By Definition, graduate school or “grad school” is a school that awards advanced degrees, with the general requirement that students must have earned a bachelor’s degree. Many universities award graduate degrees within the same institution that awarded you your bachelor’s degree. Original research knowledge is often an important part of graduate studies, including the writing and defense of an original dissertation or thesis. The two graduate degrees offered in the United States are the master’s degree and the doctoral degree both involve a combination of research and coursework.
Graduate education differs from undergraduate education because it requires an increased depth of study, with greater specialization and concentration of training. Schoolwork and education are more self-directed at the graduate level than at the undergraduate level.
Graduate courses may be quite formal, consisting primarily of lecture presentations by faculty members. They may conversely be somewhat informal by placing emphasis on discussion and exchange of ideas among faculty and students. Graduate school seminars will involve smaller groups of students...