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

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Manufacturing Engineering, the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Aerospace Engineering.

Mechanical Engineering

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty adviser upon admission to the School. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. All HSSEAS faculty serve as advisers.

New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with the adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Academic and for Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the departmental student services office staff and/or the School’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree, on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, if the Ph.D. degree is the ultimate degree objective, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

Dynamics; fluid mechanics; heat and mass transfer; micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS); structural and solid mechanics; systems and control.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

At least nine courses (36 units) are required, of which at least five (20 units) must be graduate courses. For the thesis plan, seven of the nine must be formal courses, including at least four from the 200 series. The remaining two may be 598 courses involving work on the thesis. For the capstone plan, no units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum course requirement. The courses should be chosen so that the breadth requirements and the requirements at the graduate level are met. The breadth requirements are only applicable to students who do not have a B.S. degree from an ABET-accredited aerospace or mechanical engineering program.

Undergraduate Courses. No lower division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees. In addition, the following upper division courses are not applicable toward graduate degrees: Chemical Engineering 102A, 199; Civil Engineering 106A, 108, 199; Computer Science M152A, 152B, M171L, 199; Electrical Engineering 100, 101, 102, 103, 110L, M116L, M171L, 199; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 120, 130, 131, 131L, 132, 140, 141L, 150, 160, 161L, 199; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 101, 102, 103, 105A, 105D, 107, 107L, 188, 194, 199.

Breadth Requirements. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following five categories: (1) Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 162A or 169A or 171A; (2) 150A or 150B; (3) 131A or 133A; (4) 156A, (5) 162B.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The comprehensive examination is offered in either written or oral format. A committee to administer the examination consists of the academic adviser as chair and two other faculty members; at least two members must be from within the department. Students may, in consultation with their adviser and the master’s committee, select one of the following options for the examination: (1) take and pass the first part of the doctoral written qualifying examination as the master’s comprehensive examination; (2) conduct research or design a project and submit a final report to the master’s committee; (3) take and pass three extra examination questions offered separately from each of the final examinations of three graduate courses, to be selected by the committee from a set of common department courses; or (4) take and pass an oral examination administered by the M.S. committee. In case of failure, students may be reexamined once with the consent of the graduate adviser.

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 describe some original piece of research that has been done under the supervision of the thesis committee. Students would normally start to plan the thesis at least one year before the award of the M.S. degree is expected. There is no examination under the thesis plan.

Time-to-Degree

The average length of time for students in the M.S. program is five quarters. The maximum time allowed for completing the M.S. degree is three years from the time of admission to the M.S. program in the School.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	3	5	9

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty adviser upon admission to the School. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. All HSSEAS faculty serve as advisers.

New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with the adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the departmental student services office staff and/or the School’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements and on the implementation of the policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree, on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Dynamics; fluid mechanics; heat and mass transfer; manufacturing and design (Mechanical Engineering only); micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS); structural and solid mechanics; systems and control.

Ph.D. students may propose ad hoc major fields. An ad hoc major field must differ substantially from established major fields and satisfy one of the following two conditions:

(1) the field is interdisciplinary in nature;

(2) the field represents an important research area for which there is no established major field in the department.  This condition most often applies to recently evolving research areas or to areas for which there are too few faculty to maintain an established major field.

Students in an ad hoc major field must be sponsored by at least three faculty members, at least two of whom must be from the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The basic program of study for the Ph.D. degree is built around major and minor fields. The established major fields are listed above, and a detailed syllabus describing each Ph.D. major field can be obtained at the Student Affairs Office.

The program of study for the Ph.D. requires the student to perform original research leading to a doctoral dissertation and to master a body of knowledge that encompasses material from the student’s major field and breadth material from outside the major field. The body of knowledge should include (1) six major-field courses, at least four of which must be graduate courses; (2) one minor field; (3) any three additional courses, at least two of which must be graduate courses that enhance the study of the major or minor field.

The major field syllabus advises the student as to which courses contain the required knowledge, and a student usually prepares for the written qualifying examination (formerly referred to as the preliminary examination) by taking these courses. However, a student can acquire such knowledge by taking similar courses at other universities or even by self-study.

A minor field embraces a body of knowledge equivalent to three courses, at least two of which must be graduate courses. Minor fields are often subsets of major fields, and minor field requirements are then described in the syllabus of the appropriate major field. Established minor fields with no corresponding major field can also be used such as applied mathematics, and applied plasma physics and fusion engineering. Also, an ad hoc field can be used in exceptional circumstances, such as when certain knowledge is desirable for a student’s program of study that is not available in established minor fields.

Grades of B – or better, with a grade-point average of at least 3.33 in all courses included in the minor field, and the three additional courses mentioned above are required. If the student fails to satisfy the minor field requirements through coursework, a minor field examination may be taken (once only).

For information on completing the Engineer degree, see Engineering Schoolwide Programs in Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

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.

After mastering the body of knowledge defined in the major field, the student takes a written qualifying (preliminary) examination covering this knowledge. The student must have been formally admitted to the Ph.D. program or admitted subject to completing the M.S. degree by the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the examination is given. This examination must be taken within the first two calendar years from the time of admission to the Ph.D. program. The student must be registered during the quarter in which the examination is given and be in good academic standing (minimum grade-point average of 3.25). The student’s major field proposal must be completed prior to taking the examination. Students may not take an examination more than twice. Students in an ad hoc major field must pass a written qualifying examination that is approximately equivalent in scope, length, and level to the written qualifying examination for an established major field.

After passing the written qualifying examination, the student must take the University Oral Qualifying Examination within four calendar years from the time of admission to the Ph.D. program. The nature and content of the University Oral Qualifying Examination are at the discretion of the doctoral committee, but include a review of the prospectus of the dissertation. The examination may include a broad inquiry into the student’s preparation for research. A doctoral committee consists of a minimum of four members. Three members, including the chair, are inside members and must hold appointments at UCLA in Aerospace Engineering. The outside member must be a UCLA faculty member who does not hold an appointment in the student’s department.

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)

Not required for all students in the program. The decision as to whether a defense is required is made by the doctoral committee.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to graduate status (includes M.S. degree) to award of the Ph.D. degree: 18 quarters (normative time to degree).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	18	24

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

A recommendation for academic disqualification is reviewed by the School’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to satisfy the breadth and graduate-level requirements.

(6) Failure to complete the requirements for the M.S. degree within the three-year time limit.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for:

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure in the major field written qualifying examination, or failure to take the major field written examination within two calendar years from the time of admission to the Ph.D. program.

(3) Failure in a written minor field examination after failure to attain a grade point average of 3.33 in the minor field course work.

(4) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination, or failure to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination within four calendar years from the time of admission to the Ph.D. program.

(5) Failure to complete the requirements for the Ph.D. within four calendar years after passing the University Oral Qualifying Examination and failure to take this examination again.

(6) Failure in the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(7) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Computational Medicine

School of Medicine

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Computational Medicine offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Biomathematics, the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Clinical Research, and the Medical Doctor (M.D.) and M.S. in Clinical Research articulated degree.

Clinical Research

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The co-chairs within the departmental Executive Committee for the M.S. in Clinical Research confer with incoming students about their goals and prior preparation. Medical students and clinical fellows are assigned quantitative advisers by the Executive Committee. Medical students, fellows, and junior faculty identify a scientific advisor and scientific research project. If the medical student requires assistance identifying an advisor, then the Executive Committee will assist with advisor identification. The assigned quantitative adviser is either from the Executive Committee, the Admissions Committee, or from a faculty mentor list available within the department. Clinical fellows may use a faculty member from their subspecialty training program as an additional scientific adviser. Students meet with their adviser(s) at least once a month. Detailed student progress assessments are reported to the Executive Committee.

Areas of Study

Clinical and translational research including clinical trials, biomedical informatics, epidemiological studies, randomized prospective clinical trials, and retrospective trials.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Master’s degree and articulated degree candidates, in both MSCR Track A and MSCR Track B, must complete a minimum of 48 units, including 32 units of required upper division and graduate courses; at least five of the courses must be graduate level (200 series).

The nine required courses for MSCR Track A are Biomathematics 170A, 259, M260A, M260B, M260C, M261, 266A, 266B, and either Biomath 265A or Statistics 102A. The nine required courses for MSCR Track B are Biomathematics 170A, M260C, M261, 266A, 266B, Bioengineering 220, M226, M227, and either Biomathematics 265A or Statistics 102A. Eight (8) units of elective courses are required and selected in consultation with and approval by assigned advisors. Eight (8) units of Biomath 596 are required for thesis research.

With the graduate program advisor’s approval, equivalent courses may be substituted to meet the program’s coursework requirements.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Articulated degree candidates will complete Capstone Plan II (capstone: research report). Master’s degree candidates may choose been Capstone Plan II or a Thesis Plan. For the Capstone Plan, a Master’s Report Committee will be constituted for each student. The Committee will have a chair and at least two other faculty members. Subject to approval of the committee, the capstone report can take on a variety of forms including a research article or a grant proposal. However, in all cases, the committee expects each Master’s Research Report would add to the body of knowledge in the student’s clinical specialty. The Committee will supervise the preparation of the report and will meet with the student regularly to review progress. The final research report will be presented orally to the committee and the final written research report must be approved by the full committee.

Thesis Plan

Articulated degree candidates will complete Capstone Plan II (capstone: research report). Master’s degree candidates Students may choose between a Capstone Plan II (capstone: research report) or a 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.

A master’s thesis committee consisting of a minimum of three faculty is nominated by the department and appointed by the Division of Graduate Education. Students discuss with their adviser(s) their choice for the chair of the thesis committee (which must be a faculty within the Department of Computational Medicine). The committee composition must be approved by the Executive Committee. The completed thesis is presented to the thesis committee for approval.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time to degree is 7 quarters. The maximum time to degree is 11 quarters. Exceptions require approval of the Executive Committee.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	7	7	11
M.D. & M.S.	3	3	4

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.

 

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Oral Biology

School of Dentistry

Graduate Degrees

The Oral Biology Section of the School of Dentistry offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Oral Biology.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

New students are advised by the M.S. program graduate adviser. Students are expected to identify the research area and a mentor by the end of their first year of study. Students are then advised by the graduate adviser in consultation with the research mentor and the master’s thesis committee members.

Areas of Study

Areas of study include bone biology; immunology and oral, head and neck cancer surveillance; oral microbiology, neurobiology, pathology and homeostasis; and performing oral biological research.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 36 units is required to satisfy the degree requirements. This required course work consists of six core courses (Oral Biology 201C, 209, 212, 215A, 260 (for three quarters), and 275), and four units each of Oral Biology 596 and 598. These courses should be taken primarily during the first year of graduate study. Students also must take a minimum of thirteen units of additional elective course work from any of these courses: Oral Biology 201A, 205A, 205B, 206, 208, 215B, 226, 227, 228, 229A, 299B, or from other departmental courses either at the upper division or graduate level. The elective courses should be essential to or add to the enhancement of understanding in the research area.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

None.

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 purpose of the thesis is to demonstrate the student’s ability to design and carry out a research project, and to analyze and present the resulting data. The results of thesis research are expected to be of publishable scientific quality. The subject of the thesis must be approved by the graduate adviser and research mentor. Students prepare and send a proposal of the research project to the graduate adviser at the end of their first year of study.

Time-to-Degree

Time-to-degree varies in accord with the program track students select. Some students may be capable of completing the degree requirements in less time than stated here.

Master’s degree only: Six quarters.

First year: Students begin required and elective course work, laboratory rotations, select mentor and thesis committee members, and begin research.
Second year: Students complete required and elective course work, complete research, analyze data, write, defend, and file thesis.

Master’s degree combined with UCLA D.D.S. program: 12 quarters.

First year: Students begin D.D.S. curriculum and training and M.S. required and elective course work.
Second year: Students continue D.D.S. curriculum and training and M.S. elective course work, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and complete research proposal.
Third year: Students continue D.D.S. curriculum and training and M.S. elective course work, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and 598, continue research.
Fourth year: Students complete D.D.S. curriculum and training and M.S. elective course work, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and 598, complete research, analyze data, write, defend, and file thesis.

Master’s degree combined UCLA Dental Residency Certificate Program: Nine quarters.

First year: Students begin clinical training and M.S. required and elective course work.
Second year: Students continue clinical training and M.S. elective course work, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and complete research proposal.
Third year: Students continue clinical training and M.S. elective course work, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and 598, complete research, analyze data, write, defend, and file thesis.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	4	6	12

Doctoral Degree

Advising

New students are advised by the Ph.D. program graduate adviser. Students are expected to identify the research area and a mentor by the end of their first year of study. Students are then advised by the graduate adviser in consultation with the research mentor and the doctoral committee members.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The major fields include bacterial and fungal pathogenesis; biochemistry; calcified tissue metabolism and developmental biology; cancer biology; immunology; neuroscience; pharmacology and therapeutics; salivary diagnostics; and virology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 36 units of core courses is required:  Biochemistry CM253, C267A, M267B, Oral Biology 209, 260, 596, 597, 599. Students also must take a minimum of four units of additional elective course work from any of these courses:  Oral Biology 201A, 201B, 201C, M204, 205A, 205B, 206, 208, 214, 215A, 215B, 226, 227, 228, 229A, 229B, 234, 273, 275, or from other departmental courses either at the upper division or graduate level. The elective courses should be essential to or add to the enhancement of understanding in the research area.

Teaching Experience

Participation in teaching activities either by assisting the faculty in a one-quarter oral biology course offered to dental students or in a Teaching Assistantship offered by another department is required. Students are expected to participate fully in the planning and delivery of the course.

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.

The timing of the University Oral Qualifying Examination depends on the specific program track in which the student is enrolled. Students should see the Time-to-Degree section for details. During the year specified, the student is responsible, with the advice and consent of the graduate adviser, for organizing the doctoral committee. Faculty members constituting the doctoral committee include the student’s research mentor and two others from the student’s areas of emphasis. Two of three members must be from the Section of Oral Biology or Dentistry. The fourth member must come from a university department outside of the School of Dentistry. The doctoral committee is responsible for approving the course of the student’s doctoral study and for conducting a review of the student’s progress.

After the completion of the core course requirements, it is expected that students complete the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Briefly this examination includes a written research proposal and its oral defense before the doctoral committee. At the end of the oral defense, students give a 15-minute presentation for the proposed research for the doctoral dissertation.

Students prepare a 15 to 20 page written research proposal on a topic unrelated to the dissertation research. It may be in the same general area as the student’s research interests, for example, molecular pathogenesis, but it must not be closely related to the student’s own research, or any research being conducted in the doctoral mentor’s laboratory. The proposal is in the format of an NIH grant application, and includes background, current research status, a novel working hypothesis and three specific aims to test the hypothesis. Students may consult with their mentor on the appropriateness of the topic. However, the mentor is not allowed to provide the students with any help in preparing for the oral qualifying examination.

Following the oral examination, the doctoral committee makes a decision in the following manner: to vote pass on the oral examination and advance the student to candidacy; to vote fail and allow the student to repeat the examination; or, to vote fail and recommend academic disqualification from graduate study. The committee’s decision is based on the quality of the written proposal, the adequacy of the oral presentation, the overall record at UCLA as reflected in course work, and the research ability as judged by an abstract of the research submitted with the proposal and the research mentor’s written assessment.

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 the Dissertation)

The final oral examination is required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Time-to-degree varies in accord with the program track students select.

Doctoral degree only: Twelve to 15 quarters.

First year: Students complete the required Oral Biology core courses and begin the laboratory rotations.
Second year: Students select a research mentor and laboratory, complete elective course work, work with the mentor to select the doctoral committee, prepare for and take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Students may also begin dissertation work in the selected laboratory.
Third year: Students engage in dissertation research and complete any elective courses necessary for completion of the didactic portion of the doctoral degree requirements.
Fourth year: Students engage in dissertation research. Approximately six months before the expected completion of the research and the final oral examination, students prepare for a midstream seminar examination. Students present to the doctoral committee a midstream seminar that outlines their research achievements. Students must pass this examination prior to taking the final oral examination. Finally, students prepare, defend, and file the dissertation.
Fifth year: Students who were unable to complete the program within four years engage in the same activities as in the fourth year.

Doctoral degree combined with UCLA D.D.S. program: 21 quarters.

First year: Students begin D.D.S. curriculum and training and doctoral laboratory rotations and required and elective Oral Biology course work.
Second year: Students continue D.D.S. curriculum and training and begin doctoral research course work.
Third year: Students continue D.D.S. curriculum and training and doctoral research while completing Oral Biology course work.
Fourth year: Students complete course work in fall and winter Quarters, complete University Oral Qualifying Examination.
Fifth year: Students continue D.D.S. curriculum and training at 25% time and continue doctoral research.
Sixth year: Continue D.D.S. curriculum and training at 25% time and continue doctoral research.
Seventh year: Students complete D.D.S. curriculum and training and doctoral research. Approximately six months before the expected completion of the research and the final oral examination, students prepare for a midstream seminar examination. Students present to the doctoral committee a midstream seminar that outlines their research achievements. Students must pass this examination prior to taking the final oral examination. Finally, students prepare, defend, and file the dissertation.

Doctoral degree combined UCLA Dental Residency Certificate Program: Time-to-degree varies in accord with length of certificate program selected.

First year of doctoral program: Students complete the required core courses and the laboratory rotations.  Students select a research mentor and begin research.
Second year of doctoral program: Students complete course work, continue research, prepare for and take the University Oral Qualifying Examination.
Dental certificate program years: Two to four years depending on the program selected. Students concentrate on certificate curriculum and clinical training and continue research.
Final year:  Students concentrate on certificate curriculum and clinical training (50% time). Approximately six months before the expected completion of the research and the final oral examination, students prepare for a midstream seminar examination. Students present to the doctoral committee a midstream seminar that outlines their research achievements. Students must pass this examination prior to taking the final oral examination. Finally, students prepare, defend, and file the dissertation.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	6	15	21

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 for failure to show satisfactory progress in research activities.

The program chair and the program director together recommend academic disqualification in writing to the departmental chair (who is also the dean of the school).

A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification in writing to the Faculty Review Committee. The Review Committee consists of three members. One member is the student’s mentor, one is appointed by the departmental chair and one is appointed by the student. If the student does not have a mentor, the departmental chair appoints two members.

The Committee reviews the student’s record and conducts a personal interview with the student. The Committee’s recommendation is communicated in writing to the departmental chair, with copies to the student and program chair. The recommendation is specific and may be for one of the following (but is not limited to these options): a leave of absence for a specified period of time to remove Incomplete grades or review academic goals; continuance for a specified period of time with stated expectations of improvement in performance; or, academic disqualification of graduate study.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering offers the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Manufacturing Engineering, the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Aerospace Engineering.

Mechanical Engineering

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty adviser upon admission to the School. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. All HSSEAS faculty serve as advisers.

New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with the adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Academic and for Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the departmental student services office staff and/or the School’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree, on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, if the Ph.D. degree is the ultimate degree objective, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

Dynamics; fluid mechanics; heat and mass transfer; micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS); structural and solid mechanics; systems and control.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

At least nine courses (36 units) are required, of which at least five (20 units) must be graduate courses. For the thesis plan, seven of the nine must be formal courses, including at least four from the 200 series. The remaining two may be 598 courses involving work on the thesis. For the capstone plan, no units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum course requirement. The courses should be chosen so that the breadth requirements and the requirements at the graduate level are met. The breadth requirements are only applicable to students who do not have a B.S. degree from an ABET-accredited aerospace or mechanical engineering program.

Undergraduate Courses. No lower division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees. In addition, the following upper division courses are not applicable toward graduate degrees: Chemical Engineering 102A, 199; Civil Engineering 106A, 108, 199; Computer Science M152A, 152B, M171L, 199; Electrical Engineering 100, 101, 102, 103, 110L, M116L, M171L, 199; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 120, 130, 131, 131L, 132, 140, 141L, 150, 160, 161L, 199; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 101, 102, 103, 105A, 105D, 107, 107L, 188, 194, 199.

Breadth Requirements. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following five categories: (1) Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 162A or 169A or 171A; (2) 150A or 150B; (3) 131A or 133A; (4) 156A, (5) 162B.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The comprehensive examination is offered in either written or oral format. A committee to administer the examination consists of the academic adviser as chair and two other faculty members; at least two members must be from within the department. Students may, in consultation with their adviser and the master’s committee, select one of the following options for the examination: (1) take and pass the first part of the doctoral written qualifying examination as the master’s comprehensive examination; (2) conduct research or design a project and submit a final report to the master’s committee; (3) take and pass three extra examination questions offered separately from each of the final examinations of three graduate courses, to be selected by the committee from a set of common department courses; or (4) take and pass an oral examination administered by the M.S. committee. In case of failure, students may be reexamined once with the consent of the graduate adviser.

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 describe some original piece of research that has been done under the supervision of the thesis committee. Students would normally start to plan the thesis at least one year before the award of the M.S. degree is expected. There is no examination under the thesis plan.

Time-to-Degree

The average length of time for students in the M.S. program is five quarters. The maximum time allowed for completing the M.S. degree is three years from the time of admission to the M.S. program in the School.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	3	5	9

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty adviser upon admission to the School. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. All HSSEAS faculty serve as advisers.

New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the M.S. or Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with the adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the departmental student services office staff and/or the School’s Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements and on the implementation of the policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree, on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Dynamics; fluid mechanics; heat and mass transfer; manufacturing and design (Mechanical Engineering only); micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS); structural and solid mechanics; systems and control.

Ph.D. students may propose ad hoc major fields. An ad hoc major field must differ substantially from established major fields and satisfy one of the following two conditions:

(1) the field is interdisciplinary in nature;

(2) the field represents an important research area for which there is no established major field in the department.  This condition most often applies to recently evolving research areas or to areas for which there are too few faculty to maintain an established major field.

Students in an ad hoc major field must be sponsored by at least three faculty members, at least two of whom must be from the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The basic program of study for the Ph.D. degree is built around major and minor fields. The established major fields are listed above, and a detailed syllabus describing each Ph.D. major field can be obtained at the Student Affairs Office.

The program of study for the Ph.D. requires the student to perform original research leading to a doctoral dissertation and to master a body of knowledge that encompasses material from the student’s major field and breadth material from outside the major field. The body of knowledge should include (1) six major-field courses, at least four of which must be graduate courses; (2) one minor field; (3) any three additional courses, at least two of which must be graduate courses that enhance the study of the major or minor field.

The major field syllabus advises the student as to which courses contain the required knowledge, and a student usually prepares for the written qualifying examination (formerly referred to as the preliminary examination) by taking these courses. However, a student can acquire such knowledge by taking similar courses at other universities or even by self-study.

A minor field embraces a body of knowledge equivalent to three courses, at least two of which must be graduate courses. Minor fields are often subsets of major fields, and minor field requirements are then described in the syllabus of the appropriate major field. Established minor fields with no corresponding major field can also be used such as applied mathematics, and applied plasma physics and fusion engineering. Also, an ad hoc field can be used in exceptional circumstances, such as when certain knowledge is desirable for a student’s program of study that is not available in established minor fields.

Grades of B – or better, with a grade-point average of at least 3.33 in all courses included in the minor field, and the three additional courses mentioned above are required. If the student fails to satisfy the minor field requirements through coursework, a minor field examination may be taken (once only).

For information on completing the Engineer degree, see Engineering Schoolwide Programs in Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

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.

After mastering the body of knowledge defined in the major field, the student takes a written qualifying (preliminary) examination covering this knowledge. The student must have been formally admitted to the Ph.D. program or admitted subject to completing the M.S. degree by the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the examination is given. This examination must be taken within the first two calendar years from the time of admission to the Ph.D. program. The student must be registered during the quarter in which the examination is given and be in good academic standing (minimum grade-point average of 3.25). The student’s major field proposal must be completed prior to taking the examination. Students may not take an examination more than twice. Students in an ad hoc major field must pass a written qualifying examination that is approximately equivalent in scope, length, and level to the written qualifying examination for an established major field.

After passing the written qualifying examination, the student must take the University Oral Qualifying Examination within four calendar years from the time of admission to the Ph.D. program. The nature and content of the University Oral Qualifying Examination are at the discretion of the doctoral committee, but include a review of the prospectus of the dissertation. The examination may include a broad inquiry into the student’s preparation for research. A doctoral committee consists of a minimum of four members. Three members, including the chair, are inside members and must hold appointments at UCLA in Aerospace Engineering. The outside member must be a UCLA faculty member who does not hold an appointment in the student’s department.

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)

Not required for all students in the program. The decision as to whether a defense is required is made by the doctoral committee.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to graduate status (includes M.S. degree) to award of the Ph.D. degree: 18 quarters (normative time to degree).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	18	24

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

A recommendation for academic disqualification is reviewed by the School’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to satisfy the breadth and graduate-level requirements.

(6) Failure to complete the requirements for the M.S. degree within the three-year time limit.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for:

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure in the major field written qualifying examination, or failure to take the major field written examination within two calendar years from the time of admission to the Ph.D. program.

(3) Failure in a written minor field examination after failure to attain a grade point average of 3.33 in the minor field course work.

(4) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination, or failure to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination within four calendar years from the time of admission to the Ph.D. program.

(5) Failure to complete the requirements for the Ph.D. within four calendar years after passing the University Oral Qualifying Examination and failure to take this examination again.

(6) Failure in the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(7) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Film, Television, and Digital Media

School of Theater, Film, and Television

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media offers the Master of Arts (M.A.), the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Film and Television.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

In most instances, the chair of the appropriate graduate committee acts as principal adviser to students in the program, although some advising assignments may be made by the chair to other members of the faculty. Students meet with their adviser for program planning prior to the beginning of each quarter. Students also are encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns.  Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the student affairs officer for this information.

Areas of Study

The program requires that students be conversant in both film and television, and they are tested on each in the comprehensive examination. The degree is awarded by successfully completing course requirements and, by successfully completing a Capstone Project.

Foreign Language Requirement

Although not required for the M.A. degree, some students may be required to demonstrate competence in a foreign language if it is necessary to support the research in their area of specialization.

Course Requirements

A minimum of nine courses is required, five of which must be 200-level courses in film and/or television history, theory, and criticism. Of the five courses, Film and Television 211A, 213, and 215B are required core courses. In addition, Film and Television 200 is required of all students. All five of the graduate-level courses must be completed with a grade of B or better.

Only eight units of Film and Television 596A, 596B, 596C, and 598 may be applied toward the total course requirement for the degree, and none of these courses may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Capstone Project

The Capstone Project is developed within the Capstone Course in the final (spring) quarter of registration and is the culminating project of the degree. The Capstone Project is either a scholarly research paper based on previous work in the program or a paper written in conjunction with, and based on, experiences in a professional internship performed during M.A. study. In either format, the Capstone Project is expected to be a creative work in which students use intellectual frameworks to synthesize ideas and provide original insights into research and professional experiences. After completion of the Capstone Project, the faculty grades the student either pass or fail. If failed, the student’s Capstone Project may be improved and reexamined when the Capstone Course is next regularly scheduled, or within the year following the term in which it was first taken. Scheduling is at the discretion of the Faculty. The Capstone is required of all M.A. students who apply to the Ph.D. program.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress toward the degree: from graduate admission with no deficiencies to award of the M.A. degree, a minimum of three quarters is necessary for completion of the required courses and Capstone Project. At the start of the third quarter of residence, but no later than the start of the sixth quarter, students are eligible to take the M.A. Capstone Course. Failure to comply with this regulation may result in dismissal. Maximum residency allowed for the M.A. program is seven quarters.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
MA	3	3	7

Master of Fine Arts

Advising

In most instances, the chair of the appropriate graduate committee acts as principal adviser to students in the program, although some advising assignments may be made by the chair to other members of the faculty. Students meet with their adviser for program planning prior to the beginning of each quarter. Students also are encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns. Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the student affairs officer for this information.

Areas of Study

Animation, producing/directing, producers program, and screenwriting. Students should consult the department for specific requirements.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 18 courses is required for the degree, five of which must be at the graduate level. At least three departmental courses must be taken outside each student’s specific program: two of these must be approved cinema and media studies seminars and the third must be from one of the other M.F.A. programs. Course requirements for each specialization are available in the Student Services Office, Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media.

Only 16 units of Film and Television 596A-596B-596C may be applied toward the total course requirement, and only eight of these units may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement. Only four units of Film and Television 596A and four units of 596B may be taken prior to advancement to candidacy. Film and Television 596C through 596F may be taken only after advancement to candidacy. Fieldwork and internships are not required, but may be taken as courses which may be applied toward the degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Students fulfill the comprehensive examination requirement through projects appropriate to their specializations. No later than the beginning of the final quarter of residence, the student must file the appropriate documents for advancement to candidacy and receive approval for advancement from the M.F.A. advisory committee.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

The four M.F.A. programs have different time-to-degree requirements: animation: 12 quarters (maximum 12 quarters); directing/producing: 12 quarters (maximum 12 quarters); producers program: six quarters (maximum nine quarters); screenwriting: six quarters (maximum 10 quarters). Students who are not making normal progress toward the degree may be recommended for termination of graduate study. Continuance in the program of students who are on academic probation is determined by the M.F.A. committee, with the final approval of the chair of the department.

SPECIALIZATION	DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Animation	MFA	9	9	12
Directing/Producing	MFA	9	12	12
Producers Program	MFA	6	6	9
Screenwriting	MFA	6	6	10

Doctoral Degree

Advising

In most instances, the chair of the appropriate graduate committee acts as principal adviser to students in the program, although some advising assignments may be made by the chair to other members of the faculty. Students meet with their adviser for program planning prior to the beginning of each quarter. Students also are encouraged to confer with the departmental student affairs officer as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns. Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the student affairs officer for this information.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students are expected to understand film and television within their social contexts as significant forms of art and communication, and to achieve, by disciplined study, a mastery of film and television history, theory, and criticism.

Foreign Language Requirement

Mastery of one foreign language is required and must be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (1) completing a level 5 course or the equivalent, with a minimum grade of C, in any foreign language; (2) passing a UCLA Foreign Language Department Placement Test at the equivalent of a level 5 course; (3) passing a UCLA language examination given in any foreign language department. When mastery of more than one foreign language is necessary for a student’s dissertation study, the student is required to take courses or pass examinations in the additional language(s). Normally, the required foreign language examinations must be passed by the end of the first year of residence.

Course Requirements

Each student must take a minimum of 13 and one-half courses during the first six quarters of residence. Three required Ph.D. core courses must be completed during the first year of residence: Film and Television 211B, 215, and 273. In their second year, students must take Film and Television 274 which is required in both the fourth and sixth quarters, and an independent study in the area of their dissertation in the fifth quarter. In addition to this core sequence, Film and Television 496, which counts as the one-half course, is required (normally in the first quarter of residence). Students also select seven additional graduate seminars, at least five of which must be approved cinema and media studies seminars.

Students must select three areas of concentration. One is in the specific field of their dissertation, including Film and Television 274 and the dissertation-related independent study; students may include a fourth course in this concentration which is a cinema and media studies seminar related to their dissertation. The other two areas are to be composed of three seminars each chosen to indicate focused competence in two areas of expertise. A suggested list of concentrations is as follows: film theory, criticism, narrative studies, film history, American film, European film, non-Western film/television, television studies, media and society, authors, genres, film and the other arts, film and television as a business enterprise, film/television production and new media.

Teaching Experience

Students who serve as teaching assistants or associates must complete Film and Television 496.  Teaching assignments vary by student’s specific area of study and availability of positions.

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.

After completion of all language and course requirements, students are eligible to take the Ph.D. written qualifying examination, which must be passed in order to proceed to the oral qualifying examination. The written examination is given in the Spring Quarter only and is a take-home examination that is completed over four full consecutive days. After the student passes the written examination, a doctoral committee is formed to administer the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Students are advanced to candidacy only on successful completion of this examination.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree 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)

Not required for all students in the program. The decision as to whether a defense is required is made by the doctoral committee.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress toward the degree is fifteen quarters.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	6	15	30

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of 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 termination 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 probation/termination whose various creative projects or work in courses in research methodology and history seminars are indicative of insufficient talent, development, imagination or motivation. If a student’s work in this area is found to be insufficient, the student is informed of the recommendation by the appropriate committee and placed on probation by the department. During the following term the student must provide sufficient evidence of improvement to remove the probationary status. If not, the committee recommends termination to the faculty and chair of the department.

A student may appeal a recommendation for termination through the following steps:

(1) The student submits to the departmental chair and the chair of the appropriate committee a written appeal stating the specific causes for reconsideration.

(2) The chair of the committee submits a response to the departmental chair and the student.

(3) The departmental chair appoints an ad hoc committee consisting of three tenured members of the faculty to review the student’s appeal and committee’s response. The ad hoc committee also meets separately with the student and the committee. The ad hoc committee forwards its written recommendation to the departmental chair.

(4) The departmental chair makes the departmental recommendation and informs the student and the Graduate Division of the decision in writing.

(5) A departmental faculty representative may be present at each review hearing within the department.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Scandinavian Section

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Scandinavian Section offers the M.A. degree in Scandinavian.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Students should meet with the graduate academic adviser each quarter. Through these meetings, the adviser keeps both the student and the other members of the section informed of the student’s progress. The adviser keeps records of these interviews, whenever deemed necessary, in the student’s file. There are no section guidance committees for M.A. candidates.

Areas of Study

There are no specific major fields or subdisciplines in the M.A. program, but students emphasize one modern language and literature area in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to demonstrate knowledge of three Scandinavian languages: fluency in one Scandinavian language (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish) and reading knowledge of the other two Scandinavian languages. Fluency of a language may be established by: (1) passing a departmental examination or (2) successfully completing one graduate-level course in the original language. Reading knowledge of a language may be established by: (1) passing a departmental examination or (2) successfully completing one upper-division literature course in the original language.

Course Requirements

A total of 12 courses is required for the M.A. degree. These courses include a minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses in Scandinavian languages, at least five of which must be graduate courses. Three courses on the upper division or graduate level may be taken in a related field of linguistic or literary study to be determined in consultation with the graduate adviser; at least one of these must be at the graduate level. Comparative Literature 200 or an equivalent course in methodology is required as one of the 12 courses.

Three 596 courses (12 units) may be applied toward the total course requirement, but only one (four units) may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

A comprehensive examination, based on the required coursework and a reading list, is required of all candidates for the M.A. degree. The examination is given whenever the student has completed the course requirements and feels prepared to be examined on both the coursework and the reading list. The comprehensive examination is both written and oral; students who fail may be reexamined once without petitioning.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission to graduate status, completion of coursework and examinations for the M.A. degree in Scandinavian usually requires six quarters of standard course load.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of 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 termination 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 specific condition which may lead to a recommendation for termination is C-graded work in Scandinavian courses. A recommendation for termination is made by the Scandinavian faculty in residence. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination through submission of a petition to the vice chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Statistics

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Statistics offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Statistics.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The vice chair for graduate studies is the chief graduate adviser and heads a committee of faculty advisers who may serve as academic advisers. The research interests of the members of this committee span most of the major areas of statistics. During their first quarter in the program students are required to meet with an academic adviser who assists them in planning a reasonable course of study. In addition, the academic adviser is responsible for monitoring the student’s degree progress and approving the study list each quarter. After the student identifies a thesis topic, the chair of the thesis committee becomes the student’s academic adviser.

Continuing students should meet with either the vice chair for graduate studies or their academic adviser at least once each quarter and a record of this interview is placed in the student’s academic file. Each spring a committee consisting of all regular departmental faculty meet to evaluate the progress of all enrolled M.S. degree students. This committee decides if students are making satisfactory progress, and if not offers specific recommendations to correct the situation. For students who have begun thesis work, the determination of satisfactory progress is typically delegated to the academic adviser. Students who are found to be consistently performing unsatisfactorily may be recommended for termination by a vote of this committee.

Areas of Study

The strengths of current and prospective faculty dictate the specific fields of emphasis in the department: applied multivariate analysis; bioinformatics; computational and computer-intensive statistics; computer vision; pattern recognition; machine learning; and social statistics.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Forty-four units of coursework are required for the M.S. degree, of which at least 32 units must be graduate courses, while the remaining 12 units may be approved upper division courses. With consent of either the vice chair for graduate studies or their academic adviser, students may take up to 20 units of the required 44 units in other departments provided that these courses are in professional or scientific fields closely related to research in statistics. All courses must be passed with the grade of B or better and students must maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or better. Students may enroll in Statistics 596 any number of times and may apply up to eight units of 596 courses toward the 44-unit requirement for the M.S.degree, provided a B- or better (not the grade of S) is received in these courses. Students are required to enroll in Statistics 290 each quarter, and are strongly encouraged to take Statistics 200A-200B-200C, 201A-201B-201C, and 202A-202B-202C in their first year..

Students with gaps in their previous training are allowed to take, with the approval of their academic adviser, undergraduate courses offered by the department. However, Statistics 100A-100B-100C, 110A-110B, 120A-120B, and 161 may not be applied toward course requirements for a graduate degree in the department. Students who need a basic refresher course are encouraged to take Statistic 100A-100B (not 110A-110B).

Teaching Experience

Not required. Students who wish to serve as teaching assistants in the department must have taken or be currently enrolled in Statistics 495A-495B-495C.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

This plan is not available to terminal master’s degree students. The comprehensive examination plan is available to doctoral students who obtain the M.S. degree on the way to the Ph.D. degree. Students fulfill the comprehensive examination requirement by passing two of three sections of the written qualifying examination for the Ph.D. degree.

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.

This plan is for terminal master’s degree students only. Students must find a thesis adviser, who approves the topic and form of the thesis. Students must nominate a thesis committee consisting of the adviser and at least two other faculty members who are eligible to serve on thesis committees, and the committee must be appointed by the Graduate Division. The final thesis must be approved by the thesis committee.

Time-to-Degree

Students are expected to complete the requirements for the M.S. degree within six quarters of full-time study.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
MS	6	6	9

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The vice chair for graduate studies is the chief graduate adviser and heads a committee of faculty advisers who may serve as academic advisers. The research interests of the members of this committee span most of the major areas of statistics. During their first quarter in the program students are required to meet with an academic adviser who assists them in planning a reasonable course of study. In addition, the academic adviser is responsible for monitoring the student’s degree progress and approving the study list each quarter. Students are encouraged to begin thinking about their research interests as early as possible. After the student identifies a dissertation topic, the chair of the dissertation committee becomes the student’s academic adviser.

Continuing students should meet with either the vice chair for graduate studies or their academic adviser at least once each quarter and a record of this interview is placed in the student’s academic file. Each spring a committee consisting of all regular departmental faculty meet to evaluate the progress of all enrolled doctoral students. This committee decides if students are making satisfactory progress, and if not offers specific recommendations to correct the situation. For students who have begin dissertation work, the determination of satisfactory progress is typically delegated to the academic adviser. Students who are found to be consistently performing unsatisfactorily may be recommended for termination by a vote of this committee. Doctoral students normally are considered to be making satisfactory progress if they take the written qualifying examination in the summer following their first year of study and the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of their second year.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The strengths of current and prospective faculty dictate the specific fields of emphasis in the department: applied multivariate analysis; bioinformatics; computational and computer-intensive statistics; computer vision; pattern recognition; machine learning; and social statistics.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to pass, with a grade of B- or better, 54 units of approved graduate coursework and to maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or better. At least 40 of these units must be in courses from this department; the remaining units may be from courses in related departments. Students are strongly encouraged to take Statistics 200A-200B-200C, 201A-201B-201C, and 202A-202B-202C. These courses contain core material for the qualifying examination. All doctoral students are required to take Statistics 290, and 296 and/or 596, or 599 during each quarter of enrollment.

Students with gaps in their previous training are allowed to take, with the approval of their academic adviser, undergraduate courses offered by the department. However, Statistics 100A-100B-100C, 110A-110B, 120A-120B, and 161 may not be applied toward course requirements for a graduate degree in the department. Also, for doctoral students Statistics C236 may not be applied toward the course requirements for a graduate degree. Students who need a basic refresher course are encouraged to take Statistics 100A-100B (not 110A-110B).

Teaching Experience

Students are required to complete at least one quarter of service as a teaching assistant for a minimum of 25% time appointment. Students who serve as teaching assistants in the department must have taken or be currently enrolled in Statistics 495A-495B-495C. International students for whom English is a second language must pass either the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or the UCLA Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) in English before they may serve as teaching assistants.

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.

Each year the department offers a written qualifying examination that covers material from the core course sequences for applied probability and theoretical statistics, data analysis, and statistical computing (Statistics 200A-200B-200C, 201A-201B-201C, and 202A-202B-202C). The examination is offered toward the end of Summer Session and consists of three separate sections, each related to a different course sequence. Students must select and pass two of the three sections. The choice of the two sections is made by the student and should be based on the student’s ultimate research goals. After passing the written qualifying examination, students select a doctoral committee that administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination, required for advancement to candidacy. Students are encouraged to begin thinking about their research interests as early as possible and to seek out faculty members who might serve on their doctoral committee. Students making satisfactory progress are expected to take the written qualifying examination in the summer following their first year of study and the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of their second year.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree 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

Students are expected to advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree within seven quarters of full-time work. Completion of all degree requirements (including the dissertation) normally takes 15 quarters.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	6	15	24

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of 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 termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

A student who does not complete all the requirements for the M.S. degree within seven quarters of full-time study is subject to a recommendation for termination. The graduate vice chair decides in each case whether a recommendation for termination is warranted. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the Graduate Studies Committee, which makes the final departmental decision.

Doctoral

A student who does not advance to doctoral candidacy within seven quarters of full-time study is subject to a recommendation for termination. The graduate vice chair informs a student of such a recommendation and the student is asked to submit a written appeal and to solicit letters of support from members of the faculty. The appeal is considered by the Graduate Studies Committee, which makes the final departmental decision.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Classics

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Classics offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Greek, the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Latin, and the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Classics.

Latin

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

All students in the M.A. programs are supervised by the department’s graduate adviser, a member of the regular departmental faculty. Students are required to consult the graduate adviser (or the department chair when the graduate adviser is unavailable) at the beginning of each quarter to plan their programs, and as needed to discuss changes in programs, and are required to notify the graduate adviser of plans for examinations. Students also should consult with the adviser about problems they are experiencing in the program. Twice during each academic year, the graduate adviser conducts a review of all graduate students at a full departmental faculty meeting. The results of the review are recorded in the departmental minutes. At the end of each academic year, the substance of the evaluation of each individual student is communicated in writing to the student by the graduate adviser within 30 days.

Areas of Study

The department offers the M.A. degree in Classics (Greek and Latin) as a preliminary to the Ph.D. degree. The program that leads to an M.A. degree in Classics is considered the first step toward the Ph.D.degree in Classics. The M.A. degree in Latin may be awarded to students whose academic goals shift during the course of graduate study.

Foreign Language Requirement

In addition to taking courses in Latin, students must demonstrate proficiency in German, French, or Italian, either by passing German 5, French 5, or Italian 5 at UCLA (or an equivalent course) with a minimum grade of B, or by passing a one-hour written translation examination administered by the department.

Course Requirements

The courses presented for the Classics M.A. degree must include (1) four units of Classics 287, (2) Greek or Latin 210, (3) two courses from Greek 200A-200B-200C and two courses from Latin 200A-200B-200C, and (4) three four-unit graduate seminars (two-unit seminars may not be counted). Students must receive a grade of B or better in each of the above courses. Students presenting (1) Classics 287, (2) Latin 210, and (3) two courses from Latin 200A-200B-200C may apply for a Latin M.A. degree. The four-unit 200A-200B-200C courses test the appropriate part of the departmental reading lists. The remaining courses are to be selected in consultation with the graduate adviser. No 500-series courses may be applied toward the requirements for the M.A. degree.

Teaching Experience

Consult the department.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The department follows the comprehensive examination plan. Students take an examination in each of the two courses from Greek 200A-200B-200C and each of the two courses from Latin 200A-200B-200C that are required for the M.A. degree. Students must earn a grade of B+ or better on each of these four examinations in order qualify for a terminal M.A. degree or to be admitted to the Ph.D. program. Students who elect to receive an M.A. degree in Latin take an examination in all three of Latin 200A-200B-200C, and must earn a grade of B+ or better on each of these examinations.

Essay Requirement

As part of the requirements for this plan, students also submit a revised seminar paper in Winter Quarter of their second year. A student must receive a grade of at least A- on this paper in order to qualify for a terminal M.A. degree or to be admitted to the Ph.D. program. In consultation with a faculty mentor, the student revises a paper previously submitted in a seminar in the M.A. program. A committee of two faculty members evaluates the revised paper. Shortly after submitting this paper in Winter or Spring Quarter of the second year, the student presents it at a departmental seminar and leads discussion on relevant bibliography agreed upon with the faculty mentor. Students who elect to receive an M.A. degree in Latin also must satisfy the essay requirement.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Adequately prepared students taking a normal course load of three courses per quarter are expected to complete the M.A. degree in six quarters. Entering students whose initial level of preparation is not fully adequate will be allowed one or two quarters to remedy deficiencies before beginning the regular M.A. program. Students serving as teaching assistants (normally not in the first year of study) are permitted to count the required course 375 as one of the three courses constituting the normal load per quarter.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
MA	6	6	9

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of 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 termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may be recommended for termination for failure to correct deficiencies in performance the term following notification of these deficiencies by the graduate adviser. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination by the graduate adviser to the departmental faculty.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2015-2016 academic year.

Gender Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Gender Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Gender Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The master’s degree program is supervised by a faculty committee. Early in their first year, students are assigned a faculty adviser who assists them with planning their program of study. Students are expected to meet at least once a quarter with their faculty adviser, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. At the beginning of the second year, students are expected to nominate a three-person master’s thesis committee which requires approval of the program and the Graduate Division. This committee is chaired by the student’s faculty adviser and is responsible for supervision, review, and approval of the master’s thesis.  A staff adviser provides assistance with policy and procedure.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

At least 10 courses (40 units) are required, of which at least eight (32 units) must be graduate courses. Two (four or more units) upper division undergraduate courses may be applied toward the 40 units required. Gender Studies 375, 495, and all courses in the 500-series may not be applied toward the 40-unit minimum requirement for the degree.

Required courses:

Gender Studies 201, 202, and 203 (three core courses; 12 units), plus twenty-eight elective units (seven courses).

Teaching Experience

Not Required.

Field Experience

Not Required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Doctoral students have the option of fulfilling the master’s comprehensive examination plan to receive an M.A. degree. The examination requirement is fulfilled through successful completion of the first written qualifying (breadth) examination for the Ph.D. degree and submission of a 20-page paper, ordinarily one written for a core course, that demonstrates independent thinking and critical and analytical skills. The paper is evaluated by the student’s adviser and either the chair or the graduate chair (or designee) of Gender Studies. This option is available only to doctoral students.

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.

Students complete a master’s thesis under enrollment in Gender Studies 598. The thesis committee consists of three qualified faculty selected from a current list of designated members for the interdepartmental program. The committee must be appointed by the Graduate Division.

Time-to-Degree

Students who enroll full-time are expected to complete the M.A. degree within two years (six quarters) of registration.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
MA	6	6	n/a

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The doctoral degree program is supervised by a faculty committee. Early in their first year, students are assigned a faculty adviser who assists them with planning their program of study. Students are expected to meet at least once a quarter with their faculty adviser, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. In the third or fourth year, before taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, the student submits a four-person doctoral committee that requires approval of the program and appointment by the Graduate Division. The doctoral committee is responsible for supervision, review, and approval of the doctoral dissertation.  A staff adviser provides assistance with policy and procedure.

With a focus on responsible research skills, student’s research needs are guided by the faculty advisor to successfully complete their dissertation.  These could include a foreign language, quantitative and other methods of collecting data, IRB, computer technology skills, and/or any other skills that are necessary before advancing to candidacy

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Doctoral students are required to complete 56 units of coursework. Gender Studies 375 and 495, and all 500-series courses may not be applied toward the 56-unit minimum course requirement for the degree.

Required courses:

Gender Studies core courses 201, 202, 203 and 204 (16 units). Beyond 201 (Methods in Gender Studies) four units (one course) of additional specialization or training in research methods outside the department is required, and will count toward elective units (should be completed in year two prior to second qualifying exam). An additional forty elective units (ten courses) are required. A maximum of eight units may consist of upper division undergraduate coursework and/or graduate transfer credits from previous graduate coursework that did not result in a degree.

Teaching assistants must enroll in Gender Studies 375 each quarter they hold a teaching appointment.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

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.

Two written qualifying examinations are required: (1) A first-year examination covering general knowledge and current debates in the field of gender studies. This examination is administered by a committee composed of faculty designated by the chair or the graduate chair of Gender Studies. The first-year exam is due the first day of the student’s second year of study; (2) A depth examination covering the student’s area of specialization. Students are expected to have completed the depth exam by Fall Quarter of their third year. Students who fail either of the written qualifying examinations may be permitted to retake them once as determined by the faculty committee.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is required after completion of the written qualifying examinations, completion of a dissertation proposal, and appointment of a doctoral committee in accord with University regulations. The oral exam should be taken no later than fall quarter of the student’s fourth year. The four-person doctoral committee is responsible for administering the examination. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal in relation to the selected specialization. Students who fail the oral qualifying examination may be permitted to retake it once as determined by 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 the Dissertation)

Not required.

Time-to-Degree

Students who enroll are expected to complete the Ph.D. degree within six years (eighteen quarters) of registration.

Requirement	Standard Time to Completion
Coursework	Spring Quarter of the third year
First Qualifying Examination	Fall Quarter of the second year
Second Qualifying Examination	Fall Quarter of the third year
Oral Qualifying Examination (Advancement to Candidacy)	Spring Quarter of the third year or Fall Quarter of the fourth year
Dissertation Filed	Within the sixth year

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	10	18	n/a

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of 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 termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

The Graduate Committee conducts an annual review of students’ progress toward the degree at the end of Spring Quarter and makes recommendations regarding continuance or termination. The faculty committee reviews all recommendations and formally approves or rejects any recommendation of termination. A student may appeal the Graduate Committee’s recommendation of termination to the faculty committee in writing prior to their review of the recommendation.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2016-2017 academic year.

Scandinavian Section

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Scandinavian Section offers the M.A. degree in Scandinavian.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Students should meet with the graduate academic adviser each quarter. Through these meetings, the adviser keeps both the student and the other members of the section informed of the student’s progress. The adviser keeps records of these interviews, whenever deemed necessary, in the student’s file. There are no section guidance committees for M.A. candidates.

Areas of Study

There are no specific major fields or subdisciplines in the M.A. program, but students emphasize one modern language and literature area in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to demonstrate knowledge of three Scandinavian languages: fluency in one Scandinavian language (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish) and reading knowledge of the other two Scandinavian languages. Fluency of a language may be established by: (1) passing a departmental examination or (2) successfully completing one graduate-level course in the original language. Reading knowledge of a language may be established by: (1) passing a departmental examination or (2) successfully completing one upper-division literature course in the original language.

Course Requirements

A total of 12 courses is required for the M.A. degree. These courses include a minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses in Scandinavian languages, at least five of which must be graduate courses. Three courses on the upper division or graduate level may be taken in a related field of linguistic or literary study to be determined in consultation with the graduate adviser; at least one of these must be at the graduate level. Comparative Literature 200 or an equivalent course in methodology is required as one of the 12 courses.

Three 596 courses (12 units) may be applied toward the total course requirement, but only one (four units) may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

A comprehensive examination, based on the required course work and a reading list, is required of all candidates for the M.A. degree. The examination is given whenever the student has completed the course requirements and feels prepared to be examined on both the course work and the reading list. The comprehensive examination is both written and oral; students who fail may be reexamined once without petitioning.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission to graduate status, completion of course work and examinations for the M.A. degree in Scandinavian usually requires six quarters of standard course load.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	5	6	6

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of 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 termination 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 specific condition which may lead to a recommendation for termination is C-graded work in Scandinavian courses. A recommendation for termination is made by the Scandinavian faculty in residence. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination through submission of a petition to the vice chair.