Graduate degrees can be obtained in nearly every academic subject, and they can be a necessary way to further your career. Many teachers, for example, are required to complete a graduate degree within a few years of their employment, and a refusal to do so could result in their being terminated or simply becoming ineligible for other jobs. Frequently, holding a graduate degree will make you eligible for a substantial raise or new salary bracket within your company. There are many different graduate studies that you can pursue, and program requirements vary widely. Programs could last as little as a year or as much as six years depending on what you have chosen to study.