These are the phases of work that a graduate student goes through in the course of earning a degree.

The Master's Candidate
As a master's candidate, you'll spend about two years at graduate school. The purpose of this program, in the university's eyes, is to give you a solid education in a specialized field of scholarship. You may study part-time at many universities, while working to support yourself. You'll receive less financial help than declared doctoral candidates do; in many cases, you may receive none at all.

Your First Year: You'll take courses much as you did in college, fulfilling the coursework requirements of your degree. The workload is heavier, the course topics are more specific, and much more is expected than was in college. You'll either be assigned or choose an advisor at the beginning of your program. With your advisor's help, you'll begin to develop an academic focus. A number of professors will supervise the work you do.

Your Second Year: You may take further courses to complete your degree requirements. Deciding on your research focus, you'll direct more and more energy toward your concentration. Taking one semester or an entire year, depending on the program, you complete your master's thesis. The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate mastery in your field. If you show promise, you may be encouraged to continue toward the doctorate.

The Doctoral Candidate
The doctoral candidate spends five or six years at graduate school. The purpose of the program, in the university's eyes is, to give you an extensive knowledge of your field; train you to do original and meaningful research; and prepare you to function as a member of a teaching faculty.

Your First Three Years:You'll take courses to satisfy your degree requirements and gain a broad knowledge of the field. If you're fortunate, you'll gain valuable experience by snagging a research or teaching assistantship. (Most appointments are filled with fourth- to sixth-year grad students.) You'll gradually focus your research interests, working with an advisor usually appointed at the beginning of the program, and you'll develop your working relationships with professors prominent in your areas of interest. At the end of your second or third year, you'll complete a thesis or take comprehensive exams, or both. The thesis or exams will help demonstrate your qualification to continue with doctoral work.

The Last Three Years: Coursework becomes a much smaller part of your academic work, and may end altogether as you work at conceptualizing your doctoral dissertation. Your dissertation must constitute a new and meaningful contribution to knowledge in your field. You'll teach more and more classes, and may even teach a course of your own design. You'll collaborate increasingly with faculty members, who may rely on you for research and who will inform you of their own work. You will probably become closely associated with a single professor who will become your dissertation director. You'll devote more and more energy to your own research. Your program culminates in the completion of your dissertation, which may include an oral defense of your work before a faculty committee.