Requirements
Thesis and Non-Thesis Options
The program offers two tracks toward the M.A. degree: thesis and non-thesis. (“Plan 1” and “Plan 2,” respectively). Each plan has unique advantages. The student, in consultation with his or her major professor and M.A. Committee, chooses which plan to follow. Both plans require two years of study.
Students who intend to pursue doctoral studies after their UC Davis training are strongly advised to select the thesis option. The nonthesis option is often – although certainly not always – the preferred option for students who anticipate a career in business or government. Students anticipating a research career in the private sector or government will be encouraged to select the thesis option.