# Industry experience in IT vs directly pursuing a master’s degree in AI **URL:** \ **Category:** AI Discussions\ **Tags:** careers, ai-discussions\ **Created:** [May 21, 2024, 8:32am UTC](https://community.deeplearning.ai/t/industry-experience-in-it-vs-directly-pursuing-a-master-s-degree-in-ai/631758 "2024-05-21T08:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Maryam125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@Maryam125](https://community.deeplearning.ai/u/Maryam125)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 8:32am UTC](https://community.deeplearning.ai/t/industry-experience-in-it-vs-directly-pursuing-a-master-s-degree-in-ai/631758/1 "2024-05-21T08:32:37Z")
Hello, I’m currently studying IT Programming and have 2 years left until I graduate with my undergraduate degree. I’m very interested in AI and want to work in this field in academia. I’m planning to pursue a master’s degree in AI. Is it better to work in a company and gain some experience before my master’s, or should I go directly into the master’s program since my goal is to work in academia? I would highly appreciate any advice regarding pursuing a master’s in AI. Thank you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TMosh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/dlai/user_avatar/community.deeplearning.ai/tmosh/32/9321_2.png) [@TMosh](https://community.deeplearning.ai/u/TMosh)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.deeplearning.ai/t/industry-experience-in-it-vs-directly-pursuing-a-master-s-degree-in-ai/631758/2 "2024-05-21T14:23:58Z")
> [@Maryam125](#): > > should I go directly into the master’s program since my goal is to work in academia Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Maryam125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/848f3c/32.png) [@Maryam125](https://community.deeplearning.ai/u/Maryam125)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2024, 2:36pm UTC](https://community.deeplearning.ai/t/industry-experience-in-it-vs-directly-pursuing-a-master-s-degree-in-ai/631758/3 "2024-05-21T14:36:32Z")
thank you!! 🙂