Both thesis and non-thesis options are available for obtaining the master's degree. The non-thesis option requires 32 semester credit hours, of which two hours must be devoted to the completion of a special topics study and one hour to a course on technical communications. The thesis option requires completion of 30 semester credit hours, with five or six hours devoted to thesis research and one hour to a course on technical communications. Both options include a final defense or examination and have a minimum residency requirement of one academic year.