Entering a Ph.D with an MA

[ArthChauc]

I just had a quick question about entering a Ph.D program with an MA: do people with an MA typically transfer their credits to their Ph.D program? If so, does this mean they are eligible to complete their degree in less time than an applicant straight from their BA? 

[ComeBackZinc]

Very rarely. You'll almost always have to complete the typical 2-3 years of coursework and departmental requirements at the PhD level even if you have substantially similar classes at the MA level. If you're getting your PhD at the same program as your MA, you'll typically be able to use courses you took at the MA level to fulfill requirements and secondary areas, but not to satisfy the necessary overall credit load.

[Swagato]

I chose not to. However, my MA background has certainly helped me a lot in adjusting to the PhD program!

[toasterazzi]

From what I've researched, it seems to vary from school to school. Some schools won't transfer any of the credits, while others will transfer up to a certain amount. If I recall correctly, one of my programs that I was accepted to does take a fair amount of credits and thus students who enter with an MA are able to cut out about a year of their time in the PhD program.

[iphi]

It totally depends on the program. Is your MA in the exact same subject? If so, some courses may transfer and you may be able to take less time. Be aware, however, that many programs put a cap on how many transfer credits you can bring in -- I've seen as low as 6!

 

TL;DR: Possible, but not necessarily likely.

[iphi]

From what I've researched, it seems to vary from school to school. Some schools won't transfer any of the credits, while others will transfer up to a certain amount. If I recall correctly, one of my programs that I was accepted to does take a fair amount of credits and thus students who enter with an MA are able to cut out about a year of their time in the PhD program.

 

Ha, great post. We seem to have posted in almost the same minute, so sorry for "repeating" your advice!

[toasterazzi]

Haha no probs. You know what they say about great minds

[ComeBackZinc]

I chose not to. However, my MA background has certainly helped me a lot in adjusting to the PhD program!

 

Yeah speaking personally I benefited not just from having the knowledge and skills I learned in my MA program, but from knowing much more about the culture of my field and what it meant to be a professional student.

[shortstack51]

All the programs I applied to shortened the time to completion if you enter with an MA. UConn, for instance, knocks a year off. I know Harvard also lets you transfer in 24 credits. Most programs should have a page about it. I didn't apply to programs that didn't accept my MA coursework.

[ComeBackZinc]

Yeah I guess I should clarify what I mean: typically an MA is about two years and PhD coursework is also about two years. If you go in with just a BA, you'd be talking about four years of classes. If you get your MA first, you'd obviously knock off those two years. So you'll get that advantage. What isn't typically the case, from my understanding, is that you can use your MA coursework to substantially replace the PhD coursework-- you might get some requirements and some credits out of the way, and reduce your coursework by a semester or even a full year, but you shouldn't expect two years of MA coursework to replace two years of PhD coursework. Although now I'm getting even myself confused.

 

And, as with all things, it varies a lot, I'm sure.

Edited March 3, 2014 by ComeBackZinc

[shortstack51]

Yeah, that's about right- the MA mostly takes care of some core classes you would need to take your first or second year otherwise (like research, theory, maybe some of the required time periods, etc) but nothing that you would need specifically for the PhD (my current program has PhD students taking a special type of research methods course, for instance). It also doesn't count for the language requirement

Edited March 3, 2014 by shortstack51

[Gauche]

It really just depends. Typically your classes are transferable from what I've seen and heard from others, but there are exceptions with certain schools. For example, in my program, they require you to have the MA before pursuing a PhD, so in that case you'll have to take a couple years of coursework for both programs.

[Swagato]

Yeah speaking personally I benefited not just from having the knowledge and skills I learned in my MA program, but from knowing much more about the culture of my field and what it meant to be a professional student.

 

Precisely. I think this is also part of why many PhD programs now clearly seem to lean more toward admitting students with an MA in hand; the greater professionalization just helps in hitting the ground running.

 

It's possible to transfer some credits but really I think it just comes down to choice. Saving half a courseload off one semester may just not be worth it for some, or may be worth it for others.