I can’t speak for the field today, but back in 1966 you had to be in the 95 %-ile in grades and the Graduate Record Examinations just to get into a good graduate school in psychology, much less earn an advanced degree. And you were expected, if not required, to stay in the program full time and complete your course work in about 4 years; some ‘slack’ time was allowed to complete and present your thesis. (which time you usually spent working on research for your Professor, which research tied in with your thesis topic).
10 years later, it was possible to complete your course work by attending night school, (of necessity part-time) and writing your thesis on your own time (under your Professor’s supervision), and thus earn your advanced degree in 6 to 8 years of part time study, while working in the field.
Today, or more to the point, 18 to 20 years ago when Prof Ford was completing her advanced degree programs, who knows?