Honors vs. Masters — What's the Difference?

Honors refers to a designation that signifies excellent academic performance during an undergraduate degree program. Masters, however, denotes a higher-level, postgraduate academic degree pursued after completing an undergraduate degree. While Honors is usually a part of the undergraduate experience, Masters is a separate academic pursuit that comes afterward.

Honors is often indicated by higher grades and possibly a more rigorous curriculum within an undergraduate program. Masters programs usually involve a deeper, more specialized study of a particular field. Both Honors and Masters signify a level of educational achievement, but they exist at different stages of the educational timeline.

The concept of Honors is often tied to specific courses or activities that are designed to challenge and engage high-performing undergraduate students. Masters programs, in contrast, are generally separate courses of study that may involve research, internships, and a thesis or capstone project. Honors can exist within the context of different academic disciplines, as can Masters, but Masters usually involves a more focused area of study.

In the United States, an Honors designation might come with the need to complete an Honors thesis or project. A Masters program typically culminates in a comprehensive exam, a project, or a thesis. While both Honors and Masters can make a resume more competitive, Masters is often a requirement for higher-level positions or further academic study such as a Ph.D.