Program Requirements for Community Health Sciences

Connect with us and learn about our services on the Graduate Education Portal.

Program Requirements for Community Health Sciences

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

Community Health Sciences

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Applicants should see the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) Admission section under Public Health Schoolwide Programs. Admission requirements for the Master of Science in Public Health are the same as for the M.P.H; admission requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health are the same as for the Doctor of Public Health.

Master’s Degree

Advising

An 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 both the adviser and the associate dean of Student Affairs. Students are expected to meet with their advisers each quarter. A departmental guidance committee is established when the student has completed approximately half of the program for the master’s degree. Members of the departmental guidance committee are nominated by the department chair after consultation with the student and the student’s adviser.

An adviser is responsible for 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

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must complete at least one year of residence in graduate status 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. Community Health Sciences 597 may not be applied toward the degree requirements. No more than 18 full courses are required for the degree.

Mandatory core courses include Biostatistics 100A, 100B, and Epidemiology 100. Each core course may be waived for students who have taken a similar course elsewhere and can pass the waiver examination. Community Health Sciences 210, 211A-211B, 212, 213, Biostatistics 406, and four to six department courses (selected from an approved list) are required. Elective courses are selected in consultation with an adviser. Normal program length is six quarters.

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.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

If the comprehensive examination/report option is approved, a guidance committee of three faculty members is appointed. A written comprehensive examination on the major area of study must be passed. Students who fail may be reexamined once. The preparation of a major written research report is required, and it must be approved by the guidance committee which also must certify successful completion of all degree requirements.

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 thesis option is approved, a thesis committee is established. The committee approves the thesis prospectus before the student may file for advancement to candidacy. The thesis must be acceptable to the thesis committee.

Time-to-Degree

From graduate admission to award of the degree, normal progress is from three to seven quarters. Upper time limit for completion of all requirements is seven quarters of enrollment, including quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the School of Public Health. Maximum time allowable from enrollment to graduation, including leaves of absence, is five years.

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. The adviser supervises the student’s completion of course work and preparation for the written qualifying examinations, and can, but need not, serve as the Chair of the Guidance Committee appointed at the end of the first year of study.

After being enrolled for three quarters, students file Doctoral Form 1, which designates the membership of the guidance committee. The guidance committee consists of the student’s adviser in the major field, a second faculty member in Community Health Sciences and the student’s adviser in the minor field. Courses to be taken for the minor field are listed on this form. The members of the Guidance committee must be full-time faculty with appointments in the professorial series (tenure-eligible, in-residence, or acting or emeritus in these series.) The Guidance Committee membership must be approved by the department chair. This committee functions as a group to assist in tailoring the program to the student’s needs and objectives. The student is responsible for informing the committee about the student’s progress, and should also turn to the committee first in the event that special assistance or intervention is required. Hence, the committee should be selected in recognition of its role in promoting the student’s academic progress.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Faculty in the department represent a diversity of disciplines related to community health, such as the social and behavior sciences, nutrition, medicine, and a range of fields of research including health education/promotion, international health, child and family health, public health nutrition, health policy, disaster planning and relief, aging and life course, women’s health, population and reproductive health, and health disparities.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The following courses are required if the student has not already taken them or their equivalent in the course of the master’s degree or other postgraduate work: Biostatistics 100A, 100B, and 406; Community Health Sciences 210, 211A-211B, 212; Epidemiology 100; Health Services 100; Environmental Health Sciences 100. These courses do not count toward the minimum course requirements for the doctoral degree.

In addition to any of the above courses not already taken, the student must take a minimum of 48 units in residence in the doctoral program, to include Community Health Sciences 270A-270B. No more than four units may be individual studies coursework (Community Health Sciences 596). All doctoral students must enroll in Community Health Sciences 286 (doctoral roundtable) every quarter until they are advanced to candidacy. With the exception of the first quarter of registration as a doctoral student, students may petition to waive out of the seminar for up to two quarters. The doctoral roundtable does not fulfill any of the 48 units required for the doctorate.

Students minor in a Ph.D. granting department outside of the School of Public Health, in a discipline relevant to community health sciences. Four graduate-level courses (16 units) are required.

Teaching Experience

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

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.

Before advancement to candidacy, all coursework must have been completed and the student must pass a written examination administered by the department and an oral qualifying examination in the major field. The written examination may be repeated only once. Additionally, the student must complete the requirements for the minor field and pass an examination administered by the minor department or the minor member of the guidance committee.

After the student has passed the written qualifying examination and completed the minor requirements, and at least one month prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, a doctoral committee is nominated. The doctoral committee consists of at least four faculty members including the chair, who hold professorial appointments at UCLA. Two of the faculty must be tenured. Three of the four must hold appointments in the department; one must be an outside member who holds no appointment in the School of Public Health; one of the four must be from the minor field. Eligible faculty are those in the tenure-eligible series, the in-residence series, and acting or emeriti in these series. The composition of the committee must be approved by the department chair. The doctoral committee guides the student’s progress toward completion of the dissertation.

The student is advanced to candidacy and commences work on a dissertation by passing the University Oral Qualifying Examination, which is administered by the doctoral committee. Only the student and the committee members attend this examination; all committee members must be present. The examination may be repeated once if a majority of the committee so recommends.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Maximum allowable time for the attainment of the degree is 24 quarters of enrollment or eight years. This limitation includes quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the doctoral degree program and leaves of absence. However, the approved normative time-to-degree is 18 quarters (six years). It is expected that students will normally complete coursework by the end of the third year in residence (nine quarters); complete written and oral examinations and advance to candidacy by the middle of the fourth year in residence (11 quarters); and complete the dissertation and defense by the end of the sixth year (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

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 of any written qualifying examinations in the major or minor fields; 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, second to the associate dean of Academic Affairs and finally to the dean of the school.

Program Requirements for Gender Studies

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

Gender Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Gender Studies

Address

1120 Rolfe Hall
Box 951504
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1504

Phone

(310) 206-8101

Email

info@gender.ucla.edu / jenna@gender.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

The Gender Studies department admits only applicants whose objective is the Ph.D., although students may be awarded the M.A. en route to the Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 12th

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 personal statement, Gender Studies supplementary essay, departmental application, and writing sample.

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

Required courses:

Gender Studies 201, 202, 203, and 210 (four courses; 16 units), plus twenty-four elective units (six courses).

Teaching Experience

Not Required.

Field Experience

Not Required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

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

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

Foreign Language Requirement

Reading proficiency in one foreign language is required. Students may fulfill this requirement either by passing a departmental examination given by an appropriate faculty member in the program, by passing an examination given by an appropriate faculty member in a language department, or by successful completion of one year of a college-level language course.

Course Requirements

Doctoral students are required to complete 60 units of coursework. Gender Studies 375 and 495, and all 500-series courses may not be applied toward the 60-unit minimum course requirement for the degree.

Required courses:

Gender Studies core courses 201, 202, 203 and 210 (16 units). Beyond 203 (Research Methods) eight units (two courses) of additional specialization or training in research methods are highly recommended, will count toward elective units, and may be required at the discretion of the student’s faculty adviser. An additional forty-four elective units (eleven courses) are required. Two upper division undergraduate courses may be applied toward elective units (up to 8 units).

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Two written qualifying examinations are required: (1) A breadth examination covering general knowledge of gender studies, feminist theory, and contemporary issues. The examination is administered by a committee composed of faculty designated by the chair or the graduate chair of Gender Studies. Students are expected to take the examination at the end of their first year; (2) A depth examination covering the student’s area of specialization. Students are expected to have completed the depth exam by the end of their third year. Students who fail either of the written qualifying examinations may be permitted to retake them once as determined by the faculty committee.

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

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Not required.

Time-to-Degree

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

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

Program Requirements for Classics (Latin)

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

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), TWE

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

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.

Program Requirements for Environmental Health Sciences

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2012-2013 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)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

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 choose to focus on Industrial Hygiene; 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.

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Thesis Plan (Plan I)

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.

Comprehensive Examination and Report Plan (Plan II)

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.

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 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 Environmental Science and Engineering

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

Environmental Science and Engineering

Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

Graduate Degrees

The Environmental Science and Engineering Program offers the Doctor of Environmental Science and Engineering (D.Env.) degree.

Admission

Program Name

Environmental Science and Engineering

Address

Institute of the Environment and Sustainability
La Kretz Hall, Suite 300
Box 951496
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1496

Phone

(310) 825-9901

Email

mgordon@ioes.ucla.edu.

Leading to the degree of

D.Env.

Admission Limited to

Consult department.

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, applicants are required to have completed a master’s degree in some field of the sciences or engineering with a GPA of at least 3.5. Generalist master’s degrees in areas such as environmental sciences or public health or medical degrees may be accepted for admission if the applicant presents a record with appropriate courses in the sciences and mathematics and other special qualifications such as research experience.

Applicants for the D.Env. degree must have an excellent scholastic record and must be acceptable to the admissions committee. The overall academic record, including Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination scores (for students whose native language is not English), must reflect exceptional verbal and quantitative skills and drive toward academic achievement.

The program is also interested in special qualities, awards, and achievements not reflected in the student’s academic record.

Before being accepted unconditionally into the program, all students must have taken the following courses: (1) biology — one year of introductory biology with laboratory; (2) chemistry — one year of general chemistry with laboratory, including analytical methods, and one quarter of organic chemistry, no laboratory required; (3) mathematics — one year of calculus plus one course in elementary statistics; (4) physics — one year of introductory physics with laboratory. Any of these courses may be taken after an admitted student has arrived at UCLA.

Master’s Degree

None.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are advised in general terms by the program graduate adviser, but a specific program is planned in consultation with each student’s individual faculty adviser. Students should meet with those individuals several times a year to plan their programs. Ongoing evaluations of academic progress are made at the end of each quarter in courses completed toward degree requirements, grades in all coursework, performance in the examination sequence, and performance in the Problems Courses. The primary assessment is by program faculty with review and assistance as needed by the student’s adviser and the interdepartmental committee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Specialties within the program include (but are not limited to) the assessment and management of hazardous substances in the air, soil, and water environments; migration of contaminants in surface and groundwater; health risks of toxic substances; mitigation of adverse effects on the biological environment; restoration ecology; and environmental economics. Also, students may balance their work with a greater emphasis on either the science/engineering or science/policy side of their specialty.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Course requirements consist of core courses, breadth courses, an environmental science and engineering seminar, and problems courses.

Core and Breadth Courses. Sixteen course requirements must be satisfied. Four of these are core courses (Environmental Health Sciences 212, C225, 235, 264) offered by program faculty. At least seven courses must be at the graduate level. Breadth electives are selected from a list of approved courses. Courses that are not on the list must be approved by the core faculty before they can be used to fulfill a breadth requirement. All core and breadth courses must be taken on a letter grading basis (not for S/U grading). Courses must be taken from the following categories:

Environmental Science (seven courses). Courses that describe the characteristics of terrestrial, air, and water environments; the biota; the geological, biological, chemical, hydrological, and atmospheric processes of the environment; and the interrelationships between these compartments. Minimum requirements are as follows: Environmental Health Sciences 212, 225, 240, 264, an elective in environmental biology, microbiology or ecology, an elective in environmental geology, and an elective in atmospheric sciences.

Environmental Engineering (five courses). Courses in engineering, mathematics, and the applied physical and life sciences covering topics such as modeling of environmental systems, fate and effects of environmental contaminants, design and evaluation of pollution control systems, plus courses that describe the tools and methods needed to address environmental problems, such as field and laboratory analytical methods, statistics, computer science, and advanced applied mathematics. Minimum requirements are as follows: Civil and Environmental Engineering 150, 155, and three electives.

Environmental Management, Law, and Policy (four courses). Courses that relate to the social and institutional factors relevant to environmental problem solving such as the development and implementation of regulations, dynamics of public participation, and socioeconomic analysis of current and historical trends in environmental and energy policy. Minimum requirements are as follows: Environmental Health Sciences 235, Urban Planning M264, and two electives.

Credit for Prior Work. Entering environmental science and engineering students may already have completed some of the required courses in their undergraduate and graduate work. One of the 16 required courses (including electives) can be waived based on prior coursework. Any other course requirement satisfied by previous work must be replaced with an elective in any field of environmental science and engineering that is pertinent to the goals of the student. Thus, a minimum of 15 courses must be completed after admission to the program. A minimum of 12 courses must be taken at UCLA or another University of California campus.

Environmental Science and Engineering Seminar and Effective Technical Writing Course. While completing core and breadth requirements, full-time students normally enroll in 18 units per quarter, including Environmental Science and Engineering M411 (seminar), which is required for two quarters each academic year. All students enroll in Environmental Science and Engineering M412 during the first year.

Problems Courses. Problems courses constitute intensive multidisciplinary applied research directed toward the solution of current environmental problems. Students are required to quantify and measure necessary parameters, perform critical evaluations, edit and process technical and socioeconomic information, meet deadlines, and communicate through a final report to the competent lay person as well as to the technical specialist. Sometimes two or three faculty from different academic disciplines oversee a team of student researchers. Before proceeding to the problems courses, students must have completed all but six of the required courses, successfully passed all core courses taken (B- grade or better), and maintained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 for all classes taken after entering the Environmental Science and Engineering Program. Twenty-four quarter units of the combined Environmental Science and Engineering 400 A-C and 410 A-C concurrent workshop series courses must be completed during the three quarters prior to advancement to candidacy. The requirement may be met by completing three consecutive quarters (eight units per quarter) on a single theme; or as a minimum, at least two consecutive quarters devoted to a single theme plus one quarter participation or activity approved by the faculty. Enrollment in more than one problems course per quarter is not allowed. No more than eight units of other coursework may be taken when enrolled in a problems course.

Normally, problems course credit is only earned from courses offered through the Environmental Science and Engineering Program. However, students may petition the faculty for permission to earn problems course credit through multidisciplinary environmental projects offered in other departments at UCLA.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

A two-tiered examination sequence, consisting of written and oral examinations, is required for advancement to candidacy to the D.Env. degree. The examinations must be successfully completed before the internship can begin. The purpose of the examinations is to test the student’s understanding of the core and breadth areas, the master’s field, current issues in the environmental field, and subjects covered in students’ problems course experience. The written examination is administered by the core faculty of the program. The written examination may be repeated once. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is administered by the doctoral committee, a four-person faculty committee that guides the student through the remainder of the program. Generally, the doctoral committee is appointed during the second year of the student’s tenure at UCLA. The oral examination may be repeated once.

Internship. After advancement to candidacy (see below), students begin an internship in their field of interest at an outside institution. Arrangements for the internship are the students’ responsibility but program faculty will assist. The institution and the nature of the appointment must be approved by the doctoral committee and the Environmental Science and Engineering program director. Supervision during the field training experience will be by the doctoral committee and the field program supervisor. A letter of agreement between UCLA and the institution is required. During each long session quarter of internship the student must register at UCLA for eight units of Environmental Health Science 599.

No later than nine months after advancement to candidacy, at the beginning of the internship, the candidate is required to present a written prospectus of the dissertation and defend it before the doctoral committee.

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

Well-prepared students who hold strong baccalaureate and master’s degrees should be able to complete the requirements for the D.Env. degree in 13 to 15 quarters, including the internship period.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination for student who is not advanced to candidacy is made by the core faculty. A recommendation for termination for a student who is advanced to candidacy is made by the doctoral committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the interdepartmental committee. In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination based on the inability to communicate (in writing or orally) as required for success in the program area.

Program Requirements for Civil and Environmental Engineering

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

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Civil Engineering

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

Address

5732-A Boelter Hall
Box 951593
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1593

Phone

(310) 825-1851

Email

ceeapply@seas.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Consult department for deadlines.

Deadline to apply

December 15th

Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered for financial aid but may be considered for admission on a space-available basis. Applications from international applicants received after December 15th will not be considered for admission due to insufficient time for processing of application and visa materials.

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.

M.S.: Applicants are expected to hold a B.S. degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or equivalent.

Ph.D.: Applicants normally should have completed an M.S. degree program with at least a 3.25 grade-point average, and hold a B.S. degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or equivalent. Normally the M.S. degree is required for admission to the Ph.D. program. Exceptional students, however, may be admitted to the Ph.D. program directly.

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 department. 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 their 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 the 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 implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

Environmental engineering; geotechnical engineering; hydrology and water resources engineering; structural mechanics; structural/earthquake engineering.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

There are two plans of study that lead to the M.S. degree, the comprehensive examination and thesis plans. For both plans, at least nine courses are required, a majority of which must be in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. At least five of the courses must be at the 200-level. In the thesis plan, seven of the nine must be formal 100- or 200-series courses. The remaining two may be 598 courses involving work on the thesis. In the comprehensive examination plan, 500-series courses may not be applied toward the nine-course requirement. A minimum 3.0 grade-point average is required in all coursework.

Each major field has a set of required preparatory courses which are normally completed during undergraduate studies. Equivalent courses taken at other institutions can satisfy the preparatory course requirements. The preparatory courses cannot be used to satisfy course requirements for the master’s degree. Courses for the master’s degree must be selected in accordance with the lists of required graduate courses and elective courses for each major field listed below.

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 and Environmental 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 102, 103, 105A, 105D, 199.

Environmental Engineering

Required Preparatory Courses. Chemistry and Biochemistry 20A, 20B, 20L; Mathematics 32A 33A; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 103, 105A; Civil and Environmental Engineering 153; Physics 1A/4AL, 1B/4BL.

Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 254A, 255A, 255B, 266.

Major Elective Courses (A minimum of two courses must be selected). Civil and Environmental Engineering 110, 154, 155, 157B, 157C, 163, M166, 226, 253, 258A, 261B, M262A, 263A, 266, 267, Engineering 103.

Other Elective Courses (Remaining courses may be selected from the following). Biostatistics M220, Civil and Environmental Engineering 150, 151, 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D, 251A, 251B, 251C, 251D, 252, 260, M262B; Chemical Engineering 101C, 106, 210, C218, 220, C240; Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 110B, CM227; Computer Science 270A, 271A, 271B; Earth and Space Sciences C206, C209, C213; Electrical Engineering 236A, 236B, 236C; Environmental Health Sciences 212, C225, C240, C252D, 255, C264, 410A, 410B; Statistics 201A. Other elective courses may be substituted with the approval of the student’s academic adviser and the graduate adviser.

Geotechnical Engineering

Required Preparatory Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 108, 120, 121.

Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 220, 221, 223, 224.

Major Elective Courses (A minimum of three courses must be selected). Civil and Environmental Engineering 123,128L, 222, 225, 226, 227, 245.

Elective Courses (Remaining courses may be selected from the following): General: Civil and Environmental Engineering 110, 129, Earth and Space Sciences 135, 136A, 136B, 136C, 139, 222. Environmental Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering 153, 164. Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering 250B and 251B. Structural Mechanics: Civil and Environmental Engineering M230A. Structural/Earthquake Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering 135A, 135B, 137, 142, 235A, 235B, 235C, 243A, 243B, 246, 247.

Hydrology and Water Resources Engineering

Required Preparatory Courses. Chemistry and Biochemistry 20A, 20B, 20L; Mathematics 32A, 32B, 33A, 33B; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 103, 105A; Civil and Environmental Engineering 151; Physics 1A/4AL, 1B/4BL, 1C.

Major Elective Courses (A minimum of three courses must be selected). Civil and Environmental Engineering 251A, 251B, 251C, 251D, 252, 253, 260.

Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 250A, 250B, 250C, 250D.

Elective Courses. Up to two courses from the following list: Civil and Environmental Engineering 110, 150, 153, 157L, 157M, 164, 254A, 255A, 255B, 263A, 265A, 265B; Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 200B, 201A, 221, 224A, C228, 240A, C240B, 244A; Computer Science 270A, 271A, 271B; Electrical Engineering 210A, 210B, 236A, 236B, 236C, 241A, 241B, M242A; Geography 204A, 204B, 268; Mathematics 260, 266A, 266B, 269A, 269B, 275A, 275B, 275C; Statistics 200B, M221, M222.

Structural Mechanics

Required Preparatory Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 130, 135A, 135B.

Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 232, 235A, 235B, 236, M237A..

Elective Courses. Undergraduate: Civil and Environmental Engineering M135C, 137, and 137L (two maximum); Graduate: Civil and Environmental Engineering M230A, M230B, M230C, 233, 235C, 238, 246, 247, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 269B.

Structural/Earthquake Engineering

Required Preparatory Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 135A and 135B, 141 or 142 (at least one).

Required Graduate Courses. Civil and Environmental Engineering 235A and 246 and at least three of the following courses: Civil and Environmental Engineering 235B, 241, 243A, 245, 247.

Elective Courses. Undergraduate: Civil and Environmental Engineering 125, M135C, 137, 141, 142 and 143, 143 (two maximum). Geotechnical Area: Civil and Environmental Engineering 220, 221, 222, 223, 225, 227 (three maximum). General Graduate: Civil and Environmental Engineering M230A, M230B, M230C, 232, 233, 235B, 235C, 236, M237A, 238, 241, 243A, 243B, 245, 247, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 269B.

Students may petition the department for permission to pursue programs of study which differ from the above norms.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

In addition to the course requirements, under the comprehensive examination plan there is a comprehensive written examination covering the subject matter contained in the program of study. The examination is administered by a comprehensive examination committee, which may conduct an oral examination in addition to the written examination. In case of failure, the examination may be repeated 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 the thesis plan students are required to write a thesis on a research topic in civil and environmental engineering supervised by the thesis adviser. A thesis committee reviews and approves the thesis. No oral examination is required.

Time-to-Degree

The average duration for full-time students in the M.S. program is three 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 department. 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 the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Environmental engineering; geotechnical engineering; hydrology and water resources engineering; structures (includes structural mechanics and structural/earthquake engineering).

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

There is no formal course requirement for the Ph.D. degree, and one may theoretically substitute coursework by examinations. Normally, however, the student takes courses to acquire the knowledge needed for the written preliminary examinations. The basic program of study for the Ph.D. degree is built around one major field and one super-minor field or two minor fields. The major field has a scope corresponding to a body of knowledge contained in a detailed Ph.D. field syllabus available on request from the department office. A super-minor field is comprised of a body of knowledge equivalent to five courses, at least three of which are at the graduate level. When two minor fields are selected, each minor field is normally comprised of a body of knowledge equivalent to three courses, at least two of which are at the graduate level. The minimum acceptable grade point average for the minor fields is 3.33 and no individual grade counting toward the minor can be below. If the student fails to satisfy the minor field requirements through coursework, a minor field examination may be taken (once only). The minor fields are chosen to support the major field and are usually subsets of other major fields.

For information on completing the Engineer degree, see Engineering Schoolwide Programs.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

After mastering the body of knowledge defined in the major field, the student takes a written preliminary examination in the major field. This preliminary examination should be completed within the first two years of full-time enrollment in the Ph.D. program. Students may not take an examination more than twice.

After passing the preliminary examination and substantially completing all minor field coursework, the student is eligible 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.

Students nominate a doctoral committee prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination. The doctoral committee consists of a minimum of four members. Three members, including the chair, must hold appointments at UCLA in the student’s major department in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. 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)

Required for all students in the program.

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 preliminary examination.

(3) Failure to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.33 in the minor field course work.

(4) Failure of the oral qualifying examination.

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

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

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

Program Requirements for Information Studies (Library and Information Science Certificate)

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

Information Studies

School of Education and Information Studies

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Information Studies offers the Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) degree and the Doctoral of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Information Studies.

Library and Information Science Certificate

Post-Master’s Certificate of Specialization

Admission

Program Name

Library and Information Science Certificate

Address

207 Graduate School of Education and Information Studies Building
Box 951520
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1520

Phone

(310) 825-5269

Email

abler@gseis.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

Post-master’scertificate of specialization

Admission Limited to

Fall, Winter, Spring

Deadline to apply

Fall: December 15th; Winter: October 1st; Spring: December 31st

GRE (General and/or Subject)

Not required

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 resume.

The Post-master’s Certificate of Specialization is designed for holders of the M.L.S. or M.L.I.S. or other appropriate degree who want either (1) to redirect their careers and need the structure of a nine-course program and specialization paper to accomplish that, (2) to update knowledge and skills across the discipline and require the structure of a nine-course program and specialization paper to accomplish those goals, or who (3) recently graduated from a less comprehensive M.L.I.S. or M.L.S. degree program than that offered by UCLA and did not have the opportunity to specialize.

Applicants should hold a master’s degree from a recognized program in library and information science. The committee may offer admission to (1) applicants holding the master’s degree in library and information science from foreign countries when the degree has been evaluated by the Graduate Division as a bona fide master’s degree, (2) applicants who attended unaccredited programs if documentation supports admission but for the lack of a degree from an accredited program, or (3) applicants from other disciplines who are interested in specific aspects of the specializations.

Meeting the requirements for a field of specialization does not automatically assure admission to the program. Part-time enrollment is encouraged to provide flexibility for the working information professional. Opportunities for relevant coursework outside the department and internships, both on and off campus, are available.

Advising

Consult the department.

Areas of Study

The program meets the need for specialized training in various areas of archival studies, informatics, or library studies, as well as research competence. Further specialization within these fields is possible.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The course program may begin in any quarter of the academic year. If a student is admitted for a preliminary quarter to complete prerequisite courses, that quarter is not counted in the minimum residence requirements.

A minimum of nine courses (100, 200, 400, and 500 series) must be completed in the Information Studies and other departments of the University. A research paper, bibliographical study, or literature survey appropriate for publication in a professional or scholarly journal or as a separate paper must be completed by the final quarter of study, usually in connection with enrollment in Information Studies 596. The specialization paper or project is required even if the student has an advanced academic degree in which a thesis or dissertation was required, and the paper or project must be approved by the faculty adviser.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Consult the department.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Consult the Department.

Program Requirements for Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

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

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Chemical Engineering

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

Address

5531 Boelter Hall
Box 951592
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1592

Phone

(310) 825-9063

Email

chemeng@ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Consult department for deadlines.

Deadline to apply

January 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, a statement of purpose, and a bachelor’s degree in a field that provides the student with at least two years of preparation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and engineering.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Applicants who wish to specialize in semiconductor manufacturing must hold a B.S. degree in engineering or physical science. Experience working in the semiconductor industry is highly desirable but not required. Applicants with this work experience should have their supervisor write one of the letters of recommendation.

Master’s Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a faculty graduate adviser. Students who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing are assigned to the faculty graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing. 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 graduate adviser upon admission to the School. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. All HSSEAS faculty serve as advisers. During the first quarter in residence, students meet with all faculty members in the department, and choose three professors with whom they would like to conduct master’s thesis research. These choices are submitted to the graduate adviser. The faculty meets separately and assigns each student their faculty research adviser, taking into account the student’s choices and the interests of the department as a whole. The department will consider changing an adviser upon written request from the student.

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

During the second quarter in residence, students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty research adviser to plan the proposed program of study towards the M.S. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with their research adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

During the first quarter in residence, students in who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing should arrange for an appointment with the graduate adviser for this specialization, and obtain an approved plan of study for the semiconductor specialization. The program of study may be changed only with the approval of the adviser.

Students who receive teaching or research assistantships must receive approval from their research adviser or the departmental graduate adviser to add or drop courses.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the departmental Student Affairs Officer 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, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. The specialization requires that the student have advanced knowledge of processing semiconductor devices on the nanoscale. This knowledge is assessed in a comprehensive examination.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The requirements for the M.S. degree are a thesis, nine courses (36 units), and a 3.0 grade-point average in the graduate courses. Chemical Engineering 200, 210, and 220 are required. Two courses must be taken from regular offerings of the department, and two courses may be Chemical Engineering 598, involving work on the thesis. The remaining two courses may be taken from those offered by the department, or from any other field in life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. At least 24 units must be in letter-graded 200-level courses.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization are required to complete 10 courses (44 units) with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average overall and in graduate courses. A minimum of five (20 units) 200-series courses are required. Students are required to take Chemical Engineering 104C and 104CL, 270, and 270R; Electrical Engineering 123A; Materials Science and Engineering 121. In addition, students must select two elective courses from the department’s list of electives, and two elective courses from elective offerings from the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, with a minimum of two of these in the 200 series. Approved elective courses include: Chemical Engineering C219, C214, C218, 223, C240; Electrical Engineering 124, 221A, 221B, 223, 224; Materials Science and Engineering 210 and 223.

Students in the specialization of semiconductor manufacturing who have been undergraduates or graduates at UCLA and who have already taken some of the required courses may substitute electives for these courses. However, no courses taken while not enrolled in the specialization may be counted toward the 10-course requirement for the degree. A program of study encompassing the course requirements must be submitted to the graduate adviser for approval before the end of the student’s first quarter in residence.

All master’s degree candidates are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 299 during each quarter of residence.

A program of study which encompasses these requirements must be submitted to the departmental Student Affairs Office for approval before the end of the student’s second quarter of residence.

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, M152B, 199; Electrical Engineering 100, 101, 102, 103, 110L, M116L,199; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 120, 130, 131, 131L, 132, 150, 160, 161L, 199; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 102, 103, 105A, 105D, 199.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students are required to take Chemical Engineering 270R, a directed research course, in the field, working at an industrial semiconductor fabrication facility. The proposed research must be approved by the graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing and the industrial sponsor of the research.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

This plan is only for students in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students take Chemical Engineering 597A to prepare for a comprehensive written examination. The examination tests for knowledge of the engineering principles of semiconductor manufacturing. In case of failure, the examination may be repeated once with the consent of the graduate adviser for the specialization. Second failure of the examination leads to a recommendation to the Graduate Division for termination of graduate study.

Thesis Plan

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

This plan is for all M.S. degree students who are not in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. These students must complete a thesis. Students should consult the graduate adviser for details on the thesis plan. Thesis-plan students nominate a three-member thesis committee that must meet University regulations and be approved by the Graduate Division, as outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Time-to-Degree

The average length of time for students in the M.S. program is six 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.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization must complete the degree in two years (six quarters). The program may be completed in one calendar year (three quarters and a summer session) by enrolling in three courses per quarter and for one summer session. Students who are enrolled less than full-time must complete the degree in three years (nine quarters).

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a faculty 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 graduate adviser upon admission to the School. During the first quarter in residence, students meet with all faculty members in the department, and choose three professors with whom they would like to conduct Ph.D. dissertation research. These choices are submitted to the graduate adviser. The faculty meets separately and assigns each student their faculty research adviser, taking into account the student’s choices and the interests of the department as a whole. The department will consider changing an adviser upon written request from the student.

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

During the second quarter in residence, students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty research adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with their research 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 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 who receive teaching or research assistantships must receive approval from their research adviser or the departmental graduate adviser to add or drop courses.

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

All Ph.D students are required to take six courses (24 units). Three of these are Chemical Engineering 200, 210, and 220. Two additional courses must be taken from those offered by the department. The third course can be selected from offerings in life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. All of these units must be in letter-graded, 200-level courses. Students are encouraged to take more courses in their field of specialization. These minor field courses should be selected in consultation with their research adviser. A 3.33 grade-point average in graduate courses is required. A program of study to fulfill the course requirements must be submitted for approval to the departmental Student Affairs Office no later than one quarter after successful completion of the preliminary oral examination.

All Ph.D. students are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 299 during each quarter of residence.

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

Teaching Experience

At least three quarters of teaching experience are highly recommended. During the quarters when they serve as teaching assistants, students are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 375. Chemical Engineering 495A and 495B are highly recommended for all new teaching assistants.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All Ph.D. students are required to take a preliminary oral examination. This examination tests each student’s understanding of chemical and biomolecular engineering fundamentals in the areas of thermodynamics, transport phenomena, and chemical kinetics and reactor design. Students are provided problems in writing, which they are asked to solve on paper prior to defending their solutions orally in front of a faculty committee. Students are required to take Chemical Engineering 200, 210, and 220 in preparation for this examination. Students whose first degree is in chemical engineering take this examination in the second quarter in residence. Students are required to have a 3.33 grade-point average in graduate coursework to be eligible to take this examination. Students whose first degree is not in chemical engineering (but in chemistry, for example) may petition to postpone this examination for one year. Any student who fails the Ph.D. preliminary oral examination may petition to retake the examination after successfully completing the requirements for the master’s degree, including the thesis. If this petition is granted, the student takes the preliminary examination concurrently with a defense of the master’s thesis in front of a committee of three faculty from the department.

After successfully completing the required courses and the preliminary oral examination, each student must pass the written and oral qualifying examinations. These examinations focus on the student’s dissertation research and are conducted by a doctoral committee consisting of at least four faculty members nominated by the department, and in accordance with university regulations.

The written qualifying examination consists of a dissertation research proposal that provides a clear description of the problem considered, a literature review of the current state of the art, and a detailed explanation of the research plan that will be followed to solve the problem. The student submits the dissertation research proposal to the doctoral committee and this written examination is due on the seventh week of the winter quarter of the student’s second year of academic residence.

The University Oral Qualifying examination consists of an oral defense of the dissertation research proposal, and is administered by the doctoral committee. The oral examination normally is held no less than two weeks after the submission of the written examination.

Students nominate a doctoral committee prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination. The 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)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to graduate status (including work for the master’s degree) to award of the Ph.D. degree: 18 quarters (normative time to degree). Doctoral students are expected to advance to candidacy by the Spring Quarter of their second year in residence. All Ph.D. candidates are required to present a departmental oral seminar to the department; this seminar is normally scheduled in their fourth year of academic residence. With input from their research adviser, students may petition to postpone this seminar. After the departmental seminar, students should complete their dissertation research within the next one to two years.

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 to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(4) 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 3.3 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the preliminary oral examination.

(3) Failure of the written and oral qualifying examination.

(4) Failure of a required final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

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

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

Program Requirements for Neurobiology

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

Neurobiology

School of Medicine

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Neurobiology

Address

Program is not accepting applications for 2015-2016
73-235 CHS
Box 951763
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1763

Phone

(310) 825-9553

Email

neurobio@mednet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

The Neurobiology department admits only applicants whose objective is the Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Program is not accepting applications for 2013-2014

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements, all applicants should submit a statement of purpose and describe why they wish to enter a doctoral program in fundamental neuroscience. The statement should include a description of past research experience in the life or physical sciences and psychology, and future career plans.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in a physical or life science, neuroscience, psychology, or in a premedical curriculum. Introductory courses in general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and physics are highly recommended. Courses in genetics, psychology, neuroscience, psychobiology, physiology, and statistics are recommended.

Master’s Degree

Advising

The graduate or faculty adviser monitors progress on a quarterly basis. The graduate adviser discusses progress with the student on an annual basis.

Areas of Study

See under Doctoral Degree.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The M.S. degree requires a minimum of 40 units of graduate coursework. The required courses are the core courses Neurobiology M200A-G (32 units), two advanced topics courses (Neurobiology 298A-298B-298C), one ethics course (Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics C234 or Neuroscience 207), three molecular biology, cell biology, or neuroscience seminar or journal club courses (Neurobiology 296, Molecular Biology 298), and a total of three quarters of laboratory experience (Neurobiology 596).

Teaching Experience

Not required but recommended.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Under the written comprehensive examination plan students must demonstrate a grasp of the general principles of the required coursework, as well as a general understanding of neurobiology. Details can be found in the description of the written qualifying examination under Doctoral Degree.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

The time-to-degree is normally six quarters (two academic years).

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The graduate program has a strong commitment to regularly monitor the progress of graduate student academic and scholarly activities, including the completion of dissertation research, in order to facilitate timely progress and completion of the degree within five years of matriculation to graduate study. Advising is done through regular meetings with the student, department graduate student adviser and student affairs officer, and with the student, faculty dissertation adviser, and doctoral committee. First-year students admitted directly to the department are advised by a member of the Graduate Program Committee. At the end of Spring Quarter of the first year, the student is expected to develop an affiliation with a faculty member who acts as the mentor and research professor. The faculty adviser monitors progress on a quarterly basis. The graduate adviser discusses progress with the student on an annual basis.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Neurobiology faculty offer instruction in fundamental neuroscience and provide advanced neuroscience research training. Fields of emphasis are: (1) synaptic and neuronal communication; (2) neuronal structure, circuitry and connectivity; (3) nervous system function, including vision, sleep, autonomic function, movement, and perception; (4) synaptic and neuronal plasticity, including learning and memory; (5) developmental neurobiology; (6) nervous system disease, neuronal repair and recovery of function; and (7) neuroendocrinology and sexual differentiation. These areas are mainly studied using genetic, cell biological, imaging, neuroanatomical, electrophysiological and behavioral approaches.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

(1) Neurobiology M200A-M200B-M200C-200D-200E-M200F-M200G
(2) The departmental seminar and journal club, Neurobiology 296 and six quarters of the lecture series, Neurobiology 270
(3) Two four-unit elective courses approved by the Graduate Program Committee.
(4) One ethics course, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics C234 or Neuroscience 207
(5) Three advanced topics courses, Neurobiology 298A-298B-298C
(6) Rotation through three research laboratories during the first year, one quarter per laboratory (Neurobiology 596)

The Department of Neurobiology graduate degree program is an affiliate of the UCLA ACCESS Program, and students are referred to that program for questions about course requirements related to the ACCESS Program.

Teaching Experience

To prepare students to teach at the professional level, they are required to gain teaching experience in two undergraduate Life Science courses. During their second and third years, students normally teach in a Life Science or Neuroscience undergraduate course offered by the College of Letters and Science. Advanced students, with permission of the instructor and the Graduate Program Committee, also have the opportunity to teach in the Neuroscience section of the medical school curriculum in lieu of the second undergraduate teaching experience.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examination

The written qualifying examination is normally taken during Spring Quarter of the second year of graduate study. The written examination must be completed by August 1 following the second year of graduate study. For this examination students are required to write an in-depth commentary on a significant, recently published original research article (or articles that are highly related) on a topic in neurobiology that is related to the student’s research interests. Students should consult the Preview and Mini-Reviews in Neuron as examples of the scholarly style and format of the commentary. Students choose the research article or articles for the written qualifying examination in consultation with their mentor.

The examination consists of two parts: (a) a review and critique of the historical context, and findings of the article or articles; and (b) a detailed proposal for the next series of studies based on the findings reported in the article or articles. The examination is limited to at least 14 and no more than 16 typewritten (font size 11 or 12), double-spaced pages, two figures, and up to three pages of references.

The written qualifying examination is not administered to a student who: is on academic probation (cumulative gradepoint average below 3.0); receives less than a B- in each of the departmental core courses; fails to satisfy specific academic requirements following conditional entry into the program; or fails to make normal progress in scholarly and research activities. Students who are not eligible to take the examination may be recommended for termination of graduate study on August 1 after the third year in the program.

Students, in consultation with their mentor, choose a three-member faculty committee to grade the examination. The examination committee consists of faculty members from the department. Faculty from outside of the department may serve on the committee only with permission of the Graduate Program Committee. All faculty participating on this committee must be members of the Academic Senate. The student’s mentor may not serve on the examination committee. The examination committee grades the written qualifying examination on a pass or fail basis.

Students who fail the examination are counseled by the graduate adviser and appropriate faculty, and may be placed on academic probation for failure to make normal progress in their scholarly activities. The student will be given a second chance to take the examination within three months of the administration of the original examination. Failure of the examination for a second time usually results in a recommendation of dismissal from the graduate program. However, the examination committee may give a third examination within six months of taking the original examination, if they determine that the student has sufficient promise to finish the doctoral program. A third failure will result in a recommendation for dismissal from the graduate program.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is normally taken within 12 months of passing the written examination. The oral examination is a presentation of an original research proposal that forms the basis of the doctoral dissertation. The format of the examination involves the presentation of an original dissertation proposal by the student. The student presents the dissertation project in a 30-to 45-minute seminar to all members of the student’s doctoral committee. The doctoral committee also evaluates the student’s general knowledge in neurobiology. The student, in consultation with the faculty adviser, selects the doctoral committee, following published university guidelines, which must be approved by the Graduate Division before administration of the examination. This committee schedules, administers and evaluates the examination. The student will either pass or fail the examination.

Students who fail the University Oral Qualifying Examination are counseled by the student’s faculty dissertation adviser and committee, placed on probation and given a second chance to take the examination within six months of the administration of the original examination. Failure of the examination for a second time usually results in a recommendation for dismissal from the graduate program. However, a third examination may be given at the discretion of the dissertation committee, if the student has shown sufficient promise to finish the doctoral program. The third examination should be scheduled within 12 months of the administration of the original examination. A third failure will result in a recommendation for dismissal from the graduate program.

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)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress is defined in the following:

First year

Students who are admitted directly into the department are required to complete Neurobiology M200A-M200B-M200C-200D-200E-M200F-M200G (core course series). Students are required to receive a grade of Satisfactory for Neurobiology 270 and Neurobiology 296. Students who are admitted through the ACCESS Program are required to complete the ACCESS curriculum. All students must satisfactorily complete the three required laboratory rotations.

Second year

Students complete electives and are required to receive a grade of Satisfactory for Neurobiology 270 and Neurobiology 296. Students should take Neurobiology 298A-298B-298C and other courses essential to their planned research and teaching experience. At the end of the year, students are required to complete the written qualifying examination. Students admitted through the ACCESS Program must finish the Neurobiology M200A-200G series.

Third year

Students continue the activities of the second year as needed. By the end of their third year students are required to successfully complete the University Oral Qualifying Examination and begin dissertation research.

Fourth year

Students complete research, prepare and defend the dissertation. A required public presentation of the results is followed by final questions by the dissertation committee in closed session.

Fifth year

Students complete final preparation of the dissertation. Extension of the student’s program beyond five years is strongly discouraged.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

The departmental graduate student adviser, after consultation with the student’s faculty research or dissertation adviser and the Graduate Program Committee, makes a recommendation for termination of graduate student status to the Dean of the Graduate Division. Students may be recommended for termination of graduate student status if they are on scholastic probation or are judged to be unqualified to meet the academic requirements for the degree. In exceptional circumstances, students in the doctoral program will be given the opportunity to work toward the master’s degree.

In addition to the standard reasons mentioned above under University Policy, students may be placed on departmental probation and subject to a recommendation for termination of graduate student status for:

Failure (repeated) to achieve a grade of Satisfactory in Neurobiology 270 or 296

Failure to match with a Neurobiology faculty member for research training after three 596 laboratory rotations

Failure to satisfy specific academic and scholastic requirements upon conditional entry

Failure to obtain a grade of (S)atisfactory for departmental seminars and advanced topics courses

Failure to complete the written qualifying examination by August 1 following the end of the second year of graduate study

Failure to complete the University Oral Qualifying Examination within 12 months of completing the written qualifying examination

Failure to make normal progress in scholarly and research activities (12 quarters in pre-candidacy and 9 quarters in candidacy)

Students who are placed on probation are counseled by the graduate and faculty advisers concerning the reasons for the probationary status. Students will normally be given: a) one additional rotation opportunity (fourth rotation) to match with a Department of Neurobiology faculty member for their research training; b) one academic year to remove any scholastic deficiencies in their required departmental course work; c) three academic quarters to establish minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0; and d) one (or in special circumstances two) additional opportunity to pass the master’s comprehensive examination, or the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Students will be immediately recommended for termination of graduate student status for:

Failure to match with a Neurobiology faculty member for research training after four 596 laboratory rotations

Failure to take the written qualifying examination by August 1 after the fourth year of graduate study

Failure to pass the master’s comprehensive examination a third time

Failure to pass either the written or oral qualifying examinations a third time

Failure to improve deficiencies in normal progress of scholarly and research activities

A student also may be recommended for termination based on a demonstrated absence of interest in any of the research specialties in which the department can offer guidance. A student may present an appeal of termination to the department’s Graduate Program Committee.

Program Requirements for Biostatistics

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

Biostatistics

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Biostatistics

Address

51-254 CHS
Box 951772
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772

Phone

(310) 825-5250

Email

biostat@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)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

3 (two from professors and one from an employer, or, if no employer, three from professors)

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] and a statement of purpose. Applicants with bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, computer science, or a field of application in biostatistics are preferred.

Prior field experience is not required as a condition of admission, although a background of public health experience may be considered

Undergraduate preparation for the program should include second-year calculus or equivalent.

Master’s Degree

Advising

An adviser is appointed for each new master’s student by the head of the respective department. Student and adviser together agree upon a study list for each academic quarter and any subsequent alterations must be approved by both the adviser and the Associate Dean of Student Affairs. Students are expected to meet with their advisers each quarter. A departmental guidance committee is established when the student has completed approximately half of the program for the master’s degree. Members of the departmental guidance committee are nominated by the department chair after consultation with the student and the student’s adviser.

An adviser is responsible for 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 that must be approved by the new adviser, the department chair, and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Areas of Study

Consult the graduate adviser for the areas of specialization. Typical course plans are listed below.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The M.S. degree requires a minimum of nine graduate and upper division courses, of which at least five must be graduate courses (200 and 500 series). The five required graduate courses must be in biostatistics or mathematical statistics, including at least three courses in biostatistics. Unless previously taken, the following courses must be included in the degree program: Biostatistics 110A, 110B, 115, 200A, 200B-200C, M215, 240, 402A, 402B, 596; Statistics 100A, 100B; and 12 units of special topics courses from Biostatistics M210 through M238 (except M215), 403A, or 410 through 419. At least four of the 12 units must be in the 200 series.

Exceptional students who have had a year course in probability and theoretical statistics plus one or more courses in applied statistics may be able to complete the degree in one year. Other courses in biostatistics or mathematical statistics, or in related areas such as biology, physiology, public health, management, or mathematics, are selected with the adviser’s consent and approved by the chair. A written report and written comprehensive examination covering the above course material must be passed. A failed examination can be repeated only once.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

Students are required to pass a written comprehensive examination that covers the content of the required courses. No more than one reexamination after failure is allowed. Students who do not take the reexamination at the time specified by the department forfeit their right to reexamination.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

From graduate admission to award of the degree (depending upon the program), normal progress is from three to seven quarters. Upper time limit for completion of all requirements is seven quarters of enrollment, including quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the School of Public Health. Maximum time allowable from enrollment to graduation, including leaves of absence, is five years.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

A faculty adviser is appointed for each beginning doctoral student by the department chair. The adviser meets with the student each quarter to discuss academic progress. When the student advances to candidacy, the chair of the dissertation committee becomes the student’s adviser.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must complete the following courses, unless previously taken: Biostatistics 250A-250B, 251, 255; Statistics 200B-200C; and at least three special topics courses from the Biostatistics 230, 270, and 280 series. Some substitution is accepted from courses in statistics and biomathematics. For students who have not completed a master’s degree or equivalent in Biostatistics, the following additional courses must be included in the degree program, unless previously taken: Biostatistics 115, 200A-200B-200C, 202, M215.

In addition, the student’s full program of study must be approved by the department and must include, at the graduate level, three areas of knowledge: biostatistics; mathematical statistics; and a third field such as AIDS, biology, epidemiology, infectious diseases, medicine, microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, psychology, zoology, or public health. Students must also enroll in Biostatistics 409 for three consecutive quarters and Biostatistics 245 every quarter.

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience is recommended but not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Before advancement to candidacy, students must pass two written qualifying examinations and the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

The written mathematical statistics examination is normally taken in Fall Quarter of the second year in residence. The written biostatistics examination is normally taken in Fall Quarter of the second year. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is taken before advancement to candidacy and after successful completion of the written examinations. The examination is administered by the doctoral committee and usually consists of a preliminary defense of the dissertation proposal.

A failed examination may be repeated once. The timing of reexaminations is specified by the department in the case of written examinations or by the student’s committee in the case of the oral examination. Students who do not take the reexaminations at the specified time forfeit their right to reexamination.

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

Maximum allowable time for the attainment of the degree is 20 quarters of enrollment or eight years. This limitation includes quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the doctoral degree program and leaves of absence. It is expected that students without a master’s degree normally will: complete the written qualifying examinations at the end of the second year of residence (six quarters); advance to candidacy by the end of the third year (nine quarters); and complete the dissertation and defense within 18 months of advancement to candidacy. The doctoral program is usually shortened by one year if students enter with a master’s degree.

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 of any written qualifying examination in the major or minor fields; a second failure of either oral examination; or exceeding enrollment time limits.

We're Sorry

Community Health Sciences

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Gender Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Environmental Health Sciences

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Environmental Science and Engineering

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Information Studies

Graduate Degrees

Post-Master’s Certificate of Specialization

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Neurobiology

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Biostatistics

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree