Navigating Post-Bachelor's Education: Masters vs. Second Bachelor's Degree

After completing an undergraduate degree, many graduates find themselves in a challenging job market, leading them to reconsider their next steps. Choosing between obtaining a second bachelor's degree or a master's degree, especially in a different field, is a critical decision. This article aims to provide guidance on how to make this decision based on various factors and considerations.

Current Job Market and Application Efforts

The first step in deciding whether to pursue a second bachelor's or a master's degree is to understand your current job market situation and the measures you have taken to secure employment. Have you:

Engaged with your college network, including classmates from other colleges and high school peers? Reached out to professors, department alumni, and industry experts for leads and advice? Sent targeted resumes to federal and state agencies that hire individuals in your field? Identified cities with a high concentration of jobs in your field and relocated there? Acquired relevant certifications or key skills such as Microsoft Office products, MySQL, R, PQPP, and Octave? Compiled a robust project portfolio demonstrating your skills and experience?

Until you have developed the necessary social competencies, your first degree remains unresolved until these steps are completed. It's important to understand that your job search is an ongoing process that requires persistence and adaptation.

Choosing Between a Second Bachelor's or a Master's Degree

In almost all cases, obtaining a master's degree is preferable to pursuing a second bachelor's degree. The key reasons are:

Masters programs often have integrated prerequisites, meaning the undergraduate courses you have already taken will count towards the new degree. This can save time and reduce costs. The prerequisites for a master's degree can take significantly longer than a semester or two to complete as a non-degree student, making the second bachelor's option less efficient. Masters programs provide more specialized and advanced knowledge, which can be advantageous in the job market.

For instance, in fields like Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, institutions often offer bridge master's programs where prerequisite courses are part of the degree structure. However, if a bridge master's is not available, one would need to take the required prerequisite courses before entering the master's program.

Dual Majors: A Flexible Path

An alternative to pursuing a second bachelor's or a master's degree is to consider a dual major. This option allows you to obtain an undergraduate degree in multiple fields. For example, if you already have or are pursuing an engineering degree and want to branch out into computer science, you can pick up the necessary courses to complete a second major in Computer Science.

Alternatively, if you are interested in transitioning to a master's program in an unrelated field, such as a Mechanical Engineer transitioning to an English M.A., you will still need to complete the prerequisite undergraduate courses. This could take as much time as working on the master's degree itself, making it a less efficient choice.

Conclusion

The decision between a second bachelor's or a master's degree should be informed by your specific career goals, the availability of prerequisite courses, and the potential for financial investment. By carefully considering these factors, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your long-term career aspirations.