In these contemporary times, people all over the world are recognizing the importance of attaining a formal education. Despite this fact, however, women may consciously or unconsciously avoid the field of higher education due to sexist ideologies that continue to permeate society. While sexism can be a daunting presence that precludes women from pursuing higher education, doing so by attaining a Master's Degree can be very beneficial. Here are five reasons why:
Money
According to director of Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce Anthony Carnevale, graduate degrees in the U.S. generate around $400,000 over the course of a 40 year career. This fact can make pursuing a Master's degree through a plethora of programs-such as the Civil Engineering Masters Programs-ideal for those who view economic stability as a must.
You'll Grow Intellectually
As many education experts know, people who enjoyed learning during their undergraduate careers will likely enjoy the pursuit of a Master's Degree. In the latter case, the student will find herself engaged in more advanced concepts. Moreover, the Master's student will be surrounded by many other individuals who are excited about attaining more information on the subject matter chosen. This fact will contribute to an intellectually stimulating environment that may cause you to perceive the world in new ways that challenge your existing paradigms about self, other, and reality. In addition to this, Master's students are often required to complete a thesis under the supervision of a professor. The work involved in completing such a project will put your brain in high gear. This can be very advantageous for women still operating in a patriarchal world where men are often considered their intellectual superiors.
You'll Become More Marketable To Employers
As market experts know, a Master's degree can be your key to success when attempting to attain a job. The rationale for this is fairly intuitive. Attaining a graduate-level degree is often perceived as an indicator that one is internally motivated, intelligent, and diligent enough to complete a lengthy task. Thus while an undergraduate degree may open doors for you, the more intense and extended work that a Master's degree requires may make you a more attractive candidate for potential employers. So if you're pursuing a career in say, engineering, you may want to look into several Electrical Engineering Masters Programs.
You'll Become An Ideal Doctoral Candidate
It should be stated that completing a Master's degree can help you get into a doctorate program. In essence, having already completed graduate course work strengthens your application exponentially. (In many cases, attaining a Master's degree is a prerequisite to applying for the doctorate program. This means that you may have to get one.)
Minimal Time Commitment
While perceptions of time will vary from person to person, many people would agree that taking 1-2 years to attain a Master's degree is a minimal commitment with respect to all the benefits that will result from it. This minimal time commitment can be very helpful for women who are experiencing a financial shortage and want to be able to put their Master's degree to work relatively quickly.
Upon considering all the financial and intellectual benefits that can result from attaining a Master's degree, women who want more for themselves may find that pursuing one will contribute to a more productive and positive life.