Program Requirements for Information Studies (Information Studies)

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2010-2011 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.

Doctoral Degree

Admission

Program Name

Information Studies

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

Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General (taken within the last five years)

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.

Applicants may enter with the M.L.S. or M.L.I.S. degree, other advanced degree, or directly out of a bachelor’s degree program. If the prior graduate degree does not include coursework equivalent to the core identified for the M.L.I.S. program, the applicant must complete the core after admission.

Applicants are expected to have fulfilled a statistics requirement, satisfied by completing a college-level course with a minimum grade of C.

It is recommended that applicants have general knowledge of and basic experience in the use of computers (e.g., for word processing, statistics, online searches, spreadsheets, graphics, or web browsing).

The statement of purpose should identify the applicant’s proposed area of specialization, accompanied by appropriate evidence of qualifications for pursuing a doctoral program, and of research and writing, such as published work, master’s thesis, or two research papers written in English, submitted with the applicant’s dossier.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores must be from a test taken within the last five years. There is no minimum score for the GRE, but high scores are regarded favorably. Admitted students typically score above the 75th percentile in all areas.

In cases where the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination, the department expects a minimum score of 600 (paper and pencil test) or 250 (computer-based test) on the TOEFL, or an overall band score of 7.0 on the IELTS. Only in exceptional cases are applicants recommended for provisional admission who do not meet the minimum scores; in such cases, strong evidence of competency is English (such as a high verbal GRE score) must be provided.

Favorable consideration may be given to applicants who have made distinguished contributions to the profession while working as a practicing professional, for instance in publications and/or work with professional societies.

A personal interview is required. The committee seeks evidence of an appreciation of research and knowledge of potential research topics. The committee is particularly interested in the applicant’s commitment to a career in library and information science education and research, signs of originality and inquisitiveness, and good communication skills.

Advising

Upon admission to the school, a faculty adviser is assigned based on the evidence in the student’s statement of interest at the time of application and on the general commitments of the faculty. Students may change advisers with agreement of faculty. The adviser has the responsibility to assist the student in planning a program of study that meets the requirements of the Ph.D. program and to guide the student in the dissertation research. Until advancement to candidacy, there are yearly formal evaluations of progress that involve the student, the chair, the faculty adviser, and other faculty. After advancement to candidacy, the evaluation of progress is the responsibility of the formal doctoral committee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

The courses offered in the doctoral program cover a range of areas of inquiry in the theory and methodology of information studies, focusing on information-related artifacts (e.g., documents, texts, images, records, collections), agents (e.g., producers, managers, seekers), contexts (e.g., cultural, economic, legal, social, technological), institutions (e.g., organizations, professions, disciplines), practices (e.g., production, design, recording, representation, organization, replication, preservation, retrieval, communication, management, interpretation, use, destruction, policymaking), properties (e.g., authenticity, authorship, identity, reliability, trustworthiness, truth), values (e.g., aesthetic, ethical, functional), and related phenomena (e.g., data, evidence, heritage, knowledge, memory, and misinformation).

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 72 units of coursework is required.

Students are required to take six core courses in the theory and methodology of information studies: four Information Studies 289 courses and 291A- 291B. Students also are required to take three elective courses chosen from graduate courses offered in this department, and three elective courses chosen from graduate courses offered outside of this department.

In addition to the course requirements listed above, doctoral students are required to participate in the Doctoral Research Colloquium, to participate in research apprenticeship activities by enrolling Information Studies 596 for three quarters, and to be reviewed annually by the Doctoral Program committee until advancement to candidacy.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

Students are required to pass a written qualifying examination on the theory and methodology of information studies.

After passing the written qualifying examination, the student is required to pass the University Oral Qualifying Examination, which is based on the oral defense of the dissertation proposal. The dissertation proposal and oral defense should be completed within one year after passing the written examination. The oral examination covers the significance of the chosen topic of research, the methodology and feasibility of the research, and the depth of the student’s knowledge in the specific field of the dissertation research.

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

(1) From graduate admission to the written qualifying examination: Expected – one to six quarters.

(2) From graduate admission to the oral qualifying examination: Expected – one to nine quarters.

(3) From graduate admission to the final oral examination: Expected – one to fifteen quarters.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination for failure of the comprehensive examination on two successive tests. A recommendation for termination is made by the Executive Committee of the faculty based on the advice of the faculty adviser and the chair. The chair notifies the student in writing of the decision. The student may appeal the decision through formal petition to the faculty.

Program Requirements for Geography

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

Geography

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Geography

Address

1255 Bunche Hall
Box 951524
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1524

Phone

(310) 825-1071

Email

gradapps@geog.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.A., Ph.D.

The Geography department normally admits only applicants whose objective is the Ph.D., although students holding only a bachelor’s may be awarded the M.A. en route to the Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General (optional for international applicants)

Letters of Recommendation

3, academic or professional

Other Requirements

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

Applicants are normally expected to have a bachelor’s degree in geography or in a related field. A minimum 3.3 grade-point average is required (attention is given to junior and senior years in the major).

Applicants holding master’s degrees are expected to have at least a 3.5 grade-point average in graduate work

Applicants are expected to have acceptable GRE scores (optional for international students). Strong letters evaluating past academic and/or professional performance and indicating potential for high achievement in graduate studiesmust be submitted. Exceptions to these guidelines may be considered for students whose records show other indications of unusual promise.

Ph.D.: In addition to requirements listed above, applicants are usually required to hold a master’s degree with at least a 3.5 grade-point average, and must submit evidence of substantive research in the form of a published paper, thesis chapter, or equivalent documentation. Exceptions to these guidelines may be considered for students whose records show other indications of unusual promise.

Applicants must also provide a writing sample as evidence of their ability to conduct substantive research and to articulate ideas clearly in writing. Those holding an M.A. or equivalent degree should submit a single-authored published paper, a thesis chapter or equivalent.

Exceptions to these guidelines may be considered for those whose records show other indications of unusual promise.

The department requires specific agreement from a faculty member to act as initial or interim adviser before admission is recommended. Applicants are encouraged to contact potential faculty advisers before submitting the application.

Master’s Degree

Advising

The interim adviser assists in the design of the student’s program. By the end of the first year, the student forms a guidance committee chaired by a faculty adviser. The guidance committee consists of two or three departmental faculty members who are appropriate to supervise the student’s proposed course of study. At a time agreed upon by the student and the guidance committee, an official master’s thesis committee is appointed. This three-person committee, at least two members of which must be faculty from the department, is responsible for the student’s course of study thereafter and for supervising the preparation of the M.A. thesis.

Every Spring Quarter the departmental faculty hold a review of all of the department’s graduate students. The purpose of the Spring Review is twofold: first, to provide the faculty with an opportunity to assess the progress toward the degree of every student; and second, to provide every student with that assessment. The student’s interim advisor or committee chair has the primary responsibility for setting forth the necessary information for the assessment. Other members of the student’s committee, instructors in courses the student has taken, and other faculty may contribute to the appraisal. After discussion, the faculty assess whether the student’s progress as Satisfactory, With Reservations, or Unsatisfactory. The interim advisor or committee chair and the graduate adviser inform the student by letter of the appraisal. In extreme cases, the results of this review may determine whether or not the student is permitted to proceed toward the degree.

Areas of Study

Students commonly specialize in one or more areas of geographical knowledge, such as: geomorphology, climatology, biogeography, geographic representation, economic, political, social, cultural, historical, population, and urban geography. At the M.A. level students emphasize at least one specialized area. However, because geographical knowledge and its associated research questions frequently transcend disciplinary and subdisciplinary boundaries, students, in consultation with faculty, are expected to refine and deepen their research interests further, within, across, and beyond research and teaching areas.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must complete at least seven courses, in addition to the two required graduate core courses and the research group seminars, for a minimum of 36 units required for the degree; of this minimum, seven courses (28) units must be graduate level. One 500-series course may be applied toward the minimum course requirement for the M.A. degree but not toward the minimum graduate course requirement. The core courses (Geography 297A and 298A) must be completed within two years and with a grade of B or better in each. Each student must in every term of residence enroll in one of the two research group seminars, either Geography C296A or 296E. Quarterly course enrollment plans should be approved by the student’s committee chair.

Individual Study Courses. The following rules pertain to individual study courses (Geography 199, 596, 597, 598, 599):

(1) Before enrolling in one of these courses, students must consult with the responsible faculty member and work out a program of study and consultation.
(2) All 500-series courses must be taken for S/U grading only.
(3) Students may enroll in Geography 597, 598, or 599 as often as required.

Teaching Courses. Geography 375 and 495 may not be applied toward course requirements for the M.A. degree.

Teaching Experience

Consult the department.

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.

Students must present a thesis based on original research. Selection of a thesis topic, development of a thesis proposal, and conduct of the investigation proceed under the supervision of the student’s M.A. committee. The thesis proposal consists of a description of the problem to be researched and the proposed methods of research, a preliminary outline, an assessment of the originality and significance of the project, and a timeline describing the anticipated time of completion of the various stages of the study. The entire thesis project must be carried out in close consultation with all members of the thesis committee. The thesis is expected to be no more than 20,000 words in length, exclusive of appendices and bibliography. In exceptional circumstances the limit may be waived with the agreement of the Graduate Adviser.

To ensure progress, each student is required to finalize a thesis title by the first day of the third quarter following enrollment in the program (normally Spring Quarter). The thesis proposal must have the approval of the student’s committee by the end of the eighth week of the same quarter and be reported at Spring Review. Failure to meet these deadlines results in a "reservations" report and the establishment of a second deadline; failure to meet this deadline may result in a recommendation for termination of graduate status. A first draft of the thesis is required by the end of the fifth week of the fifth quarter following admissions to the program (normally Winter Quarter). Students are encouraged to file the completed thesis as soon as possible thereafter.

Time-to-Degree

The M.A. degree must be completed within five calendar years of admission to the program.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

In the first quarter of residence and in consultation with the graduate adviser, students must form a guidance committee chaired by their interim adviser. This guidance committee consists of three members of the departmental faculty. As their work develops, students are permitted to change interim advisers or other committee members, as long as the faculty selected to serve are appropriate to the student’s objectives and plans and all involved are kept properly informed. The guidance committee sets, administers, and assesses the written qualifying examination. Upon successful completion of this examination the student formally creates an official doctoral committee. The doctoral committee consists of three departmental faculty and one faculty member from another department. This committee oversees the formulation of the dissertation proposal, conducts the oral qualifying examination, supervises the dissertation research and writing, and when required, conducts the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

Every Spring Quarter the departmental faculty hold a review of all of its graduate students. The purpose of the Spring Review is twofold: first, to provide the faculty with an opportunity to assess the progress toward the degree of every student; and second, to provide every student with that assessment. The student’s interim adviser or committee chair has the primary responsibility in setting forth the necessary information for the assessment. Other members of the student’s committee, instructors in courses the student has taken, and other faculty may contribute to the appraisal. After discussion, the faculty assess the student’s progress as Satisfactory, With Reservations, or Unsatisfactory. The interim adviser or committee chair and the graduate adviser inform the student by letter of the appraisal. In extreme cases, the results of this review may determine whether or not the student is permitted to proceed toward the degree.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students commonly specialize in one or more areas of geographical knowledge, such as: geomorphology, climatology, biogeography, geographic representation, economic, political, social, cultural, historical, population, and urban geography. However, because geographical knowledge and its associated research questions frequently transcend disciplinary and subdisciplinary boundaries, students are expected to refine and deepen their research interests further, in consultation with faculty, within, across, and beyond research and teaching areas.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must, within two years and with a grade of B or better in each, successfully complete the required graduate core courses (if they were not already completed at the M.A. level). At least three graduate geography courses, in addition to completed M.A. coursework (excluding core courses, and Geography 375, 495, and courses in the 500 series), are required, as are three upper division or graduate courses in one or two fields (outside of geography) allied to the student’s major research area or subdisciplinary specialization, subject to approval of the guidance committee. The allied-field requirement must be met before the student takes the oral qualifying examination. Quarterly course enrollment plans should be approved by the student’s adviser.

Individual Study Courses. The following rules pertain to individual study courses (Geography 199, 596, 597, 598, 599):

Teaching Courses. Geography 375 and 495 may not be applied toward course requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

Teaching Experience

Consult the department.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

The goal of the written examinations is to ensure that students develop a command of literature in two subdisciplines or fields of geography and that they are adequately prepared to carry out their dissertation research. Command of that literature is demonstrated through the completion of field statements. Each of the two statements consists of a substantial document prepared over the course of one quarter. A third practical examination, significantly shorter in length and produced over a shorter timeframe, assesses the ability of the student to develop a research strategy around a particular geographical problem. The three papers are to be completed no later that the student’s sixth term of residence. In case of failure, the student may make one more attempt, but no sooner than three months nor longer than one year after the first examination.

Preparation of the dissertation proposal follows successful completion of the written qualifying examination. The dissertation proposal must specify: the research question, describing in some detail the problem to be studied, its scientific background, an outline of the subject matter; the proposed methods of research; the degree of originality involved; and a timetable for completion of the degree. The dissertation proposal is written in consultation with the official doctoral committee and should be no more than 12,000 words in length. Once the proposal is accepted, significant changes in the project title must be approved by the committee. Committee members should receive the dissertation proposal at least one month before the oral qualifying examination.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is conducted by the appointed doctoral committee and focuses on the dissertation proposal. The maximum length of time permitted between written and oral examinations is six months. Oral examinations will normally be scheduled no later than the end of the quarter following completion of the written examinations. After successfully completing the oral qualifying examination, the student is eligible for advancement to candidacy. In instances of failure, the oral qualifying examination may be repeated once. Students have one year to repeat the examination.

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

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

Time-to-Degree

Students are expected to complete the Ph.D. degree within four years. Seven calendar years is the maximum time permitted for completion of the degree. Failure to show timely progress toward the degree may result in a departmental recommendation for termination from the graduate program.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

The decision to recommend termination is made by a vote of the faculty in a formal meeting. Appeal of termination is made to the faculty in a formal meeting.

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

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Mechanical Engineering

Admission

Program Name

Mechanical Engineering

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

Address

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

Phone

(310) 825-7793

Email

maeapp@ea.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall

Consult department regarding other quarters.

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

In addition to the University’s minimum requirements and those listed above, all 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, M171L, 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, 107L, 188, 194, 199.

Breadth Requirements. Students are required to take at least three courses from the following five categories: (1) Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 162A or 169A or 171A; (2) 150A or 150B; (3) 131A or 133A; (4) 156A, (5) 162B.

Graduate-Level Requirement. Students are required to take at least one course from the following: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 231A, 231B, 231C, 250A, 255A, M256A, M256B, M269A, or C271A, 294 or 297. 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. 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

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.

Term	Time Period	Courses Taught by UCLA Faculty	Location
Term 1	April		Miami (UAI)
Term 2	July	406, 463, 472A	Los Angeles (UCLA)
Term 3	October	471A	Sao Paulo
Term 4	January	482, 483, 485	Santiago (UAI)
Term 5	April		Miami (UAI)
Term 6	July	471B, 474, 486	Los Angeles (UCLA)

Term	Time Period	Courses Taught by UCLA Faculty	Location
Term 1	May/June		NUS
Term 2	August	463, 464, 474	UCLA
Term 3	November	471A, 474	Shanghai
Term 4	February/March	482, 485	NUS
Term 5	May		NUS
Term 6	August	471B, 483, 486	UCLA

Term	Time Period	Courses Taught by UCLA Faculty	Location
Term 1	April		Miami (UAI)
Term 2	July	406, 463, 472A	Los Angeles (UCLA)
Term 3	October	471A	Sao Paulo
Term 4	January	482, 483, 485	Santiago (UAI)
Term 5	April		Miami (UAI)
Term 6	July	471B, 474, 486	Los Angeles (UCLA)

We're Sorry

Information Studies

Graduate Degrees

Doctoral Degree

Geography

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Management

Graduate Degrees

Human Genetics

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Theater

Graduate Degrees

Doctoral Degree

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Management

Graduate Degrees

Management

Graduate Degrees

Executive M.B.A. Program

Executive M.B.A. Program in Cooperation with the National University of Singapore

Executive M.B.A. Program in Cooperation with the Universidad Adolfo Ibanez (UAI)

East Asian Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Asian Languages and Cultures

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree