advanced degree
Beyond the bachelor's
An advanced degree is a graduate-level academic credential earned after completing a bachelor's degree—typically a master's or doctorate.
The term distinguishes these from undergraduate degrees and implies specialized training: The position requires an advanced degree in economics.
Job listings often specify advanced degree preferred to signal that graduate education is valued but not mandatory.
Advanced graduate credential
- doctorateHighest academic credential awarded
- PhDHighest academic credential
- diplomaAcademic completion document
- certificateFormal written attestation
qualification · accreditation · licensure · board-certified · chartered · designation · fellowship · residency
Academic argument requiring defense
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- professorSenior university teacher
- tenureProtected employment status
faculty · department · university · monograph · symposium · colloquium · seminar · lectureship
Formal request document
- admissionEntry or confession
- GREGraduate school entrance exam
- GMATBusiness school entrance exam
- LSATLegal school admission exam
MCAT · candidacy · coursework · comprehensive · qualifying · proposal · defense · viva
Skill from extensive practice
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- competenceAdequate ability to function
- specialistExpert in one field
- practitionerOne who works regularly
consultant · researcher · professor · scientist · analyst · engineer · attorney · surgeon
master's
Advanced graduate credential
- doctorateHighest academic credential awarded
- PhDHighest academic credential
- diplomaAcademic completion document
certificate · qualification · accreditation · licensure · board-certified · chartered · designation · fellowship · residency · JD
thesis
Academic argument requiring defense
- dissertationExtended academic treatise
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- professorSenior university teacher
tenure · faculty · department · university · monograph · symposium · colloquium · seminar · lectureship · scholarly
application
Formal request document
LSAT · MCAT · candidacy · coursework · comprehensive · qualifying · proposal · defense · viva · supervisor
expertise
Skill from extensive practice
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- competenceAdequate ability to function
- specialistExpert in one field
practitioner · consultant · researcher · professor · scientist · analyst · engineer · attorney · surgeon · architect
- Academic Honorscum laude, summa cum laude, dean's list, honor roll, valedictorian
- Medical CredentialsMD, RN, NP, PA, BSN
advanced degreeelementary education
Foundational academic training for children
high school diploma · GED · undergraduate degree · bachelor's degree · high school dropout
advanced degreedropout
One who quits early
dropped out · flunk · expelled · uneducated · failure
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