"Taught" and "Research" Master's programs.

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Boethius, Oct 8, 2014.

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  1. Boethius

    Boethius Member

    Odd. . . I was looking at the London School of Economics’ website. They make a distinction between taught and research Master’s programs. I saw the same on the University of Nottingham’s website. My school in Barcelona also makes this distinction. This distinction is not made for Master’s degrees in U.S. schools, correct?
     
  2. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    It is my understanding that "research" option involves writing a thesis only while the "taught" option involves passing a set of courses. The first option might be preferred by someone planning on continuing on to a doctoral program.
    others may know better.
     
  3. Lhosant

    Lhosant New Member

    I know that there are "course based" masters, where you get the degree by just completing the credits and "research" or "thesis" based masters, where you need to complete a thesis and it's defense along with the credits.
     
  4. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    The MA program that I graduated from required a thesis, but the MPA program (from a different university) that I graduated from did not. The MPA only required a comprehensive exam at the end of the program. However, they have since eliminated the comps exam and now they require a "capstone" project as the last class. I'm not sure if a capstone project is the same as a thesis.
     
  5. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    I completed both. The first, a RA M from a USA school, 54 hours of coursework, no thesis. The second, a research M from a South African institution, RA equivalent, thesis only. The latter prepared me for the research PhD I completed, dissertation only. Each had its merits. Both were substantive and rigorous. And for those who think the research degree (thesis/dissertation only) is a shortcut, try one sometime. :)
     
  6. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I know of at least 2 people who have said that they think the "taught" option is easier because it is essentially more of the same. Do a bunch of reading, take a test or write a paper. At that point in their lives they could do that in their sleep. The "research" option however was new, different, less predictable and less straightforward . . . in short, harder.
     
  7. Boethius

    Boethius Member

    Probably one of the reasons Master's programs in the USA lean towards the "taught" model? I takes less take time to complete because it is more structured? I could be completely off base here but do European, SA, Australian universities offer more traditional research masters than the USA?

    By the way, heck yeah! Thesis only programs are tough!
     
  8. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    For me personally, the retention level between the research approach and the taught (reading, take a test or write a paper) approach was greater. I'm not sure if it has to do with learning style or personality, but between the two research degrees (M & PhD) I completed and the two taught degrees (MA & professional doctorate) I completed, the research approach gave me a greater retention level.
     
  9. Boethius

    Boethius Member

    With research degrees (M and PhD), aren't students assigned a tutor or director to provide some structure? I'm doing a dissertation only PhD but I do have a director who is a helpful guide. Actually, my program is very supportive of their research students. I think retention level would be more difficult under the research approach for younger students. For middle-aged folks like myself, it a beautiful thing.
     
  10. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    The research degrees (M & PhD) I completed were very structured. Although there was no coursework, other than the initial research methods course designed to facilitate completion of a successful research proposal, each program was structured via phases or components of completion. Beginning with a successful research proposal (the RP must be approved by the 6-8 member postgraduate committee), then working chapter by chapter until the thesis or dissertation is complete. I was assigned a supervisor (tutor/director/facilitator/etc) who worked hands-on with me throughout the process. Once the final product is approved by the supervisor, the thesis/dissertation is then sent to two "readers," (faculty who hold the PhD) who must also approve the research. Once all three persons (the USA equivalent to a doctoral committee) approved the research, the student graduated.
     
  11. warguns

    warguns Member

    taught v research masters degrees

    Yes you are correct but possibly there are exceptions. My graduate school gave PhD candidates the MPhil when admitted to candidacy (one could also get the usual en-route MA but it cost 30 bucks so I never bothered.)

    You should be aware that many, if not most, master's degrees in the US are a combination of taught and research, in the coursework is required but so is a thesis.

    Professional degrees, like MBA, MPA, and MSW usually don't have a thesis. As a general rule, especially in education (the MEd), the thesis standards are very low, so it can barely be called research.

    I have an "taught" Masters (an LLM). from London. No thesis required but four hour exams in each of four subjects. Pretty grim. One could substitute a thesis for one exam. Over seven hundred sat for the exams (degree also offered externally). Almost half failed, ONE distinguished (highest honours) NINE "mark of merit" (second honours).
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 10, 2014
  12. mintaru

    mintaru Active Member

    It really depends on the country. Australian and South African universities offer many traditional research masters. The same is true for some European countries, like Ireland or the UK for instance. But there are also countries like Austria, Germany, Sweden, and most Eastern European countries, where most Master's degrees are a combination of taught and research, like in the US. In a few countries (Germany and Austria) that's even the only existing type of Master's degree! Sweden, however, also has the so called "licentiatexamen". It's not a real Master's degree, but Swedish and British(!) universities consider that Swedish research degree as equivalent to a British MPhil.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 10, 2014
  13. Boethius

    Boethius Member

    This is almost the same game plan for my PhD at my school, except they required that I take four extra taught master's courses, after already having two master's degrees. In Spain, the Master's degree has to have a direct tie-in to the PhD. My MA thesis, a 50 to 70 page doc, is my research proposal and will comprise 1 to 1.5 chapters of my doctoral dissertation. Plus, my tutor oversees my work at various stages for quality control. I will earn a third Master's en route to my PhD.

    I'm starting to see that "PhD courses" in the USA are a big cash cow for the universities. Do you agree? I mean, the whole idea is about learning and doing research. One model throws you into the research world early; the other delays it with additional taught courses at the so-called PhD level. I'm sure there are arguments against the dissertation-only model too, but it's about being an independent researcher, right?
     
  14. warguns

    warguns Member

    disseration-only model,

    PhD students son't make much money for US universities. The real money is in degrees that are mostly lecture or group projects like law school or the MBA. In addition, at all quality universities PhD students are "funded" either with grants or assistantships so they pay relatively little.

    As for the disseration-only model, it's not practical in the US where undergraduate students take a variety of subjects rather than the European model where a degree is in a specific subject and only in that subject. Even a "major" is a subject is often only an introduction that amount to only six or seven courses.

    Finally, while it's hard for Europeans to grasp, American colleges and universities are independent entities and the accreditation standards are very low. Consequently, the difference between the education one receives at some US "universities" is not even at the secondary school level. It's the great paradox of American higher education that we have the best universities in the world as well as institutions called universities where no collegiate level education takes place.
     
  15. RAM PhD

    RAM PhD Member

    The school from which I earned the research M and PhD does not award a M en route to the PhD. Each degree is a self-contained program of study. Nor does having a research M allow any type of advanced standing when entering the PhD program. The postgraduate committee evaluates the academic background of all prospective M & PhD students, looking specifically for areas of deficiency in the discipline one is pursuing. Although the M & PhD are research degrees, if a student lacks the necessary foundation in a given discipline, the postgraduate committee will require remedial coursework to be completed prior to beginning the degree program.

    I think both approaches (taught and research) have their pro/con tenets. For mid-career students who have already completed taught undergrad and even M programs, research degrees are excellent opportunities to further one’s studies. In my case, I had already earned a B, MA and professional doctorate from RA USA schools. My personality is such that I work well on my own, so the research M and PhD were an excellent fit. Although I worked on my own, utilized online research sites and the libraries of three major universities (all within 60 miles of where I live), I maintained consistent and ongoing communication with my supervisor, the administration of the school and fellow students. The research route was an excellent opportunity for me personally.
     
  16. True in the sense of money made directly from the student.

    However, PhD students do make money for universities indirectly by providing low-cost labor in their classrooms and labs. The funded PhD student is typically cheaper than the professor who has the terminal degree. Penny saved, penny earned.

    Not to mention the yet more indirect network effects when the PhD candidate workforce enables the university to gain more publications, citations, and awards.
     
  17. warguns

    warguns Member

    I do not believe that the original poster was referring to indirect savings but rather had the misbelief that graduate students paid more than their way.
     

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