The Master of Science degree requires: admission of all degree seeking students to candidacy for the degree after completion of all prerequisites identified at the time of initial admission and the completion of nine (9) required graduate credit hours in residence at the university; a minimum of thirty (30) graduate semester hours of course work, including at least eighteen (18) credit hours of required core courses, six (6) credit hours of thesis, and six (6) credit hours of electives to be chosen from a list of courses and with the consent of the advisor and the approval of the department head.