Master of Science 236722 224762831 2008-07-10T09:02:37Z NickBush24 309097 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/Jimmypenny|Jimmypenny]] to last version by Fribbler (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{redirect|M.S.|other uses|MS (disambiguation)}} A '''Master of Science''' ([[Latin]]: ''Magister ScientiƦ''; abbreviated ''MSc'', ''M.Sc.'', ''M.Sci.'' or ''M.S.'') is a postgraduate academic [[master's degree]] awarded by universities in a large number of countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences and occasionally in the [[social science|social sciences]]. ==United Kingdom== The MSc is typically a "taught" postgraduate degree, involving lectures, examination, and a short project. Taught masters programmes involve 1 or 2 years of full-time study. Some universities also offer research MSc programmes, where a longer project or set of projects is undertaken full-time. Until recently, both the undergraduate and postgraduate masters degrees were awarded without grade or class (like the class of an [[honours degree]]). Nowadays however, masters degrees are normally classified into the categories of Pass and Distinction, with some universities also using an intermediate Merit category.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} This education pattern in United Kingdom is followed in [[India]] and many [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth Nations]]. ==United States== The ''[[Master of Arts (postgraduate)|Master of Arts]]'' (''Magister Artium'') and ''Master of Science'' (''Magister ScientiƦ'') degrees are the basic type of in most subjects and may be entirely course-based, entirely research-based or (more typically) a mixture. Admission to a master's program is normally contingent upon holding a [[bachelor's degree]], and progressing to a [[doctorate|doctoral]] program may require a master's degree. In some fields or graduate programs, work on a doctorate can begin immediately after the bachelors degree. Some programs provide for a joint bachelor's and master's degree after about five years. Some universities use the Latin degree names, and due to the flexibility of [[Latin grammar|word order in Latin]], ''Artium Magister'' (AM) or ''ScientiƦ Magister'' (SM) may be used at some schools. ==Germany== The ''Master of Science'' (M.Sc.) academic degree has been recently introduced in Germany, as the once common [[Diplom]] programs typically lasting five years were replaced by separate three-year bachelor and two-year master programs. It is awarded in the natural sciences, mathematics and computer science fields, and depending on the focus of studies also in engineering or economics. The completion of a scientific [[thesis]] is required. All Master's degrees in Germany are designed to certify an equal level of education and qualify for a [[doctorate]] program. A master's degree is equivalent to the corresponding traditional Diplom and [[Magister (degree)|Magister]] degree. The degree ''Master of Science'' is often awarded in English form, but institutions can alternatively award it in the German form, ''Magister der Wissenschaften''. The graduate needs to use it as awarded and cannot choose which form to use. == See also == * [[Business Consulting Master|Master of Science in Business Consulting]] * [[Master of Science in Management]] * [[Master of Science in Nursing]] * [[Master of Science in Urban Policy Studies]] {{Academic degrees}} [[Category:Master's degrees|Science]] {{University-stub}} [[fr:Master of Science]] [[nl:Master of Science]]