How long does it take to complete the M.S. program? The Ph.D. program?
The M.S. program typically requires two years. The first part of the Ph.D. program is defined by a directed research project. Students who enter the program without an M.S. degree usually complete this phase in two years, spending much of that time taking many of the same courses M.S. students take. Students who already have an M.S. usually finish their directed research project in one year. The total time to earn a Ph.D. depends on the size and complexity of the dissertation research. This part of the program may be as short as two years, in which case the total time for a Ph.D. would be three or four years. For students working on large, complex projects the dissertation research itself may require four years or more, for a total time of up to seven years.
