Should You Get Two Masters Degrees

The question often comes up on whether you should get two masters degrees especially if the second one will only take an extra semester.

This is a Q&A video and answers a question from a student.

[Brian-eyxt]

I earned (in order): a BSc. (physics), a PhD (energy economics), an MM (musicology), a MSc. (renewable energy engineering), and an MBA (strategy). I'm about a year into another masters program (brewing and distilling engineering and management).
Education became a hobby of mine. Some people restore antique cars, some people sew, etc... I take 1 grad school class per semester and have done that for 16 years now (since finishing my PhD). I've always worked somewhere that provided some amount of stipend for continuing education, so I've used that to largely offset the price of taking 2 classes per year. About every 5 years I end up getting another masters degree.
I have no intention to really work in any of the fields I have these degrees in. I'm pretty well established as a consultant in the energy sector and earn way better money than I ever could doing anything reasonable with the other degrees. My resume only has my PhD and MBA on it. The other stuff is just for my own enrichment and dinner party conversation.

[kariszmanupe]

2 Masters Degrees: Chemistry and Pharmacy and didn't pay for either degree. Find a company that will invest in you as well as your education.

[alejandroarizpe]

I think it can make sense to get a second masters degree. I for one am more than half way through my second one, and even before finishing it I got hired as an Analyst, and I was also put in charge of a small team. My first masters degree was an MBA, and that did not help me at all with job prospects since nobody paid attention to it since I had the degree but no experience. Then I started my Master of Science in Information Technology degree, and have not even finished it, and I am getting a lot of offers with opportunities for management. I think an MS in IT degree and an MBA make a lot of sense together, but the MBA just by itself is worthless unless you posses a lot of experience or obtained it from a top university.

So in my opinion, two masters degrees makes a lot of sense if they compliment each other. Other than that, I don't think getting for instance a Master of Science in Physics and a Master of Science in Agriculture would make much sense.

[PedroHernandez-ujoz]

I would say that this is an interesting topic. Most of the time I usually can see someone getting a secondary masters in a field that's not too technical or hard, if they already specialized in a technical field. For example if a person already has a masters in electrical engineering they can get a second masters such as an MBA. This could be beneficial because your complimenting engineering skills and business knowledge. However I think it's only worth it if you already have some years of experience or if the company and employer you work for is willing to help pay for the costs. It's similar to MD's, DO's, PA's and NP's getting a masters in Public health (MPH) because medicine/ healthcare compliments and has a lot of overlap with Public health. Another reasons why getting a secondary masters might be reasonable is if your trying to work in a completely different field and you need it. Depends on the person's situation.

[dentakleen]

2 masters is not worth it 90% of the time. I did it and it did not work out.

[billlee]

Find a company that can reimburse your tuition. I have been taking masters courses for fun or for personal enrichment, and luckily, the companies I have been working for have reimbursed 70% or 80% of the tuitions. Tuition gets a little more expensive, so I only take courses from public universities, and only one course per semester. I just finished my 3rd master degree recently. I think the most value added time was the 1st maters degree I got, and the rest 2 degrees are just for fun or for taking full advantage over my company's benefit...Yeah, a little bit abusive behavior.

[Rizzickk]

Hi Dimitri,

I’ve attained my finance degree with a concentration in risk management.. I have a little math - up to cal 3 (not that high, but I got an A) and took a couple CS courses and probability.. with this, I was super excited to start learning some modeling especially applied in business and using programming.. so I went for an MS in business analytics and the profs are catering to students who don’t know anything about programming.. it’s lacking rigor.. I really want to do quantitative analysis using finance and coding.. should I go for an MS in statistics

I was in the Air Force and these degrees have all been free and I have another 2 years of waived tuition as long as I attend a university in Texas

[noueruz-zaman]

I have just completed master in finance from Birbeck College (which is part of University of London) but I wanted to study 2nd masters from more reputed university (because many of the jobs i apply for wanted candidates from Russel Group, it a group consisting of best universities in UK).

So, I thought about studying financial mathematics (instead of just finance) which is more quantitative from LSE (which is the best business/finance university in UK, some would debate on that) !

But, then as you said it is very expensive but unless I don't get degree from top university I would not be able to get jobs from very top companies

[pcdihealth]

Good Evening, I agree with you to a certain point.  When pursing a degree it is best to decide what is it that you are wanting to do.  If you are attempting to get into academia, the PhD trumps the masters every time.  In the private sector, having several degrees may be warranted if you are switching industry quite often but again the PhD is the way to go if you are attempting to become the expert on a specific subject area.  Again, the only time I would suggest a person pursue a second masters is if you are a career changer or you are wanting to explore more opportunities that will promote you i.e. MSW to MPA or MBA/MPH.

[jeppepuus]

What do you think about doing a MBA and a Engineering master, if you would not have to pay for it. Does it change your perspective?

[wendymiles]

So a few friends and I are currently downsizing and persuing further education for some reason also homeschool for some reason

[anmolbaral]

I am thinking to persue masters in international relations after masters in economics in order to understand the world issue... Is it advisable?

[vishalprajapati]

Hey Dimitri
So I hold master degree in Botany and I've got accepted in northeastern university in Biotechnology with agricultural concentration, so I am bit confused how should I convince visa officer that I want to specialize in agricultural biotechnology ?

[havenofdetails]

is it okay to take master's degree that is not inclined to your bachelor's degree and find a job that is 'inclined' to your finished masterals?

[tipsandtricks]

Bro what do you think BSC IT + MSC IT + MSC DATA ANALYTICS will worth it?

[AdnanAhmed-etvm]

Hi dimitri. I have a bachelors and masters in marketing both from UK. I was thinking to do a graduate dip in Tesol( Teaching english to speakers of other languages.) do you think my university qualification will add advantage to the Tesol or bcoz my degree is in different field it wont be any use. I really want to teach english but again i am also scared of visa issues since i already.have masters. And going for grad dip. Plz advise. Thanks😃

[aishwarya]

Is it okay to have two masters degrees from different universities but are related to your bachelors? I'm pursuing a masters degree presently in India, but I have applied for an ODL MS program in a University in the U.S which will be just after the year when I will be finishing my present masters degree. UGC has approved of that proposal in an article which says student will be allowed to pursue two degrees simultaneously but for both the degrees the mode of delivery will be different. A student pursuing a regular degree can pursue a second degree only via ODL or online mode. So what are your thoughts on this, will it affect the career? Or should I add both of the degrees in my resume according to the interviews?

[valiantpramana]

Hi dimitri, which one better, a second master or a phd?

[Kevin-C.W-Zhang]

Is getting two Master degree good i am currently doing civil engineering and construction management master degree i was thinking would it be good to get second degree in Electronic and Computer Engineering Masters

opinions

[ViolettaNadbitova]

Hello Dmitri! Thanks for your video.
If I had bachelor in social science and master in communication. But I want to do second master in Environmental/Sustainable studies, do you think it’s worth it in Europe. Plus I am from Russia so visa issue arise here
Best,
Violetta