<p>Could you please compare and contrast the masters degree with thesis ("research masters") and the masters degree without thesis ("professional masters")? </p>
<p>What is the value of each? Does each lead to a particular path, such as academia or industry? Can a professional masters candidate go on to a PhD? Will a research masters mean anything in industry?</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Oops! :o Of course, any input from grad students or undergrads who have researched this topic would be helpful too!</p>
<p>If you have a research master's, people may see you as a PhD drop-out. </p>
<p>A professional master's based on coursework supposedly helps you gain expertise in a particularly area, rather than develop research skills.</p>
<p>A PhD drop out isn't that bad a thing in engineering. It's not the same as a physical science where M & S are Scarlet letters on your diploma. A PhD in engineering really changes your career path, not better or worse, just towards a different direction, and many people try it out before finding they don't want it.</p>
<p>Do you mean Masters of Research (MRes) or thesis master's?</p>
<p>MEng are those who intend on working in industry after college, and have pretty much on intention on PhD. I've been currently researching it extensively.</p>
<p>It highly depends on the school, but I know some schools that make you take courses but also have a project that you must complete.</p>
<p>It's a good alternative for those that are not interested in the PhD/academia/research route. You get in, get out, and find a job. A MS might take anywhere from 2-3 years, where this is a 1-1.5 year commitment.</p>
<p>It also might be a good stepping stone if you're working on your BS, then get the MEng, and eventually want to get a MBA (to move up the corporate ladder / start your own business). This is what I intend on doing... either that or just work after my BS degree, then go for MBA straight. I'm also considering a BS + MS accelerated program at my school, where I only stay for 1 extra year and I'll have my MS degree (if everything is planned accordingly)... basically I start taking graduate courses and start research during my Sr. year (I'm a jr. now).</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>The stuff that DS has done, in his academic career, has typically been with associating with people. His undergrad has been working with his major prof as a gofer and completing miscellaneous projects, a summer engineering job where he was always asking for more work. A MSc project-thesis that continued from his undergrad time, and put him in front of his advisor all the time. </p>
<p>Opinion: A thesis/project that gets you in front of people, and people show you where the doors are. </p>
<p>And Stevee, from Toronto, DS is completing his MSc in CS with MechEng at emphasis at Toronto. He never had intention of doing a phD.</p>