By comparison, graduate degrees vary greatly in the time and effort required for completion. Most master's degrees at UCSB take two years to complete, while a doctoral degree can take five to ten years depending on the department and the individual. The essence of graduate education. Graduate education is more about mastering a discipline and forming bonds with one or more professors than it is about compiling units. The emphasis is on becoming immersed in a specific discipline, learning its rules and tools.
Graduate students tend to have closer relationships with faculty than do most undergraduates.
Becoming a knowledge producer. Graduate school trains students to become producers of information and knowledge, particularly at the doctoral level. Graduate school is not just about taking a series of individual courses but much like pieces of fabric you sew together to make into a usable piece of clothing for yourself. Try to use your courses as building blocks for thesis or dissertation research or preparation for either comprehensive or qualifying exams. The importance of collaborative learning.