美国研究生学位主要分为硕士和博士：
n 硕
u 学术性硕士学位（Academic Master’s）
u 职业性硕士学位（Professional Master's）
n 博士
一、美国研究生学位-硕士
硕士学位又分为学术型硕士学位和职业型硕士学位。
1、学术型硕士学位（Academic Master's）：MA, MSc，30-60个学分，1-2年完成。可攻读博士。Usually awarded in the traditional arts, sciences, and humanities disciplines. The M.S. is also awarded in technical fields such as engineering and agriculture. 学术型硕士学位又可以分为2类：
1) 论文（thesis option）：论文答辩+综合考试
2) 非论文(non-thesis option)：修课+书面综合考试
2、职业性硕士学位（Professional Master's）：职业导向，如商科、新闻、国际关系、建筑、城市规划等，36-48个学分。MBA, MSW(Social Work), M. Ed， MFA, MPA, MPP等。不要求thesis，也不要求有相关本科专业背景。属于Terminal Degree，do not lead to doctoral programs。职业性学位如果以后要攻读博士，一般修的硕士学分不会转到博士课程。
二、美国研究生学位-博士
博士：5-8年
· Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy) 最普遍。
· Ed.D. or doctor of education
· D.B.A. or doctor of business administration
· M.D.
注：学术型硕士学位和PhD型学位一般需要和学校教授联系
专业分类
一、从大的方向上，专业可以分为两大类：
1、Liberal Arts and Science Programs 文理型专业:
·Science自然科学
·Social Science 社会科学
·Humanities人文科学
2、Professional Programs 职业型专业: Business, Law, Medicine, Engineering, Education, etc.
二、从具体专业类别上，可以分为以下十一大类别：
·Business
·Law
· Medicine
·Engineering
·Education
·The Sciences
·Library & Information Studies
·Social Sciences & Humanities
·Health
·Public Affairs
·Fine Arts
三、专业方向
Business:
·Accounting
·Entrepreneurship
·Finance
·Information Systems
·International
·Management
·Marketing
·Nonprofit
·Production / Operations
·Supply Chain / Logistics
·Human resource
Education：
·Curriculum and instruction
·Education administration & supervision
·Education policy
·Educational psychology
·Elementary teacher education
·Higher education administration
·Secondary teacher education
·Special education
·Student counseling & personnel services
·Technical / Vocational
Engineering:
·Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical
·Biological / Agricultural
·Biomedical / Bioengineering
·Chemical
·Civil
·Computer Engineering
·Electrical / Electronic / Communications
·Environmental / Environmental Health
·Industrial / Manufacturing
·Materials
·Mechanical
·Nuclear
