Program Requirements for Health Policy and Management

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2019-2020 academic year.

Health Policy and Management

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

A faculty adviser is appointed for each new master’s student by the head of the respective department. Students are expected to follow and adhere to the department’s list of required courses and recommended sequencing. Any subsequent alterations must be approved by the student’s faculty adviser. Students are expected to meet with their faculty advisers each quarter. A departmental guidance committee is established when the student has completed approximately half of the program for the master’s degree. Members of the departmental guidance committee are approved by the department chair after consultation with the student and the student’s faculty adviser.

A faculty adviser is responsible for the student’s academic progress. Progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis. At the end of each quarter the Associate Dean of Student Affairs reviews academic listings of students and notifies them and the advisers when the cumulative grade-point average is below 3.0. Advisers review each case with their advisees and make recommendations to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for continuance or recommendation for academic disqualification. Students who wish to change advisers must file a petition which must be approved by the new faculty adviser, the department chair, and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Areas of Study

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the two-year MS program must complete Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, 423, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100. Students must complete 16 full courses (70 units) and at least one year of graduate residence at the University of California. All courses with the exception of Epi 100 must be 200 level or above. Only four units of either Health Policy and Management 596 or 598 may be applied to the degree. Health Policy Management 597 may not be applied toward the degree requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses or equivalents: Health Policy and Management 227A, 227B, and/or Epidemiology 201A, 201B. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s adviser. Electives may be chosen from offerings in the department or other departments in the School of Public Health. Students may apply a maximum of two 400-level courses towards their electives.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent) are eligible to pursue the one-year Postdoctoral MS Program. Students in this one-year track must complete 12 courses (54 units). Required courses include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100. 20 units of elective courses are required and should be selected in consultation with the adviser. Students with previous academic work in statistics and Epidemiology are encouraged to take more advanced courses to substitute for Biostatistics 201A and 201B and Epidemiology 100. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree on the one-year Implementation Science (IS) track may choose to replace Health Policy and Management 237C (6 units) and Biostatistics 201B (4 units) with Health Policy and Management 215B (4 units) and 225C (4 units); with this replacement, they must complete 12 courses (52 units).

Students in the one-year Postdoctoral MS Program through the National Clinician Scholars Program are expected, in the Summer Session prior to their first Fall quarter, to enroll in Health Policy and Management 225A and to participate in the biostatistics boot camp. Students must also complete Health Policy and Management 266A and 266B as part of the 20-unit elective requirements.

For all master’s students, only courses in which a letter grade of C or better is received may be applied toward the requirements for a master’s degree. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (B) in all courses taken in graduate status at the University.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

For the capstone project, students must establish a committee with at least three faculty members who hold regular professorial appointments at UCLA. Two of the three committee members must have an appointment in the Health Policy and Management Department. The committee is approved by the department chair and student’s faculty adviser using the school’s internal petition.

After advancement to candidacy, students must submit the Master’s Research Thesis Report consisting of an extensive written research in the major area of study. The Master’s Report should report on the results of their original investigation of a problem/issue. While the problem may be one of only limited scope, the report must show a significant style, organization, and depth of understanding of the subject. The committee will apply their professional judgment to reviewing the report and the standards they will apply should be communicated to the students. The Master’s Report is graded Pass/Fail.

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

From graduate admission to award of the master’s degree, normative progress is six academic quarters (and two summer terms). The maximum time-to-degree is nine academic quarters (and two summer terms) of enrollment, including quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the School of Public Health.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6 + 2 summers	6 + 2 summers	9 + 2 summers

Doctoral Degree

Advising

A faculty adviser is assigned to each new student by the program chair, admissions chair, and/or student affairs officer. Additionally, the student and the faculty adviser together agree upon a study list for the cognate the student wishes to pursue. Any subsequent alterations must be approved both by the faculty adviser and the department chair.

Within the first three quarters of study, students file Doctoral Form 1, Petition for Establishment of Three-Member Guidance Committee and Study in Major and Cognate Field for the Ph.D. The guidance committee consists of three members including the student’s faculty adviser in the major field and the student’s faculty adviser in the minor field. Courses to be taken for the cognate field must be approved by the student’s faculty adviser and the chair of the department.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Major field course requirements include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 226A, 226B, 227A, 237C, Biostatistics 201A, Biostatistics 201B, an additional statistics course at 200-level or above, Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory survey course or show proof of an equivalent graduate-level introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an M.P.H./M.S., Ph.D., or M.D. program from an accredited institution), and four or more cognate electives (16 units) from a department that grants a Ph.D. degree. Cognate courses must be at the graduate level and should be core theory and research courses for the discipline chosen. Acceptable cognate areas would be from one of the following disciplinary areas: economics, epidemiology, health care outcomes research, history, management, pharmaceutical economics, policy studies, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Before advancement to candidacy, students must pass a written comprehensive exam and pass an oral qualifying examination conducted by the student’s doctoral committee. The written comprehensive exam prepares and evaluates the students’ knowledge and application of health services research and its methods. The exam is administered during September of each year and students have five days to complete the take-home exam, which is comprised of four sections: literature critique, research design, statistical analysis, and cognate specific contents. Students may retake the exam only once the following year, if they fail to pass the exam. Failure to pass the exam the second time would result in discussion of a recommendation for academic disqualification from the doctoral program. If any additional reexamination is required due to special circumstance, the student may petition with the department chair and the decision will be made on a case by case basis.

The oral qualifying exam consists of the proposal of the dissertation work to the committee members approved by Graduate Division. It entails a brief presentation of the proposal and Q&A session with the committee members. After passing the university oral qualifying examination, the student may be advanced to candidacy and commence work on a dissertation in the principal field of study. The doctoral committee guides the student’s progress toward completion of the dissertation.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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 normative time-to-degree is 18 academic quarters (and one summer term). Maximum allowable time for the attainment of the degree is 24 academic quarters (and one summer term) of enrollment. This limitation includes quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the doctoral degree program.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	18 + 1 summer	24 + 1 summer

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for failure to complete the required course work within seven quarters of matriculation.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for: failure to maintain a 3.00 grade point average for two consecutive quarters following matriculation into the doctoral program; a second failure of any written qualifying examination in the major or minor fields; a second failure of either the oral qualifying examination or the final oral examination (dissertation defense); or exceeding enrollment time limits.

A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification first to the departmental chair, then to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, then to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and finally to the dean of the school.

Program Requirements for Health Policy and Management

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Health Policy and Management

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the two-year MS program must complete Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, 423, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100. Students must complete 16 full courses (70 units) and at least four quarters of graduate residence at the University of California, including at least two quarters at UCLA. All courses with the exception of Epi 100 must be 200 level or above. Only four units of either Health Policy and Management 596 or 598 may be applied to the degree. Health Policy Management 597 may not be applied toward the degree requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses or equivalents: Health Policy and Management 227A, 227B, and/or Epidemiology 201A, 201B. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s adviser. Electives may be chosen from offerings in the department or other departments in the School of Public Health. Students may apply a maximum of two 400-level courses towards their electives.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent) are eligible to pursue the one-year Postdoctoral MS Program. Students in this one-year track must complete 12 courses (54 units). Required courses include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory survey course or show proof of an equivalent graduate-level introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an M.P.H./M.S., Ph.D., or M.D. program from an accredited institution). 20 units of elective courses are required and should be selected in consultation with the adviser. Students with previous academic work in statistics and Epidemiology are encouraged to take more advanced courses to substitute for Biostatistics 201A and 201B and Epidemiology 100. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

M.S. students who do not have a degree from a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited public health school must take Public Health C150/C201 to meet the CEPH-required 12 learning objectives. Equivalent courses must be approved by the department.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

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.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6 + 2 summers	6 + 2 summers	9 + 2 summers

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

PhD students who do not have a degree from a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited public health school must take Public Health C150/C201 to meet the CEPH-required 12 learning objectives. Equivalent courses must be approved by the department.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

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

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	18 + 1 summer	24 + 1 summer

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from 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 academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for failure to complete the required course work within seven quarters of matriculation.

Doctoral

Program Requirements for Health Policy and Management

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2024-2025 academic year.

Health Policy and Management

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

A faculty adviser is responsible for the student’s academic progress. Progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis. At the end of each quarter, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs reviews academic listings of students and notifies them and the advisers when the cumulative grade-point average is below 3.0. Advisers review each case with their advisees and make recommendations to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for continuance or recommendation for academic disqualification. Students who wish to change advisers must file a petition which must be approved by the new faculty adviser, the department chair, and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Areas of Study

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the two-year MS program must complete Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, 423, Biostatistics 211A, 211B, and Epidemiology 100. Students must complete 16 full courses (70 units) and at least four quarters of graduate residence at the University of California, including at least two quarters at UCLA. All courses with the exception of Epi 100 must be 200 level or above. Only four units of either Health Policy and Management 596 or 598 may be applied to the degree. Health Policy Management 597 may not be applied toward the degree requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses or equivalents: Health Policy and Management 227A, 227B, and/or Epidemiology 201A, 201B. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s adviser. Electives may be chosen from offerings in the department or other departments in the School of Public Health. Students may apply a maximum of two 400-level courses toward their electives.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent) are eligible to pursue the one-year Postdoctoral MS Program. Students in this one-year track must complete 12 courses (54 units). Required courses include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, Biostatistics 211A or HLT POL 202, 211B, and Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory epidemiology course or shows proof of an equivalent introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an undergraduate program from a CEPH-accredited institution or successful completion of the Step 1 USMLE exam). 20 units of elective courses are required and should be selected in consultation with the adviser. Students with previous academic work in statistics and Epidemiology are encouraged to take more advanced courses in lieu of Biostatistics 211A and 211B, or Epidemiology 100. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree on the one-year Implementation Science (IS) track may choose to replace Health Policy and Management 237C (6 units) and Biostatistics 211B (4 units) with Health Policy and Management 215B (4 units) and 225C (4 units); with this replacement, they must complete 12 courses (52 units).

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

For the capstone project, students must establish a committee with at least three faculty members who hold regular professorial appointments at UCLA. Two of the three committee members must have an appointment in the Health Policy and Management Department. The committee is approved by the department chair and the student’s faculty adviser using the school’s internal petition.

After advancement to candidacy, students must submit the Master’s Research Report consisting of extensive written research in the major area of study. The Master’s Report should report on the results of their original investigation of a problem/issue. While the problem may be one of only limited scope, the report must show a significant style, organization, and depth of understanding of the subject. The committee will apply their professional judgment to reviewing the report and the standards they will apply should be communicated to the students. The Master’s Report is graded Pass/Fail.

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.

Time-to-Degree

From graduate admission to the award of the master’s degree, normative progress is six academic quarters (and two summer terms). The maximum time-to-degree is nine academic quarters (and two summer terms) of enrollment, including quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the School of Public Health.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6 + 2 summers	6 + 2 summers	9 + 2 summers

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Major field course requirements include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 226A, 226B, 227A, 237C, Biostatistics 211A, Biostatistics 211B, an additional statistics course at 200-level or above, Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory epidemiology course or show proof of an equivalent introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an undergraduate or graduate program from a CEPH-accredited institution or successful completion of the Step 1 USMLE exam), and four or more cognate electives (at least 16 units) from a department that grants a Ph.D. degree. Cognate courses must be at the graduate level. Acceptable cognate areas would be from one of the following disciplinary areas: health care outcomes research, health economics, organizational behavior and implementation science, pharmaceutical economics, public policy, population health, and sociology. Students with previous academic work in statistics and Epidemiology are encouraged to take more advanced courses in lieu of Biostatistics 211A and 211B, or Epidemiology 100. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

Ph.D. students who do not have a degree from a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH)-accredited public health school must take Public Health C150/C201 to meet the CEPH-required 12 learning objectives. Equivalent courses must be approved by the department.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Before advancement to candidacy, students must pass a written comprehensive examination and pass an oral qualifying examination conducted by the student’s doctoral committee. The written comprehensive examination prepares and evaluates the students’ knowledge and application of health services research and its methods. The examination is administered during September of each year and students have five days to complete the take-home exam, which is comprised of four sections: conceptual question, literature critique, research design, and statistical analysis. Students may retake the examination only once the following year, if they fail to pass the exam. Failure to pass the examination the second time would result in discussion of a recommendation for academic disqualification from the doctoral program. If any additional reexamination is required due to special circumstance, the student may petition with the department chair and the decision will be made on a case by case basis. After the students complete their cognate coursework and pass the written comprehensive exam, they will submit one paper that addresses the theoretical frameworks and methodologies undergirding the cognate and propose the method of integrating the cognate into their own scholarship during the dissertation process.

The oral qualifying examination consists of the proposal of the dissertation work to the committee members approved by the Division of Graduate Education. It entails a brief presentation of the proposal and Q&A session with the committee members. After passing the university oral qualifying examination, the student may be advanced to candidacy and commence work on a dissertation in the principal field of study. The doctoral committee guides the student’s progress toward completion of the dissertation.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	18 + 1 summer	24 + 1 summer

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for failure to complete the required course work within seven quarters of matriculation.

Doctoral

Program Requirements for Health Policy and Management

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Health Policy and Management

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the two-year MS program must complete Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, 423, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100. Students must complete 16 full courses (70 units) and at least four quarters of graduate residence at the University of California, including at least two quarters at UCLA. All courses with the exception of Epi 100 must be 200 level or above. Only four units of either Health Policy and Management 596 or 598 may be applied to the degree. Health Policy Management 597 may not be applied toward the degree requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses or equivalents: Health Policy and Management 227A, 227B, and/or Epidemiology 201A, 201B. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s adviser. Electives may be chosen from offerings in the department or other departments in the School of Public Health. Students may apply a maximum of two 400-level courses toward their electives.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent) are eligible to pursue the one-year Postdoctoral MS Program. Students in this one-year track must complete 12 courses (54 units). Required courses include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, Biostatistics 201A or HLT POL 202, 201B, and Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory epidemiology course or shows proof of an equivalent introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an undergraduate program from a CEPH-accredited institution or successful completion of the Step 1 USMLE exam). 20 units of elective courses are required and should be selected in consultation with the adviser. Students with previous academic work in statistics and Epidemiology are encouraged to take more advanced courses in lieu of Biostatistics 201A and 201B, or Epidemiology 100. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

For the capstone project, students must establish a committee with at least three faculty members who hold regular professorial appointments at UCLA. Two of the three committee members must have an appointment in the Health Policy and Management Department. The committee is approved by the department chair and the student’s faculty adviser using the school’s internal petition.

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.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6 + 2 summers	6 + 2 summers	9 + 2 summers

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Major field course requirements include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 226A, 226B, 227A, 237C, Biostatistics 201A, Biostatistics 201B, an additional statistics course at 200-level or above, Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory epidemiology course or show proof of an equivalent introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an undergraduate or graduate program from a CEPH-accredited institution or successful completion of the Step 1 USMLE exam), and four or more cognate electives (at least 16 units) from a department that grants a Ph.D. degree. Cognate courses must be at the graduate level. Acceptable cognate areas would be from one of the following disciplinary areas: health care outcomes research, health economics, organizational behavior and implementation science, pharmaceutical economics, public policy, population health, and sociology. Students with previous academic work in statistics and Epidemiology are encouraged to take more advanced courses in lieu of Biostatistics 201A and 201B, or Epidemiology 100. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Before advancement to candidacy, students must pass a written comprehensive exam and pass an oral qualifying examination conducted by the student’s doctoral committee. The written comprehensive exam prepares and evaluates the students’ knowledge and application of health services research and its methods. The exam is administered during September of each year and students have five days to complete the take-home exam, which is comprised of four sections: conceptual question, literature critique, research design, and statistical analysis. Students may retake the exam only once the following year, if they fail to pass the exam. Failure to pass the exam the second time would result in discussion of a recommendation for academic disqualification from the doctoral program. If any additional reexamination is required due to special circumstance, the student may petition with the department chair and the decision will be made on a case by case basis. After the students complete their cognate coursework and pass the written comprehensive exam, they will submit one paper that addresses the theoretical frameworks and methodologies undergirding the cognate and propose the method of integrating the cognate into their own scholarship during the dissertation process.

The oral qualifying exam consists of the proposal of the dissertation work to the committee members approved by the Division of Graduate Education. It entails a brief presentation of the proposal and Q&A session with the committee members. After passing the university oral qualifying examination, the student may be advanced to candidacy and commence work on a dissertation in the principal field of study. The doctoral committee guides the student’s progress toward completion of the dissertation.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	18 + 1 summer	24 + 1 summer

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for failure to complete the required course work within seven quarters of matriculation.

Doctoral

Program Requirements for Health Policy and Management

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Health Policy and Management

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent) are eligible to pursue the one-year Postdoctoral MS Program. Students in this one-year track must complete 12 courses (54 units). Required courses include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, Biostatistics 211A or HLT POL 202, 211B, and Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory epidemiology course or shows proof of an equivalent introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an undergraduate program from a CEPH-accredited institution or successful completion of the Step 1 USMLE exam). 20 units of elective courses are required and should be selected in consultation with the adviser. Students with previous academic work in statistics and Epidemiology are encouraged to take more advanced courses in lieu of Biostatistics 211A and 211B, or Epidemiology 100. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree on the one-year Implementation Science (IS) track may choose to replace Health Policy and Management 237C (6 units) and Biostatistics 211B (4 units) with Health Policy and Management 215B (4 units) and 225C (4 units); with this replacement, they must complete 12 courses (52 units).

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

For the capstone project, students must establish a committee with at least three faculty members who hold regular professorial appointments at UCLA. Two of the three committee members must have an appointment in the Health Policy and Management Department. The committee is approved by the department chair and the student’s faculty adviser using the school’s internal petition.

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.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6 + 2 summers	6 + 2 summers	9 + 2 summers

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

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

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	18 + 1 summer	24 + 1 summer

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for failure to complete the required course work within seven quarters of matriculation.

Doctoral

Program Requirements for Health Policy and Management

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Health Policy and Management

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the two-year MS program must complete Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, 423, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100. Students must complete 16 full courses (70 units) and at least four quarters of graduate residence at the University of California, including at least two quarters at UCLA. All courses with the exception of Epi 100 must be 200 level or above. Only four units of either Health Policy and Management 596 or 598 may be applied to the degree. Health Policy Management 597 may not be applied toward the degree requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses or equivalents: Health Policy and Management 227A, 227B, and/or Epidemiology 201A, 201B. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s adviser. Electives may be chosen from offerings in the department or other departments in the School of Public Health. Students may apply a maximum of two 400-level courses towards their electives.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent) are eligible to pursue the one-year Postdoctoral MS Program. Students in this one-year track must complete 12 courses (54 units). Required courses include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory survey course or show proof of an equivalent graduate-level introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an M.P.H./M.S., Ph.D., or M.D. program from an accredited institution). 20 units of elective courses are required and should be selected in consultation with the adviser. Students with previous academic work in statistics and Epidemiology are encouraged to take more advanced courses to substitute for Biostatistics 201A and 201B and Epidemiology 100. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

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.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6 + 2 summers	6 + 2 summers	9 + 2 summers

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

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

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	18 + 1 summer	24 + 1 summer

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for failure to complete the required course work within seven quarters of matriculation.

Doctoral

Program Requirements for Health Policy and Management

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Health Policy and Management

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students pursuing the two-year MS program must complete Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, 423, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100. Students must complete 16 full courses (70 units) and at least four quarters of graduate residence at the University of California, including at least two quarters at UCLA. All courses with the exception of Epi 100 must be 200 level or above. Only four units of either Health Policy and Management 596 or 598 may be applied to the degree. Health Policy Management 597 may not be applied toward the degree requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses or equivalents: Health Policy and Management 227A, 227B, and/or Epidemiology 201A, 201B. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s adviser. Electives may be chosen from offerings in the department or other departments in the School of Public Health. Students may apply a maximum of two 400-level courses towards their electives.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent) are eligible to pursue the one-year Postdoctoral MS Program. Students in this one-year track must complete 12 courses (54 units). Required courses include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 237C, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory survey course or show proof of an equivalent graduate-level introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an M.P.H./M.S., Ph.D., or M.D. program from an accredited institution). 20 units of elective courses are required and should be selected in consultation with the adviser. Students with previous academic work in statistics and Epidemiology are encouraged to take more advanced courses to substitute for Biostatistics 201A and 201B and Epidemiology 100. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

After advancement to candidacy, students must submit the Master’s Research Report consisting of an extensive written research in the major area of study. The Master’s Report should report on the results of their original investigation of a problem/issue. While the problem may be one of only limited scope, the report must show a significant style, organization, and depth of understanding of the subject. The committee will apply their professional judgment to reviewing the report and the standards they will apply should be communicated to the students. The Master’s Report is graded Pass/Fail.

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.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6 + 2 summers	6 + 2 summers	9 + 2 summers

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Major field course requirements include Health Policy and Management 200A, 225A, 225B, 226A, 226B, 227A, 237C, Biostatistics 201A, Biostatistics 201B, an additional statistics course at 200-level or above, Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory survey course or show proof of an equivalent graduate-level introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an M.P.H./M.S., Ph.D., or M.D. program from an accredited institution), and four or more cognate electives (16 units) from a department that grants a Ph.D. degree. Cognate courses must be at the graduate level and should be core theory and research courses for the discipline chosen. Acceptable cognate areas would be from one of the following disciplinary areas: epidemiology, health care outcomes research, health economics, organizational behavior and implementation science, pharmaceutical economics, public policy, psychology/mental health, and sociology.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

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

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	18 + 1 summer	24 + 1 summer

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for academic disqualification for failure to complete the required course work within seven quarters of matriculation.

Doctoral

Program Requirements for Health Policy and Management

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Health Policy and Management

School of Public Health

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

An adviser is appointed for each new master’s student by the head of the respective department. Students are expected to follow and adhere to the department’s list of required courses and recommended sequencing. Any subsequent alterations must be approved by the student’s adviser. Students are expected to meet with their advisers each quarter. A departmental guidance committee is established when the student has completed approximately half of the program for the master’s degree. Members of the departmental guidance committee are approved by the department chair after consultation with the student and the student’s adviser.

An adviser is responsible for the student’s academic progress. Progress is evaluated on an ongoing basis. At the end of each quarter the Associate Dean of Student Affairs reviews academic listings of students and notifies them and the advisers when the cumulative grade-point average is below 3.0. Advisers review each case with their advisees and make recommendations to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for continuance or dismissal. Students who wish to change advisers must file a petition which must be approved by the new adviser, the department chair, and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Areas of Study

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must complete Health Policy and Management 200A, 200B, 225A, 225B, 237C, 423, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100. Students must complete 17 full courses (74 units) and at least one year of graduate residence at the University of California. All courses with the exception of Epi 100 must be 200 level or above. Only four units of either Health Policy and Management 596 or 598 may be applied to the degree. Health Policy Management 597 may not be applied toward the degree requirements. Students are strongly encouraged to take the following courses or equivalents: Health Policy and Management 227A, 227B, and/or Epidemiology 201A, 201B. Elective courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s adviser. Electives may be chosen from offerings in the department or other departments in the School of Public Health.

Students with a prior doctoral-level degree (M.D., Ph.D., J.D., D.D.S., or equivalent), and relevant experience, must complete 13 full courses (58 units). The four courses (16 units) not required for these students are identified through a waiver petition when the student advances to candidacy. Required courses include Health Policy and Management 200A, 200B, 225A, 225B, 237C, Biostatistics 201A, 201B, and Epidemiology 100. If the student plans to complete the Implementation Science Track, the student may replace Biostaticstics 201B and Health Policy and Management 237C with Health Policy and Management 215B and 225C. Students must take two courses in statistics and a minimum of one course in Epidemiology. Biostatistics 201A and 201B and Epidemiology 100 will satisfy these requirements. However, students are encouraged to substitute advanced courses in these areas if previous academic work provides adequate preparation. This determination will be made on a case by case basis in consultation with the program director.

Only courses in which a grade of C- or better is received may be applied toward the requirements for a master’s degree. Students must maintain an average of no less than 3.0 (B) in all courses required or elected during graduate residence at the University of California.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

If the capstone plan (comprehensive examination/report) is approved, a guidance committee of three faculty members is appointed. The comprehensive examination consists of an extensive written research report in the major area of study. It must be approved by the guidance committee which also must certify successful completion of all degree requirements.

Thesis Plan

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

Time-to-Degree

From graduate admission to award of the master’s degree, normative progress is nine academic quarters (and two summer terms). The maximum time-to-degree is fifteen academic quarters (and two summer terms) of enrollment, including quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the School of Public Health.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	11	11	17

Doctoral Degree

Advising

An academic adviser is assigned to each new student by the program chair, admissions chair, and/or student affairs officer. Additionally, the student and the adviser together agree upon a study list for the cognate the student wishes to pursue. Any subsequent alterations must be approved both by the adviser and the department chair.

Within the first three quarters of study, students file Doctoral Form 1, Petition for Establishment of Three-Member Guidance Committee and Study in Major and Cognate Field for the Ph.D. The guidance committee consists of three members including the student’s adviser in the major field and the student’s adviser in the minor field. Courses to be taken for the cognate field must be approved by the student’s adviser and the chair of the department.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Consult the graduate adviser.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Major field course requirements include Health Policy and Management 200A, 200B, 225A, 225B, 226 A, 226B, 227B, 237C, Biostatistics 201A, Biostatistics 201B, an additional statistics course at 200-level or above, Epidemiology 100 (or an equivalent introductory survey course or show proof of an equivalent graduate-level introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an M.P.H./M.S., Ph.D., or M.D. program from an accredited institution), and four or more cognate electives (16 units) from a department that grants a Ph.D. degree. Cognate courses must be at the graduate level and should be core theory and research courses for the discipline chosen. Acceptable cognate areas would be from one of the following disciplinary areas: economics, epidemiology, health care outcomes research, history, management, pharmaceutical economics, policy studies, political science, psychology, and sociology.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Before advancement to candidacy, students must pass a written departmental and pass an oral qualifying examination conducted by the student’s doctoral committee. Normally no more than one reexamination is allowed. When the student is ready to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination, a doctoral committee is nominated. The doctoral committee administers the oral qualifying examination after the student has successfully completed the written examination.

After passing the University Oral Qualifying Examination, the student may be advanced to candidacy and commence work on a dissertation in the principal field of study. The doctoral committee guides the student’s progress toward completion of the dissertation.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	19	25

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination for failure to complete the required course work within seven quarters of matriculation.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons outlined above, a student may be recommended for termination for: failure to maintain a 3.00 grade point average for two consecutive quarters following matriculation into the doctoral program; a second failure of any written qualifying examination in the major or minor fields; a second failure of either oral examination; or exceeding enrollment time limits.

A student may appeal a recommendation for termination first to the departmental chair, then to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, then to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and finally to the dean of the school.

Program Requirements for Germanic Languages

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Germanic Languages

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Germanic Languages offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Germanic Languages, and the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Scandinavian (see Scandinavian Section in Program Requirements).

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The Director of Graduate Studies evaluate student preparation for the M.A. program, and assess progress toward the degree. They advise students on planning their studies, course selection and preparation for the M.A. examinations. The advisers meet with students at least once every quarter and maintain records of these interviews. In addition to the regular advisers, students who choose the M.A. thesis plan are guided by the thesis adviser and other members of their thesis committee.

Areas of Study

There are three M.A. plans that differ with respect to course requirements and comprehensive examinations. Plan A is for students who plan to terminate their studies with the M.A. degree. Plan B is for students whose main interests are in literature, culture, or German studies and who plan to proceed toward the Ph.D. degree. Plan C is for students whose main interests are in German linguistics and who plan to proceed toward the Ph.D. degree.

Foreign Language Requirement

A reading knowledge of a language other than German or English must be demonstrated before the chair can approve the master’s advancement to candidacy petition. This requirement can be fulfilled by receiving a grade of B or better in Dutch 120 and Dutch 131 or in one of these courses: Dutch 103C, French 1G, Yiddish 101C, the fifth quarter course in the chosen language or an upper division literature course in which texts are read in the chosen language. Students also may fulfill the foreign language requirement by demonstrating to the satisfaction of the Director of Graduate Studies that equivalent requirements were met at another post-secondary institution or in some other way. The choice of language and the means of fulfillment of the requirement must be agreed upon in advance by the student and the Director.

Course Requirements

Plan A requires a minimum of ten upper division and graduate courses (38 units), of which at least six courses (24 units) must be graduate level (200- or 500-series). In addition, German 155, and 140 (or equivalent) and European Languages and Transcultural Studies 200 (2 units, S/U grading) are required. Undergraduate credit for these courses is applicable in satisfaction of these requirements as long as the courses are taken while in graduate status.

Plan B requires a minimum of nine upper division and graduate courses (38 units), of which at least six courses (24 units) must be graduate level (200- or 500-series). One seminar must be included and European Languages and Transcultural Studies 200 (2 units, S/U grading). The departmental core curriculum must be fulfilled in the first year of study. In the first year incoming M.A. students are obliged to complete at least one course in the each of the following areas: (a) literature and culture before 1700; (b) literature and culture after 1700; (c) critical theory; (d) German linguistics. In each case courses meeting the requirement for the area are designated yearly in departmental course listings. Eligible courses in literature cover a substantial historical period, movement, or topic. Eligible courses in Germanic linguistics might be in the area of history and structure of the language, or theory.
In addition, all students are required to take the German 495 teaching practicum in the first quarter of teaching.

Plan C requires a minimum of ten upper division and graduate courses (38 units) beyond the language requirements, of which at least six courses (24 units) must be graduate level (200- or 500-series) and of which up to four courses may be from other departments in a relevant area (e.g., linguistics, applied linguistics, Indo-European linguistics, Romance linguistics). German 217, C238, one seminar, and European Languages and Transcultural Studies 200 (2 units, S/U grading) must be included. Students in Plan C are required to fulfill a modified version of the departmental core curriculum that requires them to take designated courses meeting the requirements in two of the following areas: (a) literature and culture before 1700; (b) literature and culture after 1700; (c) critical theory.

Students in Plans A and B may take German 596 twice before the M.A. degree requirements are completed; however, only one 596 course may be counted toward the degree requirements, including the graduate course requirement. Students in Plan C and allied fields may take German 596 twice (eight units) for degree credit; four units of this credit may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Students may enroll in up to 12 units of German 597 or 598 but not before the quarter in which the course requirements are fulfilled. German 597 and 598 may not be applied toward course requirements for the master’s degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Examinations are offered each quarter, beginning with the written part during the fifth week of each quarter. Under exceptional circumstances, the chair of the department will receive petitions for M.A. examinations during the summer recess.

One examination committee is appointed for each quarter. The members of the committee administer the written and oral examinations.

Students in Plans A and B select two out of six possible areas of concentration on which to be examined: (1) German literature and culture after 1700; (2) German literature and culture before 1700; (3) history and structure of Germanic languages; (4) Dutch or Afrikaans literature and culture; (5) old Norse literature and culture; (6) critical theory and intellectual history.

For Plan A, students must choose history and structure of Germanic languages as one area of study.

Students select a primary concentration on which they are examined for three hours. They also select a secondary concentration on which they are examined for two hours.

For each examination, one month in advance, students are provided with three broad topics. They are examined on specific questions relating to those topics. The examination in the secondary field follows in the month after the examination in the primary area, and is structured in the same manner.

A one-hour oral examination follows in the week after the completion of the second examination.

For Plan C, the M.A. examination consists of three written examinations of two hours each, followed by a one-hour oral examination. Students are examined in the following areas: one examination on the history of Germanic languages, theory, and historical linguistics; one examination on the structure of German languages, and in theory and synchronic linguistics; one examination on languages and dialects. Students may select one modern language, one philological language, and a third language of their choice. This examination includes translation and parsing. To continue toward the Ph.D. degree, the student must receive a pass with the recommendation to continue.

After the written examinations have been taken, for those in Plan B or Plan C, the M.A. committee decides whether the student may proceed to the oral examination. If the student fails the oral examination, the M.A. committee decides whether the entire examination must be repeated or only the oral portion. The examination may be repeated only once without petition.

If the student applies for the M.A. degree under Plan B (to proceed toward the Ph.D.) and is awarded a terminal M.A. degree, the examinations may be repeated if the student chooses not to have the M.A. degree officially awarded before the reexamination.

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 lieu of the written examination requirement, students may submit a thesis. Students in Plan B who elect to submit a thesis must, however, complete a two-hour oral examination in the area of their thesis as well as in two other areas of concentration in order to be approved for further doctoral study. Students in Plan C who elect the thesis option are required to take one two-hour written examination in addition to the thesis.

The following additional rules apply to the thesis option:

(1) The thesis committee must consist of three members, one of whom serves as director. The student selects the director, and the other two members are appointed by the chair in consultation with the student.

(2) No committee member from outside the department is required, except in the case of Plan B. For this plan, one member must be from the related field.

(3) The thesis committee should be established no later than the end of the fourth quarter of the candidate’s graduate studies. At that time, the thesis committee must approve the plan for the thesis in writing and submit a copy to the graduate adviser.

(4) No 598 course is required, although students may take one such course in preparation for the degree.

(5) Candidates who fail the examination may repeat it once without petitioning the department. The examination must be repeated no later than one quarter following the quarter in which the first examination was failed.

(6) The Registrar’s online calendar specifies the date for filing of the final draft of a thesis with the student’s committee and the date on which revised and completed theses must be filed in the library. The examinations must be taken prior to the date on which revised and completed theses must be filed in the library.

Time-to-Degree

The estimated time to the M.A. degree for full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission to graduate status and who are taking a full course load is three to five quarters; estimated time to the degree for teaching assistants is six quarters.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	5	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students must establish a three-member faculty guidance committee, in consultation with their adviser, no later than one year after completing the M.A. examination (or within one year of admission with an M.A. degree). Students who fail to do so within this time limit are not be eligible for teaching assistantships or fellowships.

The composition of the guidance committee must be filed in writing with the Director of Graduate Studies. Students may ask one member from outside the department to serve on the committee if there is a programmatic need. Any changes in this committee must be approved by the graduate adviser and the faculty concerned, and filed with the Director of Graduate Studies. The director of this committee in most cases is the faculty member with whom the student would like to write her/his dissertation. The director must in all cases be a member of the department.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Not applicable.

Foreign Language Requirement

In addition to the first language requirement for the M.A. degree, doctoral students are required to fulfill a second requirement in one of the following ways: (1) demonstrate a reading knowledge of a second foreign language in accord with the same criteria used for the M.A. foreign language requirement; (2) demonstrate a superior proficiency in the language used for the M.A. degree by receiving a grade of B or better in three upper division or graduate literature courses in which texts are read in that language; (3) demonstrate competence in the discursive rudiments of one other discipline by receiving a grade of B or better in at least three upper division or graduate courses in the history and structure of a discipline relating to the student’s research; (4) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director of Graduate Studies that equivalent requirements were met at another post-secondary institution or in some other way. The means of fulfillment of this requirement must be agreed upon in advance by the student and the Director.

Students who specialize in Scandinavian may not use Swedish, Norwegian, or Danish for the second language. Students whose primary field of concentration is Icelandic or Finnish may not use Icelandic or Finnish for this requirement.

Course Requirements

Students must have completed eight graduate courses (at least four in the department) beyond the M.A. degree, three of which must be seminars. If students have already taken a seminar in preparation for their M.A. degree, only two of these eight courses must be seminars.

Students may take German 596 twice before the Ph.D. degree requirements are completed; however, only one 596 course may be counted toward the degree requirements. Students in allied fields may take German 596 more than once for degree credit. Students may enroll in up to 12 units of German 597 but not before the quarter in which the course requirements are fulfilled. German 597 may not be applied toward course requirements for the doctoral degree.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Students must (1) pass the graduate reading examination in their first foreign language; (2) pass an interdepartmental reading examination either in a second foreign language or in the discursive field of their choice; (3) successfully complete three seminars; (4) pass the qualifying examinations. Upon majority vote of the committee, the written examinations or any of their parts may be repeated once. Initial reading lists should be submitted to all committee members no later than the tenth week of the fourth quarter. A mid-quarter meeting should take place between the student and all committee members in the quarter preceding the quarter in which the written examination is taken. The purpose of this meeting is to finalize the reading lists. No substantial changes should be made to the reading lists after this meeting.

For the written qualifying examinations, students in literature, culture, and German studies are expected to cover six different areas in three examinations, each of which is devoted to two of the six areas they have chosen. The six areas should include one author, one genre, one period, one theoretical or historical problem, and two special topics of their choosing. One examination lasts five hours. The other two examinations last three hours each.

In determining how they will satisfy the six-area requirements, students should keep in mind the structure of the examination: since each examination will cover two areas, the two areas in each examination must make sense together. Regardless of the format chosen, students must take written examinations on campus, no later than the eighth week of the twelfth quarter beyond completion of the B.A. degree (which will normally be the sixth quarter beyond completion of the M.A.) and they must be taken within one week. One week after this examination, students take a one-hour oral examination covering the written material presented.

For the written qualifying examination, students in linguistics complete a three-hour examination in five target languages, and a second three-hour examination in linguistics theory. Students in Old Norse are examined for two hours in language, two hours in theoretical problems of interpretation, and two hours on issues concerning social and historical context. Students in Scandinavian complete a three-hour examination in their major Scandinavian literature, and a second three-hour examination in the other two Scandinavian literatures.

Following successful completion of the written examinations, students in literature, culture and German studies must prepare a dissertation proposal and pass a two-hour University Oral Qualifying Examination. This examination must be taken by the end of the first week of the thirteen quarter of registration beyond the bachelor’s degree. Also, students must take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than the end of the first week of the quarter that follows their completion of the written examinations.

Following successful completion of the written examinations, students in linguistics, Old Norse, and Scandinavian take a two-hour University Oral Qualifying Examination.

After passing the written and oral qualifying examinations, students enroll in German 599 or Scandinavian 599 for all subsequent quarters of graduate study.

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 normative time for the Ph.D. degree for full-time students with no deficiencies upon admission to the Ph.D. program and taking a full course load, is 12 quarters (after the M.A. degree) or eighteen quarters in total.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	18	21

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from 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 academic disqualification 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 whose grade point average falls below 3.00 for two consecutive terms is ordinarily recommended for academic disqualification. Every recommendation to disqualify a student for reasons other than failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.00 is discussed and decided upon by the departmental faculty. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification in writing.

A doctoral student who fails any part of the written or oral qualifying examinations and who has exhausted or been denied the opportunity to retake all or part of the examinations is recommended academic disqualification. A doctoral candidate who does not complete the dissertation, including the defense (if required), within five years after passing the qualifying examinations, is subject to academic disqualification. A doctoral candidate who does not submit a first draft of the dissertation to the doctoral committee chair within three years after passing the qualifying examinations is subject to academic disqualification.

Program Requirements for Germanic Languages

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Germanic Languages

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Germanic Languages. Only applicants with the objective of the Ph.D. degree are considered for admission. Applicants without a Master’s degree will receive the M.A. en route to the doctorate.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

During their first two years of doctoral study, when students are working toward the completion of the M.A., students are advised by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies (VCGS). The VCGS serves as a resource for students’ professional and personal development as they acclimatize to graduate student life at UCLA.

Students should consult regularly with the VCGS to plan their progress to degree. Student records are reviewed regularly by the VCGS and the Student Affairs Officer in consultation with the department faculty. Students whose grade-point average falls below 3.0 are sent a warning from the Chair and may be placed on departmental academic probation.

At the end of the first year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled, and when necessary identifying areas for improvement. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter is sent, via email, no later than one week after the end of Spring quarter.

At the end of the second year, students receive a letter summarizing their progress in the program, identifying areas for improvement, and outlining the requirements that remain to be fulfilled. This letter is prepared by the VCGS, upon consultation with faculty (from ELTS and from other departments, as appropriate). The letter will be sent, via email, no later than one week after the end of Spring term. For students who have taken the M.A. examination, this letter will include, as an appendix, the one-page report from the M.A, examination committee.

Areas of Study

Germanic Languages.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

During the first two years of study toward the doctoral degree, students admitted without an M.A. must complete a total of 10 of the 12 required courses (40 units). All courses must be taken for a letter grade, and should be selected from offerings in ELTS, French, German Italian and Scandinavian – although graduate seminars in related fields may be applied with approval of the VCGS. Six of these courses (24 units) must be 200 to 296. Four courses may be upper division undergraduate courses (100 series). One four-unit 596 may be applied toward the course requirements for the master’s degree with approval of the VCGS.

These 10 courses fulfill the course requirements for the master’s degree.

First year: students should enroll in coursework chosen in consultation with the VCGS.

Second year: students should be enrolled in courses as needed to complete the M.A. requirements chosen in consultation with the VCGS; in addition, students enroll in three 4-unit 597 examination preparation courses, one per quarter; and the ELTS 495 Teaching Apprentice Practicum in Fall.

Teaching Experience

Although teaching experience is not required, the department provides all graduate students with the opportunity to teach language courses. All teaching assistants are required to complete European Languages and Transcultural Studies (ELTS) 495.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Students in the Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies who enter the program without an M.A. in Germanic are required to undergo an M.A. examination during the spring quarter of their second year. Prior to the examination, students must complete a minimum of 10 courses.

By the end of week four of the Fall quarter, second year, students must convene an examination committee comprised of three ELTS faculty members; one of these three faculty members must be in German. One faculty member should be designated as the committee chair, and the constitution of the committee must be confirmed by email to the VCGS.

In consultation with their committee, students are required to compile a list of 35 works, consisting of primary works, theory and secondary scholarship. The list must be oriented around a broad “period”, “theme” and/or “genre”. The list can be transcultural: i.e., early modern French/Italian literature or European cinema. The goal is foundational knowledge in a broadly defined field. Students write a précis demonstrating the coherence of the list.

Students enroll in one 4-unit 597 per quarter, ideally with each of the committee members in turn, for each of the three quarters in their second year.

In week one of the Spring quarter, second year, students receive approval on the finalized list from the committee and forward the list and précis to the VCGS. An oral examination of 1.5 hours (including time for feedback and discussion about future direction for the student), based on the list and the précis, should be scheduled for week nine or 10 of the Spring quarter, second year. All three committee members must be in attendance.

Examination results are announced during the feedback portion of the examination. Results are either (1) pass with permission to proceed, (2) pass without a recommendation to proceed, (3) or fail, no recommendation to proceed. If no recommendation to proceed is determined, students have the opportunity to retake the examination one more time. If, upon retaking the examination, permission to proceed is still not recommended, students with a pass with a no recommendation to proceed receive a terminal M.A. Students with a second fail receive no terminal M.A. and are not granted permission to proceed with the Ph.D. In both cases, a recommendation of academic disqualification from the Ph.D. program will be submitted to the Graduate Division, in line with the procedure set out in the Academic Disqualification section below.

At the end of the examination week, the committee chair submits to the VCGS, a one page report on the student’s performance on the oral examination, along with formal documentation of the results.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Advising for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree.

The department is committed to providing an individualized advising structure that is directed toward their individual students’ needs and interests. Students are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the available guidance.

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

Students who entered the program with an M.A. in German receive a letter at the end of the first year that provides official notification of permission to proceed with the Ph.D. (following satisfactory review of academic progress in the program).

Students select a doctoral guidance committee no later than Fall quarter of the third year and the committee must include two members from the department, including the chair, and one faculty from outside the department.

NOTE: Students who enter the program with an M.A. are expected to select a doctoral guidance committee no later than the Fall quarter of the second year.

Students must complete the language requirements before nominating the official four person doctoral guidance committee and taking the oral qualifying examination.

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Germanic Languages

Foreign Language Requirement

Doctoral candidates must demonstrate mastery in a foreign language other than their language of specialization and other English, prior to advancing to Ph.D. candidacy. The additional language must be relevant to the student’s dissertation plans. Mastery can be demonstrated in one of the following ways: (a) satisfactory completion of a departmental translation or reading exam; (b) placing into level 4 on a departmental language placement examination; (c) completing level 3 (or the equivalent of one year) in a language with a grade of B+ or better; (d) passing, with a grade of B+ or better, one upper-division or graduate course offered by another language department.

We encourage students to go beyond these minimum requirements, depending on their research interests.

Course Requirements

Course work required for the first two years of doctoral study is listed under Master’s Degree. After completing 10 courses during the first two years of study, students are expected to complete a minimum of two graduate courses in the department taken for a letter grade during the third and fourth years. In rare cases, and with approval of the VCGS, the required graduate courses may be 596 (independent studies).

Students who enter with an M.A in German may count up to four courses worth of credit from other institutions toward the 12 course requirement with approval from the VCGS. Students must take a minimum of six graduate courses in the first year. Remaining courses must be completed in the second year.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

The doctoral guidance committee works with the student to identify a nexus of themes, questions, and key concepts. The student begins compiling a reading list of circa 50 works developed in consultation with the committee. The list should represent a judicious combination of primary works, theory, and secondary scholarship. The rationale for the list is articulated by a précis that identifies themes, research questions, and key concepts, all with an eye to the dissertation project.

The student submits the précis, reading list, and the names of the advising team to the VCGS by week five of the Fall quarter.

Doctoral qualifying examinations take place in two stages:

Stage 1: Students must consult with their doctoral guidance committee on the preparation of the written qualifying examination, which takes place by the 7th week of the Spring quarter, third year. The doctoral guidance committee prepares the written qualifying examination consisting of, in general, one question per committee member for a total of three, with students choosing to write on two of the three questions. The examination time is five hours, open book/open note. A student may attempt this examination a maximum of two times.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to complete the written examination by the seventh week of the Spring quarter, second year.

In week 10 of the Spring quarter, third year, students will have a two-hour oral follow-up meeting with the doctoral guidance committee which will include a discussion and feedback of the written examination and planning for the prospectus.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to schedule the two-hour oral follow-up meeting with the doctoral guidance committee in week 10 of the Spring quarter, second year.

Stage 2: The University Oral Qualifying Examination, which takes place no later than the 10th week of the Spring quarter, fourth year. may be taken only after completion of course and language requirements, successful passing of the written examinations, and submission of a dissertation prospectus. Prior to this examination, one more member is added to the doctoral guidance committee. This nominated committee is then submitted to the Graduate Division. Prior to taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination and no later than the 7th week of the Spring quarter, fourth year, students submit a dissertation prospectus to every member of the doctoral committee. The prospectus is a text of approximately 35 pages outlining the nature, scope, and significance of the proposed dissertation topic, plus a substantial bibliography. For the preparation of the prospectus, students work in close consultation with the doctoral committee chair. This two-hour oral examination includes a review and discussion of the dissertation prospectus. The oral examination results are (1) pass and advance to candidacy or (2) revise and resubmit. If revise and resubmit, the student must work closely with the advisor and VCGS to redo the prospectus examination for successful advancement. A second oral examination will be required. If the student does not pass the second attempt at the oral examination, a recommendation of academic disqualification from the Ph.D. program will be submitted to the Graduate Division, in line with the procedures set out in the academic disqualification section below.

NOTE: Students admitted with an M.A. are expected to submit the dissertation prospectus by the 7th week of the Spring quarter and complete the University Oral Qualifying Examination by the 10th week of the Spring quarter, third year.

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

Entering without a Master’s Degree
	Normative Time
Approval to begin the Ph.D. requirements	End of 6th quarter
Selection of three members of the doctoral guidance committee	During 7th quarter
Written qualifying examinations	During 9th quarter
Completion of foreign language requirement, unless exempted	Expected by end of 10th quarter
Four-person doctoral committee nomination	Expected by the end of 11th quarter
Oral qualifying examinations	Expected by end of 12th quarter
Advancement to candidacy	Expected by end of 12th quarter
Normative time-to-degree	18 quarters (6 years)
Maximum time-to-degree	24 quarters (8 years)

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	18	24

Entering with a Master’s Degree
	Normative Time
Approval to begin the Ph.D. requirements	End of 3rd quarter
Selection of three members of the doctoral guidance committee	During 4th quarter
Written qualifying examinations	During 6th quarter
Completion of foreign language requirement, unless exempted	Expected by end of 7th quarter
Four-person doctoral committee nomination	Expected by the end of 8th quarter
Oral qualifying examinations	Expected by end of 9th quarter
Advancement to candidacy	Expected by end of 9th quarter
Normative time-to-degree	15 quarters (5 years)
Maximum time-to-degree	21 quarters (7 years)

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	21

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

A student who fails to meet the above requirements may be recommended for academic disqualification from 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 academic disqualification of graduate students, including the appeal procedure, are outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

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Germanic Languages

Graduate Degrees

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Germanic Languages

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Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree