Applicable only to students admitted during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology

College of Letters and Science
Interdepartmental Program

Graduate Degrees

The Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Interdepartmental Program offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology (MCIP).

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

None.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

First year students are advised by the Faculty Administrative Committee (FAC) and MCIP IDP Chair. Throughout the first term, students are expected to consult with the MCIP IDP Chair or other members of the FAC to identify faculty whose research is closest to their own interests and who would be most appropriate for laboratory rotations. In subsequent quarters, students’ enrollment and performance in course work and laboratory rotations are closely monitored by the MCIP Student Affairs Officer. At the end of spring quarter of the first year, students are required to submit a Faculty Mentor Approval form, co-signed by the proposed mentor, to the FAC, which considers the choice of mentor and the ability of the faculty to serve in this capacity.

By the end of spring quarter of the second year, students are expected to form a doctoral committee. A formal doctoral committee form must be submitted and approved by the Graduate Division.  The student shall consult with the MCIP Student Affairs Officer for submission of this form. The duties of the doctoral committee are to evaluate the feasibility and adequacy of the planned dissertation project for satisfying the requirements for the doctoral degree. The doctoral committee should also be attentive to the professional development of the student, and be available to serve a professional advisory role throughout the student’s training.

The faculty evaluators from the student’s Written Qualifying Exam frequently become members of the doctoral committee, although the student or committee members may elect to change the committee composition to best reflect the expertise required for advising and analysis of the dissertation. In addition to the general advisory role of the doctoral committee, its duty is to administer the University Oral Qualifying Examination and the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation), as well as to read, approve, and certify the dissertation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete approved graduate course work in molecular biology, cellular biology, research ethics, and physiology during their first year. Students who have completed professional or graduate degrees (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., M.S.) prior to admission to the program may be exempted from required first-year course work if they have completed substantially similar courses elsewhere.

Students are required to enroll full-time in a minimum of 12 units each quarter throughout graduate study. A student must successfully complete all graduate courses required for the program with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

During the first year of graduate study, students are required to complete all of the following: MCIP 252; MCIP 262; MCIP 214 (research grant writing course); MIMG C234 (research ethics course); MCIP 296 (journal club) taken each quarter; and MCIP 596 (research training) taken each quarter. Students also are required to complete one graduate seminar each quarter of their first year of enrollment. The graduate seminar must be in the field of bioscience, physical science, mathematical science, or community health.

During the second year, students are required to complete one didactic course in their research area taken in fall quarter which is MCIP 290A, B, or C. The second-year course must be related to the student’s research interest and must be approved by the student’s mentor and the FAC. In addition, each student must take a total of three seminar courses during the second and third years. At least one of these three seminars must be taken during the second year. Students are required to complete the 495 TA Training course before or during the quarter in which they will serve as a teaching assistant. Students must enroll in the 375 Teaching Practicum each quarter they TA. The remaining units necessary for completion of the degree are fulfilled through MCIP journal club (296), research training (596), preparation for qualifying examinations (597), and dissertation research (599).

Program Participation:
Once in the fourth year, students are required to give a 1-hour presentation of their research project at the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology IDP student seminar series, held on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the year. MSTP and STAR Program students may give this 1-hour presentation earlier than their fourth year.

Teaching Experience

Students are expected to complete a minimum of two quarters as a teaching assistant, one quarter in the second year and one quarter in the third year for course work–courses approved by the FAC. Advanced students, such as participants in the MSTP program or students who already hold the M.S. degree may be exempted from the teaching requirement. These advanced students must obtain approval from their faculty mentor and the FAC. Students from the STAR program may teach but teaching is not a degree requirement.  The teaching requirement is completed in the second and third years of graduate study. Students must enroll in the 495 TA Training course before or concurrently the quarter they will serve as a teaching assistant and receive a grade of ‘S’.  Additionally, students must enroll in the 375 Teaching Practicum in the two quarters they serve as a teaching assistant and receive a grade of ‘S’.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written qualifying examination must be completed by the end of winter quarter of the second year. Students are required to write a National Institute of Health (NIH)-style grant proposal that is the length of an NIH predoctoral (F31) fellowship (6-page research description, plus abstract/aims page, two year project scope). Each student independently selects the topic of the research proposal, designs the hypotheses to be tested and formulates the experimental approach. By the end of the second week of winter quarter, the topic (abstract) of the proposal requires approval in advance by the student’s chosen faculty evaluators and the MCIP IDP Chair. The student will prepare an abstract and should obtain the advice of their faculty mentor to nominate two appropriate faculty members to provide written critiques of their written qualifying exam. These written qualifying exam evaluation committee members do not necessarily become members of the formal doctoral committee, which is formed later. Although the topic and hypotheses are to be selected by the student, the student is free to consult with other individuals in formulating the experimental approach. The topic for the proposal may not be the anticipated dissertation research topic, nor may the topic be part of the active or anticipated research project in the laboratory of the student’s faculty mentor. The examination is graded pass/fail by the FAC based in part on recommendations from the faculty evaluators. Students who do not pass the examination are permitted one re-examination by the same committee in the same examination format on a date no later than the end of spring quarter of the second year.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination must be completed before the end of fall quarter of the third year. Students prepare a written description of the scientific background of the dissertation research project, the specific aims of the project, a description of preliminary findings and an experimental plan for addressing the specific aims. The dissertation proposal is then submitted to the student’s formal doctoral committee at least three weeks in advance of the examination. The examination consists of an oral presentation of the proposal by the student to the committee. The student’s oral presentation and examination are expected to demonstrate: (1) a scholarly understanding of the background of the dissertation proposal; (2) well-designed and testable aims; (3) a critical understanding of the technical applications to be employed in the dissertation; and (4) an understanding of potential experimental outcomes and their interpretation.

Students who fail may be permitted re-examination by the same committee in the same exam format on a date no later than the end of the following quarter. These students will have their standing in the graduate program reviewed by the FAC, in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor. Following that review, recommendation for or against continuation in the program will be made. Recommendations for continuation will be accompanied by specific requirements to be met by the student for preparation for retaking the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Doctoral Committee Meeting:

No later than 12 months following the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students are required to give a midstream oral presentation of their dissertation research progress to their doctoral committee. The purpose of the presentation is to monitor the student’s progress, identify difficulties that may occur in progressing toward successful completion of the dissertation and, if necessary, to approve changes in the dissertation project. The presentation is not an examination. The student’s dissertation adviser is required to summarize the committee recommendation in writing for inclusion in the student’s file.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Normative time-to-degree is specified as five years (15 quarters) for those students entering with a bachelor’s degree only. Students who enter with an M.D. or M.S. degree in a relevant discipline are expected to complete the degree in three years (9 quarters).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	7	15	24

Program Participation:

Once in the fourth year, students are required to give a 1-hour presentation of their research project at the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology IDP student seminar series, held on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the year. MSTP and STAR Program students may give this 1-hour presentation earlier than their fourth year.

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

 

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2021-2022 academic year.

African American Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of African American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in African American Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The M.A. program is supervised by an interdepartmental faculty committee. Upon admission, students work with the staff graduate adviser and faculty adviser, who assist them with the formulation of their program of study for the first year. Students are expected to meet at least quarterly with the staff graduate adviser, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. Students are encouraged to remain in continuous contact with both advisers regarding their program and academic success.

Areas of Study

The M.A. in African American Studies offers a wide-range of courses that provide historical, conceptual, and theoretical foundations for understanding global Black experiences. The department has formal linkages to various disciplines including anthropology, English, gender studies, history, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. Related courses are also offered in the following schools, departments, and programs: African studies, art, education, ethnomusicology, geography, information studies, Latin American studies, management, psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, society and genetics, public health, social welfare, theater, and world arts and cultures. Topics covered in African American Studies will span a wide-ranging set of issues and geographical areas, theoretical frameworks, as well as analytical concepts and categories of identity, such as, race, gender, class, sexuality, culture, and nation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 12 courses (48 units) are required for the M.A. degree: (1) Three of the 12 courses are required and are offered in the first year of the MA program: 201A. Survey of Black Studies: Themes, Issues and Concepts; and 201B. Survey of Black Studies Research Methods and 201 C. Research Proposal Writing Seminar; 2) Five courses (20 units) may be those related to the student’s research interest, all of which should be taken in the department; 3) Three elective courses (12 units) that could be upper division undergraduate courses and/or graduate courses taken within or outside the department; and 4) Four units of African American Studies 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research), 597 (Preparation for MA Comprehensive Exam) or 598 (Research for the Preparation of MA Thesis).

For this curriculum, 12 courses are required for the degree, of which eight (32 quarter units) must be at the graduate level. Only 12 units of Law courses are allowed to be double-counted toward the M.A. degree by petition to the Graduate Division.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Option A: (Comprehensive Examination) Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the capstone plan. During the fourth week of the fall quarter in the second year, students are required to choose which option they wish to pursue. The examination is administered by a committee consisting of faculty members appointed by the department and is offered in the spring quarter of the second year. Academic credit for the examination is given via African American Studies 597. The requirement for the exam option includes completing the written examination that is given during the final quarter of residency. (Refer to the department’s Graduate Handbook for further information).

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.

Option B: (Thesis) Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the thesis plan. Before beginning work on the thesis, students should consult first with their academic adviser. During the fourth week of the fall quarter in the second year, students are required to choose which option they wish to pursue. In the beginning of the fall quarter of the second year in residence, students are required to officially nominate a master’s committee of three faculty members through the Graduate Division and are expected to submit a prospectus of their thesis. The thesis committee will consist of the student’s faculty adviser and two ladder-ranked faculty, one of which should be from the list of core or jointly-appointed faculty in the department, and the other may be from outside the department. After approval and completion of the thesis, the committee conducts an oral examination on its subject, usually in the spring quarter of the second year. Academic credit for thesis research and preparation is given through African American Studies 598. (Refer to the department’s Graduate Handbook for further information).

Time-to-Degree

Approximately six quarters in residence are required from the time of admission to award of the degree. This presumes full-time student status and normal progression through course work. Students may view more detailed first and second year timelines on the program’s website.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	8

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics

College of Letters and Science
School of Medicine

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Prior to applying to the program, all prospective M.S. students must identify a faculty adviser from the department who is willing to provide academic support to them throughout their time in the program. Within one quarter after being admitted students also must nominate a master’s thesis committee of three faculty, including the faculty adviser, and one faculty member from another department at the University. Students also should consult the departmental staff graduate adviser regarding their programmatic progress throughout their time in the program and for additional details on requirements listed below.

Areas of Study

Consult department.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

M.S. students must receive departmental approval for their full course of study prior to Fall Quarter of their first year.

A minimum of 36 units (usually nine courses) is required for the M.S. degree. The course requirements are as follows:

A minimum of 20 units must be taken at the graduate (200-series) level.

A minimum of 20 units must be taken from courses offered by the department. Remaining units may be taken from courses offered in other life/basic science departments.

A minimum of 12 units must be taken from the 200 series that are not seminar courses.

A minimum of 24 units must be taken for a letter grade.

A maximum of 16 units may be taken from the upper division (100-series) level.

A maximum of eight units of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics 598 may be applied toward the 36-unit requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required. With the consent of the faculty adviser, master’s degree students may serve as teaching assistants if positions are available and they meet eligibility requirements.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The written qualifying examination for the doctoral degree in this department, or its equivalent as determined by the department’s Graduate Committee, serves as the comprehensive examination for the master’s degree.

Thesis Plan

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

Students must obtain approval of the thesis topic from their faculty adviser before beginning work on the thesis. This approval is obtained through submission of a thesis and abstract of proposed research with the original application for admission. The thesis must be approved by the thesis committee before it can be filed in the library.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress from graduate admission to conferral of master’s degree is six academic quarters (two years). Maximum time to degree is nine academic quarters (three years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	5	6	9

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students interested in conducting research in the lab of an MIMG faculty member should refer to the appropriate Home Area. The departmental graduate adviser also is available to assist students with University and departmental requirements.

Student progress is monitored throughout graduate study. In consultation with their faculty adviser, students must nominate a doctoral committee during the second year of study. Students meet with their committee, at least once a year, throughout their time in the program. The doctoral committee is responsible for advising as well as evaluation of the second year meeting, the written qualifying and University Oral Qualifying Examinations, annual meetings after advancement to candidacy, and the dissertation presentation at the Final Oral Examination.

Major Fields and Subdisciplines

The graduate program emphasizes the areas of animal virology, general bacteriology, host/parasite relationship, immunology, medical microbiology, microbial genetics, molecular genetics, physiology, recombinant DNA and viral structure/morphogenesis research. Students are prepared for creative research in these respective fields. The objective of the department is to provide depth and training in independent study and research for graduate students.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to enroll full-time in a minimum of 12 units each quarter. In addition to basic course requirements, all students are required to take Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics 296 and 596 or 599 each quarter.

Teaching Experience

The department considers teaching experience to be an integral part of the graduate program. All Ph.D. students are required to serve as teaching assistants for a minimum of two quarters. One of the teaching assistantships must be for Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics or Life Sciences 3. Students may petition the departmental graduate adviser to determine if prior experience at another institution is acceptable in fulfillment of the teaching requirement.

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.

Qualifying Examinations. The qualifying examinations, written and oral, should be taken before the end of Fall Quarter of the third year of graduate study (second year in the department), and must be passed by the Spring Quarter of that academic year. Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Written Qualifying Examination. The written qualifying examination is fulfilled through submission of a “mini” research grant proposal. The proposal cannot be on a topic in the area of the student’s dissertation project. Also, the proposal must utilize an approach that is different from that employed in the student’s own research.

University Oral Qualifying Examination. This examination, chaired by the student’s adviser and conducted by the doctoral committee, focuses on the discussion and defense of the written proposal. The purpose of this examination is to allow the committee to evaluate the student’s understanding of the project. The committee votes pass or not pass, or recommends additional work such as rewriting an inadequate proposal. If two or members vote not pass, the examination is considered a not pass and the student has one opportunity to re-take the examination.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress from graduate admission to conferral of the degree is eighteen academic quarters (six years).

Laboratory rotations, approval of progress by the advisory committee, and choice of faculty mentor should be completed by the end of the first year.

Course work and the second year meeting should be completed by the end of the Spring Quarter of the second year. The written and oral qualifying examinations should be completed by the end of the Spring Quarter of the third year.

The dissertation and final oral examination should be completed during the fifth year, and no later than eighteen quarters (six years).

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

Second Year Meeting. Students must constitute and meet with their doctoral committee before the end of winter quarter of the second year of study. At this meeting students present the plans for their dissertation research. The purpose of the meeting is for the committee to evaluate the student’s understanding of the rational and background for the proposed research and to provide feedback to the student on its feasibility and experimental strategy.

Annual Meeting with Progress Report. After completion of the qualifying examinations and advancement to candidacy, students must submit an annual report. This report is in the form of a one-page abstract that describes the project and the efforts completed to date. An abstract submitted to a scientific meeting may fulfill this requirement. A copy of the report is submitted to the Graduate Student Affairs office. Students schedule the annual meeting with their doctoral committee. This meeting serves a variety of purposes, including an avenue for advice regarding new approaches or directions for students who have reached an impasse in their work, or an avenue for advice regarding how much work remains for the dissertation to be considered complete for students whose work is going well.

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for failure to find a suitable faculty research adviser within a year of matriculation into the program.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology

College of Letters and Science
Interdepartmental Program

Graduate Degrees

The Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Interdepartmental Program offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology (MCIP).

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

None.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

First year students are advised by the Faculty Administrative Committee (FAC) and MCIP IDP Chair. Throughout the first term, students are expected to consult with the MCIP IDP Chair or other members of the FAC to identify faculty whose research is closest to their own interests and who would be most appropriate for laboratory rotations. In subsequent quarters, students’ enrollment and performance in course work and laboratory rotations are closely monitored by the MCIP Student Affairs Officer. At the end of spring quarter of the first year, students are required to submit a Faculty Mentor Approval form, co-signed by the proposed mentor, to the FAC, which considers the choice of mentor and the ability of the faculty to serve in this capacity.

By the end of spring quarter of the second year, students are expected to form a doctoral committee. A formal doctoral committee form must be submitted and approved by the Graduate Division.  The student shall consult with the MCIP Student Affairs Officer for submission of this form. The duties of the doctoral committee are to evaluate the feasibility and adequacy of the planned dissertation project for satisfying the requirements for the doctoral degree. The doctoral committee should also be attentive to the professional development of the student, and be available to serve a professional advisory role throughout the student’s training.

The faculty evaluators from the student’s Written Qualifying Exam frequently become members of the doctoral committee, although the student or committee members may elect to change the committee composition to best reflect the expertise required for advising and analysis of the dissertation. In addition to the general advisory role of the doctoral committee, its duty is to administer the University Oral Qualifying Examination and the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation), as well as to read, approve, and certify the dissertation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete approved graduate course work in molecular biology, cellular biology, research ethics, and physiology during their first year. Students who have completed professional or graduate degrees (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., M.S.) prior to admission to the program may be exempted from required first-year course work if they have completed substantially similar courses elsewhere.

Students are required to enroll full-time in a minimum of 12 units each quarter throughout graduate study. A student must successfully complete all graduate courses required for the program with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

During the first year of graduate study, students are required to complete all of the following: MCIP 252; MCIP 262; MCIP 214 (research grant writing course); MIMG C234 (research ethics course); MCIP 296 (journal club) taken each quarter; and MCIP 596 (research training) taken each quarter. Students also are required to complete one graduate seminar each quarter of their first year of enrollment. The graduate seminar must be in the field of bioscience, physical science, mathematical science, or community health.

During the second year, students are required to complete one didactic course in their research area taken in fall quarter which is MCIP 290A, B, or C. The second-year course must be related to the student’s research interest and must be approved by the student’s mentor and the FAC. In addition, each student must take a total of three seminar courses during the second and third years. At least one of these three seminars must be taken during the second year. Students are required to complete the 495 TA Training course before or during the quarter in which they will serve as a teaching assistant. Students must enroll in the 375 Teaching Practicum each quarter they TA. The remaining units necessary for completion of the degree are fulfilled through MCIP journal club (296), research training (596), preparation for qualifying examinations (597), and dissertation research (599).

Program Participation:
Once in the fourth year, students are required to give a 1-hour presentation of their research project at the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology IDP student seminar series, held on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the year. MSTP and STAR Program students may give this 1-hour presentation earlier than their fourth year.

Teaching Experience

Students are expected to complete a minimum of two quarters as a teaching assistant, one quarter in the second year and one quarter in the third year for course work–courses approved by the FAC. Advanced students, such as participants in the MSTP program or students who already hold the M.S. degree may be exempted from the teaching requirement. These advanced students must obtain approval from their faculty mentor and the FAC. Students from the STAR program may teach but teaching is not a degree requirement.  The teaching requirement is completed in the second and third years of graduate study. Students must enroll in the 495 TA Training course before or concurrently the quarter they will serve as a teaching assistant and receive a grade of ‘S’.  Additionally, students must enroll in the 375 Teaching Practicum in the two quarters they serve as a teaching assistant and receive a grade of ‘S’.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written qualifying examination must be completed by the end of winter quarter of the second year. Students are required to write a National Institute of Health (NIH)-style grant proposal that is the length of an NIH predoctoral (F31) fellowship (6-page research description, plus abstract/aims page, two year project scope). Each student independently selects the topic of the research proposal, designs the hypotheses to be tested and formulates the experimental approach. By the end of the second week of winter quarter, the topic (abstract) of the proposal requires approval in advance by the student’s chosen faculty evaluators and the MCIP IDP Chair. The student will prepare an abstract and should obtain the advice of their faculty mentor to nominate two appropriate faculty members to provide written critiques of their written qualifying exam. These written qualifying exam evaluation committee members do not necessarily become members of the formal doctoral committee, which is formed later. Although the topic and hypotheses are to be selected by the student, the student is free to consult with other individuals in formulating the experimental approach. The topic for the proposal may not be the anticipated dissertation research topic, nor may the topic be part of the active or anticipated research project in the laboratory of the student’s faculty mentor. The examination is graded pass/fail by the FAC based in part on recommendations from the faculty evaluators. Students who do not pass the examination are permitted one re-examination by the same committee in the same examination format on a date no later than the end of spring quarter of the second year.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination must be completed before the end of fall quarter of the third year. Students prepare a written description of the scientific background of the dissertation research project, the specific aims of the project, a description of preliminary findings and an experimental plan for addressing the specific aims. The dissertation proposal is then submitted to the student’s formal doctoral committee at least three weeks in advance of the examination. The examination consists of an oral presentation of the proposal by the student to the committee. The student’s oral presentation and examination are expected to demonstrate: (1) a scholarly understanding of the background of the dissertation proposal; (2) well-designed and testable aims; (3) a critical understanding of the technical applications to be employed in the dissertation; and (4) an understanding of potential experimental outcomes and their interpretation.

Students who fail may be permitted re-examination by the same committee in the same exam format on a date no later than the end of the following quarter. These students will have their standing in the graduate program reviewed by the FAC, in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor. Following that review, recommendation for or against continuation in the program will be made. Recommendations for continuation will be accompanied by specific requirements to be met by the student for preparation for retaking the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Doctoral Committee Meeting:

No later than 12 months following the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students are required to give a midstream oral presentation of their dissertation research progress to their doctoral committee. The purpose of the presentation is to monitor the student’s progress, identify difficulties that may occur in progressing toward successful completion of the dissertation and, if necessary, to approve changes in the dissertation project. The presentation is not an examination. The student’s dissertation adviser is required to summarize the committee recommendation in writing for inclusion in the student’s file.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Normative time-to-degree is specified as five years (15 quarters) for those students entering with a bachelor’s degree only. Students who enter with an M.D. or M.S. degree in a relevant discipline are expected to complete the degree in three years (9 quarters).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	7	15	24

Program Participation:

Once in the fourth year, students are required to give a 1-hour presentation of their research project at the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology IDP student seminar series, held on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the year. MSTP and STAR Program students may give this 1-hour presentation earlier than their fourth year.

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

 

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2022-2023 academic year.

African American Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of African American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in African American Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The M.A. program is supervised by an interdepartmental faculty committee. Upon admission, students work with the staff graduate adviser and faculty adviser, who assist them with the formulation of their program of study for the first year. Students are expected to meet at least quarterly with the staff graduate adviser, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. Students are encouraged to remain in continuous contact with both advisers regarding their program and academic success.

Areas of Study

The M.A. in African American Studies offers a wide-range of courses that provide historical, conceptual, and theoretical foundations for understanding global Black experiences. The department has formal linkages to various disciplines including anthropology, English, gender studies, history, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. Related courses are also offered in the following schools, departments, and programs: African studies, art, education, ethnomusicology, geography, information studies, Latin American studies, management, psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, society and genetics, public health, social welfare, theater, and world arts and cultures. Topics covered in African American Studies will span a wide-ranging set of issues and geographical areas, theoretical frameworks, as well as analytical concepts and categories of identity, such as, race, gender, class, sexuality, culture, and nation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 12 courses (48 units) are required for the M.A. degree: (1) Three of the 12 courses are required and are offered in the first year of the MA program: 201A. Survey of Black Studies: Themes, Issues and Concepts; and 201B. Survey of Black Studies Research Methods and 201 C. Research Proposal Writing Seminar; 2) Five courses (20 units) may be those related to the student’s research interest, all of which should be taken in the department; 3) Three elective courses (12 units) that could be upper division undergraduate courses and/or graduate courses taken within or outside the department (can include 400-level Education courses when taught by African American Studies faculty); and 4) Four units of African American Studies 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research), 597 (Preparation for MA Comprehensive Exam) or 598 (Research for the Preparation of MA Thesis).

For this curriculum, 12 courses are required for the degree, of which eight (32 quarter units) must be at the graduate level. Only 12 units of Law courses are allowed to be double-counted toward the M.A. degree by petition to the Graduate Division.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Option A: (Comprehensive Examination) Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the capstone plan. During the fourth week of the fall quarter in the second year, students are required to choose which option they wish to pursue. The examination is administered by a committee consisting of faculty members appointed by the department and is offered in the spring quarter of the second year. Academic credit for the examination is given via African American Studies 597. The requirement for the exam option includes completing the written examination that is given during the final quarter of residency. (Refer to the department’s Graduate Handbook for further information).

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.

Option B: (Thesis) Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the thesis plan. Before beginning work on the thesis, students should consult first with their academic adviser. During the fourth week of the fall quarter in the second year, students are required to choose which option they wish to pursue. In the beginning of the fall quarter of the second year in residence, students are required to officially nominate a master’s committee of three faculty members through the Graduate Division and are expected to submit a prospectus of their thesis. The thesis committee will consist of the student’s faculty adviser and two ladder-ranked faculty, one of which should be from the list of core or jointly-appointed faculty in the department, and the other may be from outside the department. After approval and completion of the thesis, the committee conducts an oral examination on its subject, usually in the spring quarter of the second year. Academic credit for thesis research and preparation is given through African American Studies 598. (Refer to the department’s Graduate Handbook for further information).

Time-to-Degree

Approximately six quarters in residence are required from the time of admission to award of the degree. This presumes full-time student status and normal progression through course work. Students may view more detailed first and second year timelines on the program’s website.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	8

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

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

Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology

College of Letters and Science
Interdepartmental Program

Graduate Degrees

The Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Interdepartmental Program offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology (MCIP).

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

None.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

First year students are advised by the Faculty Administrative Committee (FAC) and MCIP IDP Chair. Throughout the first term, students are expected to consult with the MCIP IDP Chair or other members of the FAC to identify faculty whose research is closest to their own interests and who would be most appropriate for laboratory rotations. In subsequent quarters, students’ enrollment and performance in course work and laboratory rotations are closely monitored by the MCIP Student Affairs Officer. At the end of spring quarter of the first year, students are required to submit a Faculty Mentor Approval form, co-signed by the proposed mentor, to the FAC, which considers the choice of mentor and the ability of the faculty to serve in this capacity.

By the end of spring quarter of the second year, students are expected to form a doctoral committee. A formal doctoral committee form must be submitted and approved by the Division of Graduate Education. The student shall consult with the MCIP Student Affairs Officer for submission of this form. The duties of the doctoral committee are to evaluate the feasibility and adequacy of the planned dissertation project for satisfying the requirements for the doctoral degree. The doctoral committee should also be attentive to the professional development of the student, and be available to serve a professional advisory role throughout the student’s training.

The faculty evaluators from the student’s Written Qualifying Exam frequently become members of the doctoral committee, although the student or committee members may elect to change the committee composition to best reflect the expertise required for advising and analysis of the dissertation. In addition to the general advisory role of the doctoral committee, its duty is to administer the University Oral Qualifying Examination and the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation), as well as to read, approve, and certify the dissertation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete approved graduate course work in molecular biology, cellular biology, research ethics, and physiology during their first year. Students who have completed professional or graduate degrees (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., M.S.) prior to admission to the program may be exempted from required first-year course work if they have completed substantially similar courses elsewhere.

Students are required to enroll full-time in a minimum of 12 units each quarter throughout graduate study. A student must successfully complete all graduate courses required for the program with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

During the first year of graduate study, students are required to complete all of the following: MCIP 252; MCIP 262; MCIP 214 (research grant writing course); MIMG C234 (research ethics course); MCIP 296 (journal club) taken each quarter; and MCIP 596 (research training) taken each quarter. Students also are required to complete one graduate seminar each quarter of their first year of enrollment. The graduate seminar must be in the field of bioscience, physical science, mathematical science, or community health.

During the second year, students are required to complete one didactic course in their research area taken in fall quarter which is MCIP 290A, B, or C. The second-year course must be related to the student’s research interest and must be approved by the student’s mentor and the FAC. In addition, each student must take a total of three seminar courses during the second and third years. At least one of these three seminars must be taken during the second year. Students are required to enroll 495 TA Training course before or during the quarter they receive their first teaching appointment. Students must enroll in the 375 Teaching Practicum each quarter they TA. The remaining units necessary for completion of the degree are fulfilled through MCIP journal club (296), research training (596), preparation for qualifying examinations (597), and dissertation research (599).

Program Participation:
Once in the fourth year, students are required to give a 1-hour presentation of their research project at the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology IDP student seminar series, held on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the year. MSTP and STAR Program students may give this 1-hour presentation earlier than their fourth year.

Teaching Experience

Students are expected to complete a minimum of one quarter of teaching experience as a teaching assistant, either one quarter in the second year or one quarter in the third year for course work. Advanced students, such as participants in the MSTP program or students who already hold the M.S. degree, may be exempted from the teaching requirement. These advanced students must obtain approval from their faculty mentor and the FAC. Students from the STAR program may teach, but teaching is not a degree requirement. The teaching requirement is completed in the second or third year of graduate study. New teaching assistants must enroll in the Life Sciences 495 TA Training course before or during during the quarter they receive their first teaching appointment and receive a grade of ‘S’. Additionally, students must enroll in the 375 Teaching Practicum in the quarter they serve as a teaching assistant and receive a grade of ‘S’.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written qualifying examination must be completed by the end of winter quarter of the second year. Students are required to write a National Institute of Health (NIH)-style grant proposal that is the length of an NIH predoctoral (F31) fellowship (6-page research description, plus abstract/aims page, two year project scope). Each student independently selects the topic of the research proposal, designs the hypotheses to be tested and formulates the experimental approach. By the end of the second week of winter quarter, the topic (abstract) of the proposal requires approval in advance by the student’s chosen faculty evaluators and the MCIP IDP Chair. The student will prepare an abstract and should obtain the advice of their faculty mentor to nominate two appropriate faculty members to provide written critiques of their written qualifying exam. These written qualifying exam evaluation committee members do not necessarily become members of the formal doctoral committee, which is formed later. Although the topic and hypotheses are to be selected by the student, the student is free to consult with other individuals in formulating the experimental approach. The topic for the proposal may not be the anticipated dissertation research topic, nor may the topic be part of the active or anticipated research project in the laboratory of the student’s faculty mentor. The examination is graded pass/fail by the FAC based in part on recommendations from the faculty evaluators. Students who do not pass the examination are permitted one re-examination by the same committee in the same examination format on a date no later than the end of spring quarter of the second year.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination must be completed before the end of fall quarter of the third year. Students prepare a written description of the scientific background of the dissertation research project, the specific aims of the project, a description of preliminary findings and an experimental plan for addressing the specific aims. The dissertation proposal is then submitted to the student’s formal doctoral committee at least three weeks in advance of the examination. The examination consists of an oral presentation of the proposal by the student to the committee. The student’s oral presentation and examination are expected to demonstrate: (1) a scholarly understanding of the background of the dissertation proposal; (2) well-designed and testable aims; (3) a critical understanding of the technical applications to be employed in the dissertation; and (4) an understanding of potential experimental outcomes and their interpretation.

Students who fail may be permitted re-examination by the same committee in the same exam format on a date no later than the end of the following quarter. These students will have their standing in the graduate program reviewed by the FAC, in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor. Following that review, recommendation for or against continuation in the program will be made. Recommendations for continuation will be accompanied by specific requirements to be met by the student for preparation for retaking the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Doctoral Committee Meeting:

No later than 12 months following the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students are required to give a midstream oral presentation of their dissertation research progress to their doctoral committee. The purpose of the presentation is to monitor the student’s progress, identify difficulties that may occur in progressing toward successful completion of the dissertation and, if necessary, to approve changes in the dissertation project. The presentation is not an examination. The student’s dissertation adviser is required to summarize the committee recommendation in writing for inclusion in the student’s file.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Normative time-to-degree is specified as five years (15 quarters) for those students entering with a bachelor’s degree only. Students who enter with an M.D. or M.S. degree in a relevant discipline are expected to complete the degree in three years (9 quarters).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	7	15	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

 

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

African American Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of African American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in African American Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The M.A. program is supervised by an interdepartmental faculty committee. Upon admission, students work with the staff graduate adviser and faculty adviser, who assist them with the formulation of their program of study for the first year. Students are expected to meet at least quarterly with the staff graduate adviser, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. Students are encouraged to remain in continuous contact with both advisers regarding their program and academic success.

Areas of Study

The M.A. in African American Studies offers a wide-range of courses that provide historical, conceptual, and theoretical foundations for understanding global Black experiences. The department has formal linkages to various disciplines including anthropology, English, gender studies, history, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. Related courses are also offered in the following schools, departments, and programs: African studies, art, education, ethnomusicology, geography, information studies, Latin American studies, management, psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, society and genetics, public health, social welfare, theater, and world arts and cultures. Topics covered in African American Studies will span a wide-ranging set of issues and geographical areas, theoretical frameworks, as well as analytical concepts and categories of identity, such as, race, gender, class, sexuality, culture, and nation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 12 courses (48 units) are required for the M.A. degree: (1) Three of the 12 courses are required and are offered in the first year of the MA program: 201A. Survey of Black Studies: Themes, Issues and Concepts; and 201B. Survey of Black Studies Research Methods and 201 C. Research Proposal Writing Seminar; 2) Five courses (20 units) may be those related to the student’s research interest, all of which should be taken in the department; 3) Three elective courses (12 units) that could be upper division undergraduate courses and/or graduate courses taken within or outside the department (can include 400-level Education courses when taught by African American Studies faculty); and 4) Four units of African American Studies 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research), 597 (Preparation for MA Comprehensive Exam) or 598 (Research for the Preparation of MA Thesis).

For this curriculum, 12 courses are required for the degree, of which eight (32 quarter units) must be at the graduate level. Only 12 units of Law courses are allowed to be double-counted toward the M.A. degree by petition to the Graduate Division.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Option A: (Comprehensive Examination) Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the capstone plan. During the fourth week of the fall quarter in the second year, students are required to choose which option they wish to pursue. The examination is administered by a committee consisting of faculty members appointed by the department and is offered in the spring quarter of the second year. Academic credit for the examination is given via African American Studies 597. The requirement for the exam option includes completing the written examination that is given during the final quarter of residency. (Refer to the department’s Graduate Handbook for further information).

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.

Option B: (Thesis) Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the thesis plan. Before beginning work on the thesis, students should consult first with their academic adviser. During the fourth week of the fall quarter in the second year, students are required to choose which option they wish to pursue. In the beginning of the fall quarter of the second year in residence, students are required to officially nominate a master’s committee of three faculty members through the Graduate Division and are expected to submit a prospectus of their thesis. The thesis committee will consist of the student’s faculty adviser and two ladder-ranked faculty, one of which should be from the list of core or jointly-appointed faculty in the department, and the other may be from outside the department. After approval and completion of the thesis, the committee conducts an oral examination on its subject, usually in the spring quarter of the second year. Academic credit for thesis research and preparation is given through African American Studies 598. (Refer to the department’s Graduate Handbook for further information).

Time-to-Degree

Approximately six quarters in residence are required from the time of admission to award of the degree. This presumes full-time student status and normal progression through course work. Students may view more detailed first and second year timelines on the program’s website.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	8

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

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

Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology

College of Letters and Science
Interdepartmental Program

Graduate Degrees

The Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Interdepartmental Program offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology (MCIP).

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

None.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

First year students are advised by the Faculty Administrative Committee (FAC) and MCIP IDP Chair. Throughout the first term, students are expected to consult with the MCIP IDP Chair or other members of the FAC to identify faculty whose research is closest to their own interests and who would be most appropriate for laboratory rotations. In subsequent quarters, students’ enrollment and performance in course work and laboratory rotations are closely monitored by the MCIP Graduate Student Services Advisor. At the end of spring quarter of the first year, students are required to submit a Faculty Mentor Approval form, co-signed by the proposed mentor, to the FAC, which considers the choice of mentor and the ability of the faculty to serve in this capacity.

By the end of spring quarter of the second year, students are expected to form a doctoral committee. A formal doctoral committee form must be submitted and approved by the Division of Graduate Education. The student shall consult with the MCIP Graduate Student Services Advisor for submission of this form. The duties of the doctoral committee are to evaluate the feasibility and adequacy of the planned dissertation project for satisfying the requirements for the doctoral degree. The doctoral committee should also be attentive to the professional development of the student, and be available to serve a professional advisory role throughout the student’s training.

The faculty evaluators from the student’s Written Qualifying Exam frequently become members of the doctoral committee, although the student or committee members may elect to change the committee composition to best reflect the expertise required for advising and analysis of the dissertation. In addition to the general advisory role of the doctoral committee, its duty is to administer the University Oral Qualifying Examination and the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation), as well as to read, approve, and certify the dissertation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete approved graduate course work in molecular biology, cellular biology, research ethics, and physiology during their first year. Students who have completed professional or graduate degrees (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., M.S.) prior to admission to the program may be exempted from required first-year course work if they have completed substantially similar courses elsewhere.

Students are required to enroll full-time in a minimum of 12 units each quarter throughout graduate study. A student must successfully complete all graduate courses required for the program with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

During the first year of graduate study, students are required to complete all of the following: MCIP 252; MCIP 262; MCIP 214 (research grant writing course); MIMG C234 (research ethics course); MCIP 296 (journal club) taken each quarter; and MCIP 596 (research training) taken each quarter. Students also are required to complete one graduate seminar each quarter of their first year of enrollment. The graduate seminar must be in the field of bioscience, physical science, mathematical science, or community health.

During the second year, students are required to complete one didactic course in their research area taken in fall quarter which is MCIP 290A, B, or C. The second-year course must be related to the student’s research interest and must be approved by the student’s mentor and the FAC. In addition, each student must take a total of three seminar courses during the second and third years. At least one of these three seminars must be taken during the second year. Students are required to enroll 495 TA Training course before or during the quarter they receive their first teaching appointment. The remaining units necessary for completion of the degree are fulfilled through MCIP journal club (296), research training (596), preparation for qualifying examinations (597), and dissertation research (599).

Program Participation:
Once in the fourth year, students are required to give a 1-hour presentation of their research project at the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology IDP student seminar series, held on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the year. MSTP and STAR Program students may give this 1-hour presentation earlier than their fourth year.

Teaching Experience

Students are expected to complete a minimum of one quarter of teaching experience as a teaching assistant, either one quarter in the second year or one quarter in the third year for course work. Advanced students, such as participants in the MSTP program or students who already hold the M.S. degree, may be exempted from the teaching requirement. These advanced students must obtain approval from their faculty mentor and the FAC. Students from the STAR program may teach, but teaching is not a degree requirement. The teaching requirement is completed in the second or third year of graduate study. New teaching assistants must enroll in the Life Sciences 495 TA Training course before or during the quarter they receive their first teaching appointment and receive a grade of ‘S’.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written qualifying examination must be completed by the end of winter quarter of the second year. Students are required to write a National Institute of Health (NIH)-style grant proposal that is the length of an NIH predoctoral (F31) fellowship (1-page specific aims, 6-page research description, plus references, two-year project scope). Each student independently selects the topic of the research proposal, designs the hypotheses to be tested and formulates the experimental approach. By the end of the second week of winter quarter, the topic (abstract) of the proposal requires approval in advance by the student’s chosen faculty evaluators and the MCIP IDP Chair. The student will prepare an abstract and should obtain the advice of their faculty mentor to nominate two appropriate faculty members to provide written critiques of their written qualifying exam. These written qualifying exam evaluation committee members do not necessarily become members of the formal doctoral committee, which is formed later. Although the topic and hypotheses are to be selected by the student, the student is free to consult with other individuals in formulating the experimental approach. The topic for the proposal may not be the anticipated dissertation research topic, nor may the topic be part of the active or anticipated research project in the laboratory of the student’s faculty mentor. The examination is graded pass/fail by the FAC based in part on recommendations from the faculty evaluators. Students who do not pass the examination are permitted one re-examination by the same committee in the same examination format on a date no later than the end of spring quarter of the second year.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination must be completed before the end of fall quarter of the third year. Students prepare a written description of the scientific background of the dissertation research project, the specific aims of the project, a description of preliminary findings and an experimental plan for addressing the specific aims. The dissertation proposal is then submitted to the student’s formal doctoral committee at least three weeks in advance of the examination. The examination consists of an oral presentation of the proposal by the student to the committee. The student’s oral presentation and examination are expected to demonstrate: (1) a scholarly understanding of the background of the dissertation proposal; (2) well-designed and testable aims; (3) a critical understanding of the technical applications to be employed in the dissertation; and (4) an understanding of potential experimental outcomes and their interpretation.

Students who fail may be permitted re-examination by the same committee in the same exam format on a date no later than the end of the following quarter. These students will have their standing in the graduate program reviewed by the FAC, in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor. Following that review, recommendation for or against continuation in the program will be made. Recommendations for continuation will be accompanied by specific requirements to be met by the student for preparation for retaking the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Doctoral Committee Meeting:

No later than 12 months following the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students are required to give a midstream oral presentation of their dissertation research progress to their doctoral committee. The purpose of the presentation is to monitor the student’s progress, identify difficulties that may occur in progressing toward successful completion of the dissertation and, if necessary, to approve changes in the dissertation project. The presentation is not an examination. The student’s dissertation adviser is required to summarize the committee recommendations in writing for inclusion in the student’s file.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Normative time-to-degree is specified as five years (15 quarters) for those students entering with a bachelor’s degree only. Students who enter with an M.D. or M.S. degree in a relevant discipline are expected to complete the degree in three years (9 quarters).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	7	15	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

 

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

African American Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of African American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in African American Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The M.A. program is supervised by an interdepartmental faculty committee. Upon admission, students work with the staff graduate adviser and faculty adviser, who assist them with the formulation of their program of study for the first year. Students are expected to meet at least quarterly with the staff graduate adviser, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. Students are encouraged to remain in continuous contact with both advisers regarding their program and academic success.

Areas of Study

The M.A. in African American Studies offers a wide-range of courses that provide historical, conceptual, and theoretical foundations for understanding global Black experiences. The department has formal linkages to various disciplines including anthropology, English, gender studies, history, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. Related courses are also offered in the following schools, departments, and programs: African studies, art, education, ethnomusicology, geography, information studies, Latin American studies, management, psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, society and genetics, public health, social welfare, theater, and world arts and cultures. Topics covered in African American Studies will span a wide-ranging set of issues and geographical areas, theoretical frameworks, as well as analytical concepts and categories of identity, such as, race, gender, class, sexuality, culture, and nation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 12 courses (48 units) are required for the M.A. degree: (1) Three of the 12 courses are required and are offered in the first year of the MA program: 201A. Survey of Black Studies: Themes, Issues and Concepts; and 201B. Survey of Black Studies Research Methods and 201 C. Research Proposal Writing Seminar; 2) Five courses (20 units) may be those related to the student’s research interest, all of which should be taken in the department; 3) Three elective courses (12 units) that could be upper division undergraduate courses and/or graduate courses taken within or outside the department (can include 400-level Education courses when taught by African American Studies faculty); and 4) Four units of African American Studies 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research), 597 (Preparation for MA Comprehensive Exam) or 598 (Research for the Preparation of MA Thesis).

For this curriculum, 12 courses are required for the degree, of which eight (32 quarter units) must be at the graduate level. Only 12 units of Law courses are allowed to be double-counted toward the M.A. degree by petition to the Graduate Division.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Option A: (Comprehensive Examination) Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the capstone plan. During the fourth week of the fall quarter in the second year, students are required to choose which option they wish to pursue. The examination is administered by a committee consisting of faculty members appointed by the department and is offered in the spring quarter of the second year. Academic credit for the examination is given via African American Studies 597. The requirement for the exam option includes completing the written examination that is given during the final quarter of residency. (Refer to the department’s Graduate Handbook for further information).

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.

Option B: (Thesis) Students may elect to complete the M.A. degree through the thesis plan. Before beginning work on the thesis, students should consult first with their academic adviser. During the fourth week of the fall quarter in the second year, students are required to choose which option they wish to pursue. In the beginning of the fall quarter of the second year in residence, students are required to officially nominate a master’s committee of three faculty members through the Graduate Division and are expected to submit a prospectus of their thesis. The thesis committee will consist of the student’s faculty adviser and two ladder-ranked faculty, one of which should be from the list of core or jointly-appointed faculty in the department, and the other may be from outside the department. After approval and completion of the thesis, the committee conducts an oral examination on its subject, usually in the spring quarter of the second year. Academic credit for thesis research and preparation is given through African American Studies 598. (Refer to the department’s Graduate Handbook for further information).

Time-to-Degree

Approximately six quarters in residence are required from the time of admission to award of the degree. This presumes full-time student status and normal progression through course work. Students may view more detailed first and second year timelines on the program’s website.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	8

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

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

Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology

College of Letters and Science
Interdepartmental Program

Graduate Degrees

The Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology Interdepartmental Program offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology (MCIP).

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

None.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

First year students are advised by the Faculty Administrative Committee (FAC) and MCIP IDP Chair. Throughout the first term, students are expected to consult with the MCIP IDP Chair or other members of the FAC to identify faculty whose research is closest to their own interests and who would be most appropriate for laboratory rotations. In subsequent quarters, students’ enrollment and performance in course work and laboratory rotations are closely monitored by the MCIP Graduate Student Services Advisor. At the end of spring quarter of the first year, students are required to submit a Faculty Mentor Approval form, co-signed by the proposed mentor, to the FAC, which considers the choice of mentor and the ability of the faculty to serve in this capacity.

By the end of spring quarter of the second year, students are expected to form a doctoral committee. A formal doctoral committee form must be submitted and approved by the Division of Graduate Education. The student shall consult with the MCIP Graduate Student Services Advisor for submission of this form. The duties of the doctoral committee are to evaluate the feasibility and adequacy of the planned dissertation project for satisfying the requirements for the doctoral degree. The doctoral committee should also be attentive to the professional development of the student, and be available to serve a professional advisory role throughout the student’s training.

The faculty evaluators from the student’s Written Qualifying Exam frequently become members of the doctoral committee, although the student or committee members may elect to change the committee composition to best reflect the expertise required for advising and analysis of the dissertation. In addition to the general advisory role of the doctoral committee, its duty is to administer the University Oral Qualifying Examination and the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation), as well as to read, approve, and certify the dissertation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete approved graduate course work in molecular biology, cellular biology, research ethics, and physiology during their first year. Students who have completed professional or graduate degrees (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., M.S.) prior to admission to the program may be exempted from required first-year course work if they have completed substantially similar courses elsewhere.

Students are required to enroll full-time in a minimum of 12 units each quarter throughout graduate study. A student must successfully complete all graduate courses required for the program with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

During the first year of graduate study, students are required to complete all of the following: MCIP 252; MCIP 262; MCIP 214 (research grant writing course); MIMG C234 (research ethics course); MCIP 296 (journal club) taken each quarter; and MCIP 596 (research training) taken each quarter. Students also are required to complete one graduate seminar each quarter of their first year of enrollment. The graduate seminar must be in the field of bioscience, physical science, mathematical science, or community health.

During the second year, students are required to complete one didactic course in their research area taken in fall quarter which is MCIP 290A, B, or C. The second-year course must be related to the student’s research interest and must be approved by the student’s mentor and the FAC. In addition, each student must take a total of three seminar courses during the second and third years. At least one of these three seminars must be taken during the second year. Students are required to enroll 495 TA Training course before or during the quarter they receive their first teaching appointment. The remaining units necessary for completion of the degree are fulfilled through MCIP journal club (296), research training (596), preparation for qualifying examinations (597), and dissertation research (599).

Program Participation:
Once in the fourth year, students are required to give a 1-hour presentation of their research project at the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology IDP student seminar series, held on the second Tuesday of each month throughout the year. MSTP and STAR Program students may give this 1-hour presentation earlier than their fourth year.

Teaching Experience

Students are expected to complete a minimum of one quarter of teaching experience as a teaching assistant, either one quarter in the second year or one quarter in the third year for course work. Advanced students, such as participants in the MSTP program or students who already hold the M.S. degree, may be exempted from the teaching requirement. These advanced students must obtain approval from their faculty mentor and the FAC. Students from the STAR program may teach, but teaching is not a degree requirement. The teaching requirement is completed in the second or third year of graduate study. New teaching assistants must enroll in the Life Sciences 495 TA Training course before or during the quarter they receive their first teaching appointment and receive a grade of ‘S’.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written qualifying examination must be completed by the end of winter quarter of the second year. Students are required to write a National Institute of Health (NIH)-style grant proposal that is the length of an NIH predoctoral (F31) fellowship (1-page specific aims, 6-page research description, plus references, two-year project scope). Each student independently selects the topic of the research proposal, designs the hypotheses to be tested and formulates the experimental approach. By the end of the second week of winter quarter, the topic (abstract) of the proposal requires approval in advance by the student’s chosen faculty evaluators and the MCIP IDP Chair. The student will prepare an abstract and should obtain the advice of their faculty mentor to nominate two appropriate faculty members to provide written critiques of their written qualifying exam. These written qualifying exam evaluation committee members do not necessarily become members of the formal doctoral committee, which is formed later. Although the topic and hypotheses are to be selected by the student, the student is free to consult with other individuals in formulating the experimental approach. The topic for the proposal may not be the anticipated dissertation research topic, nor may the topic be part of the active or anticipated research project in the laboratory of the student’s faculty mentor. The examination is graded pass/fail by the FAC based in part on recommendations from the faculty evaluators. Students who do not pass the examination are permitted one re-examination by the same committee in the same examination format on a date no later than the end of spring quarter of the second year.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination must be completed before the end of fall quarter of the third year. Students prepare a written description of the scientific background of the dissertation research project, the specific aims of the project, a description of preliminary findings and an experimental plan for addressing the specific aims. The dissertation proposal is then submitted to the student’s formal doctoral committee at least three weeks in advance of the examination. The examination consists of an oral presentation of the proposal by the student to the committee. The student’s oral presentation and examination are expected to demonstrate: (1) a scholarly understanding of the background of the dissertation proposal; (2) well-designed and testable aims; (3) a critical understanding of the technical applications to be employed in the dissertation; and (4) an understanding of potential experimental outcomes and their interpretation.

Students who fail may be permitted re-examination by the same committee in the same exam format on a date no later than the end of the following quarter. These students will have their standing in the graduate program reviewed by the FAC, in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor. Following that review, recommendation for or against continuation in the program will be made. Recommendations for continuation will be accompanied by specific requirements to be met by the student for preparation for retaking the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Doctoral Committee Meeting:

No later than 12 months following the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students are required to give a midstream oral presentation of their dissertation research progress to their doctoral committee. The purpose of the presentation is to monitor the student’s progress, identify difficulties that may occur in progressing toward successful completion of the dissertation and, if necessary, to approve changes in the dissertation project. The presentation is not an examination. The student’s dissertation adviser is required to summarize the committee recommendations in writing for inclusion in the student’s file.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Normative time-to-degree is specified as five years (15 quarters) for those students entering with a bachelor’s degree only. Students who enter with an M.D. or M.S. degree in a relevant discipline are expected to complete the degree in three years (9 quarters).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	7	15	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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