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guyventer
Joined: 11 Jan 2011
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 Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:40 am Post subject: MA TESOL Without Dissertation |
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Hi,
I've noticed that some MA TESOL programs such as the one offered by Reading University do not require a dissertation. I would prefer not to do a dissertation related to TESOL because I think it might bore me to death. My plan is to apply to university jobs after completing a masters program, so I want to know whether universities would care whether my masters included a dissertation.
Cheers,
Guy |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 5:11 am Post subject: Re: MA TESOL Without Dissertation |
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| guyventer wrote: |
Hi,
I've noticed that some MA TESOL programs such as the one offered by Reading University do not require a dissertation. I would prefer not to do a dissertation related to TESOL because I think it might bore me to death. My plan is to apply to university jobs after completing a masters program, so I want to know whether universities would care whether my masters included a dissertation.
Cheers,
Guy |
In my PERSONAL experience, I have never been asked, when applying for a position, if either of my Masters required a dissertation and it has never been an issue afterward.
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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MA's with a thesis = American
MA's without a thesis = British
This is NOT 100% but fairly close. Look at the British system - plenty of MA's where the thesis is optional. If you want honors, you can do it. Look at the US system - most MA's require the thesis.
Really, the only reason you NEED to do a thesis is if you're planning on going on to PhD work later, and even then you can do it without a thesis if you have some other solid examples of research and writing. |
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Whistleblower
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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A good MA includes some research component and to sweep all British MAs with a 'they don't do thesis/dissertation' brush is crude. I done my MA in the UK and had to do a thesis/dissertation. Any higher education institute that includes some research component and writing is essentially more respected than those without.
When I meet other MA holders I ask them what their research was based on and what journals they have published in. If they aren't able to talk about academia or their subject, they're a waste of space and probably got an MA in Flower Arranging rather than education or language teaching.
Finally, I'm glad that I had the opportunity to do a thesis/dissertation as I research a topic that interested me and I have been requested to author a chapter of a book (from other interested parties). Without a thesis/dissertation you'd be hard to publish in reputable journals such as the ELT Journal. |
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Jingo besus
Joined: 12 Sep 2011
Location: The Clipperton Suite
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| Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:20 am Post subject: |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
MA's with a thesis = American
MA's without a thesis = British
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It depends on what you mean by Thesis as theres a difference in terminology between the UK and US.
At the end of a UK Masters you'll generally be expected to write a dissertation of at least 15k words. Its usually on one of a list of set topics and wouldnt involve coming up with new theories or ideas, the whole point of the qualification is just to demonstrate an ability for autonomous learning beyond the level that would be expected for a degree, in most of the cases a well written and researched dissertation is generally used to assess this...
If you mean a thesis as in an original piece of research leading to new ideas or interpretations, this is generally expected of higher level post graduate study such as PhD and would involve a hell of a lot more work than a dissertation.
You might be able to find a masters in the UK without a dissertation but in my experience (as a current admissions officer for a UK uni) we don't do any masters without a dissertation. |
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diddymao
Joined: 29 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Jingo besus wrote: |
| nathanrutledge wrote: |
MA's with a thesis = American
MA's without a thesis = British
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It depends on what you mean by Thesis as theres a difference in terminology between the UK and US.
At the end of a UK Masters you'll generally be expected to write a dissertation of at least 15k words. Its usually on one of a list of set topics and wouldnt involve coming up with new theories or ideas, the whole point of the qualification is just to demonstrate an ability for autonomous learning beyond the level that would be expected for a degree, in most of the cases a well written and researched dissertation is generally used to assess this...
If you mean a thesis as in an original piece of research leading to new ideas or interpretations, this is generally expected of higher level post graduate study such as PhD and would involve a hell of a lot more work than a dissertation.
You might be able to find a masters in the UK without a dissertation but in my experience (as a current admissions officer for a UK uni) we don't do any masters without a dissertation. |
Some Masters Programs, I have heard from friends, offer a culminating exam instead of a thesis. In that alternative, you have to answer and respond to a series of questions that reflect your coursework. You still have defend your writing in front of a committee but its not an original work or work based on your own unpublished research. |
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MA-TESL/AL grad
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Location: United States
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| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Honestly, most American programs that I have come considered did not require a thesis. Mine required a comprehensive exam which was quite strenuous. |
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valkerie
Joined: 02 Mar 2007
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 7:37 am Post subject: |
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| Jingo besus wrote: |
| nathanrutledge wrote: |
MA's with a thesis = American
MA's without a thesis = British
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It depends on what you mean by Thesis as theres a difference in terminology between the UK and US.
At the end of a UK Masters you'll generally be expected to write a dissertation of at least 15k words. Its usually on one of a list of set topics and wouldnt involve coming up with new theories or ideas, the whole point of the qualification is just to demonstrate an ability for autonomous learning beyond the level that would be expected for a degree, in most of the cases a well written and researched dissertation is generally used to assess this...
If you mean a thesis as in an original piece of research leading to new ideas or interpretations, this is generally expected of higher level post graduate study such as PhD and would involve a hell of a lot more work than a dissertation.
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MY Masters (UK) dissertation was the second type. |
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justpale
Joined: 29 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| MA-TESL/AL grad wrote: |
| Honestly, most American programs that I have come considered did not require a thesis. Mine required a comprehensive exam which was quite strenuous. |
Same here. Well, we had either a thesis or non-thesis option (comprehensive exams). I've come across some job postings that want to know about my research focus. I don't have a research focus, so I've just skipped over those.
OP, I'd be interested in your success as I'm in a similar situation. |
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