Master's degrees require between 30 and 60 credit hours, depending on the subject area. Many institutions also require you to show competence in graduate level writing at the start of your degree. Many schools require you to take a writing course or show evidence of mastery in a writing course in your undergraduate transcript in addition to a particular score on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). The GRE is a typical requirement for liberal arts-based master's degrees, and the GMAT is a criterion for admission into Master's of Business Administration (MBA) programs.
Most master's degrees require that you take at least two-thirds of your credit hours at that institution. This ensures that your master's degree will come with the level of rigor consistent to that university. It also guarantees that the university has taken in a guaranteed amount of tuition per degree conferred.
You may not be permitted to take more than six or nine independent study hours as part of a master's degree. While independent study classes can give your degree plan some individualization, universities have this requirement to ensure a uniform level of rigor for all students. This should not keep you from looking into these classes, though, as the mentoring available with working closely with a professor and the chance to pursue your own academic interests freely are valuable assets.
Most universities give you a maximum of five to seven years to complete your master's degree, starting in the first semester when you registered for a class in that program. You can request an extension based on personal circumstances or the possibility that an extension would improve the quality of your final coursework.