Applicable only to students admitted during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Geochemistry; the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Geology; and the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Geophysics and Space Physics; and the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Planetary Science.

Geophysics and Space Physics

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Incoming students are assigned a faculty adviser by the graduate adviser. During the first year of study, the faculty adviser in consultation with the student selects two additional faculty members with appointments in the student’s department to complete the student’s advising committee. At the beginning of every quarter, the student’s program must be reviewed and approved by the faculty adviser.

Departmental Reviews. The Graduate Student Affairs Committee annually reviews student progress (generally in late May and early June). These reviews become part of students’ departmental records and are transmitted to the students and their faculty advisers in writing. If students’ scholarship or progress is insufficient, they may be recommended for academic disqualification.

Areas of Study

The program in Geophysics and Space Physics offers study in Earth’s interior (seismology, gravity, thermal regime, geomagnetism, tectonics), geophysical fluid dynamics (turbulence, rotating systems, stability, hydromagnetism), mineral physics, planetary science (orbital dynamics, planetary interiors, surfaces and atmospheres, magnetic fields, origin and evolution of planetary systems), space physics (magnetospheres, radiation belts, solar wind, magnetic fields, cosmic rays), and applied geophysics. Other comparable areas of study are also possible.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Full-time students must enroll in a minimum of 12 units per quarter. The twelve units required per quarter may include, among others, courses in the 500 series (individual study or research).

Each course of study is individually created by the advising committee in consultation with the student. It may include appropriate courses offered by other departments.

Nine graduate and upper division courses (36 units) are required for the degree; at least six of those courses (24 units) must be 200-series and offered for a letter grade. Student may apply up to eight units of course EPSS 596: Directed Individual Study and/or Research or EPSS 598: M.S. Research and Thesis Preparation toward the total course requirement and the graduate course requirement.

Three courses in the major geophysics disciplines are required: Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences 200A, 200B, 200C, on Solid Earth and Planets, Oceans and Atmospheres, and Plasmas.

For the program in Geophysics and Space Physics with specialization in applied geophysics, courses applied toward the 36-unit minimum requirement must include EPSS 200A: Solid Earth and Planets; EPSS 202: Continuum Mechanics; plus at least two courses selected from M204: Time-Series Analysis, EPSS 205: Inverse Theory and Data Interpretation, and EPSS 222: Introduction to Seismology. Eight additional units of graduate-level courses are required; courses recommended are EPSS 200B: Oceans and Atmospheres, EPSS 208: Geothermics, M224A: Elastodynamics. In some situations, students may petition to substitute one or more of these courses.

In addition to the above requirements, all students are required to enroll each quarter in a seminar in a Geophysics and Space Physics subdiscipline (EPSS 286 A,B,C Seminar: Planetology; EPSS 287A,B,C Seminar: Seismology and Earth’s Interior; EPSS M288 A,B,C Seminar: Space Physics; EPSS 293 A,B,C: Space Physics Journal Club) and present at least one lecture in that seminar during each academic year. All students are required to enroll each quarter in the EPSS weekly colloquium (EPSS 295 A, B, C).

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The comprehensive examination is scheduled by the faculty adviser in consultation with the student and other members of the examining committee. The examining committee consists of the faculty adviser and at least two additional EPSS faculty members. In extraordinary circumstances, a delay or change in committee membership may be granted by petition to the graduate adviser or department chair.

The student prepares two written research proposals on two dissimilar projects approved by the faculty adviser. The proposals must be concise, with a guideline of 4 pages and a maximum of 5 pages, and must be submitted to the examining committee at least 10 days before the examination. The proposals are presented briefly to the examining committee orally, and the committee examines their originality and scientific merit, as well as the student’s fundamental knowledge in the program area.

The capstone plan is not offered for the program in Geophysics and Space Physics with specialization in applied geophysics.

Thesis Plan

Every master’s degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research.

The thesis must be approved by the student’s thesis adviser, as well as by the other members of the student’s advising committee. If students choose the thesis plan, no examination is required, except for the program in Geophysics and Space Physics with specialization in applied geophysics.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	9	9	10

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Incoming students are assigned a faculty adviser by the graduate adviser. Prior to the departmental and university qualifying examinations, the faculty adviser in consultation with the student selects two additional faculty members with appointments in the student’s department to complete the student’s advising committee.

Departmental Reviews. The Graduate Student Affairs Committee annually reviews students’ progress (generally in late May and early June). These reviews become part of students’ departmental record and are transmitted to the students and their faculty advisers in writing. Students whose scholarship or progress is insufficient may be recommended for academic disqualification.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The program in Geophysics and Space Physics offers study in Earth’s interior (seismology, gravity, thermal regime, geomagnetism, tectonics), geophysical fluid dynamics (turbulence, rotating systems, stability, hydromagnetism), mineral physics, planetary science, (orbital dynamics, planetary interiors, surfaces and atmospheres, magnetic fields, origin and evolution of planetary systems), space physics (magnetospheres, radiation belts, sun, solar wind, magnetic fields, cosmic rays), and applied geophysics. Other comparable areas of study are also possible.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Full-time students must enroll in a minimum of 12 units per quarter. The twelve units required per quarter may include, among others, courses in the 500 series (individual study or research).

Each course of study is individually created by the advising committee in consultation with the student. It may include appropriate courses offered by other departments.

Nine graduate and upper division courses (36 units) are required for the degree; at least six of those courses (24 units) must be 200-series and offered for a letter grade. The student may apply up to eight units of course EPSS 596: Directed Individual Study and/or Research toward the total course requirement and the graduate course requirement. If a graduate student already has a master’s degree in a similar discipline from a different institution, up to 12 units of 596: Directed Individual Study and/or Research may apply.

Three geophysics courses and three geophysics and space physics courses are required.

The three required geophysics courses (Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences 200A, 200B, 200C, on Solid Earth and Planets, Oceans and Atmospheres, and Plasmas) must be passed with a grade-point average grade of 3.3 or better, on a 4.0 scale.

The three additional courses that satisfy the geophysics and space physics requirement must be passed with a grade-point average of 3.3 or better, on a 4.0 scale. Courses satisfying the fundamental physics requirement may be chosen only from the following courses (A and B count as separate courses unless otherwise indicated):

• EPSS 201: Classical Mechanics OR PHYS 220: Classical Mechanics
• EPSS 202: Continuum Mechanics
• EPSS 211: Mathematical Methods of Geophysics OR one of PHYS 231A,B,C: Methods of Mathematical Physics
• EPSS M224A / MAE M257A: Elastodynamics
• PHYS 210A,B: Electromagnetic Theory OR AST 271A, B: Electromagnetic Radiation in Astrophysics I, II
• PHYS 215A: Statistical Physics
• PHYS 221A,B: Quantum Mechanics OR CHEM 215A: Quantum Chemistry: Methods
• PHYS 222A: Plasma Physics OR AOS 250B: Solar System Microscopic Plasma Processes
• AOS 201A: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics I OR MAE 250A: Foundations of Fluid Dynamics
• CHEM 223A: Classical and Statistical Thermodynamics

In addition to the above requirements, all students are required to enroll each quarter in a seminar in a Geophysics and Space Physics subdiscipline (EPSS 286 A,B,C Seminar: Planetology; EPSS 287A,B,C Seminar: Seismology and Earth’s Interior; EPSS M288 A,B,C Seminar: Space Physics; EPSS 293 A,B,C: Space Physics Journal Club) and present at least one lecture in that seminar during each academic year. All students are required to enroll each quarter in the EPSS weekly colloquium (EPSS 295 A, B, C).

Teaching Experience

Oral communication of complex material is an essential skill in academic and non-academic settings and graduate studies present the perfect setting for acquiring and honing it. Engagement in teaching is one of the most effective means to improve communication and pedagogical skills. Therefore, all doctoral students will be required to teach (be employed as teaching assistants for courses taught by EPSS faculty) at least two quarters during their doctoral studies, at least once before advancement to candidacy, preferably not in the last two quarters before the thesis defense. Exceptions may be granted in extraordinary circumstances, for example if teaching violates the terms of a fellowship.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass university written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations, the University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to university requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Departmental Written and Oral Preliminary Examination: This examination must be taken no later than the spring quarter of the second year. It is scheduled by the faculty adviser in consultation with the student and other members of the examining committee. The examining committee consists of the faculty adviser and at least two additional EPSS faculty members. In extraordinary circumstances, a delay or change in committee membership may be granted by petition to the graduate adviser or department chair.

The student prepares two written research proposals on two dissimilar projects approved by the faculty adviser. The proposals must be concise, with a guideline of 4 pages and a maximum of 5 pages, and must be submitted to the examining committee at least 10 days before the examination. One of the proposals should cover a possible dissertation topic. The proposals are presented briefly to the examining committee orally, and the committee examines their originality and scientific merit, as well as the student’s fundamental knowledge in the program area.

The possible outcomes of this examination are:

1. Pass — with immediate eligibility to proceed to the University Oral Qualifying Examination.
2. No-pass — with the possibility of reassessment by an agreed upon date (in consultation with the committee and the student) on the basis of a specific written list of requirements supplied by the graduate evaluation committee. This option is meant for students with identifiable and presumably correctable weaknesses, but who are otherwise above the passing threshold. The no-pass option can only be used once for any particular student.
3. Terminal master’s pass — allowing the student only to finish any outstanding course requirements for the master’s degree.
4. Fail — resulting in a recommendation for academic disqualification.

University Written and Oral Qualifying Examination: After passing the departmental qualifying examination, students must consult their faculty adviser and the graduate adviser regarding nomination of the doctoral committee. In consultation with the doctoral committee, students arrange a time for the oral qualifying examination. This examination is normally taken in the spring quarter of the third year, and must be taken no later than the spring quarter of the fourth year. At least 10 days before this examination, students must provide each member of the doctoral committee with a written prospectus of their proposed dissertation research, including a summary of research objectives, methodologies, and a timeline for completion. In addition to the proposed research, the committee may examine the student’s fundamental knowledge in the discipline. Repetition of a failed examination is at the option of the doctoral committee.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

1. The departmental preliminary examination is normally taken in the second year of residence.
2. The university qualifying examination is normally taken in the third year and no later than the fourth year of residence.
3. The dissertation and dissertation defense are normally completed no later than the fifth year of residence.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	18

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification who fails to meet requirements regarding course scheduling and deadlines for completion of examinations or the degree. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification through a letter to the graduate adviser or the department chair.