Many programs can be completed in 6-9 months, but these are among the most demanding programs for obvious reasons. Students must meet admission requirements intended to decrease the number of credits in the program. The transfer credit feature applies to credits earned from a related master's degree, work and life experiences, and military service.
These accelerated programs then only work for a select few individuals and, thus, these are selective in their admissions. Applicants, for example, may have to present valid proof of years of work experience in related fields and have their proof evaluated for transfer of credits.
The more common - and more realistic and attainable, for that matter - accelerated programs have between 12 and 18 months time-to-completion. Note that standard graduate degree programs have a minimum of 24 months of completion - and that's with the assumption of full-time enrollment and the student hitting the milestones as scheduled! It isn't unusual for graduate students to earn their degree in three to five years, on average.
The courses in accelerated programs last between four and eight weeks long, but six-week accelerated courses are more typical due to their condensed format. Students in eight-week courses take six credit hours per term, meaning two courses each term, for six terms (fall, spring, and summer). But students in six-week courses progress through the program even faster!
Many one-year graduate degree programs have a non-thesis format and, thus, allow students to earn the degree within the allotted time. The thesis, or dissertation, can take up a significant chunk of time since it requires several revisions of your research, from the proposal to the approval phase. Without it, students have the opportunity to earn their degree within 12 months or less.
But instead of a thesis, students will be required to complete a capstone project and an internship period. These requirements still demand time, energy, and effort, so don't be too complacent either!
And then there are the accelerated 4+1 degree programs that allow students to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in five calendar years. The typical time to completion when earning both degrees in separate programs is six years, minimum, meaning a one-year saving. The accelerated format is possible because credits, usually six credits or more, are shared between the bachelor's and master's degrees.