Program Requirements for French & Francophone Studies

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

French and Francophone Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

French and Francophone Studies

Address

212 Royce Hall
Box 951550
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1550

Phone

(310) 825-1147

Email

allen@humnet.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

The French and Francophone Studies department admits only applicants whose objective is the Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a statement of purpose and a writing sample. The writing sample must be in French.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program must hold at least a bachelor’s degree in French or the equivalent.

Master’s Degree

Advising

See under Doctoral Degree.

Areas of Study

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

During the first two years of study students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward fulfillment of the first foreign language requirement for the doctoral degree (listed under Doctoral Degree). Students who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the first foreign language requirement in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students must complete a total of 12 courses taken for a letter grade in the department, including French and Francophone Studies 200 which should be taken as early as possible. These 12 courses fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree. Nine of the 12 courses must be at the graduate level. No courses in the 500 series may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree.

Students are required to consult with the graduate adviser to ensure full historical coverage of French literature. More information on course requirements is listed under Doctoral Degree.

Although all students are admitted directly into the doctoral program, those who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must have completed the 12-course requirement above in order to receive the M.A. degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The comprehensive examination requirement is met through two reviews, assessing academic performance and other evidence of professional promise. The first review, taken in the third quarter, is meant to be advisory in nature. Students are evaluated by the faculty whose courses they have taken and are provided with suggestions through a follow-up departmental written evaluation. The second review is taken in the sixth quarter and is conducted by a departmental review committee. The second review is based on the following four components:

(1) A submission of three papers written for courses taken during the six quarters and their respective evaluations.
(2) An expanded version of one of the three papers provided by the student prior to the review.
(3) A two- to three-page, single-spaced self-statement outlining the student’s progress and direction of future study.
(4) An oral examination.

Following the second review, students are provided with the committee’s written evaluation which may include a recommendation for continuation and suggestions for future work toward the Ph.D. degree. Students who decide not to pursue the doctoral degree and to leave the graduate program must contact the graduate adviser and make arrangements for the M.A. degree as early as possible but no later than the second week of the sixth quarter. Students will receive the M.A. degree if they have passed the sixth quarter review and have satisfactorily completed the course, language, and residency requirements as outlined above.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

See under Doctoral Degree.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The department is concerned that students receive advising that is directed toward their individual needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance and to participate in the department’s intellectual life.

The Director of Graduate Studies is the principal contact person who advises graduate students in the planning of their individual courses of study and in the completion of degree requirements in a timely fashion. At the beginning of each quarter, all graduate students who have not yet formed a doctoral guidance committee (discussed under Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations) are required to consult with the Director before enrolling in courses.

Students who have established a doctoral guidance committee are advised by the chair of their committee. All students are required to meet with their adviser each quarter to have their program of study approved.

Matriculating students first enter the two-year phase of the doctoral program. Following the sixth-quarter review, a faculty review committee decides on whether to recommend students for admission into the second phase of the doctoral program.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

French and Francophone Literatures.

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates are expected to satisfy two language/interdisciplinary requirements relevant to their dissertation research. Methods of fulfillment must be discussed beforehand with the Director of Graduate Studies. The two requirements are outlined as follows:

(1) The first requirement is a foreign language, other than French, in which the student demonstrates an advanced level of proficiency by passing, with a grade of B or better, at least two upper-division or graduate courses offered by another language department. Such courses must require the use of texts in the original language. These two upper-division courses must be taken for a letter grade.
(2) The second requirement may be fulfilled by: (a) taking three courses in an intellectual discipline pertinent to the dissertation project, of which at least two must be graduate courses in another department and one may be an upper division course (these two courses do not necessarily have to be taken within one department or program); (b) demonstrating a reading knowledge of an additional foreign language by passing language courses (through level 3) or graduate reading courses (courses designated 2G) that are offered by some departments.

Students must complete the language/interdisciplinary requirements before nominating a doctoral committee and taking the qualifying examinations.

Course Requirements

Coursework required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. For the third and fourth years of study, students are expected to complete the following course requirements: a minimum of three graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade; additional courses in the department if recommended by the adviser; and two or more graduate courses outside of the department as recommended by the adviser (these courses may be used to fulfill the language/interdisciplinary requirement).

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete French and Francophone Studies 495.

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.

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the eighth quarter of study. The guidance committee is composed of a chair, generally in the proposed period of specialization, and at least one other faculty member in the department. The committee directs the student up to the doctoral qualifying examinations. Once established, the doctoral guidance committee holds a meeting during which the student proposes a general topic for the dissertation. The student follows the guidance committee’s suggestions for possible additional coursework.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: By the ninth quarters of study, students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place in the 11th quarter of study. The written qualifying examination consists of two parts. The first part covers the literary history related to the proposed dissertation topic. The second part consists of critical theory relevant to the proposed dissertation topic. Each examination is based on an individual reading list of approximately 15 works, established by the examiner and the candidate. These two four-hour examinations are to be taken within one week and are administered by the guidance committee. A student may attempt one or both parts of this examination a maximum of two times.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place in the quarter following the written examination or in the 12th quarter of study, may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation proposal. Prior to this examination, two more members are added to the guidance committee, one from the department, and one from another department. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division for formal appointment and becomes the doctoral committee that administers the examination.

Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a descriptive text of approximately 20-30 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. Students are responsible for submitting the prospectus to the committee members within a time frame that is satisfactory to the committee for administering the examination. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus.

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

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

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

The following norms and maximums, including time to degree for the M.A. degree, are enforced by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee:

Degree Progress	Norm	Maximum
M.A.	Six quarters	Seven quarters
Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination	Nine quarters	12 quarters
Ph.D. Dissertation	18 quarters	27 quarters
Total Graduate Study	18 quarters	27 quarters

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is made by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Policy Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the departmental chair.

Program Requirements for Oral Biology

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

Oral Biology

School of Dentistry

Graduate Degrees

The Oral Biology Section of the School of Dentistry offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Oral Biology.

Admission

Program Name

Oral Biology

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

Address

13-089 CHS
Box 951668
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668

Phone

(310) 825-1955

Email

mscott@dentistry.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General (PhD only)

Letters of Recommendation

3 (minimum), with at least two from science faculty familiar with the applicant’s scholarly abilities. Letters of recommendation may be no more than one year old

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all applicants are expected to submit a signed and dated statement of purpose and a curriculum vitae (CV). The statement of purpose should describe the applicant’s background, work experience, research interests, and career goals. The CV should include the applicant’s education, honors and awards, work experience, research, organizational memberships, publications, volunteer work, and hobbies.

M.S.: Applicants must hold a B.S., D.D.S., or D.M.D. degree, or the equivalent, or be in good standing in the UCLA dental or residency programs. Applicants must have a strong background in the biological (e.g., microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, neurobiology, psychobiology, genetics) and chemical sciences (e.g., biochemistry, organic, inorganic and physical chemistry, thermodynamics), with a minimum 3.0 grade point average in upper division courses in these subjects.

The Master of Science degree in Oral Biology is a terminal degree and does not lead to the doctoral degree.

Oral Biology, M.S./Dentistry, D.D.S. – Oral Biology, M.S./Dentistry, Certificate

Applicants may apply for a combined D.D.S./M.S. or advanced certificate training/M.S. by making simultaneous application for graduate study in Oral Biology and for admission to the School of Dentistry and to the certificate programs. Applicants must submit the Application for Graduate Admission and the application required for the D.D.S. Or advanced certificate training, and must be accepted by both of the concerned units in order to participate in a combined program.

Ph.D.: Applicants must hold a B.S., D.D.S., or D.M.D. degree, or the equivalent, with a strong background in basic sciences, including two years of chemistry (inorganic, organic, and biological chemistry), one year of biology, and one year of physics.

Oral Biology, Ph.D./Dentistry, D.D.S. – Oral Biology, Ph.D./Dentistry, Certificate

Applicants may apply for a combined D.D.S./Ph.D. or advanced certificate training/Ph.D. by making simultaneous application for graduate study in Oral Biology and for admission to the School of Dentistry and to the certificate programs. Applicants must submit the Application for Graduate Admission and the application required for the D.D.S. or advanced certificate training, and must be accepted by both of the concerned units in order to participate in a combined program.

Master’s Degree

Advising

New students are advised by the M.S. program graduate adviser. Students are expected to identify the research area and a mentor by the end of their first year of study. Students are then advised by the graduate adviser in consultation with the research mentor and the master’s thesis committee members.

Areas of Study

Areas of study include bone biology; immunology and oral, head and neck cancer surveillance; oral microbiology, neurobiology, pathology and homeostasis; and performing oral biological research.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 36 units is required to satisfy the degree requirements. This required coursework consists of nine core courses (Oral Biology 201A, 201B, 201C, 205A, 209, 212, 215A, 260, 275), and four units each of Oral Biology 596 and 598. These courses should be taken during the first year of graduate study. Students also must take a minimum of seven units of additional elective coursework from any of these courses: Oral Biology M204, 205B, 206, 208, 214, 215B, 226, 227, 228, 229A, 299B, M234, 273, or from other departmental courses either at the upper division or graduate level. The elective courses should be essential to or add to the enhancement of understanding in the research area.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

None.

Thesis Plan

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

The purpose of the thesis is to demonstrate the student’s ability to design and carry out a research project, and to analyze and present the resulting data. The results of thesis research are expected to be of publishable scientific quality. The subject of the thesis must be approved by the graduate adviser and research mentor. Students prepare and send a proposal of the research project to the graduate adviser at the end of their first year of study.

Time-to-Degree

Time-to-degree varies in accord with the program track students select. Some students may be capable of completing the degree requirements in less time than stated here.

Master’s degree only: Six quarters.

First year: Students begin required and elective coursework, laboratory rotations, select mentor and thesis committee members, and begin research.
Second year: Students complete required and elective coursework, complete research, analyze data, write, defend, and file thesis.

Master’s degree combined with UCLA DDS program: 12 quarters.

First year: Students begin DDS curriculum and training and M.S. required and elective coursework.
Second year: Students continue DDS curriculum and training and M.S. elective coursework, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and complete research proposal.
Third year: Students continue DDS curriculum and training and M.S. elective coursework, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and 598, continue research.
Fourth year: Students complete DDS curriculum and training and M.S. elective coursework, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and 598, complete research, analyze data, write, defend, and file thesis.

Master’s degree combined UCLA Dental Residency Certificate Program: Nine quarters.

First year: Students begin clinical training and M.S. required and elective coursework.
Second year: Students continue clinical training and M.S. elective coursework, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and complete research proposal.
Third year: Students continue clinical training and M.S. elective coursework, enroll in Oral Biology 596 and 598, complete research, analyze data, write, defend, and file thesis.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

New students are advised by the Ph.D. program graduate adviser. Students are expected to identify the research area and a mentor by the end of their first year of study. Students are then advised by the graduate adviser in consultation with the research mentor and the doctoral committee members.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The major fields include bacterial and fungal pathogenesis; biochemistry; calcified tissue metabolism and developmental biology; cancer biology; immunology; neuroscience; pharmacology and therapeutics; salivary diagnostics; and virology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A total of 36 units of core courses is required: Biochemistry CM253, C267A, M267B, Oral Biology 209, 260, 596, 597, 599. Students also must take a minimum of four units of additional elective coursework from any of these courses: Oral Biology 201A, 201B, 201C, M204, 205A, 205B, 206, 208, 214, 215A, 215B, 226, 227, 228, 229A, 229B, 234, 273, 275, or from other departmental courses either at the upper division or graduate level. The elective courses should be essential to or add to the enhancement of understanding in the research area.

Teaching Experience

Participation in teaching activities either by assisting the faculty in a one-quarter oral biology course offered to dental students or in a Teaching Assistantship offered by another department is required. Students are expected to participate fully in the planning and delivery of the course.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

The timing of the University Oral Qualifying Examination depends on the specific program track in which the student is enrolled. Students should see the Time-to-Degree section for details. During the year specified, the student is responsible, with the advice and consent of the graduate adviser, for organizing the doctoral committee. Faculty members constituting the doctoral committee include the student’s research mentor and two others from the student’s areas of emphasis. Two of three members must be from the Section of Oral Biology or Dentistry. The fourth member must come from a University department outside of the School of Dentistry. The doctoral committee is responsible for approving the course of the student’s doctoral study and for conducting a review of the student’s progress.

The timing of the University Oral Qualifying Examination depends on the specific program track in which the student is enrolled. Students should see the Time-to-Degree section for details. Students in the first and third tracks are expected to complete the required core courses during the first year of study in the doctoral program After the completion of the core course requirements, it is expected that students complete the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Briefly this examination includes a written research proposal and its oral defense before the doctoral committee. At the end of the oral defense, students give a 15-minute presentation for the proposed research for the doctoral dissertation.

Students prepare a 15 to 20 page written research proposal on a topic unrelated to the dissertation research. It may be in the same general area as the student’s research interests, for example, molecular pathogenesis, but it must not be closely related to the student’s own research, or any research being conducted in the doctoral mentor’s laboratory. The proposal is in the format of an NIH grant application, and includes background, current research status, a novel working hypothesis and three specific aims to test the hypothesis. Students may consult with their mentor on the appropriateness of the topic. However, the mentor is not allowed to provide the students with any help in preparing for the oral qualifying examination.

Following the oral examination, the doctoral committee makes a decision in the following manner: to vote pass on the oral examination and advance the student to candidacy; to vote fail and allow the student to repeat the examination; or, to vote fail and recommend termination of graduate study. The committee’s decision is based on the quality of the written proposal, the adequacy of the oral presentation, the overall record at UCLA as reflected in coursework, and the research ability as judged by an abstract of the research submitted with the proposal and the research mentor’s written assessment.

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)

The final oral examination is required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Time-to-degree varies in accord with the program track students select.

Doctoral degree only: Twelve to 15 quarters.

First year: Students complete the required ACCESS and Oral Biology core courses and begin the laboratory rotations.
Second year: Students select a research mentor and laboratory, complete elective coursework, work with the mentor to select the doctoral committee, prepare for and take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Students may also begin dissertation work in the selected laboratory.
Third year: Students engage in dissertation research and complete any elective courses necessary for completion of the didactic portion of the doctoral degree requirements.
Fourth year: Students engage in dissertation research. Approximately six months before the expected completion of the research and the final oral examination, students prepare for a midstream seminar examination. Students present to the doctoral committee a midstream seminar that outlines their research achievements. Students must pass this examination prior to taking the final oral examination. Finally, students prepare, defend, and file the dissertation.
Fifth year: Students who were unable to complete the program within four years engage in the same activities as in the fourth year.

Doctoral degree combined with UCLA DDS program: 21 quarters.

First year: Students begin DDS curriculum and training and doctoral laboratory rotations and required and elective Oral Biology coursework.
Second year: Students continue DDS curriculum and training and begin doctoral research coursework.
Third year: Students continue DDS curriculum and training and doctoral research while completing Oral Biology coursework.
Fourth year: Students complete ACCESS coursework in Fall and Winter Quarters, complete University Oral Qualifying Examination.
Fifth year: Students continue DDS curriculum and training at 25% time and continue doctoral research.
Sixth year: Continue DDS curriculum and training at 25% time and continue doctoral research.
Seventh year: Students complete DDS curriculum and training and doctoral research. Approximately six months before the expected completion of the research and the final oral examination, students prepare for a midstream seminar examination. Students present to the doctoral committee a midstream seminar that outlines their research achievements. Students must pass this examination prior to taking the final oral examination. Finally, students prepare, defend, and file the dissertation.

Doctoral degree combined UCLA Dental Residency Certificate Program: Time-to-degree varies in accord with length of certificate program selected.

First year of doctoral program: Students complete the required ACCESS core courses and the laboratory rotations. Students select a research mentor and begin research.
Second year of doctoral program: Students complete coursework, continue research, prepare for and take the University Oral Qualifying Examination.
Dental certificate program years: Two to four years depending on the program selected. Students concentrate on certificate curriculum and clinical training and continue research.
Final year: Students concentrate on certificate curriculum and clinical training (50% time). Approximately six months before the expected completion of the research and the final oral examination, students prepare for a midstream seminar examination. Students present to the doctoral committee a midstream seminar that outlines their research achievements. Students must pass this examination prior to taking the final oral examination. Finally, students prepare, defend, and file the dissertation.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination for failure to show satisfactory progress in research activities.

The program chair and the program director together recommend termination in writing to the departmental chair (who is also the dean of the school).

A student may appeal a recommendation for termination in writing to the faculty Review Committee. The Review Committee consists of three members. One member is the student’s mentor, one is appointed by the departmental chair and one is appointed by the student. If the student does not have a mentor, the departmental chair appoints two members.

The Committee reviews the student’s record and conducts a personal interview with the student. The Committee’s recommendation is communicated in writing to the departmental chair, with copies to the student and program chair. The recommendation is specific and may be for one of the following (but is not limited to these options): a leave of absence for a specified period of time to remove Incomplete grades or review academic goals; continuance for a specified period of time with stated expectations of improvement in performance; or, termination of graduate study.

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

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Aerospace Engineering

Admission

Program Name

Aerospace Engineering

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

Address

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

Phone

(310) 825-7793

Email

maeapp@ea.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Consult department regarding other quarters.

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

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

Ph.D.: In addition to the requirements listed above, applicants are expected to have completed requirements for the master’s degree with at least a 3.25 grade-point average and have demonstrated creative ability. Normally the M.S. degree is required for admission to the Ph.D. program; exceptional students, however, can be admitted to the Ph.D. program without having the M.S. degree.

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

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

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

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

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

Areas of Study

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

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

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

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

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

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

(1) the field is interdisciplinary in nature;

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

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

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

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

Master’s

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

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

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

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

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

(5) Failure to satisfy the breadth and graduate-level requirements.

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

Doctoral

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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