Most students take 8 to 12 units per quarter. The fees are the same no matter the number of units. It is not unusual for students to work part-time in addition to taking classes. The graduate education experience varies from student to student. Time to degree similarly varies based on the student's research project and type of degree sought. The M.A. degree generally takes 2 to 3 years. The Ph.D. degree has a broader range, as the goal is for students to make original contributions to the research literature. Ph.D. students typically finish in 5 to 6 years.