MA Thesis Option
Should you write a thesis?
The MA thesis is a book-length, original research contribution to the field. In writing a thesis you work closely with a thesis advisor, one of the Linguistics/ESL faculty, to develop an idea. You will first discuss the idea with your advisor, then make up a prospectus, usually a detailed outline of your project. Your advisor will help you form a thesis committee who will review your prospectus and set up your oral comprehensive exam. After your thesis is finished you will then defend it (i.e. discuss and answer questions about it) before this same committee.
There are several advantages to taking the thesis option. Aside from the personal satisfaction that comes from formulating, executing, and completing a long-term research project, the most obvious advantages are that there are fewer courses required and there is no timed, written comprehensive exam. Often a thesis or part of it may be publishable, and publications add significantly to your professional credentials. Presentation of a well-written MA thesis may also help you get admittance to a good PhD program, and, in fact, some PhD programs require presentation of a thesis.
There are also some disadvantages in taking the thesis option. Much more initiative and creativity is required of the student who undertakes a thesis. Although fewer courses are required you will have to do a large amount of reading and study in the area of your thesis topic. All of this extra reading combined with the fact that writing can be difficult, tedious, and time consuming can make the thesis the longer road to the MA.