A Master of Arts (MA) is a degree awarded for a wide scope of postgraduate studies and is becoming more necessary for professionals to distinguish themselves in a competitive marketplace. Consequently, many students consider these degrees to be almost mandatory, a notion shared by many high-tier employers.

What is an MA? It’s a degree that confers upon the graduate a broad range of knowledge within a specialized field in the humanities. Humanities are areas of study that focus on human culture such as languages, history, arts, philosophy and social sciences. Generally, a scholar working towards an MA will have a narrow interest in his or her field. For example, a student of anthropology may work toward a Master of Arts degree in archaeology, social anthropology or another related specialization. Regardless of focus, most MA degrees require a varying mixture of both research and coursework.

Students elect to pursue studies toward an MA for many reasons. Some are hoping to set themselves apart when it comes to work opportunities, while others may have a passion for research. Still others have very high sights for their ultimate career, and an MA is a stepping stone on the way to earning a doctorate degree.

It can be difficult to say with certainty how much an MA costs. Prices for tuition vary not only from institution to institution, but from country to country as well. How much you end up paying can depend on the length of the program as well.

Those who obtain a Master of Arts degree are able to work in a wide variety of high-level positions within their field of study. Someone who receives an MA in Linguistics, for example, can work in education, philosophy, computer science, communication science or cognitive neuroscience, among others. The breadth of options that an MA offers students is what allows people to find their academic and professional niche.

Applying to an MA program usually requires an undergraduate degree. Essays and letters of recommendation will almost always be obligatory as well. Search for your program below and contact directly the admission office of the school of your choice by filling in the lead form.