For students, the difference between a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree at the University of Memphis is not that obvious, though most believe in the long term benefits of getting a bachelor’s degree—an opinion backed up by research.
The National Center for Educational Statistics confirmed that, between 2000 and 2013, the unemployment rate for those who were 20 to 24 years old without a bachelor’s degree was generally higher than those with one. It was reported that this same pattern continued in age groups 25-34 as well as 25-64 year olds. For example, less than 10 percent of adults without a job in 2013 were men and women with bachelor degrees, but almost 20 percent were people with just a high school degree and almost 30 percent were those who had not completed high school. Those with some college experience, but no degree, made up 15 percent of those unemployed.
Though this study confirms that a bachelor’s degree is generally an indicator of more consistent employment, some believe that the value of a master’s degree is more nebulous. A separate study by the United States Department of Labor reports that those with a bachelor’s degree earned $1108 a week, on average, while those with a master’s degree earned $1329 a week, on average—a difference of $221. On the other hand, the median incomes of those with just a high school education was $651 a week, on average and those with some college but no degree was reported as $777 a week, on average.
Eric Groenendyk, an Assistant Professor in Political Science at the University of Memphis and the Graduate Recruiting Coordinator for the department, weighed in on the general necessity of attending graduate programs like the Political Science JD/MA dual program.
“You don’t necessarily have to go to Graduate school for Poly Sci,” Groenendyk said. “A lot of students just go on to law school, but a Masters program would be pretty valuable. The combination of the two would make you marketable for a lot of different things across the board.”
Groenendyk spoke in depth about the unique opportunity that the University of Memphis gives political science majors with the Dual M.A.-J.D. Program offered by the Department of Political Science and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. Similar dual programs can be found at other colleges, but the University of Memphis is the only one that offers the program in the mid-South.
“If you go to law school at the University of Memphis you can simultaneously get a masters degree by applying 16 of the credits of the law degree to your masters,” Groenendyk said. “It’s really an effective way to distinguish yourself from other people who are getting law degrees. From an application standpoint you will have a different toolset and employers will notice that on your resume.”
Groenendyk then broke the benefits of the M.A.-J.D. program down to applicable scenarios and fields of work.
“If you're interested in going into government, that dual degree would really help you,” Groenendyk said. “Even if you're interested in working in business having a research background is going to help you with that and strengthen your application. For law students, your JD is going to teach you how to be a lawyer, your masters is going to teach you more about research, which is going to help you in your job as a lawyer.”
According to Groenendyk, fulfilling the Political Science department’s graduate program poses many benefits and career opportunities. The potential for an increased annual income is nothing to sneeze at, either.
Another study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that young adults aged 25 to 30 with bachelor’s degrees, who worked full-time, generally made $50,000 in 2012, while the same group with master’s degrees (including programs like the M.A.-J.D. program) earned $60,000—twice the annual income of $30,000 for those with just a high school diploma.
