turn out handy*


The profs in the house, this one is for you.

brb

Academic master for me..
What do you wanna do after ur masters degree will also determine which you should go for

Depend on country. In Nigeria any form of post graduate studies is all abstract nothing new or more to learn. Get certification or go Asia.

Academic masters will allow you grow on the corridor of academics. While professional masters is to build up your other chosen career.

Doz masters get u d job? For naija, even OND is preferred. If u'v bn frustratd by joblessness, why not focus on yr career (academic masters), @ least u fit first yr working mates get PhD...

Academic degrees. Graduate academic
degree programs consist of advanced
studies in an academic discipline. They
must have as their purpose
contributions to knowledge of the
subject matter, rather than specific
applications of knowledge to
professional practices. Master's degree
programs of this type may be terminal
in nature or may also provide an
introduction to research and advanced
study at the doctoral level. Such
programs emphasize theory and are not
primarily designed as preparation for
professional careers. Graduate
academic degree programs leading to
the doctorate shall include research
that prepares the graduate student for a
life of scholarship in an academic
discipline.



Professional degrees. Graduate
professional degree programs must be
comprised of advanced studies in
professional or vocational fields. While
they may have strong theoretical
underpinnings, they must have as their
primary purpose knowledge for
application in professional practice.
Master's degree programs of this type
are primarily terminal in nature. They
may serve as preparation for advanced
studies at the doctoral level, but they
shall not be designed primarily for this
purpose. The doctorate in such studies
is likewise practical, insofar as it
prepares the student to train or
supervise others in the field, to discover
new knowledge that has practical
application in the field, or to prepare the
student for a life of practice in the
student’s particular profession.


talk.collegeconfidential.com/graduate-school/389660-professional-degree-vs-academic-graduate-degree.html

Among FFTC (First Few To Comment)!
Op, what exactly do you aim to be in life?

Professional masters are expensive than academic masters

Well ... I stand to be corrected


I think your intent matters here. It's actually a two way thingy.

Academic: is if you really wish to go in direction of ur undergraduate degrees. It goes in this progression BSc - Msc - PhD

Professional: probably your are currently working as a call centre executive / chartered accountant / engineer / computer analyst , but you need certification to be grounded practically like CCNA, ACCA, ICAN and the rest.

MBA is unique on its own if you are planning or willing to take up a managerial position.

Both comes with a great level of commitment and good intentions to carry on, they both involves conscious psychological and physical energy.

When you obtain any of those certificate, i'm certain your pay package will never be same as a B.Sc holder and the calibre of work will be more of management level.

Academic masters requires that you do a research project in the end, a professional master, not necessarily.

Professional masters are usually for those already in an industry chasing career progression, sort of a certification but well grounded on different operations in said industry.

A research masters permits you to further up till PhD level, professional masters does not.

Overall, it's your preference. If you intend to go into the academia later, a research masters is okay. Though you may still be able to go into lecturing as an industry lecturer with a professional masters, but that is rare.

Hmmmm.... That's good to know

U can still proceed for phd after professional masters

...most of d lectures are combined, & u start regreting for having a terminal masters afta receivn d same lectures

I believe people above have answered you correctly ,
But to add to it professional is a course based program like ur b.sc and is usually 1 year , while ur academic masters is more of a research based program (2 years) . But outside the country like in the us or canada , masters is either research based or course based . Research based masters always attracts funding and scholarships and is usually meant for very brilliant students while course based is not that intense and is just meant for practising professionals who can afford the program.

Ploutos:
I'm about going for a professional masters in Information Technology. Right now, I'm not really abreast with the differences between a professional masters and an academic masters. I'd like y'all to shed light on the pros and cons of a professional masters and the disadvantages as well as the advantages it has over the regular academic masters.

I'd like to have this on the front page so I can get more contributions.

MSC vs Professional:


Academic Masters degrees (M.Sc, M.ed or M.A)

1. Academic masters programs consist of advanced studies in an academic discipline. 

2. They provide an introduction to research and advanced study at the doctoral level. 

3. This degree is suitable for people who wish to know more theoretical research concerning their field and work towards a PhD in their area of specialty.

4. MSc/MA/Med is 100% research and academic work. Great for efficos and would be lecturers/researchers/New discoveries


The following are degrees conferred upon completion:
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Master of Education (M.Ed)
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.)
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

The M.Phil is intermediate between the other academic master’s degrees and the Doctor of Philosophy.




Professional degrees.

1. professional masters degree are most times terminal in nature.


2. They teach career-oriented skills and people who earn professional degrees usually move higher the ladder after graduation. 

3. it focuses on job skills.


4. If you want to use it for doctorate, you will have to go back and do an M.phil or Msc.

5. Professional courses are great if you want to make More money fast - easy to gain employment with these type of courses

6. They are industry-driven courses like MBA, MPIA, MPH, MGIS etc

7. Professional courses are great if your path is field work/practical skills is important to you.

8. They are designed for managers and leaders of men, materials and resources


9. You cant use your professional course for lecturing, you must do MSC for that


10. It good to have One professional course on your resume, more relevant and respected by companies, especially if you are in Computer, Business and Engineering fields.


11. More expensive than regular Msc.


12. Mostly Part time and takes longer duration to complete


13. Professional courses are great if you are an Entrepreneur.


14. Requirement for these degrees are basically 2:2 or even third class in some cases

could u shed more light on this pls.

ikorodureporta:
...most of d lectures are combined, & u start regreting for having a terminal masters afta receivn d same lectures

Academic masters are meant for those who wish to go for teaching, research and community services while professional masters are for those who want to improve themselves on a choosing carrier that they may have been practising already. In brief, academic master is for teachers while professional master is for those who want or has already practising the profession. Academic masters may leads to Ph. D while professional masters is terminal

Academic masters leaves you with flexible options. In most cases, academic masters are also applicable in the industry, while professional masters are not, in the academia. I will advise you go for academic masters. Most people opt for professional masters because it is less rigorous, very flexible (combining work with study) & usually shorter in duration. If you can pay the price for academic masters, it is worth it.

Professional Masters? Haba?

Why not go for better professional courses like ACCA, ICAN, COREN and the likes? These ones will fetch you progession than professional masters.

If you studied Accounting, for instance, and you are not chartered, you may not be duly recognised even with your professional masters.

Academic Masters bro. It's the best option and like someone stated above, it's gives you flexible options at the end of the day.

Is MBA classified as a professional or an academic MASTERS?

Thank you for this thread... i prefer to climb up d ladder, so i think i will go for a professional masters at unilag now... thanks op....

I'm also confused.. I'm thinking of doing project management as a professional masters once am through with my first degree in industrial technology (automobile).. but am not going into teaching anyway.. but I'm still confused... can anybody suggest a professional masters courses that would ok for me ?... I've also being into automobile mechanic before gaining admission. Pls help!!!

routik:
Is MBA classified as a professional or an academic MASTERS?

why is everybody is MBA? Money dey there ba?

Any short pathway to Phd for someone with professional masters?

Lollmaolol, TheSCRYPT, LouisVanGaal, KELVIN086

babeface3:
U can still proceed for phd after professional masters

Nope, professional doctorate such as DPA (Doctor of Public Administration) which is offered by UNN for MPA holders.