Do I have to do a Masters and a PhD thesis? I am currently perusing my masters degree in engineering, and would like to continue that with a PhD, and it was my understanding that I needed a thesis for my masters in order to get into the PhD program. Is this true? I'm beginning to reach out to professors to see if they will take me on, and when I mentioned a masters thesis to one of them, he said it would be better just to take the class requirements for a regular masters degree, but I could start looking at my PhD thesis now. Does this sound right? Thanks for your input!
It depends largely on the country and institution.  Some PhD programs in engineering require a Master's with a dissertation.  Other programs are content with a course-work-only Master's.  Your best bet is to find a person to work with at the department of the PhD program you want to enter (which it sounds like you have already done) and follow the advice of that person.