Program Requirements for Molecular and Medical Pharmacology

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Molecular and Medical Pharmacology

School of Medicine

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Molecular and Medical Pharmacology

Applicants may apply to the Ph.D. program either directly or through UCLA Access to Programs in the Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences

Address

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
23-120 CHS
650 Charles E. Young Drive
Box 951735
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1735

Phone

(310) 825-0390

Email

efitch@mednet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

The Molecular and Medical Pharmacology department admits only applicants whose objective is Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 28th

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants must have received a bachelor’s degree in a biological or physical science or in the premedical curriculum.

M.S.: The M.S. degree in Molecular and Medical Pharmacology is offered only under special circumstances; for example, to those who already have a doctoral degree in another field and who wish to obtain additional training in pharmacology, or to students who are already in the program and, for some reason, cannot continue for the Ph.D.

Ph.D.: Prerequisite courses include basic biology, basic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and laboratory. Courses in computer science, engineering, genetics, molecular biology, physical chemistry, and physics are encouraged. In suitable cases, students who have course deficiencies may be admitted to graduate status, but any deficiencies have to be removed within a specified time.

The Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology offers two M.D./Ph.D. Programs concurrently with the UCLA School of Medicine. One is the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) in which candidates are medical students that have been accepted into MSTP by the medical school in order to qualify. The second is the Specialty Training and Advanced Research (STAR) Program in which candidates are post-M.D. housestaff (interns, residents, or fellows) who have been accepted into the STAR Program by its selection committee in order to qualify.

Master’s Degree

Advising

A graduate adviser is assigned for new entering graduate students or students in their first or second year of study. Students must obtain approval from this adviser for enrollment in courses each quarter. The adviser also is available to discuss their overall academic program. By the beginning of the second year, students choose a faculty sponsor to serve as their main adviser for thesis research.

To obtain the M.S. degree, the student must formally request approval by the graduate training committee. If approved, a guidance committee, proposed by the student and approved by the graduate training committee, reviews the thesis. None of the research conducted for the M.S. thesis may be applied to a Ph.D. degree at a later time.

Areas of Study

Consult the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The M.S. degree requires satisfactory completion of the required courses as listed under Course Requirements for the Doctoral Degree, excluding three quarters of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 200.

Teaching Experience

Seminar presentations are required of all students in the graduate program. Students may participate as teaching assistants in undergraduate, medical, or graduate courses.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

None.

Thesis Plan

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

The M.S. degree requires satisfactory completion of a thesis.

Time-to-Degree

Consult the department.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

From the second year onward, students are required to submit an annual progress report that summarizes the progress made toward the dissertation research in the preceding 12 months. The report should not exceed two single-spaced pages and should include the following headings: title of project, original aims, summary of results, problems and obstacles that impeded progress, future plans, and abstracts and publications. A signature from the student’s mentor is required on the report. Failure to submit the progress report may result in suspension of the student’s stipend.

After advancement to candidacy and before the final oral examination, students are required to meet at least once annually with their doctoral committee. For this annual progress meeting, students are expected to give a presentation on their dissertation research. Students should be prepared to engage in a discussion with the committee members who will offer guidance on the progress and direction of the research project.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Cardiovascular pharmacology; chemical pharmacology; medical pharmacology; molecular imaging; molecular pharmacology; immuno-pharmacology; neuroendocrine pharmacology; neuropharmacology; psychopharmacology; nuclear medicine (positron emission tomography); pharmacokinetics; signal transduction; structural biology; toxicology; and virology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required: Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 200 (three quarters), 212A-212B, 237, 251 (must be taken every quarter), 291; Biological Chemistry CM253, CM267A-M267B.

Recommended Electives: Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 211A-211B, M241, M248, M255, 288; Molecular Biology 298; a course in biostatistics.

These requirements are waived for students who have passed equivalent courses with grades of B or better within the past 36 months. Students are required to maintain a grade-point average of 3.0 in all coursework and to achieve grades of B or better in all molecular and medical pharmacology courses. One grade of less than B in a required molecular and medical pharmacology course results in probationary status; the course must be repeated with a grade of B or better; two grades of less than B result in recommendation to the graduate dean for dismissal. A single grade below B in any of the other required courses results in probationary status as well. Any student with two grades less than B in any of the non-molecular and medical pharmacology courses is considered by the graduate training committee for dismissal. A total of three grades below B in any of the required courses results in recommendation to the graduate dean for dismissal.

All required coursework should be completed by the end of the sixth quarter.

The department provides a system of laboratory rotations (Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 200) in order to familiarize students with a variety of pharmacological research areas and techniques. During the first year in the department, students participate in projects of the laboratories of their choosing. Students also become familiar with the literature relevant to the various research projects and thus establish a basis for the selection of their own research areas.

Students must submit a report on their activities at the end of each quarter of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 200 to research advisers. The report should include the nature of the project, how the student participated, the results obtained, and a critical evaluation of the project. A copy of this report and an evaluation form by the research adviser are submitted to the graduate training committee. A report on the student and the final grade are also submitted to the committee by the research adviser.

For students entering through UCLA ACCESS, required courses include Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 237, 251 (each term after entering a pharmacology laboratory for dissertation research), Biological Chemistry CM253 and CM267; Molecular Biology 297. Recommended electives include Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 211A-211B, 212A-212B, 234A, M248, M255, 288; Biological Chemistry CM248; Molecular Biology 298; a course in biostatistics. Students may use Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 200 or courses in other departments for the three required laboratory research rotations.

Examinations are given in all courses except seminars and research. These are in the form of written examinations, oral examinations, term papers, and/or laboratory practicals.

Teaching Experience

Seminar presentations are required of all students in the graduate program. Students may participate as teaching assistants in undergraduate, medical, or graduate courses. Students entering through ACCESS are required to serve as teaching assistants for two quarters either in the Molecular and Medical Pharmacology Department or in other departments on campus.

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.

Within six months after completing all required courses, students are required to take and pass a written qualifying examination and the University Oral Qualifying Examination in order to advance to doctoral candidacy. The examinations are administered by the student’s doctoral committee, which must be appointed in advance by the Graduate Division. The examinations test for a rational, analytical approach to problem solving and for ability to integrate material learned in different courses. Students are required to know basic principles of pharmacology and the status of topics of current interest in pharmacology. Specifically, the written examination consists of submitting a written research proposal to the student’s doctoral committee, at least one week before the proposed date of the University Oral Qualifying Examination. The research proposal must be written according to the NIH grant application format, with a maximum length of 10 pages, excluding references. The University Oral Qualifying Examination consists of defending the proposal to the doctoral committee.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

(1) Students must select a major professor by the beginning of the second academic year.

(2) Students must take the written and oral qualifying examinations by the end of the second academic year.

(3) The time to final completion of the graduate program is expected to be 15 quarters.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student’s progress is evaluated on performance in coursework and on the qualifying examinations. Performance on the examinations is graded Pass, Fail and Deferral. Deferral means that a student is asked to repeat some part or all of the examination. If a student receives a Fail, the student may appeal the decision in writing to either the Graduate Training Committee or the departmental chair. The written appeal is reviewed by either the Graduate Training Committee or an ad hoc committee within the department.

Program Requirements for Mathematics

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Mathematics

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Mathematics offers the Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree and the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Mathematics.

Admission

Program Name

Mathematics

Address

6356 Math Sciences
Box 951555
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1555

Phone

(310) 825-4971

Email

gradapps@math.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A.T., M.A., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General and subject in Mathematics

Letters of Recommendation

3, from mathematicians or professionals in related fields who know the applicant’s recent work.

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit the departmental application and a statement of purpose.

Although prospective graduate students in mathematics need not have an undergraduate mathematics major, they must have completed at least 12 quarter courses (or eight semester courses) in substantial upper division mathematics, particularly advanced calculus, algebra, differential equations, and differential or projective geometry.

M.A.: Applicants must have earned a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.2 in the above-mentioned upper division mathematics courses.

M.A.T.: The Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program serves the needs of present and prospective mathematics teachers in high school and junior college. Applicants should consult the department for specific admission requirements.

Ph.D.: Applicants must present a grade-point average of at least 3.5 in upper division mathematics courses. Applicants who have already obtained a master’s degree must have maintained an average of better than 3.5 in graduate study. International applicants should have at least a comparable record in their mathematical education.

Exceptions to these requirements are granted only in cases where exceptional ability in quantitative science has been demonstrated.

Master’s Degree

Advising

Students typically spend two years in the master’s degree program. Therefore, upon matriculation each master’s degree student is assigned a faculty adviser to assist with the careful planning needed for an optimal educational experience. In consultation with the adviser, students are asked to formulate a tentative study plan for the first year. This plan is subject to change over the year as is appropriate or necessary. After matriculation the faculty adviser can be changed, with consent of the Graduate Vice Chair, to another member of the permanent departmental faculty who is willing to advise the student.

Study plan approval: At the beginning of each quarter, the study plan of courses the student is to take that quarter must be approved and signed by the faculty adviser. The approved study plan must then be submitted to the Graduate Office for the review and approval of the Graduate Vice Chair.

If at any point the Graduate Vice Chair determines that it is likely the student will need more than six quarters in residence following matriculation to complete the master’s degree requirements, from then on the student is required to meet with the Graduate Vice Chair at the beginning of each quarter for the review and approval of the study plan and for an evaluation of the student’s overall progress.

Areas of Study

All areas of study in which the department offers coursework at the beginning to middle graduate level are open to M.A. students. Although the primary focus of the M.A. program is mathematics, students may pursue a well-planned program with a substantial interdisciplinary component. For qualified students, a thesis plan provides an opportunity for supervised specialized study and research at a high level.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Eleven approved letter-graded courses are required; each must be passed with a grade of B- or better. At least eight of the 11 courses must be graduate courses in mathematics.

Course approval (separate from study plan approval, discussed under Advising): Any course used for degree credit must have a sufficient amount of advanced mathematical content and an appropriate evaluation plan, and must be approved by the department for degree credit. For most mathematics graduate and upper division courses having standard syllabi and evaluation plans, course approval is routine. For other courses, in particular those offered by other departments, course approval is given on a course-by-course basis after review of the syllabus and evaluation plan. In these cases, course approval must be obtained in writing from the Graduate Vice Chair at the start of the quarter in which the course is to be taken. Retroactive consideration of such a course by the Graduate Vice Chair would be made only in an exceptional circumstance.

There are many upper division and graduate courses in mathematics that students can take but for which degree credit is normally not approved. These courses include Mathematics 100 through 109, and Mathematics 285, 290A through 290M, and 296A through 290M. A maximum of four units of Mathematics 596 taken for a letter grade can be applied toward the M.A. degree requirements. Students who pursue the thesis plan may apply 16 units of Mathematics 596 taken for a letter grade toward the M.A. degree, eight units of which may be applied toward the graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Students must pass the departmental basic examination. The syllabus for this examination, available in the departmental graduate office and website, consists of a selection of advanced topics that are essential prerequisites for the field of graduate mathematics study at the University. The examination is offered several times a year and can be taken whenever offered provided the student is matriculated in the graduate program. Students who fail to take or fail to pass this examination upon matriculation are advised to devise a study plan that leaves time to prepare for it.

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 who demonstrate strong mathematical ability in coursework and who pass the basic examination by September of the second year, may petition the Graduate Vice Chair to do a master’s thesis. The thesis must be an in-depth scholarly study of a mathematical topic of current research, and ideally should include sufficient original work, done under the guidance of the thesis adviser, to form a significant contribution to a published paper. The petition must include a letter of commitment from a proposed thesis adviser, selected from permanent members of the departmental faculty, that outlines a program of classroom study for the remainder of the degree program and a description of the proposed research. Approval of the petition is not guaranteed, and this option may not be available in all specialties in which doctoral program supervision is offered in the department. The M.A. thesis plan represents a significant opportunity for intellectual development, and for demonstration of solid achievement and research potential to other universities and prospective employers.

Time-to-Degree

Students ordinarily are required to complete the requirements for the master’s degree within two years following matriculation. Students who wish to remain in the program longer than two years must obtain approval in advance each quarter. Permission to remain in the program longer than two years is not automatically approved and no student is permitted to continue coursework for longer than three years.

Satisfactory progress toward the master’s degree is defined as full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 units) with a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 or higher each quarter and completion of all coursework within two years. Students who fail to make satisfactory progress are subject to a recommendation for termination of graduate study to the Graduate Division.

Master’s degree students who have passed the basic examination at the Ph.D. level by September of the second year may petition during the second year to transfer to the Ph.D. program. Students must demonstrate the ability to do Ph.D. level preparatory coursework to be accepted into the Ph.D. program. Acceptance into the Ph.D. program is neither automatic nor guaranteed. Students normally are required to pass the Ph.D. area examinations in accord with the schedule for satisfactory progress in order to be accepted into the Ph.D. program.

Master of Arts in Teaching

Advising

The vice chair for graduate studies is the chief graduate adviser and heads a committee of faculty advisers whose fields of expertise span most of the major areas of mathematics. Students are required to meet with a faculty adviser who helps them plan a reasonable course of study.

The graduate vice chair is responsible for monitoring students’ progress toward their degree objective and approves student enrollment plans each quarter. Continuing students are normally asked to meet with the vice chair (or some other adviser) at least once each quarter and a record of this interview is placed in the student files. There are ample opportunities to meet with an adviser of the student’s choice throughout the academic year.

Areas of Study

Consult the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Eleven courses are required as follows:

Core Courses. Students must take Mathematics 201A-201B-201C and 202A-202B. Normally students also take one quarter of Mathematics 596 while fulfilling the essay requirement described below.

Credential Requirements. Students planning to teach in secondary schools who do not already have valid credentials for such teaching should enroll in the single subject instructional credential program in the Department of Education (Graduate School of Education and Information Studies). Of the courses required by this program, students receive M.A.T. credit only for the following courses: Education 312, 330A-330B, 406, 407. Actual receipt of the credential is not a degree requirement. Interested students should check with the Department of Education for a full and up-to-date description of credential requirements and should submit a Department of Education application for admission to the credential program.

Additional Courses. Besides the six core courses described above, a seventh upper division or graduate course in mathematics is required. Particularly recommended are Mathematics 106, 110B, 110C, 111, 131B, 134, and Statistics 100B. Candidates on the junior college track normally take five 100- or 200-level courses in mathematics in addition to the six core courses. However, with prior approval of the graduate vice chair, one course of a predominantly mathematical nature taken in another department may be presented for degree credit.

Students may not receive degree credit for Mathematics 370A, or 370B. In addition, students may not receive degree credit for more than two quarters of Mathematics 596 or for more than two quarters of any 300-series courses.

Essay Requirement. A master’s essay on some subject in mathematics related to the student’s prospective teaching is required. This essay is written by the student, under the direction of a faculty member, while enrolled in Mathematics 596.

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience is not a formal requirement for the M.A.T. degree; however, students who are working for a secondary credential must take the supervised teaching course. Students are eligible for teaching assistantships.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

In the M.A.T. program, one examination in mathematical subject matter, the departmental basic examination, is required, as is one examination in content and philosophy of secondary school mathematics. Ordinarily, these examinations are administered in conjunction with Mathematics 201A-201B-201C and 202A-202B. Reexamination after failure is allowed.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Students who are well-prepared should be able to complete the requirements for the M.A.T. degree in six quarters of full-time study.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Careful planning is needed for each stage of a doctoral student’s training. Therefore, upon matriculation each student is assigned a faculty adviser to assist with this planning. In consultation with the adviser, students are asked to formulate a tentative study plan for the first year. This plan is subject to change over the year as is appropriate or necessary. After matriculation the faculty adviser can be changed, with consent of the Graduate Vice Chair, to another member of the permanent departmental faculty who is willing to advise the student.

Study plan approval: Entering and continuing doctoral students who are not advanced to candidacy are required to meet with their adviser and obtain approval of their study plan at the beginning of each quarter. The approved study plan must then be submitted to the Graduate Office for the review and approval of the Graduate Vice Chair. The Graduate Vice Chair, who has final approval over study plans, is responsible for monitoring student progress toward completion of the doctoral degree requirements, and for ensuring that study plans are directed toward that goal.

If at any point the Graduate Vice Chair determines that the student is not making satisfactory progress, from then on the student is required to meet with the Graduate Vice Chair at the beginning of each quarter for the review and approval of the study plan and for an evaluation of the student’s overall progress. This requirement continues until the student is advanced to candidacy.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The Ph.D. degree in Mathematics may be earned under the pure or applied programs. Many possible choices of fields exist within these programs, and students are urged to read the booklet, Graduate Studies in Mathematics at UCLA, that describes the specialties of the faculty and the active research areas in the department in some detail.

Foreign Language Requirement

Prior to taking the oral qualifying examination for advancement to candidacy, students in the pure program must fulfill the foreign language requirement. Students must pass one written departmental language examination in either French, German, or Russian. These foreign language examinations, offered Fall and Spring quarters, require the translation of material in some basic field of mathematics. The examinations may be taken any number of times until passed.

Students in the applied program are not required to fulfill the foreign language requirement.

Course Requirements

Under the pure mathematics option, students must pass (with a grade of B or better) at least 12 courses from Mathematics 205A through 285N, but excluding the basic courses 210A-210B, 245A-245B, and 246A-246B. At most, three of these courses may be in the 285 series. Each student must actively participate (and lecture 90 minutes, normally two lectures) in at least two advanced seminars. Credit for one of the seminars must be obtained within three registered quarters after passing the written qualifying examinations, the other within five quarters after passing the written qualifying examinations.

Under the applied mathematics option, students must pass (with a grade of B or better) at least 18 approved graduate courses, including at least 12 courses from Mathematics 205A through 285N. At most, three of these courses may be in Mathematics 285A through 285 L.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Students must pass three written qualifying examinations:

The departmental basic examination. The syllabus for this examination, available in the departmental graduate office and website, consists of a selection of advanced topics that are essential prerequisites for the field of graduate mathematics study at the University. The examination is offered several times a year and can be taken whenever offered provided the student is matriculated in the graduate program. Doctoral students normally take the basic examination upon matriculation into the program. Students who fail to take or fail to pass this examination upon matriculation are advised to devise a study plan that leaves time to prepare for it.

The area examinations. Students are required to pass two area examinations chosen from the following six options: algebra, applied differential equations, computational mathematics, geometry/topology, logic, and real and complex analysis. One area examination must be passed by the sixth quarter of graduate study, and the second area examination must be passed by the seventh quarter of graduate study. Because preparation for an area examination can take a year or more, students should choose, as early as possible and in consultation with their adviser, the area examinations they plan to take.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination. After passing the basic examination and the two area examinations, the student may set up the doctoral committee which administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination for advancement to candidacy.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

Students are required to pass the written qualifying examinations for the Ph.D. degree within the deadlines indicated under Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations. Completion of all degree requirements (including the dissertation) normally takes 15 quarters of full-time study.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

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

Doctoral

A student who fails to meet a deadline for passing a written qualifying examination is subject to a recommendation for termination. The Graduate Vice Chair informs a student of such a recommendation and the student is provided the opportunity to submit a written appeal that may include letters of support from members of the faculty. The appeal is considered by the Graduate Studies Committee, which make the final departmental decision as to whether the student is allowed to remain in the program or is recommended for termination.

Program Requirements for Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology.

Admission

Program Name

Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology

Applicants may apply to the Ph.D. program through UCLA Access to Programs in the Molecular and Cellular Life Sciences.

Phone

310-206-3987

Email

mcdb@lifesci.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

Master’s Degree

Advising

See under Doctoral Degree.

Areas of Study

See under Doctoral Degree.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The program consists of at least nine courses in graduate standing, of which at least five must be graduate-level (200-series) courses. The remainder may be courses in the 100, 200, or 500 series. No more than two 596 courses (eight units) may be applied toward the nine courses required for the degree; only one 596 course (four units) may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement. Courses graded S/U may be not be applied toward the minimum requirement unless these courses are not offered for a grade. Specific course requirements are established for each student by the guidance committee.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The departmental written qualifying examination for the Ph.D. degree, or its equivalent as determined by the Graduate Adviser, serves as the comprehensive examination for the M.A. 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.

A thesis reporting the results of an original investigation, prepared in accord with University format requirements in UCLA Policies and Procedures for Thesis Dissertation and Filing, available on the Graduate Division website, is presented to and approved by the master’s thesis committee of three faculty members. Before beginning work on the thesis, students must obtain approval of the subject and general plan from the faculty members concerned and from the thesis committee.

Time-to-Degree

The department rarely awards the master’s degree except in instances where the student is unable to complete the requirements for the doctorate.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

First-year students are advised through the UCLA ACCESS Program and enter the program in the second year following the selection of a research adviser from the department. The departmental Graduate Adviser also is available to assist students with University and departmental requirements. All academic affairs for Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology graduate students are coordinated by the Graduate Adviser, who is assisted by the administrative staff of the Graduate Affairs Office.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Specific fields of emphasis in the department naturally reflect the research foci of the faculty. These include cell biology, molecular biology, genetics and developmental biology, in both plants and animals; and immunology, neurobiology, and molecular evolution.

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 Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology 296 and 596 or 599 each quarter. The majority of the didactic course requirements for molecular biology, cell biology, and research ethics are completed during the first year of study through the ACCESS Program. Students, in consultation with their dissertation adviser, may elect to take additional graduate courses or seminars in a particular area of specialization.

All graduate students in the department are required to complete the teaching assistant training courses, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology 495, either before or during their first quarter as a Teaching Assistant.

Teaching Experience

The department considers teaching experience to be an integral part of the graduate program. Students are expected to complete a minimum of two quarters as a teaching assistant in departmentally approved courses. In general, students serve as teaching assistants for one quarter in the second year and for one quarter in the third year. If students fail to follow this schedule and as a result fall behind in meeting this requirement, the Graduate Adviser may arbitrarily assign them to a course.

Advanced students, such as participants in the STAR or MSTP programs, may be exempted from the teaching requirement.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

The written and oral qualifying examinations should be completed and passed by the end of Fall Quarter of the third year of graduate study, second year in the department. The written qualifying examination must be passed before the University Oral Qualifying Examination can be taken. Students are advanced to candidacy upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Written qualifying examination. Students must formally constitute and meet with their doctoral committee. The purpose of the meeting is for the committee to evaluate the student’s understanding of the rationale and background for the proposed dissertation research and to provide feedback to the student on its feasibility and experimental strategy. Students prepare a written description of the scientific background of the dissertation research project, the specific aims of the project, preliminary findings, and an experimental plan for addressing the specific aims. This dissertation proposal has a maximum length of 10 pages, excluding references, and is submitted to the students’ doctoral committee in advance of the examination. The examination also consists of an oral presentation of the proposal by the student to the doctoral committee.

University Oral Qualifying Examination. This examination is chaired by the student’s adviser, conducted by the doctoral committee, and focuses on the discussion and defense of an original written research proposal, as well as on general biological questions. The topic of the original research proposal requires advance approval of the student’s doctoral committee, and may not be the anticipated dissertation research topic, or an active or anticipated research project in the laboratory of the student’s adviser. Exclusive of their doctoral committee members, students are free to consult with other individuals in formulating proposed research. The research proposal must be written according to the NIH grant application format, with a maximum length of 10 pages, excluding references. The student’s oral presentation and examination are expected to demonstrate: (1) a scholarly understanding of the background of the research proposal; (2) well-designed and testable aims; (3) a critical understanding of the technical applications to be employed in the proposed research; and (4) an understanding of potential experimental outcomes and their interpretation.

Midstream seminar. The midstream seminar is meant to occur halfway between the University Oral Qualifying Examination and the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation), but in no case later than the beginning of the fifth year of doctoral study. Students who are in the program longer than five years must meet with their committee once each year.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress from matriculation to conferral of the degree is five to six academic years (15 to 18 quarters).

Coursework, laboratory rotations, and choice of faculty adviser should be completed by the end of the first year in the ACCESS Program.

The written qualifying examination should be completed by June of the second year in graduate study (first year in the department).

The University Oral Qualifying Examination and advancement to candidacy should be completed no later than January 1 of the third year in graduate study (second year in the department). Failure to attain candidacy status at this time without a specific exception granted by the chair of the departmental Graduate Committee will be grounds for the recommendation of termination of the student’s graduate study.

The midstream seminar should be completed in the fourth year of study.

The dissertation and final oral examination (defense of the dissertation) should be completed during the fifth year of study, and no later than the sixth year of study.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination for unsatisfactory performance as determined by the advisory committee, failure to pass all areas of the departmental written qualifying examination, failure to pass the master’s comprehensive examination, failure to maintain a provisional or personal adviser (Ph.D. students) or failure to complete the master’s degree within six terms, or failure to complete the doctoral dissertation within eighteen terms of academic residence (see Time-to-Degree). A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the appropriate subgroup or the departmental chair.

Program Requirements for Materials Science and Engineering

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Materials Science and Engineering

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Materials Science and Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering is a program in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Address

420 Westwood Plaza
3111 Engineering V
Box 951595
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1595

Phone

(310) 825-8913

Email

mseadmis@seas.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Consult department.

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit the departmental supplement and a statement of purpose.

M.S.: Applicants to the M.S. program in Materials Science and Engineering are required to hold a bachelor’s degree in materials science, metallurgy, or ceramics. Applicants who have a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, physics, or other engineering disciplines may be admitted if an introductory materials course has been taken or remedial work comparable to an introductory course is performed.

Applicants not having adequate preparation may be admitted provisionally and may be required to undertake certain remedial coursework which cannot be applied toward the degree. On arrival at UCLA, an adviser helps the student plan a program which can remedy any such deficiencies.

Ph.D.: Applicants to the Ph.D. program normally should have completed the requirements for the master’s degree with at least a 3.25 grade-point average and have demonstrated creative ability. Normally the M.S. degree is required for admission to the Ph.D. program. Exceptional students, however, can be admitted to the Ph.D. program without having the M.S. degree.

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

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

Provisionally admitted students meet with the program adviser upon matriculation to plan a course of study to remove any deficiencies.

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

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

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

Areas of Study

There are three main areas in the M.S. program: ceramics and ceramic processing; electronic and optical materials; and structural materials. Students may specialize in any one of the three areas, although most students are more interested in a broader education and select a variety of courses. Basically, students select courses which serve their interests best in regard to thesis research and job prospects.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Thesis Plan. Nine courses are required, of which six must be graduate courses. These courses are to be selected from the following lists, although suitable substitutions can be made from other engineering disciplines or from chemistry and physics with the approval of the departmental graduate adviser. Two of the six graduate courses may be Materials Science and Engineering 598 (thesis research). The remaining three courses in the total course requirement may be upper division courses.

Comprehensive Examination Plan. Nine courses, six of which must be graduate courses, selected from the following lists with the same provisions listed under the thesis plan. Three of the nine courses may be upper division courses.

Ceramics and ceramic processing: Materials Science and Engineering 111, 121, 122, 143A, 151, 161, 162, 200, 201, 244, 246A, 246D, 298.

Electronic and optical materials: Materials Science and Engineering 111, 121, 122, 143A, 151, 161, 162, 200, 201, 221, 222, 223, 244, 298.

Structural materials: Materials Science and Engineering 111, 121, 122, 143A, 151, 161, 162, 200, 201, 243A, 243C, 244, 250A, 250B, 298.

As long as a majority of the courses taken are offered by the department, substitutions may be made with the consent of the departmental graduate adviser.

Undergraduate Courses. No lower division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees. In addition, the following upper division courses are not applicable toward graduate degrees: Chemical Engineering M102A, 102B, 199; Civil Engineering 106A, 108, 199; Computer Science M152A, M152B, 199; Electrical Engineering 100, 101, 102, 103, 199; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 120, 130, 131, 131L, 132, 140, 141L, 150, 160, 161L, 199; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 102, 103, 105A, 105D, 199.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Consult the graduate adviser for details. If the comprehensive examination is failed, the student may be reexamined once with the consent of the graduate adviser.

Thesis Plan

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

In addition to the course requirements, under this plan students are required to write a thesis on a research topic in material science and engineering supervised by the thesis adviser. An M.S. thesis committee reviews and approves the thesis.

Time-to-Degree

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

Provisionally admitted students meet with the program adviser upon matriculation to plan a course of study to remedy any deficiencies.

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Ceramics and ceramic processing; electronic and optical materials; structural materials.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

There is no formal course requirement for the Ph.D. degree, and one may substitute coursework by examinations. Normally, however, the student takes courses to acquire the knowledge needed for the written and oral preliminary examinations. The basic program of study for the Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering is built around one major field and one minor field. The major field has a scope corresponding to a body of knowledge contained in nine courses, at least six of which are graduate courses, plus the current literature in the area of specialization. The major fields named above are described in a Ph.D. major field syllabus, each of which can be obtained in the department office. The minor field normally embraces a body of knowledge equivalent to three courses, at least two of which are graduate courses. Grades of B- or better, with a grade-point average of at least 3.33 in all courses included in the minor field, are required. If the student fails to satisfy the minor field requirements through coursework, a minor field examination may be taken (once only). The minor field is chosen to support the major field and is usually a subset of the major field.

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

During the first year of full-time enrollment in the Ph.D. program, the student needs to take the oral preliminary examination, which encompasses the body of knowledge in materials science. After all the coursework is completed in the major and minor fields, the student takes a written preliminary examination in the major field. Students may not take an examination more than twice.

After passing both preliminary examinations, the student is ready to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. The nature and content of the examination are at the discretion of the doctoral committee but ordinarily include a broad inquiry into the student’s preparation for research. The doctoral committee also reviews the prospectus of the dissertation at the oral qualifying examination.

A doctoral committee consists of a minimum of four members. Three members, including the chair, are inside members and must hold appointments at UCLA in the student’s major department in the School. The outside member must be a UCLA faculty member outside the student’s major department.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

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

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

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

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

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

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

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

(5) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

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

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the major field written examination.

(3) Failure of the oral preliminary examination.

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

(5) Failure of the oral qualifying examination.

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

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

(8) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.

Program Requirements for Political Science

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2012-2013 academic year.

Political Science

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Political Science

Address

4289 Bunche Hall
Box 951472
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1472

Phone

(310) 825-3372

Email

joseph@polisci.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

The department admits only students whose degree objective is the Ph.D. degree.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 1st

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a statement of purpose and a sample of their analytical writing skills (e.g., senior or master’s degree thesis, term paper).

An M.A. degree may be earned while completing requirements for the Ph.D.

Master’s Degree

Advising

Students are assigned an academic adviser when they enter the graduate program, and are expected to regularly consult with the adviser. Students may change advisers whenever they wish by obtaining the signature of the faculty member who has agreed to become their new adviser and notifying the graduate counselor of the change.

Areas of Study

Consult the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A student must successfully complete twelve of the sixteen courses required for the doctorate with an average grade of 3.0 or better.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The master’s comprehensive examination consists of the submission of one doctoral qualifying paper that is deemed acceptable by the faculty.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Under normal circumstances students are expected to obtain the master’s degree within seven quarters of full time study.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Six fields of study are offered: political theory; international relations; American politics; comparative politics; formal theory and quantitative methods, and race, ethnicity, and politics.

Foreign Language Requirement

Prior to advancement to candidacy students must fulfill either Requirement A (Foreign Language Requirement) or Requirement B (Research Methodology Requirement):

(A) Foreign Language Requirement: Students may satisfy the requirement by completing, with a grade of B or better, the final course in a two-year sequence of college courses in a foreign language, or by passing a proficiency test offered by a university language department at an equivalent level.

(B) Research Methodology Requirement (Mathematics, Mathematical Economics, or Statistics): Students may satisfy the requirement by completing a sequence of three courses in mathematics, or mathematical economics at or above Mathematics 31A (Mathematics 38A-38B cannot be counted), or by completing a sequence of three courses in statistics at or above the level of Political Science 200B. Courses applied toward this requirement may not be applied toward any other course requirements.

Students are required to pass the foreign language or research methodology requirement before they are advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D., but may pass the requirement after the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Course Requirements

Students must take Political Science 200A, four courses in each of two major fields, one course in each of two minor fields, and four additional graded courses, including no more than two independent study courses. Fields determine which courses meet major and minor field requirements.

Of these 16 required courses, students must take at least seven during their first year of graduate study and 12 by the end of their second year.

With the approval of the graduate adviser (and the Graduate Division for the master’s degree requirements), graduate courses in political science taken elsewhere may be applied toward departmental course requirements. The maximum number of such courses is six if students come to UCLA with a master’s degree in political science and choose to forego another master’s degree from UCLA. In all other cases, the maximum is four for courses taken at another UC campus and two for courses taken outside the UC system.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Research Paper Requirement. Students must submit two research papers in order to qualify for advancement to candidacy. These papers may also have been used to meet course requirements. Each paper is assigned to two or more faculty graders by the Graduate Studies Committee. Papers are graded qualified, not qualified, or qualified with distinction. If a paper is graded not qualified, students may submit a revised version or another paper, once only. If a resubmitted research paper is graded not qualified, the student is evaluated for termination of graduate study by a committee of at least five members drawn mostly from the student’s primary field.

The first qualifying paper is due by the beginning of the second week of the sixth quarter in the graduate program. The second paper is due by the beginning of the second week of the eighth quarter. If the first paper is graded not qualified on initial submission, the resubmission is due by the second week of the seventh quarter. If the second paper is graded not qualified on initial submission, it must be resubmitted by the beginning of the eight week of the ninth quarter. For the Ph.D. degree, students must receive at least a qualified grade on both papers.

Papers are evaluated for knowledge of subject, originality of ideas, and craftsmanship of research. They are also evaluated for conciseness; good papers may vary in length but are not expected to exceed 40 pages, including notes, figures, and tables. Papers need not be publishable, but in their structure and format and in their coverage of topics and tasks are expected to resemble papers published in peer-reviewed journals of their fields. The faculty members evaluating the papers assume that students have not devoted all their research time to two papers but have selected for submission, or for revision and submission, the best two from a portfolio of several seminar papers.

Students may take the University Oral Qualifying Examination after they have completed their course and paper requirements and written a dissertation proposal accepted by their research adviser. Students must take this examination no later than their twelfth quarter of graduate study, and the examination committee must have the proposal at least two weeks before the examination. The examination committee judges the feasibility and worth of the project and the student’s ability to undertake it. The committee also may recommend changes in the research design.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

Time to degree for the Ph.D. degree is 18 quarters.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for termination of graduate study. A graduate student may be disqualified from continuing in the graduate program for a variety of reasons. The most common is failure to maintain the minimum cumulative grade point average (3.0) 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 3.0) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Upon releasing grades of papers, the faculty graders provide students with a written assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the papers. A student may appeal a not qualified grade on a research paper submission. Substantive appeals go to the original graders and one or more additional readers. Their decision either reaffirms the original grade or changes the grade. The Graduate Studies Committee only considers appeals that are based on procedural or other concerns and not those based on academic quality. All appeals must be filed no later than two weeks after the grade was received.

Students who receive one or more not qualified grades on resubmitted research papers, whose grade-point average falls below 3.4 for more than two quarters, who postpone submission of research papers for more than two quarters, who fail to complete 12 graded courses by the beginning of the seventh quarter, or who fail to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the end of the eighteenth quarter may be recommended for termination of graduate study. Recommendation for termination evaluations are made by a field evaluation committee of at least five members and are based on the student’s entire record in the graduate program. Final decisions to recommend termination are made by the Graduate Studies Committee after reviewing the field committee’s recommendation.

Students are notified in advance by the departmental graduate adviser if they are to be evaluated for a possible recommendation for termination, or if they are recommended for termination. Students may submit a written appeal and any other materials they wish to include as part of the file that is to be evaluated by the field evaluation committee or by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Program Requirements for Environmental Health Sciences

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Environmental Health Sciences

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Environmental Health Sciences

Address

56-070 CHS
Box 951772
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772

Phone

(310) 206-1619

Email

rgreenberg@ph.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Consult department.

Deadline to apply

December 1st

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit the departmental application through the Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS].

M.S.: Bachelor’s (or master’s) degree in chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, or other appropriate field. Preparation should include at least one year of each of the following: chemistry (including organic or biochemistry), physics, biology, and mathematics through calculus. Substitutions for these requirements are considered for applicants with an otherwise superior academic background.

Ph.D.: Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, or other appropriate field. Preparation should include at least one year of chemistry (including organic chemistry or biochemistry), physics, biology, and mathematics through calculus; a master’s degree in a related field with a grade-point average of at least 3.5 for graduate studies;

Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a score of at least 580 (paper and pencil test) or 237 (computer-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an overall band score of 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

A doctoral (research) adviser in the department, subsequent to filing the application for admission, must accept the applicant.

Master’s Degree

Advising

A faculty academic adviser is appointed for each new master’s student by the department chair. The student and adviser together agree upon a study list for each academic quarter and any subsequent alterations must be approved by the student’s adviser. Students are expected to meet with their adviser each quarter.

The faculty adviser is responsible for monitoring the student’s academic progress. Progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis. At the end of each quarter, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs reviews academic listings of students and notifies them and the advisers when the cumulative grade-point average is below 3.0. Advisers review each case with their advisees and make recommendations to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for continuance or dismissal. Students who wish to change advisers must file a petition which must be approved by the new adviser, the department chair, and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Areas of Study

Students may concentrate in one of the following areas of specialization: air quality; environmental biology; environmental chemistry; environmental health practice and policy; industrial hygiene; toxicology; or water quality. The M.S. program in Industrial Hygiene is fully accredited by the Related Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET/RAC).

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must complete at least one year of graduate residence at the University of California and a minimum of 10 full courses, at least five of which must be graduate courses in the 200 or 500 series. Only one 596 course (four units) and one 598 course (four units) may be applied toward the total course requirement; only four units of either course may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement. Environmental Health Sciences 597 may not be applied toward the degree requirements.

Mandatory core courses include Biostatistics 100A, 100B, Epidemiology 100, Environmental Health Sciences C200A-C200B, 201, C240, 410A, M411 (taken once a year for two years), and either 596 (for comprehensive examination/report plan) or 598 (for thesis plan). In addition, at least 18 units of elective courses are required and should be selected in consultation with the graduate adviser. Departmental required course may be waived if the student either has taken a similar university-level course elsewhere and/or passes a waiver examination.

Only courses in which a grade of C- or better is received may be applied toward the requirements for a master’s degree. Students must maintain an average of no less than 3.0 (B) in all courses required or elected during graduate residence at the University of California.

In addition to the above course requirements, students must complete a report and a comprehensive examination (Plan II) or a thesis (Plan I).

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

If the student selects the comprehensive examination/report option (Plan II), the candidate must pass a comprehensive examination on the major area of study. This examination is prepared by a committee of at least three faculty members. If the examination is failed, the student may be reexamined once. In addition, the student must complete a research activity (Environmental Health Sciences 596) of at least eight units and prepare an in-depth written report on this activity. For the report, the student also has the option of submitting an externally peer-reviewed publication (e.g. journal article, book chapter) that was completed while a student. Either report option must be approved by the adviser and one other faculty member.

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.

If the student selects the thesis option (Plan I), a thesis committee of three faculty members is established. The committee approves the thesis prospectus before the student files for advancement to candidacy. An externally peer-reviewed publication (e.g. journal article or book chapter) completed while a student, may be submitted as the thesis, with appropriate format modification.

Time-to-Degree

Normative time-to-degree from initial enrollment to graduation is six to seven quarters.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

An academic adviser is assigned to each new student by the head of the department. Student and adviser together agree upon a study list for each academic quarter within the parameters set forth below; any subsequent alterations must be approved both by the adviser and the department chair. During the first year students must set up a two-member guidance committee that includes the academic adviser. One of these members may be from outside the department. Students also must file Doctoral Form 1.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students may focus on such areas of specialization as: air quality; environmental biology; environmental chemistry; environmental management/policy; industrial hygiene; risk assessment; toxicology; or water quality. Students are encouraged to do interdisciplinary research.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students select a course of study upon consultation with their guidance committee. The following courses are required: either Environmental Health Sciences 100 or C200A-C200B; Environmental Health Sciences M411 (required once a year for the first two years); Environmental Health Sciences/Environmental Science and Engineering 410A (Fall Quarter of the second year); one full course (four units or more) at the 100 or 200 level in epidemiology; and the appropriate Environmental Health Sciences 296 course for each quarter in residence. Also, proficiency in biostatistics/statistics is required. Each specific, required, letter-graded course may be waived if the student successfully completed an equivalent course with a grade of B or better.

For students who do not have a degree in the field of public health, the following additional courses are recommended: two full courses in biostatistics/statistics.

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience is recommended but not required for the doctoral degree.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Before advancement to candidacy, students must complete the courses required for the doctoral degree (see Course Requirements). Students must also pass a written examination in the area of specialization and the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Normally no more than one reexamination is allowed. A doctoral committee, consisting of at least four faculty members who hold professorial appointments at UCLA, is nominated when the student is ready to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Students should review the current regulations governing doctoral committee membership in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

After passing the University Oral Qualifying Examination, the student may be advanced to candidacy and commence work on a dissertation in the principal field of study. The doctoral committee supervises the student’s progress toward completion of the dissertation.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Normative time from initial enrollment to advancement to candidacy is six to nine quarters (two to three calendar years), and from advancement to candidacy to filing of dissertation is six to nine quarters (two to three calendar years).

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination for failure to complete the required course work within seven quarters of matriculation.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination for: failure to maintain a 3.00 grade point average for two consecutive quarters following matriculation into the doctoral program; a second failure in the written qualifying examination; a second failure of either oral examination; or exceeding enrollment time limits.

A student may appeal a recommendation for termination first to the departmental chair, then to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, then to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and finally to the dean of the school.

Program Requirements for Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials

Admission

Program Name

Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials

Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials is an interdepartmental program. Interdepartmental programs provide an integrated curriculum of several disciplines.

Address

A210 Fowler Museum
Box 951510
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1510

Phone

(310) 825-9407

Email

acordts@ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 15th (for odd-numbered academic years only)

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit: A portfolio (not to exceed an 8 1/2 x 11 inch format), statement of purpose, and writing sample.

Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in one modern foreign language, have completed a minimum of 200 — 400 hours of documented practical experience in conservation, one academic year of study in one of the following areas: Archaeology, Cultural Anthropology, or Ethnography, and one academic year of study in each of the following areas: Art History (studies in archaeological or ethnographic materials and/or traditions preferred), General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and one other science (e.g., Physical Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Physics, etc.).

Applicants who majored in archaeology, anthropology, art history, cultural history, the sciences, or fields related to the study of past societies are preferred.

Those applicants who reach the final stages of evaluation will be interviewed in person as part of the evaluation process.

Master’s Degree

Advising

The director of the program serves as the graduate adviser. Each student selects a faculty adviser who agrees to serve as the student’s committee chair and principal adviser. Student progress toward the degree is discussed each academic quarter by members of the Faculty Advisory Committee.

Areas of Study

Students should consult the program.

Foreign Language Requirement

Demonstration of proficiency in at least one modern foreign language is required. There are two options for fulfilling this requirement: (1) complete the third quarter in an introductory, regular sequence of the selected language at UCLA (or an equivalent course) with a grade of A or A-; (2) take a reading examination administered by the program; or (3) take a UCLA Foreign Language Department Placement Test to demonstrate equivalency to completion of the third quarter of instruction in a foreign language.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 84 units of graduate coursework taken for a letter grade are required, to be distributed as follows: 16 core courses; three elective courses; and eight units of Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials 598. One of the three electives must be a course in a related department, such as Anthropology, World Arts and Cultures, Materials Science and Engineering, Atmospheric Sciences, etc. The remaining two elective courses may be chosen from a related department or a research project completed through enrollment in a 500-series course.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Eleven months of internship work are required: one 10-week summer internship between the first and second years of study, and one nine-month internship following the second year of study. To expose the student to both field and institutional environments, it is preferred but not required that one internship be associated with a field project and the other be within a museum. The field project may include work on an archaeological excavation within an ethnology field project, work at an indigenous cultural center, or at other similar venues. The collections project may include work at a museum or other collecting institution, or at a regional laboratory where collections are curated and conserved. All intern placement must be pre-approved by the program and will be developed in collaboration between the student and faculty.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

None.

Thesis Plan

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

Each student organizes a research project in consultation with an appropriate adviser no later than the end of their first year. The research project includes some or all of the following aspects of conservation research and practice: examination of archaeological and/or ethnographic artifacts, assessment of the cultural context, analysis, experimentation with treatment or analysis techniques, and conservation treatment. The project likewise stresses the establishment of a research methodology that guides the development of the project. The results are presented in a paper of 30-50 pages to a three-member master’s thesis committee for evaluation. In light of the number of courses required for the degree program, students should carefully consider the subject and scope of their proposed thesis in terms of the feasibility to complete it within the time-to-degree guidelines for the program.

Time-to-Degree

The M.A. degree is to be completed within three years.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

In addition to the reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for failure to fulfill the foreign language requirement or an unsatisfactory master’s thesis. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination through a request for a hearing before the Executive Committee.

Program Requirements for Slavic Languages and Literatures

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2010-2011 academic year.

Slavic Languages and Literatures

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Slavic Languages and Literatures.

Admission

Program Name

Slavic Languages and Literatures

Address

322 Humanities Building
Box 951502
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1502

Phone

(310) 825-3856

Email

slavic@humnet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

January 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

International applicants to the MA: The GRE is not an obligation for foreign students whose native language is not English, unless they have a bachelor’s degree from a university where the instruction is in English

Letters of Recommendation

3, from persons capable of judging the applicant’s academic potential

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a statement of purpose and a writing sample in the field the applicant wishes to pursue.

M.A.: Applicants to the master’s. program in Slavic Languages and Literatures are required to hold the equivalent of a UCLA bachelor’s degree in Russian Language and Literature, Slavic Languages and Literatures, or Russian Studies, or to have completed three years of Russian language and a variety of courses in Russian history, literature, and linguistics.

PhD: Applicants who do not have an M.A. in Slavic Languages and Literatures from UCLA must provide three letters of recommendation from persons capable of judging their academic potential and submit a statement of purpose and a writing sample in the field they wish to pursue.

Master’s Degree

Advising

The department chair, in conjunction with the Russian language coordinator and the student affairs officer, serves as graduate adviser for first-year students. After the first year, students choose their adviser from among the ladder faculty.

Students must meet with the graduate adviser at the beginning of each quarter for consultation about their programs and progress toward the degree. Students who wish to enroll in Slavic 596 and 597 must obtain prior permission from the instructor with whom they plan to work before the graduate adviser can include the course on the study list. Only after the graduate adviser and the student agree on a program of study for the quarter may the student enroll through URSA. Petitions to alter the study list (drop, add, or change credit detail) after it has been formulated must be approved by the graduate adviser before the student makes any change through URSA.

All graduate students in the department receive a written evaluation of their progress each year.

Areas of Study

Candidates for the M.A. degree choose a specialization in either literature or linguistics, with Russian as the principal language and literature.

Foreign Language Requirement

Demonstrated proficiency in two foreign languages is required for the M.A. degree: (1) Students must pass a departmental Russian language proficiency examination which tests ability to translate from Russian to English and vice versa. This examination may be retaken each quarter until a pass grade is achieved, within the time limits for completion of the M.A. degree, and must be passed before the M.A. comprehensive examination; (2) Students must demonstrate an ability to read scholarly literature in either French or German by one of the following methods: (a) passing the departmental reading examination, or (b) completing course 5 at UCLA in one of the languages with a grade of B or better (equivalent university-level coursework in French or German taken within two years of admission may satisfy this requirement at the discretion of the graduate adviser). Either the French or the German requirement should be satisfied no later than the sixth quarter. The Russian, French, and German examinations are offered at the beginning of each quarter.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 40 units of coursework is required for the degree.

Slavic 201 is required of all M.A. students.

Literature students must also take Slavic 200A, Russian 211A-211B, 212A-212B, 213A-213B, 220A and an additional four units of 200-level coursework in Russian language and literature.

Linguistics students must also take Slavic 200B and 202, Russian 204, 220A-220B, and Linguistics 200A-200B-200C.

Students may be required to take one or more courses from Russian 201A-201B-201C if it is determined that their level of competence in Russian requires remedial work in order to handle other courses in the program.

Courses in the 500 series may not be applied toward the M.A. course requirements.

Students with M.A. degrees from other institutions must pass the M.A. comprehensive examination in order to be admitted to the doctoral program. Students whose degree is in Slavic Languages and Literatures and who are continuing in the same area of specialization (literature or linguistics) should take the examination within three quarters following matriculation. Courses should be selected to fill in lacunae as determined by the requirements of the M.A. program of this department. All lacunae must be filled before admission to the doctoral examinations.

Students with M.A. degrees in disciplines other than that of their planned specialization, or students who do not have a M.A. degree but who have taken graduate-level courses equivalent to those required at UCLA for a M.A. degree, must complete the required number of course units. Course substitutions may be made with the permission of the graduate adviser. Independent study courses (500-level) may not be used as substitutes.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Applications for advancement to candidacy must be made no later than the second week of the quarter in which the M.A. examinations are to be taken and are accepted only if students have passed the Russian Language Proficiency Examination. M.A. examinations are offered at the end of each quarter. After students have declared their intention to take the examination in a given quarter, a committee consisting of three members is appointed by the chair. The examination has two parts — written (three hours) and oral (two hours) — and is based on coursework and the departmental reading list. The oral part may be conducted partly in Russian.

The student’s combined performance in the written and oral examinations is graded high pass, pass, or fail. A grade of high pass or pass is necessary to receive the M.A. degree; the grade of high pass is necessary to enter the Ph.D. program. Examinations may be repeated once; there is a six-month limit on retaking examinations graded pass and a one-year limit on examinations graded fail.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

For students who are admitted to the graduate program with a B.A. degree, the time from graduate admission to conferral of the degree should not exceed six quarters.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students continue to the Ph.D. program after (1) passing the department’s M.A. examination with a grade of high pass; (2) demonstrating a reading knowledge of both French and German; and (3) demonstrating proficiency in modern Slavic languages other than Russian as follows: applicants to the literature area must complete one year of the language of their second Slavic literature; applicants to the linguistics area must acquire competence in a Slavic language other than Russian equivalent to two years of study of that language, or competence in two non-Russian Slavic languages equivalent to a one-year competence in both. The requirement may be fulfilled by taking these courses in the department or by demonstrating proficiency acquired extramurally. A non-Slavic language may, with the approval of the student’s faculty adviser, be substituted for one year of this requirement if it is germane to the area of the student’s specialization (for example, Lithuanian in the case of students with a Balto-Slavic specialization).

Following completion of the above requirements and obtaining permission to begin doctoral study, students choose their adviser from among the ladder faculty.

Students must meet with the graduate adviser at the beginning of each quarter for consultation about their programs and progress toward the degree. Students who wish to enroll in Slavic 596 and 597 must obtain prior permission from the instructor with whom they plan to work before the graduate adviser can include the course on the study list. Only after the graduate adviser and the student agree on a program of study for the quarter, may the student enroll through URSA. Petitions to alter the study list (drop, add, or change credit detail) after it has been formulated must be approved by the graduate adviser before the student makes any change through URSA.

All the department’s graduate students receive a written evaluation of their progress each year.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Doctoral students choose a specialization in either literature or linguistics, with Russian usually as the principal language and literature. By special arrangement doctoral students may specialize in a language or literature other than Russian. Students in linguistics are expected to select dissertation topics within the following broad areas of specialization: (1) history of the Russian language; (2) Baltic and Slavic linguistics: comparison and reconstruction; (3) metrics and verse theory; 4) area and typological aspects of Slavic language history and development.

Students may create an optional sub-specialty at the Ph.D. level that consists of at least four courses approved by the graduate adviser. The courses come from graduate offerings in one or more departments or programs. These include the following departments or programs: Anthropology; Applied Linguistics; Art History, Classics, Comparative Literature, English, Film, History, Indo-European Studies, language and literature departments (French, Germanic Languages, etc.), Linguistics, Music, Philosophy, Psychology, Theater, and Women’s Studies. The courses also may come from graduate offerings within this department (students in linguistics choose from courses in literature and students in literature choose from courses in linguistics).

Foreign Language Requirement

Proficiency in both French and German is required for the Ph.D. degree. Proficiency in one of the languages is satisfied by the method of fulfillment selected and approved prior to the award of the M.A. degree. Proficiency in the second language is demonstrated by the inclusion of text in that language on the bibliographies prepared for the Ph.D. examinations. Familiarity with said texts must be attested to by the faculty member designated as chair of the doctoral committee. Proof that the student has satisfied the language requirement must be submitted in the form of a departmental language examination report to the Graduate Division concurrent with the nomination of the doctoral committee.

With departmental consent, students specializing in linguistics may substitute a reading knowledge in another language important to the study of Slavic linguistics (Finnish, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Latvian, Romanian, or a Turkic language relevant to East or South Slavic historical linguistics). A reading knowledge of two such languages may, by the same procedure, be substituted for the French or (more rarely) German requirement.

Course Requirements

Before the formation of a doctoral committee, students must be officially admitted to the doctoral program and have taken the following required courses:

Students whose specialization is linguistics must take one 200-level literature course in the department and four additional 200-level courses as approved by the student’s adviser. These four courses may include offerings in other departments and programs, e.g., the Department of Linguistics, the Indo-European Studies Program, or other language departments such as Germanic Languages or Near Eastern Languages and Literatures.

Students whose specialization is literature must take two courses from Slavic 230A-230B-230C, Russian 204, Russian 214, and three advanced literature courses or seminars. Students are also advised to acquire a sound general knowledge of modern Western European literature.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not a formal requirement for the degree, students are expected to serve as a teaching assistant during their graduate study.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All students are expected to have a sound general knowledge of both Slavic philology and Russian literary history.

Written Examinations

Students in linguistics take two three-hour written examinations. In the first examination students are examined in the general area of the proposed dissertation research. In the second examination students are examined in comparative Slavic linguistics, the history of Russian, and the history and structure of a second Slavic language.

Students in literature must take a series of four written examinations on Russian literature, one on a Slavic literature other than Russian, one on a school of literary theory, and one on the prospective dissertation topic. Students make up an appropriate reading list for each with members of their doctoral committee. Each of four periods of Russian literature — early literature, the 18th century, the 19th century, and the 20th century — must be represented by a field. The examination in a Slavic literature other than Russian tests students’ knowledge of the history of the literature and familiarity with representative works. Each examination is one hour in length; the seven examinations are taken over the course of a single week.

Oral Examination

Students who receive a grade of pass on the written examinations are admitted to a two-hour University Oral Qualifying Examination, which is designed to test the fields of major interest and general background, and which typically includes discussion of the dissertation topic.

After considering students’ overall performance in both the oral and written examinations, the committee assigns a cumulative grade. A pass grade entitles students to write a dissertation. At the committee’s discretion, students may be required to retake any or all portions of the Ph.D. examinations within one calendar year after the first attempt.

Within one quarter after passing the qualifying examinations, students must submit a prospectus and commence writing the dissertation.

Formal Lecture.

Students are required to deliver a formal lecture in the California Slavic Colloquium no later than two calendar years after advancement to candidacy.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree upon successful completion of the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

Normative progress toward completion of the degree program is defined as follows: six academic quarters from matriculation in graduate study to the award of the M.A. degree; six academic quarters from the award of the M.A. degree to advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree; and six academic quarters from advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree to completion of the dissertation and award of the Ph.D. degree. For teaching and research assistants, the program may take slightly longer.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination for failure to pass the master’s comprehensive examination with a high pass. A recommendation for termination based on any reason other than this, failure of a Ph.D. qualifying examination or low grade point average, must be recommended by the departmental Admissions and Support Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the departmental chair.

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