Experience has shown that it is very difficult to take more than a single course if you have a job, a family, or a life. Therefore we strongly discourage doubling up. This rule is waived if financial aid is required, however your employer may find it more profitable to cough up the extra money for tuition and have you remain a productive worker. During your studies, you should keep your eye open for professors and topic areas which appeal to you. Although the ST699 is not taken until the final semester, you should have already obtained an advisor at that point, and ideally a topic.
Students defend their thesis on campus at the end of the program.
I want to take a statistics class that's not ordinarily a distance offering and credit it towards my degree. There are two hurdles here. The first is getting the course videotaped. Courses not listed on the Plan of Study webpage are not offered via distance except possibly by student petition. Second, you need to ensure that the course will count towards your degree.