Good Info: 30 credit Thesis option vs. 36 credit non-thesis option

[CalmLogic]

This was written for non-CS folks but the basics are the same:

Time to Completion
Students often assume that because the thesis option requires 30 hours of credit and the non-thesis requires 36 hours of credit, the thesis will take less time to complete. This is rarely the case. More frequently the thesis option takes more time to finish because the thesis requires intensive work over an extended period of time. First drafts of theses usually must be completed by the end of the first month of the semester in which the student intends to graduate. Preparing a first draft requires at last one additional semester and frequently several more. Time should not be a consideration in making the decision of whether or not to choose the thesis option.

Experience in the Program is the Key to the Decision
Ultimately, the decision of whether to take the thesis or the non-thesis option should be informed by the experience students have in the first graduate courses they take. In particular, their experience in the seminar courses should guide them in deciding if a large research project is what they wish to focus upon. They will also discover in these courses if there are faculty with whom they would like to work on such a project.

THESIS or NON

The Nonthesis Master's Degree
No question about it: A nonthesis master's degree can be completed in less time than a thesis master's. Most students can complete the nonthesis course requirements in four to five quarters (12-15 months, including summer term) by maintaining a moderate-to-high course load (9-12 credit-hours/quarter). Most part-time students can complete the degree in about four years (one course per term, including summers).
Another advantage of the nonthesis option is you usually can plan your program and predict when you will complete your degree. Completing a thesis can be a more variable endeavor.

The Thesis Master's Degree
The time to complete a thesis master's varies, but it certainly takes longer than a nonthesis degree. Full-time students typically take 18-24 months to complete their course work, plan and carry out their thesis research, and write their thesis. Part-time students take four years or more.
So, why choose to take the extra six to 12 months to complete a thesis master's degree...?
You want to work on a more ambitious project than typically encountered in the classroom.
Depending on your thesis topic, you may gain specialized skills and knowledge that makes you more attractive to certain employers. A thesis may be especially valuable if you hope to work for research or cutting-edge development companies.
Any company, however, should appreciate your ability to complete a nontrivial project and to present your work orally and in writing (critical skills in industry).
You want to work closely with faculty and network with potential colleagues.
You will be supervised by one of the faculty, and—depending on the research project—you might work with other research staff and faculty members. They may be able to bring your work to the attention of colleagues who could hire you.
And because they have worked with you over several months, they can tell potential employers more about your abilities than the fact that you got an “A” in their class.
You plan to get a Ph.D. later.
A master's thesis gives you a chance to try your hand at research—the central task in earning a Ph.D.—and see whether you enjoy it. And completing a master's thesis demonstrates research experience and strengthens your application to Ph.D. programs.
You like a challenge.
While completing a master's thesis, you learn how to understand the research literature in your field, how to write for a scholarly audience, and how to present your work in writing and as a lecture. In addition, you will learn more about your topic than you would ever learn in a classroom.
You hope to get funding for your thesis research.
Financial assistance normally is not available for master's students. Some research projects, however, may have funding for specific work that could constitute a suitable thesis. A student who is willing to tackle such a project for their thesis might be able to arrange partial funding (e.g., tuition waiver) for part or all of the research phase of the thesis.
It should be emphasized, though, there are no guarantees of funding even if you write a thesis.
Should you write a thesis? Only you can answer that. Most students choose the nonthesis option, understandably. But for others, a thesis master's degree is a worthwhile investment.

OGI School of Science & Engineering

One guy at Edulix gave the following advice to MS students wanting to work regular (non-research) jobs in industry. He said the following preference may be best (regarding opportunity costs and the like):

Project > Thesis > Just coursework

I find it hard to disagree with that generality.