Applicable only to students admitted during the 2011-2012 academic year.
Music
School of the Arts and Architecture
Graduate Degrees
The Department of Music offers the Master of Music (M.M.) degree, the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree, and the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Music.
Admission
Program Name
Music
Please note that ethnomusicology and musicology are offered as separate majors.
Address
2539 Schoenberg Music Building
Box 951616
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1616
Phone
(310) 825-4769
Email
sandram@arts.ucla.edu
Leading to the degree of
M.A., M.M., Ph.D., D.M.A.
Consult department for area.
Admission Limited to
Fall
Deadline to apply
December 1st
GRE (General and/or Subject)
GRE: Not required.
Letters of Recommendation
3, from former instructors and/or professionals with whom applicant has worked (for the D.M.A. the Music Department is especially interested to hear from persons who can speak to the applicant’s academic potential)
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 sample of work as described below.
M.A.: Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in Music. Other fields of study are accepted if applicants have the musical training and musicianship necessary to pursue graduate work. Transcripts must show an average grade of at least B in the basic areas that normally constitute the undergraduate core curriculum in music (harmony, counterpoint, music history, analysis, and musicianship).
Applicants for the M.A. in music are required to: (1) submit a statement of purpose including background of study and reasons for wishing to pursue graduate studies in music at UCLA; (2) submit, as samples of work, 3 written musical scores that show a breadth of instrumentation and genre, and a CD recording of a performance of at least one of these; (3) be available for an interview (applicant semi-finalists); and (4) take the departmental Assessment Examination (applicant semi-finalists).
Assessment Examination. The assessment examination for the M.A. is administered annually at Schoenberg Hall on the UCLA campus. Semi-finalists who are applying from outside the southern California area and who find it impossible to take the examination on campus can make arrangements with the Student Services Office to take the examination in absentia. Information on, and registration for, the examination, as well as the absentia process, is available on the department’s web site. The Assessment Examination is approximately five hours long and covers music theory, history and analysis, and musicianship skills.
The dossier and Assessment Examination are reviewed by the composition faculty to assess the applicant’s potential as a graduate student.
M.M.: Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in Music. Other fields of study are accepted if applicants have the musical training and musicianship necessary to pursue graduate work. Transcripts must show an average grade of at least B in the basic areas that normally constitute the undergraduate core curriculum in music (harmony, counterpoint, music history, analysis, and musicianship).
Applicants applying for the M.M. are required to (1) submit a statement of purpose which also includes a description of their background of study; (2) submit three letters of recommendation from former instructors and/or professionals with whom the applicants have worked; (3) submit a repertoire list and summary of recent performances covering the last three years; and (4) perform an audition. Detailed information is available on the department web site.
Placement Examination. The placement examination is required of all new M.M. students and covers theory, musicianship skills, and music history. Those who do not pass any portion are required to do remedial work which must be completed by the end of the first year.
Ph.D.: Master’s degree in Music (or the equivalent degree). The degree normally will have been taken in the same field of concentration as the proposed doctorate. If applicants wish to obtain a doctorate in a field other than that of the M.A., additional coursework, as prescribed by the area, may be required. Applicants are required to: (1) submit a statement of purpose including background of study and reasons for wishing to pursue graduate studies in music; (2) submit three letters of recommendation; (3) submit, as samples of work, five written musical scores that show a breadth of instrumentation and genre and a CD recording of a performance of at least one of these; applicants should submit their M.A. thesis or composition, if possible; and (4) be avaiable for an interview and to take the departmental Assessment Examination (applicant semi-finalists).
No application can be considered until the Assessment Examination has been taken and all of the required materials have been received.
Assessment Examination. The assessment examination for the Ph.D. is administered annually at Schoenberg Hall on the UCLA campus. Semi-finalists who are applying from outside the Southern California area and find it impossible to take the examination on campus can make arrangements with the Student Services Office to take the examination in absentia. Information on, and registration for, the examination, as well as the absentia process, is available on the department’s web site. The Assessment Examination is approximately five hours long and covers music theory, history and analysis, and musicianship skills.
The dossier and assessment examination are reviewed by the composition faculty to assess the applicant’s potential as a doctoral student.
D.M.A.: Applicants to the Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) program are expected to hold a master’s degree, or equivalent, in music. Other fields of study are accepted if the applicant has the musical training and musicianship necessary to pursue doctoral work. Transcripts must show an average grade of at least B in the basic areas that normally constitute the undergraduate core curriculum in music (harmony, counterpoint, music history, analysis, and musicianship) as well as all graduate study. Applicants are required to (1) submit a statement of purpose which also includes a description of the their background of study; (2) submit three letters of recommendation from former instructors and/or professionals with whom the applicant has worked; (3) a repertoire list and summary of recent performances covering the last three years; (4) a sample seminar or research paper; and (5) perform an audition. Detailed information is available on the departmental website.
No application can be considered until the audition has been taken and all of the required materials have been received.
Placement Examination. The placement examination is required of all new D.M.A. students and covers theory, musicianship skills, and music history. Those who do not pass any portion are required to do remedial work, which must be completed by the end of the first year.
Master of Arts
Advising
Students must plan a program under the guidance of a composition ladder faculty member, as assigned by the head of the composition faculty area. Students are required to contact their faculty adviser at the beginning of each quarter. When the student’s thesis committee is selected, the chair of that committee becomes the primary adviser. Students are advised to contact their faculty adviser at the beginning of every quarter in which they are enrolled.
An ongoing evaluation of each student’s progress toward the degree is made by the faculty adviser each quarter in consultation with the student. Any problems are reviewed by the faculty in composition. Students are responsible for checking URSA to be sure their official study list is correct.
Areas of Study
The department offers two specializations for the M.A. degree in the fields of composition and composition for visual media.
Foreign Language Requirement
For the composition specialization a reading knowledge of one foreign language is required. Students must select from French, German, Italian, or Spanish. Students whose native language is not English may use English as a foreign language. Students may fulfill the language requirement by completing three successive quarters of the regular undergraduate series or the 1G-2G series of language study with a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course or by passing the UCLA Foreign Language Placement Test in one of those languages, placing into level four or higher.
For the composition for visual media specialization there is no foreign language requirement.
Course Requirements
For the composition specialization students are required to complete a minimum of 48 units (normally 14 courses) of which 44 units (normally 13 courses) must be at the 200 level. Only four units of Music 596A may be applied toward the total unit requirement. No more than four units of all types of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement. Music 598 serves to guide the preparation of the thesis and should normally be taken during the last quarters of residence; however, this course cannot be applied to the minimum course requirements for the degree.
Required courses are Music 251, 252 (for 16 units), 253, 254, 255 and 256; three quarters of Music M201/Musicology M201; and one upper division or graduate elective course (at least four units) chosen in consultation with the student’s faculty adviser. Students also are required to complete Music 290 during their first year of residency. In addition to the thesis, students are expected to produce other works involving both instrumental and vocal music for both solo and ensemble forces. Furthermore, students are responsible for the campus presentation of one original work during each year of residency.
For the composition for visual media specialization, students are required to complete a minimum of 46 units (normally 11 courses), of which 30 units (normally seven courses) must be at the 200 level. Only four units of Music 596A may be applied toward the total unit requirement. No more than four units of all type of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement. Upper division and/or graduate courses from the departments of Music, Musicology or Ethnomusicology as recommended by the student’s faculty adviser may be applied toward the elective requirement. Music 598 serves to guide the preparation of the thesis and normally should be taken during the last quarters of residence; however, this course cannot be applied to the minimum course requirement for the degree.
Required courses are Music C226, 251, 252, 253 and 260A-260B; a minimum of eight units of Film, Television and Digital Media courses from an approved list of courses (students should see the graduate adviser); and an additional eight units of electives chosen in consultation with the student’s faculty adviser. Students also are required to complete Music 290 during their first year of residency.
Teaching Experience
Not required.
Field Experience
Not required.
Comprehensive Examination Plan
None.
Thesis Plan
Every master’s degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research.
The thesis is a work proposed by the student and approved by the composition and theory faculty. The membership of the committee is approved by the faculty before the committee nomination is submitted to the Graduate Division. The chair and second member of the committee normally are from the area of composition. The third member normally is from the area of performance or conducting.
Time to Degree
The normal progress toward the degree for full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission to graduate status is as follows:
a) From graduate admission to completion of required courses: four quarters.
b) From graduate admission to award of the degree: six quarters.
Master of Music
Advising
Students must plan a program under the guidance of the graduate adviser in their field of concentration. Students are required to contact their adviser at the beginning of each quarter. The graduate adviser for each area of specialization is assigned by the chair on a yearly basis. Students may contact the Student Services Office at the beginning of Fall Quarter for the name of their adviser.
An ongoing evaluation of each student’s progress toward the degree is made by the graduate adviser each quarter in consultation with the student. Any problems are reviewed by the faculty in the student’s area of specialization. Students are responsible for checking URSA to be sure their official study list is correct.
Areas of Study
The department offers the M.M. degree in all classical solo instruments, voice, jazz performance, collaborative piano, and conducting. Degrees in historical musicology, ethnomusicology, and systematic musicology are offered through other departments.
Foreign Language Requirement
There is no uniform language requirement. Students in voice, collaborative piano, and choral conducting must demonstrate their proficiency in a foreign language by passing a departmental examination in German, French, Italian, or Spanish. This requirement may also be satisfied by completing three quarters of foreign language instruction in the same language with a grade of B or better, or by passing the UCLA Foreign Language Department Placement Test in one of those languages and being placed into level four or higher. Students specializing in repertoire where another language is vital may petition to use another language.
Course Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 68 units, 16 of which must be at the 200 level, 40 units at the 400 level, and six units at the 500 level. Sixty-two of these units are specified below. With the exception of jazz performance (see specific requirements listed under Jazz Performance,) the remaining elective units must be from 200-, 400-, or 500-series courses. Music 595A serves to guide the preparation of the master’s recital and should normally be taken during the last quarter of residence. The department provides a maximum of six quarters of enrolled private instruction in instrumental/vocal performance; five quarters for jazz performance. If students do not complete the degree within that period and wish to continue instruction, they must do so at their own expense on a noncredit basis.
The course requirements are as follows:
Instrumental/Vocal Performance. A core of Music 202, 203, 204; one course from Music 261A through 261F; five quarters of 400-level performance instruction; three quarters of 400-level performance organizations utilizing the student’s major instrument; two quarters of Music C485; one quarter of Music 595A; and six additional units of coursework (selected with advisement) from Music 261A through 261F, C267, 270E, 270F, 271, 401, 596D, courses in pedagogy, Musicology 250, Ethnomusicology 271, 273, 275, 279 or other appropriate graduate courses selected with advisement. Orchestral string players must taken three additional terms of Music C481, which may be counted toward the elective units. Keyboard specialists must take three additional quarters of Music C485 in lieu of the performance organization requirement and must collaborate with at least one vocalist or vocal ensemble, one wind player or wind ensemble, and one string player or small string ensemble.
Jazz Performance. A core of Music 202, 203, 204; 261J; five quarters of Music 466 – jazz performance instruction; six quarters of Music 486 – jazz performance ensemble; one quarter of Music 595A; and four additional units of upper division or graduate coursework (selected with advisement) from Ethnomusicology, Music, or Musicology.
Collaborative Piano. A core of Music 202, 203, 204; one course from Music 261A through 261F; five quarters of 400-level performance instruction; two quarters of Music C458; two quarters of Music C455; one quarter of Music C450; one quarter of 400-level performance organization; one quarter of Music 595A; and four additional units of coursework (selected with advisement) from Music 261A through 261F, C267, 270E, 270F, 271, 401, 596D, courses in pedagogy, Musicology 250, Ethnomusicology 271, 273, 275, 279 or other appropriate graduate courses selected with advisement.
Conducting . A core of Music 202, 203, 204; one course from Music 261A through 261F; five quarters of 400-level conducting instruction; three quarters of 400-level performance organizations utilizing the student’s major instrument; two quarters of Music C485; Music 595A; and six additional units of coursework (selected with advisement) from Music 261A through 261F, C267, 270E, 270F, 271, 401, 596D, courses in pedagogy, Musicology 250, and Ethnomusicology 271, 273, 275, 279 or other appropriate graduate courses selected with advisement. Conducting students may substitute two additional quarters of 400-level performance organizations for the C485 requirement.
Teaching Experience
Not required.
Field Experience
Not required.
Comprehensive Examination Plan
After completing one year of coursework and three quarters of performance/conducting instruction, students must submit the program for the master’s recital for approval. Upon approval of this program, students may book a campus facility for the recital and request that a master’s committee be formed. The committee consists of the student’s master teacher and two other department faculty in related areas of instruction. Two of the three committee members must be full-time Senate faculty. The committee oversees the preparation of the recital and adjudicates the recital itself.
Master’s Recital. Students present a final master’s recital. If, in the opinion of a student’s master teacher, the student is not prepared to present a recital at the level of what is normally expected of a student who completes the M.M. degree, the recital may be postponed. An audio tape of the recital is archived in the Music Library.
Thesis Plan
None.
Time-to-Degree
The normal progress toward the degree for full-time students with no deficiencies upon admissions is as follows:
(a) From graduate admission to completion of required courses: six quarters.
(b) From graduate admission to award of the degree: six quarters (nine quarter maximum).
Doctoral Degrees
Doctor of Philosophy
Advising
Students must plan a program under the head of the composition faculty who serves as the faculty adviser. Students are required to contact their adviser at the beginning of each quarter.
An ongoing evaluation of students’ progress toward the degree is made by the faculty adviser each quarter in consultation with the student. Any problems are reviewed by the faculty in composition. Students are responsible for checking URSA to be sure their official study list is correct.
Major Fields or Subdisciplines
The department offers the Ph.D. degree in the field of composition and in the field of composition with a cognate in ethnomusicology.
Foreign Language Requirement
A reading knowledge of two foreign languages is required. Students must select from German, French, Italian, Latin, Russian, or Spanish. Students whose native language is not English may use English or their native language as one of the foreign languages; the other language must be selected from the above group of languages. Students who elect a cognate in ethnomusicology may petition to substitute a language related to their area of research for one of the required languages. Students may fulfill the language requirement by completing three successive quarters of the regular undergraduate series or the 1G-2G series of language study with a grade of B (3.0) or better in each course or by passing the UCLA Foreign Language Department Placement Test in one of those languages, placing into level four or higher.
Course Requirements
Students may petition to their area on the advice of their faculty adviser for exemption from specific requirements on the basis of equivalent work done at the M.A. level. If students are in the program in composition with the cognate in ethnomusicology and have had no prior coursework in ethnomusicology, they are required to take Ethnomusicology 20A-20B-20C. They are also encouraged to participate in the ethnomusicology performance organizations (Ethnomusicology 91A through 91Z and 161A through 161Z).
Students may complete the residency requirement by taking 100- or 200- series courses as recommended by the faculty adviser.
Required courses for the Ph.D. degree are Musicology 260F; three quarters of Music M201/Musicology M201; Music 204, 251, 252 for 24 units, 253, 254, 255, and 256. To satisfy the breadth area requirement, students must take two additional graduate seminars from the departments of Musicology or Ethnomusicology, or from another outside department, chosen in consultation with the student’s faculty adviser. Students also are required to complete Music 290 during their first year of residency. Students who received the M.A. degree in composition from UCLA take a minimum of one additional quarter of Music 290.
Students who received the M.A. degree in composition from UCLA are required to take an additional 12 units of Music 252 in the Ph.D. program. Students who received the M.A. degree in composition elsewhere are required to take 24 units of Music 252.
In addition to the dissertation, students are expected to produce other works involving both instrumental and vocal music for both solo and ensemble forces. Furthermore, students are responsible for the campus presentation of one original work during each year of residency.
Cognate in Ethnomusicology. Students may substitute Ethnomusicology 201 for Music 204 and Ethnomusicology 282 or 283 for Music 253.
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.
The guidance committee normally consists of the faculty members who taught the following courses that the student completed: Music 254 or Music 255, Music 256, Musicology 260F; and of the student’s principal breadth adviser. The guidance committee consists of three ladder faculty. In the event that the manner in which the student completes the above courses results in a committee of four faculty members, one may be dropped. In the event that the manner in which the student completes the above courses results in a committee of two faculty members, one from the composition area must be added, in consultation with the faculty adviser.
When the student and the guidance committee believe the student is ready to take the qualifying examinations, the student should submit a schedule to the Student Services Office and the committee members listing the order in which the examinations are to be taken. The Student Services Office staff acts as proctor for the tests. Normally the four written examinations are spread over a two-week period but should be completed within three weeks. Repeat examinations may be scheduled in consultation with the guidance committee and after a stipulated period of time.
The written examinations consist of the following: (1) analysis of pre-1900 music; (2) analysis of post-1900 music; (3) topics in 20th-century music; and (4) the breadth area.
Upon successful completion of the written examinations, a departmental oral qualifying examination is scheduled. The oral examination consists of two parts: (1) defense of the written examinations before the guidance committee (listed above); and (2) a presentation of analyses of typically four compositions specified by the composition faculty in the previous year, before the composition faculty.
Written examinations ordinarily are taken in the first two weeks of Winter Quarter. The first departmental oral examination ordinarily is taken in the sixth or seventh week of Winter Quarter. Both examinations are scheduled in consultation with the guidance committee and with the Student Services Office. The second departmental oral examination ordinarily is scheduled by the composition faculty for the tenth week of Winter Quarter.
For students with a cognate in ethnomusicology, the dissertation composition should reflect the ethnomusicological area interests of the student and draw from a variety of traditional, classical, Western, and/or non-Western sources; a public reading of this composition is required. The monograph should deal with a cross-cultural, 20th-century work.
On completion of the departmental qualifying examinations and the second language, the student may submit the dissertation topic and request for a doctoral committee for approval. The dissertation topic and the composition of the doctoral committee are approved by the faculty before the committee nomination is submitted to the Graduate Division. Once the committee is formally appointed the student is eligible to take the University Oral Qualifying 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
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
Progress toward the degree for full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission to graduate status, is as follows:
(a) From graduate admission to admission to the doctoral program (approval of the Form I): four quarters.
(b) From graduate admission to departmental written and oral qualifying examinations: six quarters.
(c) From graduate admission to approval of the dissertation proposal and advancement to candidacy: eight quarters.
(d) From advancement to candidacy to final oral examination: four quarters.
(e) From graduate admission to award of the degree: 12 quarters.
Doctor of Musical Arts
Advising
Students must plan a program under the guidance of the faculty adviser in their field of concentration. Students are required to contact their adviser at the beginning of each quarter. The faculty adviser for each area of specialization is assigned by the chair on a yearly basis. Students may contact the Student Services Office at the beginning of Fall Quarter for the name of their adviser.
An ongoing evaluation of students’ progress toward the degree is made by the graduate adviser each quarter in consultation with the student. Any problems are reviewed by the faculty in students’ areas of specialization. Students are responsible for checking URSA to be sure their official study list is correct.
Major Fields or Subdisciplines
The department offers the D.M.A. degree in all classical solo instruments, voice, collaborative piano, and conducting.
Foreign Language Requirement
A reading knowledge of one foreign language from German, French, Italian, or Spanish is required. Students may fulfill this requirement by passing a departmental examination. This requirement may also be satisfied by completing three quarters of UCLA foreign language instruction in the same language with a grade of B or better or by passing the UCLA Foreign Language Department Placement Test in one of those languages, placing into level four or higher. Students specializing in repertoire where another language is vital may petition to use another language. This requirement must be completed by the end of the student’s second year of residency.
Students in voice, collaborative piano, and choral conducting must demonstrate reading proficiency in a second language by one of the means listed above.
Course Requirements
Students are required to complete a minimum of 102 units, 28 of which must be at the 200 level, 60 units at the 400 level, and 10 units at the 500 level. Ninety-eight of these units are specified below. The elective must be from 200-, 400-, or 500-series courses. Music 599 serves to guide the preparation of the dissertation and should normally be taken during the final year of residence. Students who received the M.M. degree at UCLA are expected to complete at least 32 additional units and two recitals beyond the M.M. requirements, subject to the specific requirements of their area of specialization. The department provides a maximum of nine quarters of enrolled private instruction in performance. Students who were admitted to the program with a master’s degree from another institution may petition for up to a year of private lessons (18 units) and 12 units of academic courses to be applied to D.M.A. requirements.
The requirements for the D.M.A. degree are:
Instrumental/Vocal Performance. A core of Music 202, 203, 204; three courses from Music 261A through 261F, 271; eight quarters of 400-level performance instruction; three quarters of Music C485; one quarter of Music 401, 595B, and 599; the appropriate course from Music 469, 471; one additional course from Music 261A through 261F, C267, 270E, 270F, 271, 596D, additional courses in pedagogy, Musicology 250A, 250B, and Ethnomusicology 271, 273, 275, 279 or other appropriate graduate courses selected with advisement. Keyboard specialists are required to collaborate with at least one vocalist or vocal ensemble, one wind player or small ensemble, and one string player or small string ensemble within the context of the Music C485 requirement.
Collaborative Piano. A core of Music 202, 203, 204; three courses from Music 261A through 261F, 271; eight quarters of 400-level performance instruction; one quarter of Music C455 and C458; one quarter of 400-level performance organization; one quarter of Music 401, 595B, and 599; the appropriate course from Music 469, 471; one addition course from Music 261A through 261F, C267, 270E, 270F, 271, 596D, additional courses in pedagogy, Musicology 250A, 250B, and Ethnomusicology 271, 273, 275, 279 or other appropriate graduate courses selected with advisement.
Conducting. A core of Music 202, 203, 204; three courses from Music 261A through 261F, 271; eight quarters of 400-level conducting instruction; three quarters of 400-level chamber ensembles; one quarter of Music 401, 595B, and 599; one course from Music 469, 471; one additional course from Music 261A through 261F, C267, 270E, 270F, 271, 596D, courses in pedagogy, Musicology 250A, 250B, 596, Ethnomusicology 271, 273, 275, 279 or other appropriate graduate courses selected with advisement. Conducting students may substitute three quarters of 400-level performance organizations for the C485 requirement.
Teaching Experience
Not required.
Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations
Two preliminary recitals are required; they will be adjudicated by the department’s Graduate Committee for Performance. The first-year recital is a standard program and is normally performed on campus. The second-year entrepreneurial recital is an individual project in public performance and is performed outside the UCLA campus. All scheduling, publicity, program notes, and ticketing must be arranged by the student without assistance from the supervising instructor.
Departmental written and oral qualifying examinations are required. The written examination requires the student to bring together the material covered in the core course sequence of Music 202, 203, 204, one of the performance practice seminars, and other relevant coursework in the research for and writing of a scholarly essay on a given work or topic. Students choose the historical era of the examination; they do not know the work or topic beforehand. This examination is graded by the Graduate Committee and the student’s master teacher. The oral examination with the student’s doctoral committee consists of a discussion/demonstration of portions of the relevant works on the final recital program (including the New Music Forum premier work ) and a defense of the dissertation topic and its relationship to the final recital (the University Oral Qualifying Examination).
After the entrepreneurial recital is passed and the foreign language requirement is met, the student may schedule the written qualifying examination and submit the request for a doctoral committee and the proposal for the dissertation. Upon successful completion of the written examination, the proposed program for the final recital is submitted.
The final doctoral recital (a full professional recital of approximately 60 minutes of music) and lecture, a formal lecture open to the public on the subject of the dissertation, take place well after students take the second examination, the University Oral Qualifying Examination.
Advancement to Candidacy
Students are advanced to candidacy upon 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
The normal progress toward the degree for full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission to the D.M.A. program is as follows:
(a) From admission to the written qualifying examinations: six quarters
(b) From admission to the oral qualifying examinations: seven quarters
(c) From admission to advancement to candidacy: seven quarters
(d) From admission to the award of the degree: nine quarters (minimum of six; maximum of 12)
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 standards reasons outlined above, a student may specifically be recommended for termination because of (1) a terminal master’s degree recommendation from the student’s master’s committee; (2) inadequate scholarship as recommended by the Graduate Committee in the student’s area; (3) inadequate progress toward the degree as recommended by the student’s area; or (4) denial of the Form I.
In all cases, the student’s academic progress is discussed in depth by the council or committee that made the recommendation. A recommendation for termination is forwarded to the departmental chair for review and decision. The student is notified of a recommendation for termination in writing.
A student may appeal a recommendation for termination by stating the reasons in writing to the departmental chair. The chair transmits the appeal to the student’s area for consideration.
