Students must secure departmental approval for a program of courses including a minimum of 90 hours beyond the baccalaureate (including 30 hours of M.A. course work, 30 hours of Ph.D. course work). Work completed as part of a master's program and accepted as part of admission credentials may be included in the 90 hours. Other transfer credit, to a maximum of 9 hours, will be evaluated by the Director of Graduate Studies. Core and distribution requirements met at the M.A. level fulfill, with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, the requirements at the Ph.D. level, freeing students to take electives to complete the 30 hours beyond the M.A. required for the Ph.D.