All this for a master's thesis? I've done two master theses and the most grilling I've gotten is having to clean up some of the math and grammar. Sounds more like a PhD dissertation! Anyway, congratulations!
Some university science departments still run like this. Many no longer even require a thesis, at least in other departments. My wife has two MAs and neither required oral boards or a thesis. Still undecided on a PhD. Wouldn't ne much worse!