Continuous training is an intrinsic need for good career development. For this reason, many do not stop at graduation and short-term courses, investing in so-called postgraduate courses.
In general, everything that is done after higher education is called graduate school. The variety of them is great and the candidate ends up getting lost among so many nomenclatures. Should I do an MBA? Or a master's degree? What is the difference between lato sensu and stricto sensu?
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Among the more than 5,000 courses offered throughout Brazil, the option cannot be the one indicated by the colleague or professor at the college. The choice for a modality depends mainly on the objectives to be achieved.
To help with the choice, it is interesting for the interested party to analyze what their routine is like and how they can fit in their study time. If you have a more hectic time and need to do activities in your free time, you should look for an MBA and specialization.
Now, if you already have or intend to have more time for your studies and, even more, you want to follow the path of research, the right choice will be the master's and doctoral courses.
Escola Educação brought a quick guide summarizing what each type of postgraduate degree is, in addition to what to take into account when choosing your course.
The first step is to understand the difference between lato and stricto sensu.
Lato sensu courses are indicated for those who want to improve their professional performance, that is, they are inserted in the job market. Its contents bring practical skills that help the student to change areas, gain new positions within the company or even set up their own business. Here, specializations and an MBA fit in.
The stricto sensu courses focus on training researchers and teachers. Therefore, they should be sought after by those who want to pursue an academic career, since, in these courses, the student acquires more in-depth knowledge. Professional and academic master's, doctoral and postdoctoral degrees are included.
Intended for anyone looking to improve or update specific knowledge of their career. Therefore, it employs programs that include specific technical skills in certain areas.
It is ideal for those who do not have studies as a priority, but a chance to rise professionally. It does not require so much inclination for research activities, but it is interesting that the student has command of English.
The specialization is structured as a shorter graduation, with classes, seminars, practices, among other common activities. However, it requires greater responsibility on the part of the student.
To obtain the specialist diploma, a minimum attendance of 75% of classes is required. As it is aimed at professionals who already work, classes are usually held at night and on weekends.
Normally, from one to two years with a minimum duration of 360 class hours. Requires completion of course work (TCC). Unlike graduation, the presentation of the final work does not need to be done in front of a board. Just save it in a file and present it to the coordination within the stipulated period.
However, the exception goes to distance courses that may, yes, require tests and face-to-face defense of the final work.
What do I need to do a specialization course?
First, the higher education diploma. Some institutions adopt other criteria, such as curriculum analysis, interview or knowledge test. The issue of career time is interesting because it allows for the exchange of experiences, but it is not an essential requirement.
The term comes from the English Master in Business Administration. That is, the course is aimed at specialization in the areas of administrative or managerial management. Therefore, it is sought after by professionals in the corporate market who want to occupy leadership positions or entrepreneurs.
It is ideal for those who like to study and research subjects relevant to their profession. Just like specialization, it needs to be fitted into work break times.
In the classroom, students have access to management tools to discuss in the classroom, either through case studies or debates on real situations.
Those interested in doing an MBA can seek more specific courses according to their area. Therefore, you should carefully analyze the disciplines offered and check if the grid includes space for matters related to management and administration.
At the end of the course, the student needs to complete a final paper, usually supervised by a professor. The defense, too, is not face-to-face.
To be recognized by MEC, the MBA course must have a minimum duration of 360 class hours (Brazil standard). In the global standard, it has 480 hours. As with the specialization, classes are usually held at night or on weekends. In the case of distance classes, these should not exceed 20% of the workload.
The MBA requires a higher-level diploma. Some institutions may select students through interviews, curriculum analysis, in addition to foreign language assessment.
It is important to emphasize that this course, unlike specialization, requires some career time. Even because, to participate in discussions in the classroom, the beginner does not have enough baggage to take advantage of or contribute with colleagues.
The MBA focuses on the areas of corporate management and administration. The specialization, in turn, deepens knowledge in certain areas that can be Nutrition, Auditing, Press Relations or Sports Journalism, for example.
In practice, a Marketing graduate who wants to focus on the Political area can take a specialization in Political Marketing. But if you want to become a superintendent or marketing manager, you should look for an MBA.
The master's degree is indicated for those who wish to pursue an academic career. Therefore, it is sought after by those who want to plant their flag in the areas of research and teaching in Higher Education. For an institution to offer master's courses, it needs to be authorized by CAPES. The level of quality is measured by the score assigned by the agency.
It is ideal for those who really like to study and research on different topics. As the goal is deepening, it requires greater dedication, so the student needs to be available to study daily.
However, as we will see later, it can be taken by anyone who wants to improve skills in professional practice in the labor market. It is called Professional Masters.
The title is required for those who want to pursue an academic career. Public universities require a master's degree to teach. The requirement begins to be increasingly greater in private institutions.
Over two years, the student has in-depth knowledge of specific topics. Therefore, it has face-to-face classes and dedicates extra time to reading, research, scientific articles and participation in events.
When the student enters the course, he/she is contacted by a professor who is interested in his/her research area. He will introduce you to research groups, in addition to helping in the choice of disciplines that will help in the development of the theme. In addition, it is the supervisor who will assist in the dissertation.
As the master's degree requires time for dedication, the student can seek a scholarship. He needs to keep in mind that, in addition to the dissertation defense, he must fulfill a minimum amount of credits in addition to extracurricular hours.
Normally, it lasts for two years with classes at least three times a week. In addition to classroom time, the student should dedicate extra time outside of the classroom, such as reading, participation in events, research, writing of scientific articles and, of course, the defense of the dissertation in the end of the course.
What do I need to do a specialization course?
Completion of higher education is essential to attend the master's degree. To enter, the student undergoes analysis of curriculum and project, in addition to proof of general and specific knowledge. The student must also prove proficiency in a foreign language.
The structure of the selection process will depend on each institution. Most of them ask for a research and proof project. Public notices are normally published two months before the exams.
As there are many books, the student can advance with previous notices. The works can even support the development of your project. Those who are interested in doing a master's degree need to work hard during their graduation, as the background is analyzed in the selection process.
The professional master's degree accredits the student for an academic career, but focuses on the job market. Therefore, it deepens knowledge that is useful in the routine of the student/professional.
Thus, it is ideal for those who like to study, but have no intention of pursuing an academic career (although not ruling out this possibility). The preferred researches are those focused on their area of expertise, however, unlike academics, they can only dedicate part of the day to studies.
What is the difference between academic, professional and specialization master's degrees?
The academic master's degree forms a researcher who must continue with his career in the doctorate. The professional master's degree trains a postgraduate student in research, making him/her know what research is and know how to locate the research that interests your profession, in addition to including it in your work professional. Specialization aims to update knowledge, not research.
In any case, both types of master's degree grant master's degrees, while specialization grants the title of specialist (as well as the MBA).
This is an even deeper step in the research area. It is aimed at university professors and researchers with a more complex and advanced approach than the master's degree.
The title is required for those who want to pursue an academic career. In public universities, it is mandatory to teach in certain areas.
The compulsory subjects are few and the most complex part is precisely the research project and writing the thesis. In it, the student needs to write about the research undertaken during the doctorate. However, it is necessary for it to address some new topic that contributes to the advancement of knowledge.
At the end, your thesis is evaluated by a panel. The course confers the title of doctor.
The duration ranges from four to five years. At the institution, the workload is reduced, however, it requires a lot of study at home. This dedication is usually exclusive and directed to the production of the thesis, reading and research.
What do I need to do a PhD course?
Ideally, the student should already have a master's degree. However, if his research proposal is very relevant to the university, nothing prevents him from entering the doctorate right after graduation.
The selection includes analysis of the curriculum, approval of the research project and interview. Domain of at least two languages may also be charged.
Affectionately known as postdoc, it is an extension of research, not exactly a course. Here, the student will go deeper into what he started in his doctorate. It is usually done by those who finished their doctorate less than ten years ago.
The focus of the post-doctorate continues to be research, but it does not require a course of disciplines or thesis defense. Throughout the extension, the student will solve some more advanced problem, usually related to his thesis.
As a result, you will be able to publish more mature and cutting-edge work. During the postdoc, the student may be invited to give courses, lectures or mentor master's and doctoral students. In any case, all work is done under the supervision of a teacher.
The duration varies by country. In Brazil, it lasts up to two years. In Portugal, it reaches six years. The final work can be presented in the form of a report.
The postdoctoral candidate must have a doctor's degree.
Normally, specializations and MBA's are paid, even if taught in public institutions. In this case, they allege that the charge is due to them not being considered regular teaching activities.
Master's and doctoral courses taught in public institutions are free. However, private universities may charge for them. In addition, students from both schools can benefit from scholarships provided by Capes, CNPQ and others.
As for the score mentioned in previous sections, this is provided by CAPES and varies from 1 to 7. The minimum required, however, is that the course has a score of 3. Above grade 5, it already has a high quality standard, but to reach it, the institution needs to offer a master's and doctoral course. A score of 7 guarantees a clearly highlighted performance, according to CAPES.
And then he took his Doubts about the different types of postgraduate studies? We hope you find the best course to improve your knowledge and seek more and more resourcefulness in the career you choose! Good luck!
