I am currently working on my Master's thesis and was suddenly hit with a dilemna. The topic doesn't allow itself to be expanded into a PhD dissertation liike, I believe, masters theses are supposed to. Do you think this is a problem. Must they?

Thank you,
Jerome

No not at all Jerome. Some people are keen on turning the master's thesis into a disseration chapter. Other people are so tired of thinking about their master's theses that they never want to look at the damn thing again. I think either is fine, especially if your dissertation is in the same general area / field as your masters thesis is or was. That way, you don't need to begin reading up in an entirely new area of scholarly literature. What is difficult is when the departure from the masters is so far that a great deal of catch up work must be done to begin with the dissertation.

Hi Jexs and Jerome,

My master's thesis turned rather obviously into my dissertation. To be honest with you, I wish that it hadn't! I know that sounds a bit odd considering that so many students would hope and even aim for such a smooth transition. However, I am now a bit fatigued of the research and feel I am 'stuck' with it. Also, I don't feel that I have had the opportunity to really expore many research areas and research methods during my doctorate career. Instead, I focused quite early on and, while I will defend the dissertation much earlier than my counterparts who entered the program near the same time as I, I wish I would have taking the opportunity to explore more. Jerome, if you have any hesitation about whether to continue the masters work, don't. This is your time to make the switch. Your dissertation should really be something you are intensely excited about.

All my very best,
Matthew from New York.

Damn, i never thought of looking at it that way, thanks.

actually i never thought about that either. You forget how much you read in the literature in your field as you are preparing for the master's paper. To think of starting all of that over again though makes me realize how far i have actually come in my program. I better stick with something similar for the dissertation. ugh. i'm so tired of it though.

If you are tired of your topic though, a switch might be in order. You don't want to be stuck writing a dissertation on a topic you hate.

thanks.

I also had a conversation with my department adviser about this and she believes it is actually better to have a mutually exclusive master's thesis. That way you can try to get a publication out earlier in your academic career.

No pressure, right?

anyway, i'm a little stuck on where to go with my dissertation but i'm hoping to figure it out soon.

my question is, can the master's thesis be a dissertation chapter? it's okay for the same document to serve toward two requirements?

At most schools it can, sure! Many people turn their master's theses into a dissertation. That's how some get their idea for the dissertation anyway. Actually, i think it's a fantastic way to get a dissertation topic. Usually people think to big for the dissertation topic and come up with these huge topics that can't be done in a few short years. The MAster's thesis will sometimes focus their attention on some small issues that can be accomplished. I think people who use the master's as a launching pad wind up getting out earlier.