Professional degrees are designed for students who want to move directly into a specific profession. Understanding what qualifies as a professional degree can help you decide whether this focused path aligns with your career goals.

A professional degree is a graduate-level credential designed to prepare students for specific careers that typically require licensure or certification. These programs emphasize applied skills, practical training and professional standards. 

Unlike academic degrees, which emphasize theory and research, professional degrees focus on applied skills, real-world practice and direct career readiness.

Professional degrees explained

Professional degree programs are commonly found in fields such as law, medicine, pharmacy, education, business, public service and health care. These programs are structured to meet industry standards and, in many cases, regulatory requirements that graduates must satisfy before entering the workforce.

Students pursuing a professional degree typically do so with a clear career outcome in mind. The curriculum is intentionally aligned with the expectations of employers, licensing boards and professional organizations.

Amanda Ostreko, who leads graduate enrollment strategy at the University of Kansas, underscores why this career-oriented approach matters. “A professional graduate degree helps you deepen your expertise as a practitioner, building advanced, applied skills that strengthen your impact and expand what’s possible in your field,” she said.

What is considered a professional degree?

What is considered a professional degree can vary slightly depending on the institution, industry or governing body. In general, a professional degree shares several defining characteristics:

• It prepares students for a specific occupation or profession
• It emphasizes applied learning and practice over academic research
• It often leads to licensure or certification
• It is required or strongly preferred for entry into certain careers

Common examples of professional degrees include:

• Juris Doctor (JD) for law
• Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
• Master of Speech-Language Pathology (MA)
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Architecture (MArch)

Several of KU’s online professional programs are also ranked among the best in the U.S., giving students the flexibility to advance their careers without stepping away from their current roles.

Professional vs. research degrees

In some disciplines, schools offer both professional and research versions of the degree. For example, a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) is typically practice-focused, while a Ph.D. in Social Work is research-focused. Similarly, a Master of Architecture (MArch) is often the professional path for licensure.

Some fields spark debate about how they should be classified. For example, engineering, education and counseling are often viewed as professional disciplines because they can lead to licensure or certification, yet they may also be grouped with academic graduate programs. 

In many cases, these fields offer both professionally oriented degrees aimed at practice and research-focused academic degrees. The distinction depends more on how the degree is intended to be used rather than the title alone.

What is the difference between a professional degree and a graduate degree?

One of the most common questions prospective students ask is how a professional degree differs from a graduate degree. While all professional degrees are graduate-level credentials, not all graduate degrees are professional degrees.

A graduate degree is a broad category that includes master’s and doctoral programs across academic and professional disciplines. These programs may prioritize research, theory, or academic scholarship. For a deeper overview, read our guide, What is a Graduate Degree?

A professional degree, by contrast, is purpose-built for workforce entry or advancement in a defined profession. Key differences include:

• Curriculum focus
  Professional graduate degrees prioritize applied learning and hands-on training, often ending in a capstone or practicum. Academic graduate degrees focus more on research and theory and may require a thesis or dissertation.
• Career outcomes
  Professional degrees are typically tied to a specific job title or career path. While academic degrees may also be connected to defined careers, they more often include pathways into research roles, doctoral study or teaching positions.
• Licensure requirements
  Many professional degrees meet educational requirements for licensure or certification. Academic degrees usually do not.
• Program structure
  While both professional and academic programs may be cohort-based and structured to be completed within a set timeframe, academic programs typically provide more flexibility and opportunities for independent study.

Understanding this difference is essential for students deciding between a professionally oriented program and a more research-focused graduate experience.

“Professional graduate degrees are closely aligned with specific career outcomes, giving individuals the advanced expertise and training needed to meet evolving workforce needs,” Ostreko said.

Which is an example of a professional degree?

A common professional degree is the Juris Doctor (JD), which prepares students to practice law, pass the bar and apply legal reasoning in real-world settings rather than focus on academic research. Some fields offer both professional and research pathways — for example, students interested in legal scholarship may pursue a Doctor of Juridical Science (SJD).

Other examples include:

• MD for physicians
• PharmD for pharmacists
• DPT for physical therapist
• MBA for applied business leadership

In each case, the degree directly qualifies graduates for a profession with defined standards.

What is a professional degree equivalent to?

Equivalency depends on the field and education level. Some align with a master’s degree, others with doctoral study:

• MBA → master’s level
• JD, MD, PharmD, DPT → professional doctorates

While the credential level may align with a master’s or doctoral designation, the defining difference is purpose. Professional degrees emphasize applied training and professional competency, preparing graduates for practice rather than research-focused scholarship.

Why students choose a professional degree

Students often pursue professional degrees because they offer a clear path forward. Rather than exploring broadly, professional programs are focused and intentional.

Common motivations include:

• Career advancement or career change
• Meeting licensure requirements
• Gaining practical, job-ready skills
• Building professional networks
• Entering regulated or credential-driven fields

Professional degrees appeal to students who want their education to translate directly into professional opportunity.

Is a professional degree right for you?

A professional degree may be a good fit if you:

• Have a specific career goal in mind
• Need a credential to enter or advance in your field
• Prefer applied learning over academic research
• Want structured programs with clear outcomes

“Professional graduate degrees are built around student success, giving learners the chance to apply their knowledge in real-world settings and grow as expert practitioners. By pairing advanced coursework with hands-on experience, these programs help students translate theory into meaningful practice.”
—    Amanda Ostreko 
Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Graduate Enrollment Management
University of Kansas

Understanding what qualifies as a professional degree — and how it differs from other graduate options — can help you choose a program aligned with your goals, career path and preferred learning experience.