转载：美国留学
今天用一篇文章盘清楚，美国研究生院有哪些课程类型。
先说证书Certificate，短则几天，长达个把月，交钱、学习拿证书一气呵成，证书跟学位完全不搭边。
另一种是文凭Diploma，通常几个月，比上面的证书正式，学习也稍微系统深入些，但仍然跟学位没半毛钱关系。
特别强调，这两种是无法获得“合法的F1的留学生身份”的，也就是说国际学生不能直接申请这两种，因为申请到了，也拿不到签证去美国读书。
但万事不绝对，已经拿了签证在美国的人，或者有极其“罕见”的特别身份，或者机会的人，也许是不一样，但，务必切记，这真的不适合“一般人”。
再提醒，有一些人，顶着名校光环。细细追究，那个“光环”很有可能就是这种证书或文凭……
终于说到学位。
研究生院里要分为硕士学位和博士学位，但细究起来，类型繁多，读个一般的硕士学位，上法学院或商学院，或者开始五到七年的博士生涯，这其中区别很大。
博士学位又有两种类型。应用博士学位专注于利用现有知识来解决现实世界的问题，并为未来的行业领导者做好准备。研究型博士学位解决特定学科内的开放性问题，并培养未来的学者。
以下是研究生学位的几个例子，以及全日制课程通常持续多长时间。仅参考，具体以每所大学每个专业的官网设置为准。
理学MS硕士学位：一到两年
文学MA硕士学位：一到两年
工商管理硕士，即MBA，学位：1.5~2年
美术硕士MFA学位：两到三年
法学博士学位JD：三年
医学博士学位MD：四年
哲学博士学位Ph.D：六年左右
（英文信息来自usnews）
What Are the Different Types of Graduate Programs?
There are numerous graduate credentials, including some that can be obtained quickly and others that require substantial time.
Universities sometimes offer short, nondegree postbaccalaureate certificates and diplomas that can be completed within a few months. In contrast, master's programs last for at least one academic year while doctoral programs generally require multiple years of study.
A master's education builds on the knowledge gained via a bachelor's. A master's degree typically precedes a doctoral degree, since the latter is ordinarily the most advanced credential available within an academic discipline.
There are two types of doctorates. Applied doctorates focus on using existing knowledge to solve real-world problems and prepare future industry leaders. Research doctorates address open questions within a particular academic discipline and train future scholars.
"Graduate school can mean many things," Pierre Huguet, CEO of the H&C Education admissions consulting firm, wrote in an email. "There's a big difference between starting an M.S. or M.A. program, going to law or business school and embarking on the five- to seven-year journey that is a Ph.D."
Here are a few examples of graduate degrees and how long full-time programs typically last:

Master of Science, or M.S., degree: one to two years
Master of Arts, or M.A., degree: one to two years
Master of Business Administration, or MBA, degree: two years
Master of Fine Arts, or MFA, degree: two to three years
Juris Doctor, or J.D., degree: three years
Doctor of Medicine, or M.D., degree: four years
Doctor of Philosophy, or Ph.D. degree: six years
The word "terminal" is sometimes used to describe degrees, but the meaning of the term depends on the context. Generally speaking, terminal refers to a degree that indicates mastery of a particular subject, which is typically the most advanced academic qualification available in a field. Although experts sometimes disagree about which degrees fall into this category, there is consensus around the idea that doctorates qualify.
Sometimes, though, when a degree is described as "terminal," it is simply because that degree is or could conceivably become the final step in a student's educational journey.
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转载：美国留学。本文版权归属作者和原载媒体所有。
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