Many people who choose less practical majors for their undergraduate degree often cross over to fields such as business or education in their graduate work, she says. Thirty-four percent of graduates with a bachelor's in social work go on to earn a master's degree. Only 17 percent of computer-science majors go on to earn a master's. Surprisingly, one-quarter of those get degrees in business management and administration services. Another quarter get a master's degree in education.
Postgraduate degrees are common in majors in the humanities and social sciences.
Not everyone buys into the theory that more education is necessary for career advancement. Sharon Grundel, a career counselor at the Career Place in Woburn, says that an advanced degree is not an automatic ticket to a better or higher-paying job, and that many times there are other options. Grundel says she also sees people who think a master's degree will help them with career advancement or finding a job, when what they really need is a crash course in basic workplace and social skills. They think they need more technical skills, but that's really not the issue. That's not what's holding them back.