- #1
- 4,807
- 32
What are the fundamental differences in the nature of the work done in a master's thesis and a doctorate thesis?
I'm guessing there is less help provided by the advisor at the doctorate level and also that the "difficulty" level is higher at the doc level because the doctorate student has more knowledge and can work on a more specialized subject (like matt grime's old sig, "high school: advanced algebra, ..., doctorate: tiny portion of a tiny subject in algebra").
Also, I recall a vague memory where I read/heard that at the doc level, you have to make the topic you're working on advance "significantly" for your thesis to be accepted. Whereas, what? In a master's thesis you are only required to work on a topic and present your work, and its value is judged subjectively? What else is different btw the two? (Let's limit the discussion to mathematics and physics thesis.)
I'm guessing there is less help provided by the advisor at the doctorate level and also that the "difficulty" level is higher at the doc level because the doctorate student has more knowledge and can work on a more specialized subject (like matt grime's old sig, "high school: advanced algebra, ..., doctorate: tiny portion of a tiny subject in algebra").
Also, I recall a vague memory where I read/heard that at the doc level, you have to make the topic you're working on advance "significantly" for your thesis to be accepted. Whereas, what? In a master's thesis you are only required to work on a topic and present your work, and its value is judged subjectively? What else is different btw the two? (Let's limit the discussion to mathematics and physics thesis.)