Doctoral theses

Generally in the US, a thesis is the final project for the masters degree and a dissertation leads to a doctoral degree. Those pursuing a masters degree must perform research on a specific subject that demonstrates their knowledge acquired through their program.

Thesis Masters. Thesis Masters involves a large research project that spans over several semesters. It culminates in a thesis that is likely to be published . The thesis option is ideal for students who plan to pursue a PhD in the future or wish to work in research-intensive job roles.

In still other areas, a thesis is used for doctoral work and dissertation is used to refer to sub-doctoral work. A PhD dissertation, however, typically refers to the work done to receive a PhD and complete a person’s formal education in a particular field.

Though some students assume that all graduate students require that students write a thesis, this isn't always true. The answer to the question of do all graduate students do a thesis is that it depends on the program and that some schools offer alternatives like fieldwork or a research project.