The Department's course offerings are geared to the Ph.D. program, but qualified M.A. applicants are admitted. The requirements for the M.A. degree include the entire core curriculum of the Ph.D. program, two elective courses, and a written comprehensive examination. Students who are quite sure they wish to pursue a Ph.D. should apply for admission directly to the Ph.D. program and not the M.A. program. Requirements for admission are at the same level for both programs, and students who are admitted to one may usually transfer, given satisfactory performance, to the other.
Financial aid is available only to full-time students in the Ph.D. program.