American universities have faced significant funding cuts due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In California, for example, higher education services were cut by $1.7 billion to address a budget shortfall of $54.3 billion. It’s no secret that colleges and universities across the country are facing budget cuts. The secret, however, is the total amount that these budget cuts will impact on our nation’s education system. In this blog post, we will examine the effects of budget cuts on colleges and universities. Let’s see how these budget cuts affect students, staff and faculty across the country.
Students are the first victims of budget cuts. Many students are forced to take on more debt to pay for their education. Also, students are forced to take fewer courses and graduate later. This has a negative impact on their training and career prospects. Not only is the graduation time taking longer, but the cost of education is also increasing.
What is a Master?
A master’s degree is the next level of study after obtaining an undergraduate degree, usually called a bachelor’s degree.
These levels of study are often referred to in terms of cycles, such that a bachelor’s degree is an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree is a second cycle, and finally a doctorate is the third (and highest ) cycle of higher education.
Three-year degree
What is a three-year degree? A bachelor’s degree is the most common degree level and can be studied immediately after completing high school. It is classified in quality level 6.
How long will it last? A bachelor’s degree usually takes three to four years if studied full-time.
Duration of PhD
In the United States, it usually takes 5-7 years to complete a PhD. The first 2 years are devoted to courses. Students, even those who choose to leave without completing the program, usually receive a master’s degree at this point.
The following 3 to 5 years are devoted to the preparation of a thesis, a long writing based on independent research, which aims to make a significant original contribution to the human field.
Choosing a career
Graduates of career-oriented courses (masters with a predefined professional aspect – e.g. law, accounting, etc.) may feel ready to apply for jobs such as not as soon as they are qualified. Joining relevant professional bodies will help you establish yourself. Networking and attending job fairs are also essential at this stage.
In the case of non-professional courses, there is a wide range of career options available to graduates of any discipline. Statistically, management is the most popular destination for master’s graduates. However, general management is only one of many possibilities. Careers available to all MSc graduates, regardless of discipline, include public relations, media, IT, and financial services. A career in teaching is another viable option, although additional training would be required (see below).