Program Requirements | UCLA Graduate Programs

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

Biomathematics

School of Medicine

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Biomathematics

Address

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

Phone

(310) 825-5554

Email

gradprog@biomath.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Consult department.

Deadline to apply

January 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General and Subject

Consult department for additional information

Letters of Recommendation

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

Other Requirements

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

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

Master’s Degree

Areas of Study

Consult the department.

Advising

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

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

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

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

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

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

Foreign Language Requirements

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

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

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

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

The following courses are recommended:

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

Statistics . Additional training in biostatistics is highly recommended.

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

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

Teaching Experience

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

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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.

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

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

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

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

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

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

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

Theater

School of Theater, Film, and Television

Graduate Degrees

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

Theater and Performance Studies

Doctoral Degree

Admission

Program Name

Theater and Performance Studies

Address

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

Phone

(310) 206-8441

Email

theatergrad@tft.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall, Winter, Spring

Deadline to apply

December 10th

GRE (General and/or Subject)

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

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

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

Advising

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

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

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

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

Course Requirements

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

Teaching Experience

Teaching experience is encouraged but not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

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

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

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

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

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

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

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

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

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

From graduate admission to the award of the degree: 18 quarters.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Management

John E. Anderson School of Management

Graduate Degrees

The John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctoral of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Management, the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree, and the Master of Financial Engineering (M.F.E.) degree. In addition, there are a number of degree programs, offered in cooperation with other graduate and professional degree programs on campus, that lead to the M.B.A. and another degree. The school also offers the Executive M.B.A. Program (EMBA) and the M.B.A. for the Fully Employed (FEMBA).

Master of Financial Engineering

Admission

Program Name

Management: Master of Financial Engineering

Applicants to MBA and MFE programs in the John E. Anderson Graduate School of Management should NOT complete the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission. Application information for programs in the Anderson School may be obtained by contacting the appropriate office.

Address

110 Westwood Plaza, Suite C310
Box 951481
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1481

Phone

(310) 825-3103

Email

mfe@anderson.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

Master of Financial Engineering

Admission Limited to

Winter

Deadline to apply

July 31st

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GMAT or GRE

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

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

A strong quantitative background including, at minimum, linear algebra, multivariate calculus, and statistics, is expected. Applicants with prior work in computer programming, differential equations, numerical methods, advanced statistics, and probability theory, are preferred.

Master’s Degree

Advising

The faculty director of the M.F.E. program is in charge of student advising.

Areas of Study

Financial Engineering.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

52 units of coursework are required for the degree. All courses must be at the graduate level. In exceptional circumstances a maximum of four units of 500-series coursework may be applied to the course requirements. The curriculum consists of three components: (1) core courses; (2) financial practice seminars, and (3) a summer internship/applied finance project. The core courses, which consist of 44 units from Management 237A through 237M, provide the skills, theoretical and applied, that students need to work in the area of quantitative finance. The finance practice seminars present finance practitioners who discuss such topics as the opportunities available to graduates of the program, the skills needed to succeed in financial engineering, and emerging changes in the financial world. The eight-unit applied finance project, Management 237N, is designed to provide in-depth exposure to at least one major task that graduates will be expected to perform in the workplace.

Teaching Experience

Not Required.

Field Experience

Not Required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The comprehensive examination requirement is fulfilled by successful completion of the applied finance project. This project is designed to provide an in-depth exposure to at least one major task students will be expected to fulfill in the workplace. The project will develop or utilize existing quantitative finance tools and techniques. The faculty member who supervises the project and two other faculty members appointed by the faculty program director are responsible for evaluating the project.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Four quarters from graduate admission to award of the degree, including a ten-week summer term.

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

Architecture and Urban Design

School of the Arts and Architecture

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Architecture and Urban Design offers the Master of Architecture I (M.Arch. I) and Master of Architecture II (M.Arch. II) degrees, and the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Architecture.

Admission

Program Name

Architecture

Address

1317 Perloff Hall
Box 951467
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1467

Phone

(310) 825-0525

Email

admissions@aud.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.Arch., M.A., 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, creative portfolio, and the departmental supplement.

For applicants whose native language is not English, 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 Testing System (IELTS) examination is required for admission.

Master of Architecture I: Accepts applications from students with a broad diversity of backgrounds. Although no formal training in architecture is required, first-year classes assume some familiarity with the history and culture of architecture, possession of basic graphics skills, and understanding of fundamental concepts of mathematics and physics. Applicants are also strongly advised to become familiar with basic works in the history and theory of architecture before entering the program. Therefore, applicants must have taken at least one college-level course in each of the following areas: Newtonian physics; mathematics (covering algebra plus geometry or trigonometry); a university survey of the history of architecture (minimum one semester or two quarters) encompassing examples from antiquity to the present; and drawing or basic design. Applicants should contact the graduate adviser for further information on these prerequisites.

The Admissions Committee considers applications from those who do not have these prerequisites at the time of application. Such applicants must specify how they plan to complete the prerequisites before entry into the program. The graduate adviser can provide guidance on how to do so. Admission is only offered on the condition that the applicant produce satisfactory evidence of having completed prerequisites before commencing classes. Instructors may test background in these areas before admitting students to certain courses. If applicants lack this necessary proficiency, they may need to spend an additional year fulfilling curricular requirements.

The M.Arch. I program is a full-time program and does not accept part-time students.

Architecture M.Arch. I /Urban Planning, M.U.R.P.

The Department of Architecture and Urban Design in the School of the Arts and Architecture and the Department of Urban Planning in the School of Public Policy and Social Research offer a concurrent plan of study providing an integrated curriculum for architects interested in specializing in social, economic, and environmental policy issues and for urban planners interested in integrating architecture and urban design into policy and planning practice. Education in planning offers an overview of theories and methods that permit identification and treatment of urban problems; education in architecture stresses physical, aesthetic and technical issues in the design of buildings and building complexes. In the program, a student pursues studies in both schools/departments and receives both the Master of Architecture Degree (M.Arch. I) and the Master of Urban and Regional Planning Degree in Urban Planning (M.U.R.P.) at the end of four years.

A student who is interested in the concurrent degree program, must apply and be admitted to the M.Arch. I Program in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, and the M.U.R.P. Program in the Department of Urban Planning.

For additional information, applicants should contact the graduate advisers in the Department of Urban Planning and in the Department of Architecture and Urban Design.

Master of Architecture II: The M.Arch. II degree is a second professional degree program in Architecture and Urban Design and emphasizes advanced studies in architecture and urban design and requires that applicants hold a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree or the equivalent.

M.A.: The M.A. program in Architecture offers an academic degree and prepares students to do specialized research or teaching in fields related to the architecture profession. Applicants should possess the experience and knowledge that would allow advanced research in whatever aspect of architecture they plan to explore within the context of the master’s program.

It may be possible for an M.A. student in Architecture to petition to transfer from the M.A. to the Ph.D. program.

Ph.D.: Applicants should have completed a first professional degree in architecture (a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree or a professional Master of Architecture degree). Applicants who hold degrees in other fields also are encouraged to apply; however, at the discretion of the Ph.D. Program Committee, they may be required to complete specific coursework in the department as a condition of admission.

In addition to requirements listed above, the application dossier must include (1) a short biographical resume; (2) examples of research and/or creative work; and (3) a proposed program of studies.

Where feasible, the Ph.D. Program Committee may require an interview.

Admission to the program is granted to a small group each year, according to the following criteria:

(1) Evidence of capacity for original scholarship and research in architecture, and ability to achieve eminence in the field.
(2) Demonstration of an outstanding academic record through the evidence of grades (3.5 minimum grade-point average), GRE scores, and references.
(3) Demonstration of adequate communication skills, particularly in writing, in the work submitted.
(4) Presentation of a clear and realistic statement of purpose.

Master of Architecture I

Advising

Students are assigned a temporary adviser upon entering the department and select a permanent faculty adviser when they are ready to do so. The faculty member meets with students at least once each quarter and discusses the curriculum, approves selection of courses, and is available for special counseling as needed. Students who wish to change their adviser should obtain the consent of the new faculty adviser and discuss this change with the graduate adviser. The faculty adviser and the staff graduate adviser work together in explaining curricular requirements and in dealing with any personal or academic difficulties that may occur.

Areas of Study

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 126 units of coursework is required of which at least 114 units must be taken at the graduate level (200 and 400 series). Students must take at least eight units per quarter and may take up to 16 units in a quarter. The remaining 12 units of required coursework may include upper division undergraduate courses but these must be courses offered by departments other than Architecture and Urban Design, or no more than eight units of 596 (independent study) courses that may be taken campuswide.

Required Courses. All students must successfully complete the following courses:

Architecture and Urban Design M201, 220, 291, 401, 403A-403B-403C, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 431, 432, 433, 436, 437, 441, 442, 461, and three courses in Critical Studies in Architectural Culture.

Design Studios. Design studios offered for M.Arch. I students are classified in three levels: introductory (411), intermediate (412, 413, 414), and advanced (401, 403A-403B-403C, 415).

If students maintain at least a B average in these studio levels, they automatically pass from the introductory to the intermediate level, from the intermediate level to the advanced level, and from the advanced level to the comprehensive examination. Students who do not maintain a B average in these studio levels are reviewed by a faculty committee, and are not permitted to advance unless explicitly allowed by that committee.

Waiving Required Courses. Students who believe they can demonstrate that they already have adequate background in topics covered by specific required courses may petition to waive those courses and replace them with electives. However, permission to waive required courses does not, in itself, reduce the minimum number of 126 units required for the M.Arch. I degree, nor does it reduce the nine-quarter residency requirement.

A petition to waive an individual required course should be addressed to the faculty member responsible for that course and may be granted at the faculty member’s discretion, possibly by means of a special examination. The petition should present evidence of adequate background in the specific topic of the course, preferably through a transcript and a syllabus of the course.

Independent Study. Students may apply eight units of 596 coursework toward the elective course requirements for graduation. All independent work with 500-series course numbers must be undertaken with the guidance and approval of a departmental faculty member who evaluates the work on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.

Course of Study. A normal, three-year path through the curriculum is listed below. Required courses other than design studios are normally only offered once a year, so failure to successfully complete one of these courses at the point shown may lengthen the time required to complete the program. Sections of Architecture and Urban Design 401, required studios, are normally available each quarter. Students are required to take the following courses, in the sequence indicated.

First Year:

Fall: Architecture and Urban Design M201, 220, 411, 436.

Winter: Architecture and Urban Design 412, 431, elective.

Spring: Architecture and Urban Design 413, 432, 442.

Second Year:

Fall: Architecture and Urban Design 414, 433, elective.

Winter: Architecture and Urban Design 415, 437, elective.

Spring: Architecture and Urban Design 401, 441, 461 (or M404).

Third Year:

Fall: Architecture and Urban Design 291, 401, 403A, elective.

Winter: Architecture and Urban Design 401, 403B, one elective.

Spring: Two electives, Architecture and Urban Design 403C.

Architecture M.Arch. I /Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P.)

During the first year a student follows the required urban planning curriculum. The second year is entirely in Architecture/Urban Design. The third and fourth years comprise a mix of both Architecture/Urban Design and Urban Planning courses, with the final design or written thesis or client or comprehensive project carried out in the fourth year.

A total of 39 courses (26 four-unit, nine six-unit, and four two-unit courses) or 166 units of coursework is required to graduate. A student will take at least 36 units in Urban Planning and 110 units in Architecture and Urban Design to satisfy the specific requirements of each degree, including core courses in both programs and area of concentration courses from each program. To fulfill the core requirements for the M.A. degree in Urban Planning a student must take six core courses, plus one course related to planning practice or fieldwork. In Architecture and Urban Design a student will take 22 core courses (nine six-unit, nine four-unit, and four two-unit courses). In addition a student will take eight elective courses including three electives in the area of critical studies in architectural culture and five electives that fulfill the needs of the selected area of concentration. These may be chosen from courses offered in Architecture/Urban Design and Urban Planning, which have been identified as acceptable to both programs. To fulfill the comprehensive examination requirement in Architecture and Urban Design, students are required to take Architecture and Urban Design 403A-403B-403C in the fourth year. An additional one or two courses may be needed in the fourth year to meet the Urban Planning thesis/comprehensive examination requirement. Thirty-two units of coursework, or eight elective courses, are double-counted in both Architecture and Urban Design and Urban Planning.

If a student is in the concurrent degree program and decides not to complete either the M.Arch. I degree or the M.A. degree, all the regular requirements for the program that a student wishes to complete must be met.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

All M. Arch.I students must complete the comprehensive examination, a requirement that is satisfied as follows:

The comprehensive examination requirement is fulfilled through the completion of Architecture and Urban Design 403C in Spring Quarter and the final design project for this course. The examination committee consists of at least three faculty members appointed by the department chair. The examination is administered and evaluated for satisfactory performance by the examination committee. The committee evaluates the final design projects in the following terms: pass (a unanimous vote), pass subject to revision of the final design project, or fail (majority vote). No reexaminations are permitted. When the final design project is passed subject to revision, one member of the committee is assigned the responsibility of working with the student on the revision and determining when the final design project has been satisfactorily revised.

Two positive votes from the committee constitute a pass on the comprehensive examination. No reexaminations are permitted. The degree is awarded on recommendation of the faculty committee.

Architecture M.Arch.I /Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P.)

Students in the concurrent degree program must meet the thesis/comprehensive examination requirements separately for each department. In Architecture and Urban Design the comprehensive examination requirement is met through Architecture and Urban Design 403A-403B-403C, as outlined above. In Urban Planning, students may fulfill the requirement through (1) a thesis (an original piece of research of publishable length and quality); (2) a client project; or (3) a comprehensive examination. Students are encouraged to choose a topic that integrates planning and policy aspects with design. Two separate comprehensive examination/thesis committees must be formed (one from each department). These two committees must evaluate and vote separately on the two separate comprehensive examinations/theses.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

The normal length of time for completion of the M.Arch. I degree is nine academic quarters (three years).

Master of Architecture II

Advising

New M.Arch. II students are assigned a temporary adviser and select a permanent faculty adviser when they are ready to do so. Students who wish to change advisers must obtain the consent of the new faculty adviser and discuss this change with the staff graduate adviser. The faculty adviser and the staff graduate adviser work together to explain curricular requirements and to provide counseling and advice. Students meet with their faculty adviser and with the graduate adviser at least once a quarter. Records are not usually kept in regard to these meetings, unless the end product of a meeting is a written petition or document.

Areas of Study

The areas of study for the M.Arch. II degree are design, technology, and critical studies in architectural culture.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must complete required preparatory coursework by enrolling in Architecture and Urban Design 289 (two sections) and 401 in UCLA Summer Session prior to formally matriculating in Fall Quarter. Students must receive a minimum 3.0 grade-point average in this coursework in order to continue in the fall. If this minimum standard is not met, students will not be allowed to matriculate in Fall Quarter and admission will be cancelled. Three academic quarters in residence are required. Students are expected to enroll full-time and to remain continuously in residence until all academic work is completed, unless a leave of absence is granted.

All students are required to take at least three advanced studios, one required course in technology, one required course in critical studies in architectural culture, Architecture and Urban Design 403A-403B-403C and a minimum of five electives. Two of the electives must be within a designated area.

A minimum total of 56 units of coursework is required. At least 48 units must be at the graduate level. The remaining eight units may include upper division (undergraduate) courses as long as they are completed outside of the Department of Architecture and Urban Design, or no more than eight units of Architecture and Urban Design 596, as part of the 56 total units required.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination

All M. Arch. II students must complete a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination requirement is fulfilled through the completion of Architecture and Urban Design 403C in Spring Quarter and the final design project for this course. The examination committee consists of at least three faculty members appointed by the department chair. The examination is administered and evaluated for satisfactory performance by the examination committee. The committee evaluates the final design project in the following manner: pass (a unanimous vote), pass subject to revision of the final design project, or fail (majority vote). No reexaminations are permitted. When the final design project is passed subject to revision, one member of the committee is assigned the responsibility of working with the student on the revision, and determining when the final design project is satisfactorily revised.

Two positive votes form the committee constitute a pass on the comprehensive examination. The degree is awarded on recommendation of the faculty committee.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Students begin preparatory coursework in summer session followed by three quarters of residency. The degree must be completed by the end of Spring Quarter.

Master of Arts

Advising

Students working toward the M.A. degree are assigned a temporary adviser upon entering the school and select a permanent faculty adviser when they are ready to do so. Students who wish to change their adviser should obtain the consent of the new faculty adviser and discuss this change with the staff graduate adviser. The faculty adviser and the staff graduate adviser work together in explaining curricular requirements and in dealing with any personal or academic difficulties that may occur.

There is no formal review process established for students in the M.A. program. Individual faculty advisers make final determinations regarding which courses students are permitted to take, and also approve the decision to begin thesis work.

Students meet with their faculty adviser and with the graduate adviser at least once a quarter. Records are not usually kept in regard to these meetings, unless the end product of a meeting is a written petition or document.

Areas of Study

Students are required to focus their work on a specific academic area or professional issue. Specializations are currently available in critical studies in architectural culture and in technology. In addition, students have the option of the open M.A. degree whereby they structure their own area of interest from the courses offered by the department.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Candidates for the M.A. degree are expected to be in residence at UCLA for two years and undertake six quarters of study. Students must choose and pursue one area of specialization. A thesis is required. When the committee members have signed the thesis proposal, students may sign up for four and no more than eight units of Architecture and Urban Design 598 and begin work on the thesis itself. The course should be taken at some point during the last year of study.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 16 courses (64 units) of graduate or upper division work. At least five (20 units) of these courses must be 200-series courses and at least two (eight units) must be 500-series courses. No more than 20 units of 500-level courses may be counted toward the total unit requirement for the degree. Up to seven courses may be taken from upper division (undergraduate) or graduate courses offered campus wide. Students who choose the area of critical studies in architectural culture as their area of specialization are required to take a total of 30 units of Architecture and Urban Design 290 as part of their requirement for graduation. This set of six five-unit courses must be completed by the end of the sixth quarter of residency.

Students must enroll in at least four and no more than eight units of course 598. Students may also apply 12 units of course 596 toward the unit requirements for graduation. Courses in the 400 series may not be applied toward the graduate course requirement for the M.A. degree, but a limited number may be applied toward elective course requirements.

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.

All M.A. students must complete a master’s thesis.

Time-to-Degree

The average length of study for the M.A. degree is six academic quarters (two years).

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are assigned an adviser at the beginning of the Fall Quarter of their first year. A formal evaluation of the research skills of all students is carried out no earlier than the second quarter of residence, and no later than the fourth quarter. Student progress is reviewed annually by the Ph.D. Program Committee.

Continuing students may petition to transfer from the M.A. to the Ph.D. program before completion of the M.A. thesis, but approval is granted only in exceptional cases. The student should consult the primary adviser to determine the feasibility of transfer from one degree program to another. If the primary adviser so recommends, an M.A. student may petition the Ph.D. Program Committee at the end of the fourth quarter. The request must be accompanied by a current transcript, a research sample, a research proposal, and a short written report by the primary adviser. Based on these materials the Ph.D. Program Committee recommends one of the following: a) immediate admission into the Ph.D. program; b) completion of a thesis leading to an M.A. degree and the option thereafter to apply separately for admission into the Ph.D. program; or c) that the student takes a terminal M.A. degree.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Major Field

Students are required to undertake a program of study that includes one major area, either critical studies in architectural culture or in technology.

Majors outside these areas, or a combination of the two, may be undertaken, subject to the approval of the Ph.D. Program Committee, if supported by qualified departmental faculty members who are available and willing to provide the necessary instruction and guidance.

Each major field is organized and coordinated by a major field committee consisting of faculty and students with active interests in that area. It is the responsibility of the field committee to initiate research programs, organize discussions, make curriculum and staffing recommendations, and serve as a source of consultation, guidance, and stimulation for the student.

Minor Field

Students are required to include in the program of study at least one minor field which must be chosen from outside of the department. The objectives of the minor field requirement are to ensure that Ph.D. students have academic breadth in their preparation, and to encourage them to participate in the general intellectual life of the University. In planning minor field work, students are advised in accord with these objectives, and the choice must be approved by the adviser.

Due to the wide diversity of backgrounds of Ph.D. students in architecture, it is appropriate to allow some flexibility in requirements for completion of the minor. The normal method of demonstrating competence in the minor field is to complete at least 16 units of coursework, with a grade of B or better, which represents a unified course of study in that field. If a qualified departmental faculty member is willing to provide the necessary supervision, the Ph.D. Program Committee, in consultation with that faculty member and the student, may accept an alternative method of completing this requirement; for example, a substantial research project. Any proposal to complete the minor by an alternative method must explicitly demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Ph.D. Program Committee, that the objectives of the minor field requirement are met.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are expected to develop adequate skills in one foreign language as appropriate to their field of specialization, and as approved by the Ph.D. Program Committee, and are strongly advised to complete this requirement as early as possible. Students may fulfill the foreign language requirement in French, German, or Italian by completing, with grades of B or better, coursework in the approved language to level 4, or by passing the equivalent placement examination in the appropriate foreign language department. The student’s doctoral adviser or the Ph.D. Program Committee may recommend that other languages be taken if needed for the student’s research.

Courses applied toward satisfaction of the language requirement may not be applied toward satisfaction of a major or minor field requirement.

Course Requirements

Students must be in residence in the Ph.D. program a minimum of two years. This is an absolute minimum; longer residence requirements apply to most students, as detailed below. In general, students are required to take sufficient coursework to provide adequate preparation for the qualifying examinations and the dissertation. Minimum course unit requirements are as follows:

All candidates are required to complete six quarters in residence and 72 units of coursework. For these required 72 units, at least 50 percent must be in courses in architecture and urban design. Students are required to maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 or better in all courses. The Ph.D. is an academic degree and therefore it is expected that a substantial proportion of the coursework will be completed in the 200 series; the minimum requirement is for at least 32 units of coursework to be in 200 series. No more than eight units of Architecture and Urban Design 596 and eight units of 597 may be applied toward degree requirements; as many units of 599 as necessary may be applied. Students who choose the area of critical studies in architectural culture as their area of specialization are required to take a total of 30 units of Architecture and Urban Design 290 as part of their requirement for graduation. This set of six five-unit courses must be completed by the end of the sixth quarter of residency. Ph.D. students with no prior background in architecture are strongly recommended to take a summer studio course at UCLA.

Students who hold a professional degree in architecture before admission to the program are required to complete four quarters in residence and 48 units of coursework in order to establish eligibility to take the qualifying examinations.

Students who hold an M.Arch. I, M.Arch. II, or M.A. degree in Architecture and Urban Design from the department may petition the Ph.D. Program Committee to reduce these course requirements to a minimum of three quarters in residence and 36 units of coursework. Decisions on these petitions are at the discretion of the committee.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Students may take the two qualifying examinations after successful completion of (1) the first-year review evaluating research skills; (2) the mathematics, computing, or foreign language requirement; and (3) the coursework requirements, as detailed above. The committee application includes an outline and brief discussion of the proposed dissertation.

The purpose of the qualifying examinations is for students to demonstrate a broad mastery of the field of architecture, the required levels of competence in the major and minor fields, and the appropriateness of and adequate preparation for the proposed dissertation topic. The examinations consist of the following parts:

(1) The written and oral examination in the major field.

The written examination in the major field is a substantial exercise that is followed by an oral presentation to the examination committee. The standard for successful completion of this examination is for students to demonstrate that they have achieved the level of competence of a scholar specializing in the field, could teach an introductory course in the field, and can contribute to the progress of the field through scholarship and research.

The major field examination is conducted by a three-member examination committee appointed by the chair of the department on the advice of the Ph.D. Program Committee. The examination committee consists of faculty with regular appointments who also will serve as the inside members of the doctoral committee.

A student will fail the oral examination in the major field if more than one committee member votes not passed, regardless of the size of the committee. If a majority of the examining committee so recommends, the examination in the major field may be repeated once within an established time frame. Students may not replace more than one original committee member with a new member in the reconstituted committee. Students who do not meet these requirements within the time frame will be recommended for termination.

(2) The University Oral Qualifying Examination which focuses primarily on the subject of the proposed dissertation.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is conducted by the appointed doctoral committee and explores the proposed dissertation topic and the ability to undertake the proposed work successfully.

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

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

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Academic Probation for M.Arch. I Students

In addition to University policy, M.Arch. I students are required to maintain a 3.00 average in studio coursework. Students who fall below a 3.00 average in overall coursework or below a 3.00 average in studio coursework are placed on departmental academic probation. Students on academic probation are required to attend bi-weekly meetings with their faculty adviser and the graduate adviser and are required to be assigned a student mentor. Students are free to choose their own faculty adviser with the consent of the graduate adviser. The department wants all students to succeed and indeed to excel in all of their academic endeavors. Therefore, academic probation is intended to identify weaknesses and help students move forward through special support and remedial action.

Recommendations for Termination for M.Arch. I Students

Students whose overall grade-point average or grade-point average in studio coursework falls below 3.00 in two consecutive quarters are subject to a review to determine whether they will be recommended for termination of graduate study to the Graduate Division. No student will be subject to such a recommendation on the basis of a single grade of B- in a studio course.

At the beginning of each academic year, the department’s Executive Committee selects a standing committee charged with reviewing all students subject to a recommendation for termination. The members of the standing committee serve in this capacity for a minimum of one academic year. The standing committee consists of three ladder faculty members: the department chair and two other ladder faculty members. A student’s individual faculty adviser may serve as an additional member and consultant to the standing committee.

Once a potential recommendation for termination arises, the following procedures begin. Students receive additional academic advising and documentation of this advising, in the form of reports from the staff graduate adviser and the student’s individual faculty adviser, that are placed in the student’s file. Students meet with the standing committee at least once during the process and in addition to their faculty adviser, they may invite other faculty members to attend their meeting(s). The standing committee makes their recommendations in writing. If the committee chooses not to recommend termination, they must provide the student with a clear timetable for required improvements in performance. Students who fail to meet these requirements are recommended for termination based on a majority vote of the standing committee.

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

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admission

Program Name

Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

Address

7127 Math Sciences
Box 951565
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1565

Phone

(310) 825-1954

Email

studentinfo@atmos.ucla.edu

Leading to the degree of

M.S., Ph.D.

Admission Limited to

Fall
Exceptions only in special cases.

Deadline to apply

December 15th

GRE (General and/or Subject), TWE

GRE: General

Letters of Recommendation

Other Requirements

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

In addition to applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree in meteorology or atmospheric sciences, those with a degree in related disciplines, such as astronomy, chemistry, engineering, geophysics, oceanography, mathematics, and physics, are also encouraged to apply.

Master’s Degree

Advising

Students who enter the program without an academic adviser should consult with a graduate adviser when planning their graduate study. Before the first year of graduate study is completed, students choose a principal academic adviser. This adviser assists the students in creating a program of study that satisfies departmental and University requirements. The adviser also serves as the chair for the student’s departmental guidance committee, members of which are selected by the student in consultation with the principal adviser. If the student chooses the thesis plan, the guidance committee serves as the master’s thesis committee and evaluates the thesis. If the student chooses the comprehensive examination plan, this committee administers the examination.

Evaluations of the academic progress of each student are made each September when the graduate advisers, sitting as a committee, review student records, formally apprise students of their progress, and assist them in making future plans. The graduate advisers are also available throughout the year to meet with students as required.

Areas of Study

Dynamic and synoptic meteorology; oceanography; atmospheric physics and chemistry; upper atmosphere and space physics.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Course requirements for the master’s degree are satisfied by completion of a departmentally approved program of study. Each program of study must consist of at least nine courses (36 units), six (24 units) of which must be entry level graduate courses drawn from a list maintained by the department and chosen to ensure proper breadth and preparation. The minimum of 12 additional units of coursework are chosen, from the 200-series, to develop a specialization. The advanced course requirements also may be partially satisfied by: (1) 200-series courses taken for a grade outside of the department; (2) directed studies courses (596) within the department; and, in case of thesis plan students, (3) research courses (598) within the department. Only one 500-series course (four units) may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement for the master’s degree. Each student submits their program of study to the department prior to the beginning of their second year. Subject to the approval of the student’s guidance committee, the program of study may be amended, repeatedly and at any time, based on course offerings and evolving interests. The final program of study will be the basis for the departmental oral comprehensive examination. Satisfactory completion of the program of study requires an S grade for all S/U graded courses and a B average in all letter-graded courses that are part of the program of study.

In addition to the program of study, all students in the master’s program are required to enroll in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 270 for S/U grading every quarter in which they are registered.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Comprehensive Examination Plan

The master’s comprehensive examination is an oral examination that is administered by the student’s departmental guidance committee after the successful completion of their program of study. The examination is graded fail, master’s level pass, or Ph.D. level pass. The material within the student’s program of study, especially within the chosen specialization, serves as the basis for this examination. Students are permitted two attempts to obtain a grade of pass, either for termination with award of the M.S. degree or for award of the M.S. degree and continuation for the Ph.D. degree. Students must receive a grade of pass (master’s or Ph.D. level) to satisfy the master’s comprehensive examination requirement. Students must receive a grade of Ph.D. level pass on this examination and have their entire record deemed acceptable for doctoral study by the guidance committee in order to be eligible to continue for the Ph.D. degree.

Thesis Plan

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

Students may receive the master’s degree by writing an original thesis as an alternative to the comprehensive examination. The thesis is graded in the same manner as is the comprehensive examination: fail, master’s level pass, or Ph.D. level pass. A Ph.D. level pass is considered to be sufficient to satisfy the written qualifying examination requirement for the Ph.D. degree (see below). The thesis is graded on the basis of critical, creative and independent thought.

Time-to-Degree

From graduate admission to conferral of degree, normal progress is six quarters. The maximum allowable time limit for the degree is nine quarters.

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students who enter the program without an academic adviser should consult with a graduate adviser when planning their graduate study. Before the first year of graduate study is completed, students choose a principal academic adviser. This adviser assists the students in creating a program of study that satisfies departmental and University requirements. The adviser also serves as the chair for the student’s departmental guidance committee, members of which are selected by the student in consultation with the principal adviser. The departmental guidance committee is responsible for administering the oral component of the comprehensive examination and, in the case of students who fulfill the written component of the comprehensive examination with a master’s thesis or first authored paper, as evaluators of the thesis or paper. Normally the departmental guidance committee forms the core of the student’s doctoral committee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Dynamic and synoptic meteorology; oceanography; atmospheric physics and chemistry; upper atmosphere and space physics.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Course requirements for the doctoral degree are satisfied by completion of a departmentally approved program of study. Each program of study must consist of at least nine courses (36 units), six (24 units) of which must be entry level graduate courses drawn from a list maintained by the department and chosen to ensure proper breadth and preparation. The minimum of 12 additional units of coursework are chosen, from the 200-series, to develop a specialization. The advanced course requirements also may be partially satisfied by: (1) 200-series courses taken for a grade outside of the department; (2) directed studies courses (596) within the department; and, in case of thesis plan students, (3) research courses (598) within the department. Each student submits their program of study to the department prior to the beginning of their second year. Subject to the approval of the student’s guidance committee, the program of study may be amended, repeatedly and at any time, based on course offerings and evolving interests. The final program of study will be the basis for the departmental oral comprehensive examination. Satisfactory completion of the program of study requires an S grade for all S/U grades courses and a B average in all letter-graded courses that are part of the program of study, and a grade-point average of 3.5 or greater in five of six entry level courses that form the core of the program of study, and the overall program of study.

Students are required to present a graded departmental seminar based on their original series as part of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 270. The grade for this seminar is based on the seminar presentation and is given by the faculty as a whole. A grade of B or better is required for the doctoral degree. Prior to the quarter in which the seminar is presented for a letter grade, students in the doctoral program are required to enroll in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences 270 for S/U grading every quarter in which they are registered. Subsequent to receiving a B or better for their seminar presentation, doctoral students are encouraged but not required to continue to enroll in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science 270.

Regardless of the status of their program of study, full-time students must be enrolled in at least one (three or more units) 200-series course per year prior to receiving the doctoral degree.

Teaching Experience

All students are required to teach (be employed as a teaching assistant within this department) at least one quarter before presenting their graded departmental seminar (Atmospheric Science 270).

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Students are required to complete three examinations before advancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree: the master’s comprehensive examination, which is an oral examination; a written qualifying examination; and the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

Students are required to complete the master’s comprehensive examination at the Ph.D. level as described above for the master’s degree. This examination is an oral examination based on the student’s program of study, especially within the chosen specialization.

Written Qualifying Examination

All doctoral students are required to pass a written qualifying examination that demonstrates their ability to critically summarize and synthesize literature on a research topic. Normally this ability is demonstrated by satisfactory performance on an examination that is offered once a year, usually at the end of Spring Quarter. The examination consists of a written paper in which students present a critical summary and synthesis of a research topic chosen for them with their specific research interests in mind. A more specific time line and evaluation criteria for each year’s examination are made available to students at least two months prior to the examination. This examination may be taken twice and is administered by a committee of the faculty chosen on a yearly basis for the purpose of administering and grading this examination. The examination is graded pass or not pass. Students who do not pass the examination will receive one of three recommendations: (1) retake the examination the following year; (2) write a master’s thesis and be reconsidered for eligibility to continue for the Ph.D. degree depending on the grade on the thesis; or (3) complete any outstanding requirements for the master’s degree and leave the program.

For students who complete the master’s thesis plan, a Ph.D. level pass on the master’s thesis is considered sufficient to satisfy the written qualifying examination for the Ph.D. degree. On the recommendation of their principal adviser, a student may petition to substitute a first authored paper submitted for publication in a refereed journal for the written qualifying examination. The student’s departmental guidance committee makes the decision on the petition.

University Oral Qualifying Examination

This examination is conducted by the student’s doctoral committee. The committee conducts an in-depth oral examination of the student’s written proposal of the dissertation research topic. The proposal is made available to the committee at least one week prior to the examination. The examination is graded based on the student’s ability to articulate a coherent and feasible plan of original and creative research.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

Students are expected to pass the written component of the departmental comprehensive examination at the conclusion of their first year and to take the oral component of this examination either during the summer at the end of their second year or at the beginning of their third year. Students are expected to take the University Oral qualifying Examination at the end of their third year or at the beginning of their fourth year. To remain in good standing students must meet the coursework requirements and pass the departmental comprehensive examination (or satisfy equivalent requirements) prior to the end of their tenth academic quarter and pass the University Oral Qualifying Examination prior to the end of their thirteenth academic quarter. Exceptions to these policies may be granted based on extenuating circumstances or based on students being allowed to enroll part-time. In such cases, student progress is judged in relation to a time line determined by the graduate advisers in consultation with students and their principal advisers.

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student who fails to maintain a 3.00 grade point average for two consecutive terms or for a total of three terms, or who fails to pass the University Oral Qualifying Examination after two attempts, or who fails to remain in good standing for two consecutive or three total quarters (see definition of good standing under Time-To-Degree) will be recommended for termination. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the departmental chair.

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