Although professional degrees and academic degrees belong to the same level, academic dissertations require creative scientific research results, while professional dissertations are mainly engaged in applied research. In terms of innovation, their dissertations don't have to pay attention to original research like academic papers, but to innovation of practical exploration, which can reflect the ability to comprehensively apply the theories, knowledge and methods of their major or related majors, analyze and solve practical problems, and show certain innovation and the ability to independently undertake practical work and management work in professional fields. Academic papers are different from popular science books, experimental reports, scientific information and other articles, focusing on theoretical analysis and logical reasoning. Dissertation belongs to ten argumentative papers, that is, to explain and answer questions through reasoning. As Liu Xie said, "the arguer is also ethical", and this "ethics" means reasoning in an orderly and hierarchical way. Academic papers should not only pay attention to the high generalization and abstraction of rational thinking, but also rationally demonstrate the research conclusions, fully embodying the theoretical color.
Professional degree postgraduate education mainly cultivates advanced applied talents. The purpose of writing a thesis is to enhance the ability of graduate students to study and solve practical problems. The paper highlights the social, economic and practical value. Professional dissertations must be based on practice, aiming at the problems that need to be studied in practical work or restrict the development of a department, industry or enterprise, with accurate data collection, rigorous argumentation and advanced and feasible results. Excellent professional dissertations are not only of guiding and reference value to practice, but also can bring economic and social benefits to practical departments. Postgraduate education is a highly specialized professional education, which serves to train senior professionals from all walks of life. Therefore, this paper is the result of special research in professional field. Academic papers are required to contribute to the development of this discipline, which is manifested in profound professional theory, profound professional content, abstract professional terms and profound professional concepts, and shows the effect of "profound knowledge" to outsiders. Academic papers promote the gradual innovation and development of professional knowledge through continuous exploration and in-depth research.
Professional degree thesis requires the characteristics of graduate level and professional degree, which does not emphasize that it must be purely academic research, but it cannot be simplified as a simple summary of practical work, but should reflect the author's ability to solve practical problems by comprehensively applying the theory and knowledge he has learned. In 1990s, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology gave a clear definition of engineering: "Engineering is a creative specialty which is about the development and application of scientific knowledge and technology and meets the social needs under the constraints of material, economy, manpower, politics, law and culture." This definition reveals the practical essence of engineering, namely, two "development and application" (development and application of scientific knowledge and development and application of technology) and professional mission (meeting social needs), which shows that professional dissertations not only pay attention to the mastery of theoretical knowledge, but also pay attention to the application of theoretical knowledge. Therefore, the evaluation criteria of professional dissertations should focus on the integration of application value and academic value.