The minimum requirement of credit units is 24 for the M.S. program, and 18 for the Ph.D. A thesis or dissertation is required for both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Students are also asked to take Department seminar courses and to publish at least one paper in SCI journals as a requirement. In addition, the Department also encourages graduate students to assist teaching in class and presents papers annually in seminar courses and in conferences and meetings as well.