Master's Thesis Needed for PhD Admissions?

I searched the forum a couple of times for the answer to this question last night. I think the only direct answer I found was old. So, I'm asking again instead of resurrecting an old thread. My masters program options would open up quite a bit if I don't have to write a thesis in anticipation of applying to PhD programs in the future.

 

It's going to depend on the program. What field do you want the PhD in?

 

Thanks for replying, Shawn. For what my research interests are a PhD in American History, American Studies, or Southern Studies is most appropriate.

 

I think that Shawn is right . . . it depends. In a field like History I think a Masters is less important than some others where there a practitioners employment at the Masters level. In History you essentially earn a Masters on the way to the PhD so that if you were to withdraw from the program after your comp exams many schools will give you a Masters at that point.

 

If I understand you correctly, I think having a traditional MA thesis goes a long way when looking at PhD programs. For my MA, I took comprehensive exams; for MPA, I did a project which was a thesis for a professional degree. When I applied for my PhD program, I had to take 4 additional MA courses in my subject matter and write a 70 page thesis. Upon successful defense my my thesis, I will be awarded a third MA and will be an official PhD candidate. I can then build on that 70 page thesis for my doctoral dissertation. The doctoral thesis is the "Big Book" style, which is anywhere between 300 to 400 pages.

 

Darn edit button has a timer! I was texting my post and saw a couple of errors. I'm writing my MA thesis now and will defend it in February 2015. Upon a successful defense, I will be awarded a third MA and my student status will change to doctorando, which is a PhD candidate. Didn't need a third masters but the MA thesis is a big deal in my program.

 

Thanks, Boethius. I know that having the experience of writing a masters thesis will help when it comes to writing the dissertation, but I'm trying to figure out if it's necessary for admission to a PhD program. I guess I'll need to look at the admission requirements for the programs I'm most interested in and/or email some graduate admissions offices.

 

As a side note, the time limit is 10 minutes.

 

In some disciplines (and I think history falls into this) the number of PhD 'slots' are so few, and the number of applicants so high, that even though a thesis is not a requirement for admission, not having one will put your application on the bottom of the pile.

I remember at UF, the history department was cutting back the number of PhD students they will take because of budget cuts, and the declining number of tenure track jobs for graduates. At one point, the university almost chopped the entire department!