Jocelyn 2014-11-22T21:18:45+00:00. Graduate school lets you apply the knowledge you gained as an undergraduate to a higher level of study, but many students want to know more about the difference between an MA and MS degree. An MA is a Master of Arts, and an MS is a Master of Science. Both degrees generally take around two years to complete on a full-time basis, but there are a number of differences between the degrees, including the classes you take and what you choose to study.