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1/ Post from @6Howff has got me thinking about MA programmes as new academic year approaches. What is there purpose - stand alone or PhD training?
2/ Stand-alone: there seems to be asense that grade inflation means Masters degrees give an added bonus in the job market. Many students only feel they are hitting their stride in final u/g year and would like to continue research (maybe not for 4 years tho).
3/Stand-alone: a level of specificity can be added. E.g in @QUB_History we added a public history module in 2010 (and won a teaching award - brag, brag) which has since become a full MA programme in its own right due to work of @opurdue @LeonieHannan
4/PhD training: confession - I have a PhD but no masters, so is/should it be necessary. Answer - pretty much by default now it is as it is expected for entry to PhD programme or funding.
5/ PhD training: can be very useful to help student familiarise themselves with subject-specific and methodological literature and undertaks substantial piece of research that might be related to wider PhD topic.
6/ Many of my students have used MA as a good way to explore themes for PhD, including @6Howff whose fault this thread is anyway.
7/ Unintended PhD training: only while doing an MA do some students realise this is the thing for them and that they want to continue to PhD.
8/ Problems - as I think @6Howff was highlighting - is that MA can be treated as the Cinderella degree, occupying a big of a grey area between u/g and PhD programmes. Is it teaching or research - it is a hybrid but uni systems seem only to think binary.
9/ So let’s hear it for MAs - versatile programmes that can serve as a springboard for PhDs and possible academic careers but also have significant intrinsic value in their own right. Personally, really enjoy co-ordinating @QUB_History with @emorier.
10/ MAs can offer a level of interdisciplinarity that is not often feasible at u/g. In @HAPPatQUB e.g. we offer MA in Irish Studies @IrishStudiesQUB also on various aspects of peace, conflict, borders, security etc
