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

World Arts and Cultures/Dance

School of the Arts and Architecture

Graduate Degrees

The Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance offers the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degree in Dance and the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Culture and Performance.

Dance

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The M.F.A. degree in Dance is organized around the relationship between the individual student, the student’s advisor, the full M.F.A. faculty, and once advanced to candidacy, the M.F.A. Comprehensive Examination Committee.  Entering students will be assigned a faculty advisor from among the department’s ladder faculty for the first year; this advisor will take primary responsibility for academic counseling.  Advisors may be changed depending on the student’s focus of studies. Before requesting a change, however, the student must speak with her/his current faculty advisor.  Students meet with their respective facutly advisor each quarter to plan their program of study for the subsequent quarter.  Progress is assessed periodically by the full M.F.A. faculty.

Areas of Study

The M.F.A. degree is designed for students who wish to pursue a professional choreographic career. Students are encouraged to investigate theories of culture and performance as they relate to creative work. Interests in interculturalism and multi-disciplinarity also are encouraged. These interests may be pursued in consultation with the faculty academic advisors.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must successfully complete a total of 72 units. The 72 units of coursework required for the degree must include a minimum of 32 units of graduate and professional courses (200 and 400 series). Courses must be taken for a letter grade (unless a course is offered as S/U only) to count towards degree progress and with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. No more than four units of WL Arts 596A may be applied toward the degree, and must be designed in consultation with the faculty advisor.

The required courses are distributed as follows:

(1) Creative practice – 20 units (Dance 211A-D; additional units may be elected from from 211E-F, 490)
(2) Theoretical/critical studies seminars – 12 units chosen in consultation with student’s faculty advisor (Dance or WL Arts 200-series courses)
(3) Production/practicum experience – 12 units (production/design courses, Dance C243, 441)
(4) Electives in all areas (e.g., education, dance science/movement studies, internship, field work, movement practices) – 28 units

Students are expected to be actively engaged in movement practice(s) throughout their studies. Successful completion of the first-year curriculum with a minimum grade of B or higher for each core requirements (211A-D), including all prerequisites, determines whether students may continue in the program.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be registered and enrolled at all times unless they are on official leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience is not a requirement. However, it is highly recommended for those who plan to teach in their area of specialization.

Field Experience

Field Experience is not required. However, engagement with the community is encouraged.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The M.F.A. degree follows the Comprehensive Examination Plan towards completion of degree. A preliminary examination evaluated by the candidate’s proposed three-member Comprehensive Examination Committee is required. The preliminary examination consists of a research paper, a written proposal of the student’s final project and presentation of the proposed works. The research paper is completed prior to submission of the final project written proposal and presentation. The final project written proposal must include fundamental concepts, objectives, and production plans for the final project. M.F.A candidates prepare a major concert in the third year, or a series of concerts for their respective final projects.  Students may obtain specific guidelines for the completion of the research paper, written proposal, and the final project presentation from the department.

After passing the preliminary examination, the candidate’s proposed three-member M.F.A. comprehensive examination committee is formalized to advise students in developing the final project. Students may obtain specific guidelines for nominating the comprehensive examination committee from the department. The student is advanced to candidacy when the required coursework is completed and all portions of the preliminary examination are passed. Students are allowed one year after advancement to candidacy to complete their M.F.A. comprehensive examination (final project). An oral defense of the final project concert material is held with the candidate’s M.F.A. comprehensive examination committee.

A written production book with analysis and critique must be completed after the performance(s). Students may obtain specific guidelines from the department. The production book is filed in the department archives along with video documentation of the candidate’s final project.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree is nine quarters. The number of required quarters is dependent on the student’s need to complete prerequisites or additional coursework on choreographic investigations.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
MFA	9	9	12

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2022-2023 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 are advised by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS). The VCGS serves as a resource for students’ professional life and personal development as they acclimatize to graduate student life at UCLA.

Students should consult regularly with the VCGS to plan their progress to degree. Student records are reviewed regularly by the VCGS and the Student Affairs Officer in consultation with the department faculty. Students whose grade-point average falls below 3.0 are sent a warning from the Chair and may be placed on departmental academic probation.

At the end of the first year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled, and when necessary identifying areas for improvement. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter is sent via email, no later than one week after the end of the Spring quarter.

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 mastery in one Scandinavian language (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish) prior to completing the M.A. examinations. Mastery can be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (1) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading examination; (2) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (3) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; or (4) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate-level course in the original language.

Course Requirements

Students must complete a total of 10 courses (40 units) for the M.A. degree. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and should be selected from offerings in ELTS, French, German, Italian and Scandinavian – although graduate seminars in related fields may be applied with approval of the VCGS. Six of these courses (24 units) must be 200-296. Four courses may be upper division undergraduate courses (100 series). One four-unit 596 may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree with the approval of VCGS.

First year: students should enroll in coursework chose in consultation with the VCGS.

Second year: students should be enrolled in courses as needed to complete the M.A. requirements chosen in consultation with the VCGS; in addition, students enroll in three 4-unit 597 exam preparation courses, one per quarter; and the ELTS 495 Teaching Apprentice Practicum in Fall.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete European Languages and Transcultural Studies (ELTS) 495.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

By the end of week four of the Fall quarter, second year, students must convene an examination committee comprised of three ELTS faculty members; one of these three faculty members must be in Scandinavian. One faculty member should be designated as the committee chair, and the constitution of the committee must be confirmed by email to the VCGS.

In consultation with their committee, students are required to compile a list of 35 works, consisting of primary works, theory and secondary scholarship. The list must be oriented around a broad “period”, “theme” and/or “genre”. The list can be transcultural: i.e., early modern French/Italian literature or European cinema. The goal is foundational knowledge in a broadly defined field. Students write a précis demonstrating the coherence of the list.

Students enroll in one 4-unit 597 per quarter, ideally with each of the committee members in turn, for each of the three quarters in their second year.

In week one of the Spring quarter, second year, students receive approval on the finalized list from the committee and forward the list and précis to the VCGS. An oral examination of 1.5 hours (including time for feedback and discussion about future direction for the student), based on the list and the précis, should be scheduled for week nine or 10 of the Spring quarter, second year. All three committee members must be in attendance.

Examination results are announced during the feedback portion of the examination. Students who fail the written or oral examination are allowed to retake the examination one more time by the end of the following quarter. If, upon retaking the examination, the student does not pass, the degree will not be awarded.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

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 made by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Urban Planning

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Urban Planning offers the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P.) degree and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Urban Planning. In addition, there is a dual degree program offered in cooperation with the Urban School, Institut d’Etudes de Paris (Sciences Po), that leads to the M.U.R.P. and Master of Governing the Large Metropolis degrees.

Urban Planning

Doctoral Degree

Admissions Requirements

Advising

Every entering student has an advisory committee composed of two faculty members, one of whom is the primary adviser. The advisory committee is selected at the time of admission.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students choose a major field by the end of the first quarter in the program in consultation with his/her faculty adviser and the Ph.D. Program Chair. Expertise in the major field is primarily reflected in an ability to teach a sequence of Urban Planning courses at a major university, from introduction to the field to an advanced research seminar. Within each major field, students should identify two to three subdisciplines that reflect their particular interests and approach. Each of these sub-fields must have established body of research literature associated with it which the student is expected to master prior to the major field examination. Students are encouraged to select from the following list of major fields:

Community development: social, economic, and physical
Comparative international development
Critical studies of cities and regions
Economic development planning
Energy policy
Environmental policy
History of the built environment
Housing affordability
Housing markets
Housing policy
Labor markets and workforce policy
Land use policy and planning
Planning and designing the built environment
Planning history
Planning theory
Political economy and the built environment
Political economy of urban and/or regional development
Pollution and environmental hazards
Regional economic development
Resource-based development
Rural development
Social justice and the built environment
Social Policy
Transportation policy
Transportation, land use, and urban form
Urban Design
Urban policy
Urban public finance
Urban transportation planning
Urbanization in the developing world
Water policy and planning

Additional Major Fields. In special circumstances, students may devise their own field in consultation with appropriate faculty members. Final approval of the proposed additional major field must be obtained from the faculty adviser and department chair. Further details may be obtained from the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

A foreign language is not required either for admission to or completion of the doctoral program. However, if students are expecting to do dissertation research abroad, they are strongly advised to obtain the necessary language skills prior to beginning such research. However, courses below 100-level cannot count towards a graduate degree.

Course Requirements

A high level of competence in a major field and in planning theory and history, as measured by course work and doctoral examinations, is required.

Required Courses
UP 208A, Colloquium in Planning Research	4 Units
UP 220B, Quantitative Analysis in UP II (can be waived)	4 Units
UP 222B, Advanced Planning Theory I	4 Units
UP 208B, Introduction to Research Design or UP M204, Research Design and Methods for Social Policy (quarter varies)	4 Units
UP 222C, Advanced Planning Theory II	4 Units
Three advanced research method courses related to your major field (choose in consultation with your adviser)	12 Units
Three related courses in an area outside the major field (choose in consultation with your adviser)*	12 Units
UP 208C is to be taken after completing the MAJOR FIELD EXAM. It must be taken every fall until Advancement to Candidacy	4 Units (minimum)
TOTAL REQUIRED UNITS	48 Units

*For students who do not have a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, the outside field course requirement will be satisfied by completion of the following Master’s core and required courses

Additional required Courses for those WITHOUT a Master’s in planning
UP 207, Applied Microeconomics for Urban Planning (can be waived)	4 Units
UP 211, Law & the Quality of Urban Life	4 Units
UP 220A, Quantitative Analysis in UP I (can be waived)	4 Units
UP 222A, Intro to Planning History and Theory	4 Units
One Urbanization Course from the following list (UP M236A, UP 242, UP M250, UP 2M65A, or UP 281).	4 Units
Three advanced research method courses related to your major field (choose in consultation with your adviser)	12 Units
UP 208C is to be taken after completing the MAJOR FIELD EXAM. It must be taken every fall until Advancement to Candidacy	4 Units (minimum)
TOTAL ADDITIONAL REQUIRED UNITS	36 Units

Please see your Graduate Adviser for details.

Research Design Requirement

The Ph.D. in Urban Planning requires a mastery of research design, with a focus on the applied questions central to the field of planning. To satisfy this requirement, students are required to complete a three-course sequence in research design: UP 208A, UP 208B, and UP 208C. The Ph.D. Plan of Study must be completed and approved in order to pass UP 208A. Only UP 208B may be waived with prior course work, with approval of the Ph.D. Program Director. Students who have passed their major field examination, but have not yet advanced to candidacy must take UP 208C each time it is offered. UP 208C may be waived if the student advances to candidacy before the term that UP 208C is offered.

Plan of Study.  During the first quarter of the Ph.D. program, students work with their advisers and the Ph.D. Program Director in order to develop a detailed Plan of Study for their doctoral program as part of UP 208A.  The plan details the student’s major field, course work plan, timeline, and proposed dissertation topic. Each plan must include: (1) a one to two-page description of the major field and its sub-fields; (2) a short indicative bibliography for each of the sub-fields; (3) a list of courses and research papers to be completed to help the student prepare for each of the sub-fields; (4) a course plan showing how the student plans to satisfy all of the Ph.D. course requirements; (5) a timetable indicating expected completion dates for all requirements and examinations; and (6) a brief statement identifying a possible dissertation research topic. Once approved, the plan is filed with the graduate adviser.

Planning Theory and History Requirement. Planning theory is concerned with the ways that philosophers and social scientists have examined the question of how scientific and technical knowledge is to be joined to practice and action, with particular emphasis on the field of urban and regional planning. Planning history looks at how planning has evolved in the U.S., Western Europe, and elsewhere in the world as a form of institutionalized practice. Students are expected to acquire an understanding of both and become familiar with the several styles and forms of planning and the major debates in the field. To satisfy the planning theory and history requirement students must complete a three-course sequence in planning theory and history: UP 222A, UP 222B, and UP 222C. UP 222A may be waived by prior course work with approval of the Ph.D. Program Director.

Research Methods Requirement. Urban Planning Ph.D. students must complete or waive out of UP 220A (if they do not have a masters in urban planning) and UP 220B and, in addition, must complete three graduate-level methods courses beyond basic statistics with grades of B or better. These three courses must be related to the major field, must be approved in advance by the student’s adviser and the Ph.D. Program Director, and cannot be waived by prior course work. A list of recommended methods courses is included in the Ph.D. handbook. One of the three methods courses may be an upper division undergraduate course, if approved in advance by the Ph.D. Program Director.

Outside Field Requirement. Urban Planning is an explicitly multi-disciplinary field that draws from a variety of intellectual traditions and academic disciplines. As such, part of the training of Urban Planning Ph.D. students at UCLA includes in-depth study of an outside field that supports and supplements the student’s chosen field of study in planning. To satisfy this requirement, students must take and complete at least three closely related graduate courses in departments outside of the Urban Planning program with a grade of B+ or better. These courses may all be taken in one department or in multiple departments, as long as they are closely related to one another and the student’s defined outside field. For example, students studying community organizing might take three graduate courses in labor organizing offered in Law, Management, and Sociology to satisfy their outside field requirement. Alternatively, students interested in environmental policy might take three graduate courses in atmospheric sciences and air pollution in Environmental Sciences and Engineering, the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and Public Health.

With advance approval of both the student’s Faculty Adviser and the Ph.D. Program Director, one of these three outside field courses may be an upper division undergraduate course offered by a department outside of Urban Planning and one may be a graduate Urban Planning course – provided that the Urban Planning course is logically part of the student’s outside field defined in the Plan of Study and is closely related to the other two outside field courses*. Methodology courses taken in other departments do not count toward satisfying the outside field requirement. Ph.D. students who hold a master’s degree in a field other than planning are exempt from this outside field requirement. But otherwise, none of the three outside field courses may be waived by prior course work.

* An Urban Planning course that is cross-listed with another department counts as an Urban Planning course, even if the student enrolls in the course through the other department.

Major Field Requirement. The major field is the planning subject area in which a student will be prepared to teach three courses and conduct advanced research. The Major Field subject area should be generally recognized by academics in other planning schools and should be substantially broader than a dissertation topic. The normal time for completion of the major field requirement is two academic years. The actual timing for the Major Field Examination is set by agreement between the student and the advisory committee.

Teaching Experience

Not required. Because not all Urban Planning Ph.D. graduates go into teaching following graduation, there are no formal teaching training requirements. However, those students planning a career in teaching following graduation should work out a plan for teaching training with their advisers.

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.

Major Field Examination (program requirement). Urban Planning students are required to take a written and oral Major Field examination prior to advancing to doctoral candidacy. These exams are administered by an advisory committee; the two advisers assigned at the time of admission, plus one additional member that is selected by the student, in conjunction with their advisory committee chair. A student observer, who is selected by the student and Graduate Adviser, is also required to attend to oral portion of the examination. Both the written and oral exams are typically taken during the second year in the program and must be completed on campus.

Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination (university requirement). After successful completion of the required course work and the major field examinations, students may nominate their doctoral committee. The doctoral committee administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination. At this examination the student defends the dissertation proposal. The University Oral Qualifying Examination should be taken by the end of the third year of doctoral study.

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

Normal progress toward the Ph.D. degree, from admission to the doctoral program to award of the degree: fifteen quarters (five years).

(1) The planning theory and history requirement should be completed during the first year of study.

(2) Students are expected to pass the major field requirements/examination by the end of the second year, and to finish all other requirements and take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of the third year.

(3) Students who have not taken their oral qualifying examination by the end of the third year must submit a written explanation to their advisory committee with a copy to the department chair.

(4) Students who have not passed the oral qualifying examination by the end of the fifth year (excepting approved leaves of absence), may be subject to a recommendation for academic disqualification. However, students are entitled to request that a review board be established to consider their case.

(5) Dissertation work typically requires two full years of work, including field research (if any) and the final writing. To enable students to devote this time to their research, every effort should be made to obtain extramural funding.

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

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A counseling board of three faculty members is established for every student whose grade point average is below 3.0 or who fails to make sufficient progress toward the degree. The board is responsible for reviewing the student’s record, determining strengths and weaknesses, and aiding the student to raise academic performance to minimum standards. In addition, the faculty and the graduate counselor meet each winter and spring quarter to discuss the progress of all registered students.

A student whose grade point average is below 3.0 for any three quarters may be subject to a recommendation for academic disqualification. Recommendations for academic disqualification based on other reasons may be made by (1) the counseling board submits a written statement to the department chair; and (2) the department chair, acting in consultation with the student’s adviser, recommends academic disqualification. In certain circumstances a student may be given the option to withdraw from the program. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the three-person faculty review board.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2023-2024 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.

Manufacturing 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 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 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 if the Ph.D. is the ultimate degree objective, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

Consult the department.

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. In 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. In the comprehensive examination plan, no units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum course requirement. Choices may be made from the following major areas:

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, 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, 188, 194, 199.

Upper Division Courses. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 163A, M168, 174, 183, 184, 185.

Graduate Courses. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 263A, 263C, 263D, CM280A, CM280L, 293, 294, 295A, 295B, 296A, 296B, 297.

Additional Courses. The remaining courses may be taken from other major fields of study in the department or from the following: Mathematics 120A, 120B; Computer Science 241A, 241B; Architecture and Urban Design M226B, M227B, 227D; Management 240A, 240D, 241A, 241B, 242A, 242B, 243B, 243C.

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

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 complete the requirements for the M.S. degree within the three-year time limit.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2023-2024 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 are advised by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS). The VCGS serves as a resource for students’ professional life and personal development as they acclimatize to graduate student life at UCLA.

Students should consult regularly with the VCGS to plan their progress to degree. Student records are reviewed regularly by the VCGS and the Student Affairs Officer in consultation with the department faculty. Students whose grade-point average falls below 3.0 are sent a warning from the Chair and may be placed on departmental academic probation.

At the end of the first year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled, and when necessary identifying areas for improvement. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter is sent via email, no later than one week after the end of the Spring quarter.

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 mastery in one Scandinavian language (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish) prior to completing the M.A. examinations. Mastery can be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (1) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading examination; (2) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (3) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; or (4) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate-level course in the original language.

Course Requirements

Students must complete a total of 10 courses (40 units) for the M.A. degree. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and should be selected from offerings in ELTS, French, German, Italian and Scandinavian – although graduate seminars in related fields may be applied with approval of the VCGS. Six of these courses (24 units) must be 200-296. Four courses may be upper division undergraduate courses (100 series). One four-unit 596 may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree with the approval of VCGS.

First year: students should enroll in coursework chose in consultation with the VCGS.

Second year: students should be enrolled in courses as needed to complete the M.A. requirements chosen in consultation with the VCGS; in addition, students enroll in three 4-unit 597 exam preparation courses, one per quarter; and the ELTS 495 Teaching Apprentice Practicum in Fall.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete European Languages and Transcultural Studies (ELTS) 495.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

By the end of week four of the Fall quarter, second year, students must convene an examination committee comprised of three ELTS faculty members; one of these three faculty members must be in Scandinavian. One faculty member should be designated as the committee chair, and the constitution of the committee must be confirmed by email to the VCGS.

In consultation with their committee, students are required to compile a list of 35 works, consisting of primary works, theory and secondary scholarship. The list must be oriented around a broad “period”, “theme” and/or “genre”. The list can be transcultural: i.e., early modern French/Italian literature or European cinema. The goal is foundational knowledge in a broadly defined field. Students write a précis demonstrating the coherence of the list.

Students enroll in one 4-unit 597 per quarter, ideally with each of the committee members in turn, for each of the three quarters in their second year.

In week one of the Spring quarter, second year, students receive approval on the finalized list from the committee and forward the list and précis to the VCGS. An oral examination of 1.5 hours (including time for feedback and discussion about future direction for the student), based on the list and the précis, should be scheduled for week nine or 10 of the Spring quarter, second year. All three committee members must be in attendance.

Examination results are announced during the feedback portion of the examination. Students who fail the written or oral examination are allowed to retake the examination one more time by the end of the following quarter. If, upon retaking the examination, the student does not pass, the degree will not be awarded.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

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 made by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

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

Urban Planning

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Urban Planning offers the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P.) degree and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Urban Planning. In addition, there is a dual degree program offered in cooperation with the Urban School, Institut d’Etudes de Paris (Sciences Po), that leads to the M.U.R.P. and Master of Governing the Large Metropolis degrees.

Urban Planning

Doctoral Degree

Admissions Requirements

Advising

Every entering student has an advisory committee composed of two faculty members, one of whom is the primary adviser. The advisory committee is selected at the time of admission.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students choose a major field by the end of the first quarter in the program in consultation with his/her faculty adviser and the Ph.D. Program Chair. Expertise in the major field is primarily reflected in an ability to teach a sequence of Urban Planning courses at a major university, from introduction to the field to an advanced research seminar. Within each major field, students should identify two to three subdisciplines that reflect their particular interests and approach. Each of these sub-fields must have established body of research literature associated with it which the student is expected to master prior to the major field examination. Students are encouraged to select from the following list of major fields:

Community development: social, economic, and physical
Comparative international development
Critical studies of cities and regions
Economic development planning
Energy policy
Environmental policy
History of the built environment
Housing affordability
Housing markets
Housing policy
Labor markets and workforce policy
Land use policy and planning
Planning and designing the built environment
Planning history
Planning theory
Political economy and the built environment
Political economy of urban and/or regional development
Pollution and environmental hazards
Regional economic development
Resource-based development
Rural development
Social justice and the built environment
Social Policy
Transportation policy
Transportation, land use, and urban form
Urban Design
Urban policy
Urban public finance
Urban transportation planning
Urbanization in the developing world
Water policy and planning

Additional Major Fields. In special circumstances, students may devise their own field in consultation with appropriate faculty members. Final approval of the proposed additional major field must be obtained from the faculty adviser and department chair. Further details may be obtained from the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

A foreign language is not required either for admission to or completion of the doctoral program. However, if students are expecting to do dissertation research abroad, they are strongly advised to obtain the necessary language skills prior to beginning such research. However, courses below 100-level cannot count towards a graduate degree.

Course Requirements

A high level of competence in a major field and in planning theory and history, as measured by course work and doctoral examinations, is required.

Required Courses
UP 208A, Colloquium in Planning Research	4 Units
UP 220B, Quantitative Analysis in UP II (can be waived)	4 Units
UP 222B, Advanced Planning Theory I	4 Units
UP 208B, Introduction to Research Design or UP M204, Research Design and Methods for Social Policy (quarter varies)	4 Units
UP 222C, Advanced Planning Theory II	4 Units
Three advanced research method courses related to your major field (choose in consultation with your adviser)	12 Units
Three related courses in an area outside the major field (choose in consultation with your adviser)*	12 Units
UP 208C is to be taken after completing the MAJOR FIELD EXAM. It must be taken every fall until Advancement to Candidacy	4 Units (minimum)
TOTAL REQUIRED UNITS	48 Units

*For students who do not have a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, the outside field course requirement will be satisfied by completion of the following Master’s core and required courses

Additional required Courses for those WITHOUT a Master’s in planning
UP 207, Applied Microeconomics for Urban Planning (can be waived)	4 Units
UP 211, Law & the Quality of Urban Life	4 Units
UP 220A, Quantitative Analysis in UP I (can be waived)	4 Units
UP 222A, Intro to Planning History and Theory	4 Units
One Urbanization Course from the following list (UP M236A, UP 242, UP M250, UP 2M65A, or UP 281).	4 Units
Three advanced research method courses related to your major field (choose in consultation with your adviser)	12 Units
UP 208C is to be taken after completing the MAJOR FIELD EXAM. It must be taken every fall until Advancement to Candidacy	4 Units (minimum)
TOTAL ADDITIONAL REQUIRED UNITS	36 Units

Please see your Graduate Adviser for details.

Research Design Requirement

The Ph.D. in Urban Planning requires a mastery of research design, with a focus on the applied questions central to the field of planning. To satisfy this requirement, students are required to complete a three-course sequence in research design: UP 208A, UP 208B, and UP 208C. The Ph.D. Plan of Study must be completed and approved in order to pass UP 208A. Only UP 208B may be waived with prior course work, with approval of the Ph.D. Program Director. Students who have passed their major field examination, but have not yet advanced to candidacy must take UP 208C each time it is offered. UP 208C may be waived if the student advances to candidacy before the term that UP 208C is offered.

Plan of Study.  During the first quarter of the Ph.D. program, students work with their advisers and the Ph.D. Program Director in order to develop a detailed Plan of Study for their doctoral program as part of UP 208A.  The plan details the student’s major field, course work plan, timeline, and proposed dissertation topic. Each plan must include: (1) a one to two-page description of the major field and its sub-fields; (2) a short indicative bibliography for each of the sub-fields; (3) a list of courses and research papers to be completed to help the student prepare for each of the sub-fields; (4) a course plan showing how the student plans to satisfy all of the Ph.D. course requirements; (5) a timetable indicating expected completion dates for all requirements and examinations; and (6) a brief statement identifying a possible dissertation research topic. Once approved, the plan is filed with the graduate adviser.

Planning Theory and History Requirement. Planning theory is concerned with the ways that philosophers and social scientists have examined the question of how scientific and technical knowledge is to be joined to practice and action, with particular emphasis on the field of urban and regional planning. Planning history looks at how planning has evolved in the U.S., Western Europe, and elsewhere in the world as a form of institutionalized practice. Students are expected to acquire an understanding of both and become familiar with the several styles and forms of planning and the major debates in the field. To satisfy the planning theory and history requirement students must complete a three-course sequence in planning theory and history: UP 222A, UP 222B, and UP 222C. UP 222A may be waived by prior course work with approval of the Ph.D. Program Director.

Research Methods Requirement. Urban Planning Ph.D. students must complete or waive out of UP 220A (if they do not have a masters in urban planning) and UP 220B and, in addition, must complete three graduate-level methods courses beyond basic statistics with grades of B or better. These three courses must be related to the major field, must be approved in advance by the student’s adviser and the Ph.D. Program Director, and cannot be waived by prior course work. A list of recommended methods courses is included in the Ph.D. handbook. One of the three methods courses may be an upper division undergraduate course, if approved in advance by the Ph.D. Program Director.

Outside Field Requirement. Urban Planning is an explicitly multi-disciplinary field that draws from a variety of intellectual traditions and academic disciplines. As such, part of the training of Urban Planning Ph.D. students at UCLA includes in-depth study of an outside field that supports and supplements the student’s chosen field of study in planning. To satisfy this requirement, students must take and complete at least three closely related graduate courses in departments outside of the Urban Planning program with a grade of B+ or better. These courses may all be taken in one department or in multiple departments, as long as they are closely related to one another and the student’s defined outside field. For example, students studying community organizing might take three graduate courses in labor organizing offered in Law, Management, and Sociology to satisfy their outside field requirement. Alternatively, students interested in environmental policy might take three graduate courses in atmospheric sciences and air pollution in Environmental Sciences and Engineering, the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and Public Health.

With advance approval of both the student’s Faculty Adviser and the Ph.D. Program Director, one of these three outside field courses may be an upper division undergraduate course offered by a department outside of Urban Planning and one may be a graduate Urban Planning course – provided that the Urban Planning course is logically part of the student’s outside field defined in the Plan of Study and is closely related to the other two outside field courses*. Methodology courses taken in other departments do not count toward satisfying the outside field requirement. Ph.D. students who hold a master’s degree in a field other than planning are exempt from this outside field requirement. But otherwise, none of the three outside field courses may be waived by prior course work.

* An Urban Planning course that is cross-listed with another department counts as an Urban Planning course, even if the student enrolls in the course through the other department.

Major Field Requirement. The major field is the planning subject area in which a student will be prepared to teach three courses and conduct advanced research. The Major Field subject area should be generally recognized by academics in other planning schools and should be substantially broader than a dissertation topic. The normal time for completion of the major field requirement is two academic years. The actual timing for the Major Field Examination is set by agreement between the student and the advisory committee.

Teaching Experience

Not required. Because not all Urban Planning Ph.D. graduates go into teaching following graduation, there are no formal teaching training requirements. However, those students planning a career in teaching following graduation should work out a plan for teaching training with their advisers.

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.

Major Field Examination (program requirement). Urban Planning students are required to take a written and oral Major Field examination prior to advancing to doctoral candidacy. These exams are administered by an advisory committee; the two advisers assigned at the time of admission, plus one additional member that is selected by the student, in conjunction with their advisory committee chair. A student observer, who is selected by the student and Graduate Adviser, is also required to attend to oral portion of the examination. Both the written and oral exams are typically taken during the second year in the program and must be completed on campus.

Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination (university requirement). After successful completion of the required course work and the major field examinations, students may nominate their doctoral committee. The doctoral committee administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination. At this examination the student defends the dissertation proposal. The University Oral Qualifying Examination should be taken by the end of the third year of doctoral study.

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

Normal progress toward the Ph.D. degree, from admission to the doctoral program to award of the degree: fifteen quarters (five years).

(1) The planning theory and history requirement should be completed during the first year of study.

(2) Students are expected to pass the major field requirements/examination by the end of the second year, and to finish all other requirements and take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of the third year.

(3) Students who have not taken their oral qualifying examination by the end of the third year must submit a written explanation to their advisory committee with a copy to the department chair.

(4) Students who have not passed the oral qualifying examination by the end of the fifth year (excepting approved leaves of absence), may be subject to a recommendation for academic disqualification. However, students are entitled to request that a review board be established to consider their case.

(5) Dissertation work typically requires two full years of work, including field research (if any) and the final writing. To enable students to devote this time to their research, every effort should be made to obtain extramural funding.

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

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A counseling board of three faculty members is established for every student whose grade point average is below 3.0 or who fails to make sufficient progress toward the degree. The board is responsible for reviewing the student’s record, determining strengths and weaknesses, and aiding the student to raise academic performance to minimum standards. In addition, the faculty and the graduate counselor meet each winter and spring quarter to discuss the progress of all registered students.

A student whose grade point average is below 3.0 for any three quarters may be subject to a recommendation for academic disqualification. Recommendations for academic disqualification based on other reasons may be made by (1) the counseling board submits a written statement to the department chair; and (2) the department chair, acting in consultation with the student’s adviser, recommends academic disqualification. In certain circumstances a student may be given the option to withdraw from the program. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the three-person faculty review board.

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.

Manufacturing 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 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 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 if the Ph.D. is the ultimate degree objective, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

Consult the department.

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. In 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. In the comprehensive examination plan, no units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum course requirement. Choices may be made from the following major areas:

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, 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, 188, 194, 199.

Upper Division Courses. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 163A, M168, 174, 183, 184, 185.

Graduate Courses. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 263A, 263C, 263D, CM280A, CM280L, 293, 294, 295A, 295B, 296A, 296B, 297.

Additional Courses. The remaining courses may be taken from other major fields of study in the department or from the following: Mathematics 120A, 120B; Computer Science 241A, 241B; Architecture and Urban Design M226B, M227B, 227D; Management 240A, 240D, 241A, 241B, 242A, 242B, 243B, 243C.

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

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 complete the requirements for the M.S. degree within the three-year time limit.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2024-2025 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 are advised by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS). The VCGS serves as a resource for students’ professional life and personal development as they acclimatize to graduate student life at UCLA.

Students should consult regularly with the VCGS to plan their progress to degree. Student records are reviewed regularly by the VCGS and the Student Affairs Officer in consultation with the department faculty. Students whose grade-point average falls below 3.0 are sent a warning from the Chair and may be placed on departmental academic probation.

At the end of the first year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled, and when necessary identifying areas for improvement. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter is sent via email, no later than one week after the end of the Spring quarter.

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 mastery in one Scandinavian language (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish) prior to completing the M.A. examinations. Mastery can be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (1) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading examination; (2) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (3) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; or (4) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate-level course in the original language.

Course Requirements

Students must complete a total of 10 courses (40 units) for the M.A. degree. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and should be selected from offerings in ELTS, French, German, Italian and Scandinavian – although graduate seminars in related fields may be applied with approval of the VCGS. Six of these courses (24 units) must be 200-296. Four courses may be upper division undergraduate courses (100 series). One four-unit 596 may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree with the approval of VCGS.

First year: students should enroll in coursework chose in consultation with the VCGS.

Second year: students should be enrolled in courses as needed to complete the M.A. requirements chosen in consultation with the VCGS; in addition, students enroll in three 4-unit 597 exam preparation courses, one per quarter; and the ELTS 495 Teaching Apprentice Practicum in Fall.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete European Languages and Transcultural Studies (ELTS) 495.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

By the end of week four of the Fall quarter, second year, students must convene an examination committee comprised of three ELTS faculty members; one of these three faculty members must be in Scandinavian. One faculty member should be designated as the committee chair, and the constitution of the committee must be confirmed by email to the VCGS.

In consultation with their committee, students are required to compile a list of 35 works, consisting of primary works, theory and secondary scholarship. The list must be oriented around a broad “period”, “theme” and/or “genre”. The list can be transcultural: i.e., early modern French/Italian literature or European cinema. The goal is foundational knowledge in a broadly defined field. Students write a précis demonstrating the coherence of the list.

Students enroll in one 4-unit 597 per quarter, ideally with each of the committee members in turn, for each of the three quarters in their second year.

In week one of the Spring quarter, second year, students receive approval on the finalized list from the committee and forward the list and précis to the VCGS. An oral examination of 1.5 hours (including time for feedback and discussion about future direction for the student), based on the list and the précis, should be scheduled for week nine or 10 of the Spring quarter, second year. All three committee members must be in attendance.

Examination results are announced during the feedback portion of the examination. Students who fail the written or oral examination are allowed to retake the examination one more time by the end of the following quarter. If, upon retaking the examination, the student does not pass, the degree will not be awarded.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

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 made by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

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

Urban Planning

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Urban Planning offers the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P.) degree and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Urban Planning. In addition, there is a dual degree program offered in cooperation with the Urban School, Institut d’Etudes de Paris (Sciences Po), that leads to the M.U.R.P. and Master of Governing the Large Metropolis degrees.

Urban Planning

Doctoral Degree

Admissions Requirements

Advising

Every entering student has an advisory committee composed of two faculty members, one of whom is the primary adviser. The advisory committee is selected at the time of admission.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students choose a major field by the end of the first quarter in the program in consultation with his/her faculty adviser and the Ph.D. Program Chair. Expertise in the major field is primarily reflected in an ability to teach a sequence of Urban Planning courses at a major university, from introduction to the field to an advanced research seminar. Within each major field, students should identify two to three subdisciplines that reflect their particular interests and approach. Each of these sub-fields must have established body of research literature associated with it which the student is expected to master prior to the major field examination. Students are encouraged to select from the following list of major fields:

Community development: social, economic, and physical
Comparative international development
Critical studies of cities and regions
Economic development planning
Energy policy
Environmental policy
History of the built environment
Housing affordability
Housing markets
Housing policy
Labor markets and workforce policy
Land use policy and planning
Planning and designing the built environment
Planning history
Planning theory
Political economy and the built environment
Political economy of urban and/or regional development
Pollution and environmental hazards
Regional economic development
Resource-based development
Rural development
Social justice and the built environment
Social Policy
Transportation policy
Transportation, land use, and urban form
Urban Design
Urban policy
Urban public finance
Urban transportation planning
Urbanization in the developing world
Water policy and planning

Additional Major Fields. In special circumstances, students may devise their own field in consultation with appropriate faculty members. Final approval of the proposed additional major field must be obtained from the faculty adviser and department chair. Further details may be obtained from the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

A foreign language is not required either for admission to or completion of the doctoral program. However, if students are expecting to do dissertation research abroad, they are strongly advised to obtain the necessary language skills prior to beginning such research. However, courses below 100-level cannot count towards a graduate degree.

Course Requirements

A high level of competence in a major field and in planning theory and history, as measured by course work and doctoral examinations, is required.

Required Courses
UP 208A, Colloquium in Planning Research	4 Units
UP 220B, Quantitative Analysis in UP II (can be waived)	4 Units
UP 222B, Advanced Planning Theory I	4 Units
UP 208B, Introduction to Research Design or UP M204, Research Design and Methods for Social Policy (quarter varies)	4 Units
UP 222C, Advanced Planning Theory II	4 Units
Three advanced research method courses related to your major field (choose in consultation with your adviser)	12 Units
Three related courses in an area outside the major field (choose in consultation with your adviser)*	12 Units
UP 208C is to be taken after completing the MAJOR FIELD EXAM. It must be taken every fall until Advancement to Candidacy	4 Units (minimum)
TOTAL REQUIRED UNITS	48 Units

*For students who do not have a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, the outside field course requirement will be satisfied by completion of the following Master’s core and required courses

Additional required Courses for those WITHOUT a Master’s in planning
UP 207, Applied Microeconomics for Urban Planning (can be waived)	4 Units
UP 211, Law & the Quality of Urban Life	4 Units
UP 220A, Quantitative Analysis in UP I (can be waived)	4 Units
UP 222A, Intro to Planning History and Theory	4 Units
One Urbanization Course from the following list (UP M236A, UP 242, UP M250, UP 2M65A, or UP 281).	4 Units
Three advanced research method courses related to your major field (choose in consultation with your adviser)	12 Units
UP 208C is to be taken after completing the MAJOR FIELD EXAM. It must be taken every fall until Advancement to Candidacy	4 Units (minimum)
TOTAL ADDITIONAL REQUIRED UNITS	36 Units

Please see your Graduate Adviser for details.

Research Design Requirement

The Ph.D. in Urban Planning requires a mastery of research design, with a focus on the applied questions central to the field of planning. To satisfy this requirement, students are required to complete a three-course sequence in research design: UP 208A, UP 208B, and UP 208C. The Ph.D. Plan of Study must be completed and approved in order to pass UP 208A. Only UP 208B may be waived with prior course work, with approval of the Ph.D. Program Director. Students who have passed their major field examination, but have not yet advanced to candidacy must take UP 208C each time it is offered. UP 208C may be waived if the student advances to candidacy before the term that UP 208C is offered.

Plan of Study.  During the first quarter of the Ph.D. program, students work with their advisers and the Ph.D. Program Director in order to develop a detailed Plan of Study for their doctoral program as part of UP 208A.  The plan details the student’s major field, course work plan, timeline, and proposed dissertation topic. Each plan must include: (1) a one to two-page description of the major field and its sub-fields; (2) a short indicative bibliography for each of the sub-fields; (3) a list of courses and research papers to be completed to help the student prepare for each of the sub-fields; (4) a course plan showing how the student plans to satisfy all of the Ph.D. course requirements; (5) a timetable indicating expected completion dates for all requirements and examinations; and (6) a brief statement identifying a possible dissertation research topic. Once approved, the plan is filed with the graduate adviser.

Planning Theory and History Requirement. Planning theory is concerned with the ways that philosophers and social scientists have examined the question of how scientific and technical knowledge is to be joined to practice and action, with particular emphasis on the field of urban and regional planning. Planning history looks at how planning has evolved in the U.S., Western Europe, and elsewhere in the world as a form of institutionalized practice. Students are expected to acquire an understanding of both and become familiar with the several styles and forms of planning and the major debates in the field. To satisfy the planning theory and history requirement students must complete a three-course sequence in planning theory and history: UP 222A, UP 222B, and UP 222C. UP 222A may be waived by prior course work with approval of the Ph.D. Program Director.

Research Methods Requirement. Urban Planning Ph.D. students must complete or waive out of UP 220A (if they do not have a masters in urban planning) and UP 220B and, in addition, must complete three graduate-level methods courses beyond basic statistics with grades of B or better. These three courses must be related to the major field, must be approved in advance by the student’s adviser and the Ph.D. Program Director, and cannot be waived by prior course work. A list of recommended methods courses is included in the Ph.D. handbook. One of the three methods courses may be an upper division undergraduate course, if approved in advance by the Ph.D. Program Director.

Outside Field Requirement. Urban Planning is an explicitly multi-disciplinary field that draws from a variety of intellectual traditions and academic disciplines. As such, part of the training of Urban Planning Ph.D. students at UCLA includes in-depth study of an outside field that supports and supplements the student’s chosen field of study in planning. To satisfy this requirement, students must take and complete at least three closely related graduate courses in departments outside of the Urban Planning program with a grade of B+ or better. These courses may all be taken in one department or in multiple departments, as long as they are closely related to one another and the student’s defined outside field. For example, students studying community organizing might take three graduate courses in labor organizing offered in Law, Management, and Sociology to satisfy their outside field requirement. Alternatively, students interested in environmental policy might take three graduate courses in atmospheric sciences and air pollution in Environmental Sciences and Engineering, the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and Public Health.

With advance approval of both the student’s Faculty Adviser and the Ph.D. Program Director, one of these three outside field courses may be an upper division undergraduate course offered by a department outside of Urban Planning and one may be a graduate Urban Planning course – provided that the Urban Planning course is logically part of the student’s outside field defined in the Plan of Study and is closely related to the other two outside field courses*. Methodology courses taken in other departments do not count toward satisfying the outside field requirement. Ph.D. students who hold a master’s degree in a field other than planning are exempt from this outside field requirement. But otherwise, none of the three outside field courses may be waived by prior course work.

* An Urban Planning course that is cross-listed with another department counts as an Urban Planning course, even if the student enrolls in the course through the other department.

Major Field Requirement. The major field is the planning subject area in which a student will be prepared to teach three courses and conduct advanced research. The Major Field subject area should be generally recognized by academics in other planning schools and should be substantially broader than a dissertation topic. The normal time for completion of the major field requirement is two academic years. The actual timing for the Major Field Examination is set by agreement between the student and the advisory committee.

Teaching Experience

Not required. Because not all Urban Planning Ph.D. graduates go into teaching following graduation, there are no formal teaching training requirements. However, those students planning a career in teaching following graduation should work out a plan for teaching training with their advisers.

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.

Major Field Examination (program requirement). Urban Planning students are required to take a written and oral Major Field examination prior to advancing to doctoral candidacy. These exams are administered by an advisory committee; the two advisers assigned at the time of admission, plus one additional member that is selected by the student, in conjunction with their advisory committee chair. A student observer, who is selected by the student and Graduate Adviser, is also required to attend to oral portion of the examination. Both the written and oral exams are typically taken during the second year in the program and must be completed on campus.

Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination (university requirement). After successful completion of the required course work and the major field examinations, students may nominate their doctoral committee. The doctoral committee administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination. At this examination the student defends the dissertation proposal. The University Oral Qualifying Examination should be taken by the end of the third year of doctoral study.

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

Normal progress toward the Ph.D. degree, from admission to the doctoral program to award of the degree: fifteen quarters (five years).

(1) The planning theory and history requirement should be completed during the first year of study.

(2) Students are expected to pass the major field requirements/examination by the end of the second year, and to finish all other requirements and take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of the third year.

(3) Students who have not taken their oral qualifying examination by the end of the third year must submit a written explanation to their advisory committee with a copy to the department chair.

(4) Students who have not passed the oral qualifying examination by the end of the fifth year (excepting approved leaves of absence), may be subject to a recommendation for academic disqualification. However, students are entitled to request that a review board be established to consider their case.

(5) Dissertation work typically requires two full years of work, including field research (if any) and the final writing. To enable students to devote this time to their research, every effort should be made to obtain extramural funding.

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

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A counseling board of three faculty members is established for every student whose grade point average is below 3.0 or who fails to make sufficient progress toward the degree. The board is responsible for reviewing the student’s record, determining strengths and weaknesses, and aiding the student to raise academic performance to minimum standards. In addition, the faculty and the graduate counselor meet each winter and spring quarter to discuss the progress of all registered students.

A student whose grade point average is below 3.0 for any three quarters may be subject to a recommendation for academic disqualification. Recommendations for academic disqualification based on other reasons may be made by (1) the counseling board submits a written statement to the department chair; and (2) the department chair, acting in consultation with the student’s adviser, recommends academic disqualification. In certain circumstances a student may be given the option to withdraw from the program. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the three-person faculty review board.

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.

Manufacturing 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 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 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 if the Ph.D. is the ultimate degree objective, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

Consult the department.

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. In 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. In the comprehensive examination plan, no units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum course requirement. Choices may be made from the following major areas:

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, 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, 188, 194, 199.

Upper Division Courses. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 163A, M168, 174, 183, 184, 185.

Graduate Courses. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 263A, 263C, 263D, CM280A, CM280L, 293, 294, 295A, 295B, 296A, 296B, 297.

Additional Courses. The remaining courses may be taken from other major fields of study in the department or from the following: Mathematics 120A, 120B; Computer Science 241A, 241B; Architecture and Urban Design M226B, M227B, 227D; Management 240A, 240D, 241A, 241B, 242A, 242B, 243B, 243C.

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

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 complete the requirements for the M.S. degree within the three-year time limit.