Thesis vs non thesis Masters

Idle question here. My highest degree, now and likely for good and all, is a rather piddly Master of Laws in Taxation from a DEAC school. Like almost all LL.M. tax programs, no thesis was required or permitted.

Here's my question to Those Who Know...when a Masters program offers a thesis track, should the student consider it and if so, when and why?

 

A thesis track is typically for research, and takes the place of either a final comprehensive exam and/or a few classes. Most funded masters are thesis based as that provides room for publication. If you are funding your own degree then it ultimately comes down you if need/want publications or research experience.

 

If the student is going on to a PhD, having done a master's thesis has a couple of advantages relating to admissions and being more prepared for the doctoral dissertation. My view is that the greatest cause of ABDs is the shock of having to do original research and in-depth writing for the first time. Everything else about the coursework is a familiar process.

Outside of that, I don't think employers care one way or another.

Another consideration is personal. A master's thesis, which not necessarily based on original research, can be very original in the questions it asks and how the author answers them. Some people want to do that kind of work, while others will want to do more coursework (and even a capstone course in some programs) instead. Many programs offer the option.

Yes:

• PhD admission
• PhD preparation
• Because you want to do one

No:

• You don't care about going for a PhD
• You don't want to write one
• You'd rather take the additional courses instead

 

Schools sometimes seem to discourage their Masters students from writing a thesis. In other cases, a thesis option doesn't exist. Why is this? Is it a matter of the school's own resources?

 

I completely agree with Richs assessment. I completed a thesis for MA in History, which continued for my PhD dissertation. I did not complete a thesis for Masters in Library Science ( actually, my class was the last year that a thesis was not required).

 

A MA Thesis is basically a Capstone Paper plus maybe 20 pages. So figure 45-60 pages of text. Pre AI it might be a strain but with AI help for the research and drafting, a piece of cake.