Program Requirements | UCLA Graduate Programs

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Aerospace Engineering

Admission

Program Name

Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace Engineering is a major offered by the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Address

48-121 Engineering IV
Box 951597
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1597

Phone

(310) 825-7793

Email

maeapp@ea.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Consult department regarding other quarters.

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

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

Ph.D.: In addition to the requirements listed above, applicants are expected to have completed 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.

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

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

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

Areas of Study

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Breadth Requirements. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following four categories: (1) Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 154A or 154B or 154S; (2) 150B or 150P; (3) 155 or 166A or 169A; (4) 161A or 171A.

Graduate-Level Requirement. Students are required to take at least one course from the following: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 250D, 253B, 254A, 255B, 256F, 263B, 269D, or 271B. The remaining courses can be taken to gain depth in one or more of the several specialty areas covering the existing major fields in the department.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

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

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

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

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.

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

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

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

(1) the field is interdisciplinary in nature;

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

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

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

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

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

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 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 satisfy the breadth and graduate-level requirements.

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

Doctoral

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Theater

School of Theater, Film, and Television

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Theater offers the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees in Theater, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Theater and Performance Studies.

Theater and Performance Studies

Doctoral Degree

Admission

Program Name

Theater and Performance Studies

Address

103 East Melnitz
Box 951622
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622

Phone

(310) 206-8441

Email

theatergrad@tft.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall, Winter, Spring

Deadline to apply

December 10th

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

Ph.D.: Departmental application; statement of purpose indicating areas of interest appropriate to the doctoral degree; a thesis or other writing samples; evidence of potential as a practicing scholar as indicated by breadth and depth of advanced coursework in history, theory, criticism; as well as the imagination and quality of scholarly writing and academic achievements; and awards, scholarships, and fellowships. In addition, candidates should demonstrate awareness and experience in one of the major fields of theater. Applicants may be admitted with an MFA, MA, or BA degree.

Applicants are advised that all records submitted in support of an application, including creative work (original or otherwise), are not returnable nor is the department responsible for such material.

Advising

In most instances, the chair of the appropriate graduate committee acts as principal adviser to students in the program, although some students may be assigned by the chair to other members of the faculty. Each program has a specific procedure and calendar for assignment of each student’s committee. Students should consult the adviser for this information.

Students meet with their adviser for program planning prior to the beginning of each quarter and again early in each quarter for formal approval of the study list. Students are urged to confer with their adviser as frequently as necessary to discuss program changes, petitions, and other concerns.

Assessment of student academic progress in the program is made by the appropriate committee during the final examination week of each quarter. The adviser then notifies students of problems, when warranted, in writing and assists in planning a solution. Normally, committee recommendations are referred directly to the chair of the department, though in some instances, special problems may be referred to the faculty for recommendation of action to the chair.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The Ph.D. student in theater is expected to be knowledgeable regarding theater history and theory, critical methods, theatrical production, and dramatic literature.

Foreign Language Requirement

Mastery of one foreign language approved by the Ph.D. Committee is required and must be demonstrated by one of the following methods: (1) completion of a level 5 course or the equivalent with a minimum grade of C, in any foreign language, (2) passing a UCLA language examination given by a faculty member in any foreign language department, or (3) passing a departmental language examination given by a member of the department’s Graduate Foreign Language Committee. The foreign language requirement may be completed after admission to the Ph.D. program; however, students are encouraged to complete five quarters or three semesters of a foreign language appropriate to Ph.D. research objectives prior to admission. Language courses taken toward fulfillment of the language requirement are not counted toward the degree.

Course Requirements

During the first six quarters (two academic years), students must complete a minimum of 12 graduate courses (200- or 500- level) and Theater 220. Theater 216A, 216B, 216C are required. The remaining nine courses are elective graduate courses, seminars, or tutorials. Of these electives, no more than four may be taken outside the department and no more than two may be tutorials. In addition, the distribution of electives must include at least one each in the areas of Western or non-Western theater study. These electives must augment the required courses so as to constitute a definable area of study associated with the dissertation topic. The dissertation is a historical, critical, analytical, or experimental study of a theater topic. A screening examination is administered during the first week of the Fall Quarter based on a reading list supplied at the time of application. Results of this examination may require the completion of background courses.

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience is encouraged but not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

After completion of language and course requirements, students are required to pass a written qualifying examination scheduled for three days followed by one oral examination. Students first constitute an examination committee, which may also serve as the doctoral committee, including the potential dissertation adviser. Students submit a short description of the dissertation project to the Critical Studies Committee for review. Subsequent to this submission, students, in consultation with the Committee and the potential adviser, constitute the proposed Ph.D. examination committee, consisting of a minimum of four professors, of whom at least three must be from the department and at least one must be from another department whose research is relevant to the dissertation topic.

The written examinations concentrate on three subject areas that will inform the dissertation and constitute the main foci of the student’s specialization. These areas may be chosen from: a field of critical theory; a historical period; the performance of a genre, or of social or cultural traditions of a given geographical region. The student, together with the examination committee, prepares a bibliography in each of the three fields, covering the leading concepts, methodologies and examples seminal to the field. Along with the bibliographies, the student also composes a dissertation prospectus of approximately 25-30 pages. The prospectus argues for the topic of the dissertation and for the pertinence of the three fields to the area of the dissertation, and concludes in a brief description of the proposed chapters. Both the prospectus and the bibliographies must be approved by the examination committee at least one quarter prior to scheduling the examinations. The examination questions are derived from these materials.

Each segment of the written examination is dedicated to one of the fields. The written examination is a take-home examination. The writing period for the examination will not exceed one week. The page limit of the examination will not exceed thirty pages. The completed examinations will be distributed to the committee.

Students who pass the written examinations submit a departmentally-approved nomination of doctoral committee to the Graduate Division for approval. Upon approval, the University Oral Qualifying Examination is scheduled. This examination focuses on the materials in the prospectus, including further discussion of the three scholarly fields identified as pertinent to the student.

If the student fails the doctoral examinations, there is one opportunity to retake them.

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

The maximum time for completion of degree requirements is 18 quarters, with the following timelines:

From graduate admission to the written and oral qualifying examination: six quarters.

From graduate admission to the approval of the dissertation prospectus: three to six quarters.

From approval of the dissertation prospectus to the oral qualifying examination: one quarter.

From advancement to candidacy to the final oral examination: three quarters.

From graduate admission to the award of the degree: 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 (3.00) required by the Academic Senate to remain in good standing (some programs require a higher grade point average). Other examples include failure of examinations, lack of timely progress toward the degree and poor performance in core courses. Probationary students (those with cumulative grade point averages below 3.00) are subject to immediate dismissal upon the recommendation of their department. University guidelines governing termination of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Biomathematics

School of Medicine

Graduate Degrees

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

Biomathematics

Admission

Program Name

Biomathematics

Address

David Geffen School of Medicine
5303 Life Sciences
Box 951766
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1766

Phone

(310) 825-5554

Email

gradprog@biomath.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Consult department.

Deadline to apply

January 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General and Subject

Consult department for additional information

Letters of Recommendation

3, from faculty competent to evaluate qualifications for pursuing graduate study and a creative research career; additional letters are welcomed and may be requested

Other Requirements

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

High academic achievement in one scientific or mathematical field is required for admission. It is not necessary for an applicant to be proficient in both mathematics and biology, although some prior preparation in both fields is desirable.

Master’s Degree

Areas of Study

Consult the department.

Advising

The admissions and advising committees confer with incoming students about their goals and prior preparation. Students are assigned a major adviser, most likely the chair of the advising committee, and possibly additional special advisers to assist with specific aspects of training. Students meet with their adviser at least once a quarter. For students who advance to the doctoral program, doctoral committees replace the previous advisers as soon as the committee is formed. Doctoral committee membership must be approved by the advising committee chair and department before it is sent to the Graduate Division for appointment.

Assessments of progress are developed and reported to the advising committee by the student’s adviser(s) or dissertation committee on the basis of grades, research, the written comprehensive examination, and personal observations on progress and ability.

In addition to the formal advising process, all faculty are available to students for individual instruction and informal counseling.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Master’s degree candidates must complete five graduate-level courses in biomathematics, three of which must be chosen from Biomathematics 201, 202 or 210, M203, and 204. If any of these four courses were completed as an undergraduate, the student may petition the department to count them in fulfillment of this requirement of specific background in biomathematics; however, in accord with Academic Senate regulations, they cannot be applied toward the minimum requirements stated below for the master’s degree.

The master’s degree candidate must complete the University minimum requirement of nine (36 units) of graduate and upper division courses taken in graduate standing, five (20 units) of which must be graduate courses. No more than two 596 courses may be applied toward the required nine courses, and none may be applied toward the graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

A written comprehensive examination administered by a committee consisting of at least three faculty members appointed by the chair, with approval of the advising committee chair, covers material presented in the coursework. This examination is usually given during the summer.

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 general, students are required to follow the comprehensive examination plan. Permission to undertake a thesis plan must be given by the departmental advising committee, which must approve the thesis committee and plans for the thesis.

Time-to-Degree

Students who are well-prepared should be able to complete the degree within four full-time quarters.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The admissions and advising committees confer with incoming students about their goals and prior preparation. Students are assigned a major adviser, and possibly additional special advisers to assist with specific aspects of training. Students meet with their adviser at least once a quarter. Doctoral committees replace the previous advisers as soon as the committee is formed. Doctoral committee membership must be approved by the advising committee chair and department before it is sent to the Graduate Division for appointment.

In addition to the formal advising process, all faculty are available to students for individual instruction and informal counseling.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students must complete the requirements for a field of special emphasis in biology. Students confer with their advisers to develop a coherent plan for biological or biomedical training that includes 24 units of upper division and graduate courses. At least 16 units of this coursework must be graduate-level. No more than four units of seminars graded on a Pass/No Pass or Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis may be counted toward the requirements. A letter-graded course must be completed with a grade of B or better to be counted toward the requirements. The department maintains a list of suggested coherent course sequences, including those for genetics, microbiology/immunology, molecular biology, neuroscience, organismic biology/ecology/evolution, and physiology.

Students petition the curriculum committee for approval of their biological training program. Students who enter the program with previous upper division or graduate training in biology or biomedicine may petition to reduce the 24-unit requirement. Students who hold a master’s degree in a biological science are expected to take one additional graduate course. Completion of the first two years of medical school will generally be accepted in satisfaction of the requirements.

Foreign Language Requirements

None.

Course Requirements

The following courses are required: The core methodology courses, Biomathematics 201, 202 or 210, M203, and 204, plus two graduate Biomathematics courses from an approved list of electives in modeling application in biology/medicine.

Applied Mathematics . Students must complete 24 units of graduate or upper division courses in applied mathematics or statistics with a grade of B or better. Eight units may be in upper division courses.

The department maintains a list of representative courses in engineering, mathematics, physics, theoretical computer science, and theoretical or computational statistics that are relevant to biomathematics. Students confer with their advisers to develop a coherent plan appropriate to their research area and to petition the curriculum committee for approval of courses not already listed. Students who enter with considerable preparation in applied mathematics may petition to reduce the 24-unit requirement. Students who hold a master’s degree in mathematics are expected to take one additional graduate course.

Biology . No formal requirement beyond preparation for the field of major biological emphasis.

Independent Research. During the first two years students are required to take at least four units of Biomathematics 596 with a member of the department or a mentor from an affiliated training program. As students progress through the program, there is an increasing emphasis on research and encouragement to publish. Failure to advance in capacity for independent, creative research is a primary indication for recommended withdrawal from the program.

The following courses are recommended:

Mathematics . By individual study or coursework, students should have strength, at the upper division level, in linear algebra, differential equations, probability and statistics, and real and complex analysis. Offerings in the Department of Mathematics are especially recommended.

Statistics . Additional training in biostatistics is highly recommended.

Computer Methods . Students should be proficient in Matlab, Latex, and a lower level programming language such as C or Fortran and be acquainted with numerical methods needed for their area of research. The numerical analysis sequence in the Department of Mathematics or supervised independent study is suggested.

Biology and Biological Chemistry . A broad background is expected, from molecular to organ-system levels. This probably will be provided in requirements for the field of major biological emphasis; supplemental coursework is advised, if needed.

Teaching Experience

One teaching preceptorship (Biomathematics 596) is required. Students participate fully in the planning and delivery of one course in Biomathematics or a related subject. The emphasis is on training in all aspects of preparing for and offering a course; this is not a service-oriented teaching assistantship.

The preceptorship requirement can also be satisfied through service as a teaching assistant for two quarters at UCLA or by presenting a course in excess of 10 hours that covers recommended skills for graduate students in scientific computing (e.g., Matlab, Latex, and a lower level programming language).

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

In the summer the department offers written qualifying examinations to test competence in biomathematics in core methodology and the electives in modeling applications. No written qualifying examination is required in the field of major biological emphasis. Full-time students must take these examinations by the end of two academic years of study and part-time students by the end of three years. The brochure, Policies for the Written Comprehensive Examinations for the Doctorate in Biomathematics, is available from the department.

The required coursework and the written qualifying examinations must be successfully completed before students proceed to the University Oral Qualifying Examination. In exceptional cases a student who has completed all required courses except for the requirements in either the field of special emphasis in biology or in applied mathematics may petition the curriculum committee to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Compelling evidence must be presented to the committee to demonstrate that there has been substantial progress towards completion of these requirements and that the choice of subject matter or methodological training that would complete the requirements strongly depends on the direction the proposed research eventually takes. If the petition is approved, the curriculum committee formally reduces the 24-unit requirement, but only with the clear understanding of the student and the doctoral committee that the remaining training will be completed as an integral part of the dissertation research.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination, administered by the doctoral committee appointed by the Graduate Division, critically probes the quality, scope, and feasibility of the student’s proposed dissertation work. The examination also explores the strength and integration of the student’s biomathematical, mathematical, and biological research knowledge in the intended area of research.

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)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission and sufficient prior upper division training in biology and mathematics should be able to complete the program in five years (15 academic quarters plus research and/or individual instruction during the summers). Such students complete the departmental written qualifying (comprehensive) examinations at the end of the second year, identify their research field and mentor by the end of Fall Quarter in their third year, and complete all formal course requirements by the beginning of the fourth year.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may appeal a recommendation for termination from the advisory committee to the departmental chair within two weeks of being notified by the committee. The chair then initiates a faculty review of the recommendation. Factors considered in the review are biomathematical research aptitude, progress toward completion of degree requirements, performance on the required examinations, and course grades.

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

Bioengineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Bioengineering

Address

5121 Engineering V
Box 951600
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1600

Phone

(310) 794-5945

Email

bme@ea.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

3, detailing research accomplishments, academic preparation, industrial experience, communications skills, other technical training, and potential for future professional development

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit (1) the online application for graduate admission; 2) the departmental application available on the departmental website; (3) a clear and realistic statement of purpose; and (4) a resume.

Applicants whose native language is not English must score at least 600 on the paper and pencil Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 250 on the computer-based TOEFL, or 100 on the internet-based TOEFL, or receive an overall band score of 8.0 on the International English Testing System (IELTS) examination to be considered for admission.

All applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the prerequisites listed under each field on the prerequisite sheet available on the departmental website.

M.S.: The statement of purpose should relate reasons for seeking admission. Applicants should have a B.S. degree or its equivalent in engineering, life science, or physical science.

Ph.D.: Applicants should have a B.S. degree or its equivalent, with a grade point average in the final two years of not less than 3.00, in engineering, life science, or physical science.Admission to the Ph.D. program is granted to a small group each year, according to the following criteria: (1) Evidence of capacity for original scholarship and research in the field of Biomedical Engineering; (2) outstanding GRE scores and references; and (3) demonstration of adequate communication skills, particularly in writing, in the work submitted.

Master’s Degree

Advising

Each department or program in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers may 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. This list is also available from the Department of Bioengineering.

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

New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the M.S. 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 program student office staff and/or the Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements, and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree, on the procedures for taking Ph.D. preliminary examination for those who choose the comprehensive examination option, on the procedures for filing the thesis for those who choose the thesis option, and on the use of the Filing Fee. Students are also urged to become familiar with the sections on Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination at the end of this document.

Areas of Study

Field 1: Biomedical Instrumentation (BMI)

This field of emphasis is designed to train bioengineers interested in the applications and development of instrumentation used in medicine and biotechnology. Examples include the use of lasers in surgery and diagnostics, new micro electrical machines for surgery, sensors for detecting and monitoring of disease, microfluidic systems for cell-based diagnostics, new tool development for basic and applied life science research, and controlled drug delivery devices. The principles underlying each instrument and specific clinical or biological needs will be emphasized. Graduates of this program will be targeted principally for employment in academia, government research laboratories, and the biotechnology, medical devices, and biomedical industries.

Field 2: Molecular Cellular Tissue Therapeutics (MCTT)

This field of emphasis covers novel therapeutic development across all biological length scales from molecules to cells to tissues. At the molecular and cellular levels, this area of research encompasses the engineering of biomaterials, ligands, enzymes, protein-protein interactions, intracellular trafficking, biological signal transduction, genetic regulation, cellular metabolism, drug delivery vehicles, and cell-cell interactions, as well as the development of chemical/biological tools to achieve this. At the tissue level, this field encompasses two sub-fields which include biomaterials and tissue engineering. The properties of bone, muscles and tissues, the replacement of natural materials with artificial compatible and functional materials such as polymers, composites, ceramics and metals, and the complex interactions between implants and the body are studied at the tissue level. The emphasis of research is on the fundamental basis for diagnosis, disease treatment, and re-design of molecular, cellular, and tissue functions. In addition to quantitative experiments required to obtain spatial and temporal information, quantitative and integrative modeling approaches at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels are also included within this field. Although some of the research will remain exclusively at one length scale, research that bridges any two or all three length scales are also an integral part of this field. Graduates of this program will be targeted principally for employment in academia, government research laboratories, and the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries.

Field 3: Imaging, Informatics and Systems Engineering (IIS)

This field consists of the following four subfields: Biomedical Signal and Image Processing (BSIP), Biosystem Science and Engineering (BSSE), Medical Imaging Informatics (MII), and NeuroEngineering (NE).

Subfield 1: Biosystem Science and Engineering (BSSE)

Graduate study in Biosystem Science and Engineering (BSSE) emphasizes the systems aspects of living processes, as well as their component parts. It is intended for science and engineering students interested in understanding biocontrol, regulation, communication, measurement or visualization of biomedical systems (of aggregate parts – whole systems), for basic or clinical applications. Dynamic systems engineering, mathematical, statistical and multiscale computational modeling and optimization methods – applicable at all biosystem levels – form the theoretical underpinnings of the field. They are the paradigms for exploring the integrative and hierarchical dynamical properties of biomedical systems quantitatively – at molecular, cellular, organ, whole organism or societal levels – and leveraging them in applications. The academic program provides directed interdisciplinary biosystem studies in these areas – as well as quantitative dynamic systems biomodeling methods – integrated with the biology for specialized life science domain studies of interest to the student. Typical research areas include molecular and cellular systems physiology, organ systems physiology, medical, pharmacological and pharmacogenomic system studies; neurosystems, imaging and remote sensing systems, robotics, learning and knowledge-based systems, visualization and virtual clinical environments. The program fosters careers in research and teaching in systems biology/physiology, engineering, medicine, and/or the biomedical sciences, or research and development in the biomedical or pharmaceutical industry.

Subfield 2: Biomedical Signal and Image Processing (BSIP)

The Biomedical Signal and Image Processing (BSIP) graduate program prepares students for a career in the acquisition and analysis of biomedical signals; and enables students to apply quantitative methods applied to extract meaningful information for both clinical and research applications. The BSIP program is premised on the fact that a core set of mathematical and statistical methods are held in common across signal acquisition and imaging modalities and across data analyses regardless of their dimensionality. These include signal transduction, characterization and analysis of noise, transform analysis, feature extraction from time series or images, quantitative image processing and imaging physics. Students in the BSIP program have the opportunity to focus their work over a broad range of modalities including electrophysiology, optical imaging methods, MRI, CT, PET and other tomographic devices and/or on the extraction of image features such as organ morphometry or neurofunctional signals, and detailed anatomic/functional feature extraction. The career opportunities for BSIP trainees include medical instrumentation, engineering positions in medical imaging, and research in the application of advanced engineering skills to the study of anatomy and function.

Subfield 3: Medical Imaging Informatics (MII)

Medical imaging informatics (MII) is the rapidly evolving field that combines biomedical informatics and imaging, developing and adapting core methods in informatics to improve the usage and application of imaging in healthcare. Graduate study in this field encompasses principles from across engineering, computer science, information sciences, and biomedicine. Imaging informatics research concerns itself with the full spectrum of low-level concepts (e.g., image standardization and processing; image feature extraction) to higher-level abstractions (e.g., associating semantic meaning to a region in an image; visualization and fusion of images with other biomedical data) and ultimately, applications and the derivation of new knowledge from imaging. Notably, medical imaging informatics addresses not only the images themselves, but encompasses the associated (clinical) data to understand the context of the imaging study; to document observations; and to correlate and reach new conclusions about a disease and the course of a medical problem. Research foci include distributed medical information architectures and systems; medical image understanding and applications of image processing; medical natural language processing; knowledge engineering and medical decision-support; and medical data visualization. Coursework is geared towards students with science and engineering backgrounds, introducing them to these areas in addition to providing exposure to fundamental biomedical informatics, imaging, and clinical issues. This area encourages interdisciplinary training, with faculty from multiple departments; and emphasizes the practical, translational development and evaluation of tools/applications to support clinical research and care.

Subfield 4: NeuroEngineering (NE)

The NeuroEngineering (NE) subfield is designed to enable students with a background in biological science to develop and execute projects that make use of state-of-the-art technology, including microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), signal processing, and photonics. Students with a background in engineering will develop and execute projects that address problems that have a neuroscientific base, including locomotion and pattern generation, central control of movement, and the processing of sensory information. Trainees will develop the capacity for the multidisciplinary teamwork, in intellectually and socially diverse settings, that will be necessary for new scientific insights and dramatic technological progress in the 21st century. NE students take a curriculum designed to encourage cross-fertilization of neuroscience and engineering. Our goal is for neuroscientists and engineers to speak each others’ language and move comfortably among the intellectual domains of the two fields.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 13 courses (44 units) are required, at least ten of which must be from the 200 series – that include three Bioengineering 299 and one Bioengineering 495. For the thesis plan, at least seven of the 13 must be formal courses and two must be 598 courses involving work on the thesis. For the comprehensive examination plan, no units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum course requirement except for the field of medical imaging informatics where two units of Bioengineering 597A are required. Lower division courses may not be applied toward a graduate degree. To remain in good academic standing, an M.S. student must maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 and a grade-point average of 3.0 in graduate courses.

By the end of the first quarter in residence, students design a course program in consultation with and approved by their faculty adviser.

Field 1: Biomedical Instrumentation (BMI)

Group I: Core Courses on General Concepts. At least three courses from this group are required: Bioengineering C201, C204, C205, C206.

Group II: Field Specific Courses: At least 3 courses from this group are required. Bioengineering CM250A, Electrical Engineering 100, and (Bioengineering CM202 or CM203 or Molecular Cell Development Biology 165A)

Group III: Field Elective Courses. Students may fulfill the remainder of their courses from one of the following three groups:

Microfluidics, MEMS, and Biosensors: Bioengineering CM250L, M260, 282; Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering C216; Chemistry 118, 156; Electrical Engineering 102, 110, 110L; Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering 103, 150A, 150G, M168, 250B, C250G, 250M, 281, M287; Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics 185A; Molecular, Cellular and Development Biology 165A, 168, M175A-B, M272

Surgical/Imaging Instrumentation: Bioengineering 224A, CM240, C270, C271, 272; Biomathematics M230, Electrical Engineering 176, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering 171A, 263D

Bionanotechnology & Biophotonics: Bioengineering C270, C271, Chemistry and Biochemistry C240; Electrical Engineering 121B, 128, 150DL, 172, M217, 225, 274; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 258A, C287L, M287

Other Electives (Approved on a case-by-case basis)

Field 2: Molecular Cellular Tissue Therapeutics (MCTT)

Group I: Core Courses on General Concepts. At least three courses from this group are required: Bioengineering C201, C204, C205, C206

Group II: Field Specific Courses. At least three courses from this group are required: Bioengineering 100, 110, 120, 176, C278, C283, C285

Group III. Field Elective Courses. Students may fulfill the remainder of their courses from this group: Bioengineering 180, M215, M225, CM240, CM245, C287; Biomathematics 201, M203, M211, 220 M270, M271; Chemistry 153A, 153B, M230B, CM260A, CM260B, C265, 269A, 269D, 277, C281; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 111, 200, 201; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 156A, 168; Molecular Cell Development Biology 100, M140, 144, 165A, C222D, 224, M230B, M234; Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics 185A,CM233; Molecular & Medical Pharmacology M110A, M110B, 203, 211A, 211B, 288; Neuroscience 205; Pathology M237, 294

Other Electives (Approved on a case-by-case basis)

Subfield 1: Biosystem Science and Engineering (BSSE)

Group I: Core Courses on General Concepts.

Two courses from the following group:

Physiology/Molecular, cellular and organ system biology

Either Bioengineering CM202 and CM203 or Physiological Science 166 and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology 140 or 144 or other approved equivalent approved courses.

Two courses from the following group:

Dynamic biosystems modeling, estimation and optimization

Bioengineering CM286 and either Biomathematics 220 or M296B.

Group II: Subfield Specific and Elective Courses. Three courses from this group are required. These should be chosen in consultation with and in approval of the faculty advisor.

Biomathematics 201, 206, 208A or 208B, 213, M230, Bioengineering C204, C205, C206, M217, CM245, M248, M260, C283, M296D, Chemistry and Biochemistry CM260A, CM260B, Computer Science 161, CM224, 267B, Electrical Engineering 102, 103, 113, 131A, 132A, 136, 141, 142, 210B, 232E, 240B, M240C, 241A, 241C, M242A, 243, CM250A, CM250L, M252, 260A, 260B, Mathematics 134, 136, 151A, 151B, 155, 170A, 170B, 171, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 107, 171A, Physiological Science 135, M200.

Group III: Ethics Courses. One course is required from this group: Bioengineering 165EW, Biomathematics M261, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Genetics C134, Neuroscience 207.

Subfield 2: Biomedical Signal / Image Processing (BSIP)

Group I: Core Courses on General Concepts. Three courses are required from the following: Bioengineering C201 or CM286, CM202 and CM203, or Physiological Science 166 and Molecular Cell Development Biology 144

Group II: Subfield Specific Courses. At least three courses are required from: Biomedical Physics 205, M219, M248, Electrical Engineering 239AS, 266, Neurobiology M200C, Neuroscience CM272, M287 and one course from the following: Bioengineering 165EW, Biomathematics M261, Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics C134, Neuroscience 207

Group III: Subfield Elective Courses. Students may fulfill the remainder of their courses from this group: Bioengineering 100, 120, 223A-223B-223C, 224A, M261, Biomedical Physics 210, 217, 218, 222, 227, M230, Biostatistics 238, Computer Science 269, Electrical Engineering 102, 113, 151A-151B, 208A, 210A, CM211A, 212A, 224, 236A, 236B, 273, Mathematics 155, 133, 270A, 270B-270C, 270D-270E, 270F

Subfield 3: Medical Imaging Informatics (MII)

Group I: Core Courses on General Concepts: Bioengineering 220, 221 or CM202 and CM203, 223A, 223B, 223C, 224B, M226, M227, M228

Group II: Subfield Specific Courses. MS comp students are required to take three courses and Ph.D. students are required to take 6 courses from the following four concentrations.

Information networks and data access in medical environment concentration: Computer Science 240B, 241A, 244A, 245A, 246

Computer understanding of text and medical information retrieval concentration: Computer Science 263A, 263B, Information Studies 228, 245, 246, 260, Linguistics 218, 232, Statistics M231

Computer understanding of images concentration: Biomedical Physics 210, 214, M219, 230, M266; Computer Science, M266A, M266B, 276B, Electrical Engineering 211A

Probabilistic modeling and visualization of medical data: Biostatistics M209, M232, M234, M235, M236, Computer Science 241B, 262A, 262B, M262C, Information Studies 272, 277

Group III: Ethics Courses. One course is required from this group: Bioengineering 165EW, Biomathematics M261, Microbiology, Immunology, Molecular Genetics C134, Neuroscience 207

Subfield 4: Neuroengineering

Group I: Core Courses on Concepts. Three courses are required from the following: Bioengineering C201 or CM286 either Bioengineering CM202 and CM203, or Physiological Science 166 and Molecular Cell Development Biology 144

Group II: Subfield Specific Courses. All courses are required from: Bioengineering M260, M261, M284, and one course from the following: Bioengineering 165EW, Biomathematics M261, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics C134, Neuroscience 207.

Group III: Subfield Elective Courses. Two courses from one of the following two concentrations are required:

Electronic engineering concentration: Chemical Engineering CM215, CM225, Electrical Engineering 210A, M214A, 214B, 216B, M250A, M250B, M250L, M252

Neuroscience concentration: Bioengineering C206, M263, Neuroscience M201, M202, 205

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The comprehensive examination plan is available in all fields. The requirements for fulfilling the comprehensive examination requirement varies for each field. Specific details about the comprehensive examination in each field are available from the Graduate Adviser. Students who fail the examination may repeat it once only, subject to the approval of the faculty examination committee. Students who fail the examination twice are not permitted to submit a thesis and are subject to termination. The oral component of the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination is not required for the M.S. degree.

Thesis Plan

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

New students who choose this plan are expected to submit the name of the thesis adviser to the Graduate Adviser by the end of their first quarter in residence. The thesis adviser serves as chair of the thesis committee.

A research thesis (eight units of Bioengineering 598) is to be written on a biomedical engineering topic approved by the thesis adviser. The thesis committee consists of the thesis adviser and two other qualified faculty members who are selected from a current list of designated members for the interdepartmental program.

Time-to-Degree

The typical length of time for completion of the M.S. degree under the comprehensive examination plan is one year. The typical length of time for completion of the M.S. degree under the thesis plan is two years.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers may 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. This list is also available from the Department of Bioengineering.

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

New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the 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 the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy, on the procedures for taking the Ph.D. written and oral examinations and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Biomedical instrumentation; imaging, informatics and systems engineering; molecular cellular tissue therapeutics. See Areas of Study under Master’s Degree for descriptions of all fields.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

To complete the Ph.D. degree, all students must fulfill minimum University requirements. Students must pass the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination, the University Oral Qualifying Examination, the Final Oral Examination, and complete the courses in Group I, Group II, and Group III. See Course Requirements under Master’s Degree. Students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.25 or higher for all courses.

Teaching Experience

A minimum of one quarter of teaching experience is required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

The Ph.D. Preliminary Examination tests a core body of knowledge. The requirements for fulfilling the preliminary examination requirement varies for each field. Specific details about the preliminary examination in each field are available from the Graduate Adviser. Students who fail the examination may repeat it once only, subject to the approval of the faculty examination committee. Students who fail the examination twice are subject to a recommendation for termination.

Within three quarters after passing the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination described above, students are strongly encouraged 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 qualified UCLA faculty members. Three members, including the chair, are selected from a current list of designated inside members for the interdepartmental program. The outside member must be a qualified UCLA faculty member who does not appear on this list.

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

Students are expected to receive their degree within six years (18 quarters) from admission into the program, and must be registered continuously or on approved leave of absence during this period. Students who do not register or take an official leave of absence lose their student status.

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 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.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Classics

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Latin

Admission

Program Name

Latin

Address

100 Dodd Hall
Box 951417
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1417

Phone

(310) 206-1590

Email

classics@humnet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A.

Classics does not admit students whose final degree objective is the master’s degree.

Admission Limited to

Fall, Winter, Spring

Deadline to apply

January 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

3, normally from previous instructors in Classics

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 (research paper).

Applicants are expected to hold a UCLA B.A. degree or the equivalent degree from another university, preferably with a major in Classics, Greek or Latin, and a grade-point average of at least 3.0 in the major.

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

Areas of Study

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

Foreign Language Requirement

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

Course Requirements

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

Teaching Experience

Consult the department.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

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

Essay Requirement

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

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

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

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

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

African Studies

Interdepartmental Program
College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

African Studies

African Studies is an interdepartmental program. Interdepartmental programs provide an integrated curriculum of several disciplines.

Address

10373 Bunche Hall
Box 951487
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1487

Phone

(310) 206-6571

Email

idpgrads@international.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A.

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 dossier containing a resume describing academic, African-related, and professional experience, and a research paper or other writing sample that well demonstrates writing and analytical skills.

Also, applicants should have adequate preparation in undergraduate fields related to the program. Required preparation for the most typically consists of a BA in the social sciences, humanities, or arts.

African Studies, M.A./Public Health, M.P.H.

The African Studies Program and the School of Public Health have a concurrent degree program whereby a student can work for the Master of Arts in African Studies and the Master of Public Health with a specialization in Community Health Sciences at the same time. Students must be admitted to both programs and may count up to eight units of Community Health Sciences courses toward both degrees.

Master’s Degree

Advising

The M.A. program in African Studies is supervised by an interdepartmental faculty committee. The chair of this committee and of the program is also the graduate adviser. There is also a staff assistant to the graduate adviser. Students should remain in continuous contact with the graduate adviser and the staff regarding their program and academic progress. Students also have an informal faculty adviser in their area of concentration.

Areas of Study

Each student chooses a disciplinary (or interdisciplinary) concentration which requires at least five courses. Most concentrations are in the social sciences, arts, humanities, public health, or urban and regional planning. Sociology and anthropology may be taken as a combined major, as may interdisciplinary courses in development studies.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to satisfy the language requirement by achieving intermediate-high proficiency in an African language in one of the following two ways: (1) taking six courses (24 units) in an African language with an average grade of B or better (these courses may not be applied toward the nine-course minimum required for the degree); or (2) achieving an intermediate-high rating on an oral proficiency examination arranged by the African languages coordinator.

Course Requirements

A minimum of nine courses is required for the M.A. degree, at least five of which must be at the graduate level. The courses must be distributed between disciplines as follows:

(1) Major discipline: a minimum of five courses, of which three must be at the graduate level. Sociology and anthropology may be taken as a combined major. Other combined majors must be approved by the graduate adviser.

(2) A minimum of four other courses outside the major area, of which three must be at the graduate level. Students who are enrolled in the concurrent degree program with Public Health may use up to two Community Health Sciences courses (eight units) toward these four elective courses.

Except for 500-series courses, University regulations indicate that a student in an interdepartmental degree program may not apply courses taken on an S/U grading basis toward the master’s degree. By petition, the program will consider an exception for one of the nine required courses. Such petitions must be approved by a graduate adviser and the Graduate Division. One course in the 500 series may be applied toward the total course requirement and toward the minimum graduate course requirement. With consent of the graduate adviser, other 500-series courses may be allowed but may not be applied toward the minimum course requirements.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The comprehensive examination plan involves a four- to six-hour written examination that is taken in the last quarter of academic residence. The examination is set by a three-person faculty committee, two members of which must be from the major discipline or field of concentration. In consultation with the graduate adviser, the student selects the committee members for the examination. The chair of the committee receives questions from other members and is responsible for setting the examination questions and requirements. An additional oral examination may be held at the discretion of the examining committee. If the comprehensive examination is failed, it may be retaken only once.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis option is available by permission of the graduate adviser. Upon obtaining permission, the student, in consultation with the graduate adviser, selects a faculty committee to supervise and assess the thesis. Two of the three faculty committee members, including the chair, must be from the area of concentration; a third member must be from another discipline. The thesis must reflect the major discipline or field of concentration. An oral defense may be required in some circumstances.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress from graduate admission to award of the master’s degree is six quarters. Normal progress for students enrolled in the concurrent degree program with Public Health is nine 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 recommendation for termination of graduate study is first made by the graduate adviser to the interdepartmental program committee.

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