Masters with no thesis

[Lauren the Librarian]

I'm looking at a terminal Masters in Computer Science degree program for my husband that doesn't require a thesis. Both the school and the department are highly ranked. But there is no thesis (nor report) required. Does anyone know how the job market responds to that? Is a Masters in CS good enough, or do employers ask about the thesis as well? He's a technical guy and probably won't be getting a job in research anytime soon.

[belowthree]

Outside of research they absolutely don't care. Coursework-only masters are very common in CS and are often very appropriate for people who don't plan to pursue research. Mostly the only people who bother to do a thesis option Masters degree are folks who are planning on going on to a PhD program or want to keep their options open. A few others do it just because they feel it's more hardcore and they feel compelled to do it.

But employers almost never care. Unless it's a research lab of some sort.

[Lauren the Librarian]

But employers almost never care. Unless it's a research lab of some sort.

Thanks for the reply. I figured as much. My husband is a self-taught IT guy working in an IT shop with guys that know much less than he does despite their degrees. It's especially annoying because he is paid significantly less than they are because he is on the non-degree pay scale. He found a dual BS/MS CS program from a top ten school and will do the 'work fulltime/school part time' gig until he finishes. Then it'll likely be an immediate 40% or more pay raise. I would hate to have him work for the next 7-8 years on a program that doesn't measure up. Anyway, I think he'd shoot himself rather than do research.

[Hank Gorman]

Thanks for the reply. I figured as much. My husband is a self-taught IT guy working in an IT shop with guys that know much less than he does despite their degrees. It's especially annoying because he is paid significantly less than they are because he is on the non-degree pay scale. He found a dual BS/MS CS program from a top ten school and will do the 'work fulltime/school part time' gig until he finishes. Then it'll likely be an immediate 40% or more pay raise. I would hate to have him work for the next 7-8 years on a program that doesn't measure up. Anyway, I think he'd shoot himself rather than do research.

Since you mention working full-time. Is he looking for Distance Learning? Some top schools provide Master of Science or Professional degree in these areas. For example,

- Columbia University - CVN

- Stanford University

- University of Southern California - DEN

- University of Florida

- Southern Methodist University

- University of Colorado at Boulder

Their programs look solid; since these programs serve as career enhancement; therefore, no thesis is required. Some school offers 9 courses with thesis, 9 courses with capstone, or 10 courses for non-thesis.