Thesis or Plan B?
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Most people considering or beginning grad school have an understanding of what a Master’s thesis is: a 100+ page paper that shows sustained exploration and scholarship. The Master’s thesis is often seen as proof that one has the capability to continue on to doctoral level scholarship and dissertation writing.
However, as more students enter Master’s programs with diverse backgrounds, goals, and objectives, many programs are beginning to add another option, or as CMU calls it “Plan B.” A Plan B is an article length (20-30 page) paper on a topic of your choice (pending advisor approval). Many students use seminar papers they developed in a course in their first three semesters of graduate school. What’s the catch? you may be asking. 100+ page paper or a 20-30 page paper….the choice seems pretty easy! Well, the Plan B requires more coursework, since the thesis project itself takes up 6 of your credit hours toward graduation. So, how to decide if you want to take on a thesis or a Plan B? Well, the first thing to do is check your program requirements, as some have already made the decision for you:
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So, for those of you entering the Creative Writing and TESOL tracks…you can probably stop reading here and just skip down to the “Advantages of Plan B” table further down to get you pumped about what the Plan B can do for you.
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Answer Key:
If you answered “Yes” to questions 1-5, I’d definitely recommend the Thesis route.
If you answered “Yes” to questions 6-10, I’d recommend the Plan B route.
If you’re a mix of the two, I’d read the following sections and work closely with your advisor to make a final decision.
If you answered “Yes” to questions 1-5, I’d definitely recommend the Thesis route.
If you answered “Yes” to questions 6-10, I’d recommend the Plan B route.
If you’re a mix of the two, I’d read the following sections and work closely with your advisor to make a final decision.
THESIS
In general, the thesis is the best option for those who are coming into the graduate program with experience and confidence, who are looking forward to the challenge of a long-term research project with a guiding committee, and who foresee themselves continuing on to a doctoral program.
The thesis can also be a good test for those who are trying to figure out if they’re cut out for the dissertation—the hardest part of a doctoral program. Too many doctoral candidates don’t carefully consider this before they begin: Rebecca Schuman, writing for Slate, explains that only 55-64% of doctoral students actually finish their dissertations and graduate (Slate). There’s even a term for this type of doctoral student: ABD (all but dissertation). The 5th year of a doctoral program is too late to figure out you really aren’t into sustained scholarship—especially since that will be the rest of your life once you get the Ph.D.
Imagine that the thesis is like an engagement before marriage. Even the best relationships can start to look different when the intended length of stay is life, am I right? In the wise words of Beyoncé, “If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it.” The thesis is your bling.
The thesis can also be a good test for those who are trying to figure out if they’re cut out for the dissertation—the hardest part of a doctoral program. Too many doctoral candidates don’t carefully consider this before they begin: Rebecca Schuman, writing for Slate, explains that only 55-64% of doctoral students actually finish their dissertations and graduate (Slate). There’s even a term for this type of doctoral student: ABD (all but dissertation). The 5th year of a doctoral program is too late to figure out you really aren’t into sustained scholarship—especially since that will be the rest of your life once you get the Ph.D.
Imagine that the thesis is like an engagement before marriage. Even the best relationships can start to look different when the intended length of stay is life, am I right? In the wise words of Beyoncé, “If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it.” The thesis is your bling.
A Student Perspective on the Thesis
Erika Murdey, Creative Writing
The thesis allowed me to prepare a lot of work for others to critique, and so when I graduated instead of two or three stories that I felt were completed I had ten—three of which have been published (so far!). I’ve heard that the Plan B allows for more fine-tuned writing samples for MFA applications, but that isn’t the goal of every Creative Writing student. Even though it was for me, I was able to pick stories from my thesis for the same purpose. The experience of defending my work, while terrifying, was also invaluable. I came away from my defense with a better understanding of my own work and what my goals were. The in-class workshops that are part of the Creative Writing curriculum do not allow for the same level of critique. Something that was a major trouble for me was the timeline. Any grad student who does a thesis needs to understand what the deadlines are. I almost did not get to graduate on time because of how very, very early the deadlines for the thesis were, and I know my Advisor/Chair was shocked as well. Also, it should be noted that neither thesis projects nor Plan Bs can be defended/finalized during the summer. That would have put me in a position to not be able to complete my thesis until the following Fall, and I would have had to pay for the credits out of pocket because my assistantship would have expired. |
PLAN B
None of this is to say that the Plan B is a lesser option. In fact, fewer and fewer doctoral programs require a Master’s Thesis for admission to their program and many are most interested in seeing a strong writing sample. The writing samples they are looking for are shorter in length than a thesis—about 20-30 pages. What a coincidence! Just the length of a Plan B. Additionally, doctoral programs are looking for students that have as much coursework under their belts as possible. The Plan B option helps with this because you’d be taking at least two additional classes where thesis-writers are taking thesis credits.
Plan B’s are also great for those who know they don’t want to go on for a Ph.D. Maybe you’re a teacher already, and are getting the Master’s to move up in pay or prestige. Maybe you’re a lifelong learner and wanted to continue on that path. Maybe you’re a partner taking CMU up on its awesome spousal course credit privileges. There are lots of reasons to get a Master’s and not continue on for a Ph.D. The Plan B is a great option because it gives you the experience of scholarship without having to give your life over to it. It gives you some things to present at staff meetings or regional conferences. It gives you important talking points for future job interviews. The Plan B is a serious piece of scholarship and/or creative work that will serve you in a multitude of ways as you continue on in your academic or professional career.
Plan B’s are also great for those who know they don’t want to go on for a Ph.D. Maybe you’re a teacher already, and are getting the Master’s to move up in pay or prestige. Maybe you’re a lifelong learner and wanted to continue on that path. Maybe you’re a partner taking CMU up on its awesome spousal course credit privileges. There are lots of reasons to get a Master’s and not continue on for a Ph.D. The Plan B is a great option because it gives you the experience of scholarship without having to give your life over to it. It gives you some things to present at staff meetings or regional conferences. It gives you important talking points for future job interviews. The Plan B is a serious piece of scholarship and/or creative work that will serve you in a multitude of ways as you continue on in your academic or professional career.
A Student Perspective on the Plan B
Heidi B. Ashcroft, English Language and Lit
My graduate advisor and I discussed what the best choice for me personally would be when considering whether to write a Plan B or a thesis. At the time, I was not entirely sure if I wanted to pursue a Ph.D, and she explained that I could use either a thesis or a Plan B if I ultimately decided to go on to get my Ph.D. So, knowing that if I did decide to get a Ph.D. I could use my Plan B paper as a writing sample, I decided to go with that one. Also, to be honest, I didn't want to do a thesis because it would be so time consuming, and I struggled to keep up with everything else that I had going on in my life. I think that it was a good decision for me personally because I still composed a scholarly piece that I could continue to revise for publication (if I chose to do so), a piece that I could potentially submit to get a Ph.D. if I choose to in the future, and a piece that didn't take up as much time as a thesis would.
I wish that I would have known a little more on what to expect when it came to the reviewing process and how that worked. For example, I thought that I would submit it and it would either pass or be rejected. While this does happen for some, some students (like myself) get their paper passed, but with the "request for revisions." I didn't realize the process of revision and how much time that would take, and since I got the essay back so late, I was really pressed for time to get the revisions completed. Also, I recommend taking the time to think about what instructor you want to work with, and think more about that as you are composing your essays from the very beginning of your graduate career. For example, if you really enjoy working with an instructor, consider having them be your Plan B advisor and creating an essay for his/her class that you feel confident to use as your Plan B. |
WEIGHING THE OPTIONS
Benefits Disadvantages |
PLAN B
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THESIS
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Rebecca Conklin is an ENG 101 graduate assistant in the (currently suspended) Composition and Communication concentration. Some call her “The Last “MACC” but she’s hopeful the program will find an upswing in the years to come because it has brought so much awesomeness into her life. She’s planning on continuing her studies with a Ph.D. after CMU, and with any luck it will be at MSU’s Rhetoric, Writing, and American Cultures department
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