Program Requirements for Geography

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

Geography

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

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

Areas of Study

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must complete at least eight courses, in addition to the two required graduate core courses and the research group seminars, for a minimum of 10 courses (40 units) required for the degree; of this minimum, seven courses (28 units) must be graduate level. One appropriate course may be applied toward the Department’s methods requirement, if approved by the student’s committee chair, though this requirement can be fulfilled in other ways in consultation with the committee chair. Fulfillment of the methods requirement through other means does not reduce the total number of courses the student is required to complete. One 500-series course may be applied toward the minimum course requirement for the M.A. degree but not toward the minimum graduate course requirement. The core courses (Geography 200A and 200B) must be completed within two years and with a grade of B or better in GEOG 200A and a grade of S in 200B. Each student must in every term of residence enroll in one of the two research group seminars, either Geography 299A or C299B, but these do not count toward the minimum 10-course requirement. Quarterly course enrollment plans should be approved by the student’s committee chair.

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

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

None.

Thesis Plan

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

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

To ensure progress, each student is required to finalize a thesis title by the first day of Week 4 of the third quarter following enrollment in the program (normally spring quarter). The thesis proposal must have the approval of the student’s committee by the end of the eighth week of the same quarter and be reported at Spring Review. Failure to meet these deadlines results in a “With Reservations” report and the establishment of a second deadline; failure to meet this deadline may result in a recommendation for termination of graduate status. A first draft of the thesis is required by the end of the fifth week of the fifth quarter following admissions to the program (normally winter quarter). Students are encouraged to file the completed thesis as soon as possible thereafter.

Time-to-Degree

The M.A. degree should be completed within nine academic quarters of admission to the program. Failure to show timely progress toward the degree may result in a departmental recommendation for termination from the graduate program.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	8	9	n/a

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must, within two years and with a grade of B or better in each, successfully complete the required graduate core courses (if they were not already completed at the M.A. level). At least four graduate geography courses, in addition to completed M.A. course work (excluding core courses, and Geography 375, 495, and courses in the 500 series), are required, as are three upper division or graduate courses in one or two fields (outside of geography) allied to the student’s major research area or subdisciplinary specialization, subject to approval of the guidance committee. The allied-field requirement must be met before the student takes the oral qualifying examination. One appropriate course must be taken to fulfill the department’s methods requirement, though this requirement can be fulfilled in other ways in consultation with the committee chair. Fulfillment of the methods requirement through other means does not reduce the total number of courses the student is required to complete, and in these cases, students will be required to complete one course in place of the methods course. Each student must in every term of residence enroll in one of the two research group seminars, either Geography 299A or C299B. Quarterly course enrollment plans should be approved by the student’s adviser.

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The goal of the written examinations is to ensure that students develop a command of literature in two subdisciplines or fields of geography and that they are adequately prepared to carry out their dissertation research. Command of that literature is demonstrated through the completion of field statements. Each of the two statements consists of a substantial document prepared over the course of three months. A third practical examination, significantly shorter in length and completed within 48 hours, assesses the ability of the student to develop a research strategy around a particular geographical problem. The three papers are to be completed no later than the student’s sixth term of residence. In case of failure, the student may make one more attempt, but no sooner than three months nor longer than one year after the first examination.

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

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

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

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

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

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

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	28

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

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

Program Requirements for Geography

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

Geography

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

Areas of Study

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A minimum of nine courses (36 units) are required for the degree. The course requirement includes five graduate courses, two electives, one methods requirement, two graduate core courses, and the research group seminars. Of this minimum, seven courses (28 units) must be graduate level. One appropriate course may be applied toward the Department’s methods requirement, if approved by the student’s committee chair, though this requirement can be fulfilled in other ways in consultation with the committee chair. Fulfillment of the methods requirement through other means does not reduce the total number of courses the student is required to complete. One 500-series course may be applied toward the minimum course requirement for the M.A. degree, but not toward the minimum graduate course requirement. The core courses (Geography 200A and 200B) must be completed within the first year and with a grade of B or better in GEOG 200A and a grade of S in 200B. Each student must in every term of residence enroll in one of the two research group seminars, either Geography 299A or C299B. The courses GEOG 200B, 299A, and C299B do not count toward the minimum nine-course requirement. With the exception of GEOG 200B, 299A, C299B, and any 500-level courses, all courses must be taken for a letter grade, and a minimum grade of B is required. Quarterly course enrollment plans should be approved by the student’s committee chair.

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

None.

Thesis Plan

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

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

To ensure progress, each student is expected to establish their master’s thesis committee and finalize a thesis proposal by the third quarter following enrollment in the program (normally Spring quarter). The thesis should be filed no later than the fifth or sixth quarter in residence (normally Winter or Spring quarter).

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	8	9	n/a

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must, within their first year and with a grade of B or better in each, successfully complete the required graduate core courses (if they were not already completed at the M.A. level). At least four graduate geography courses, in addition to completed M.A. course work (excluding core courses, and Geography 375, 495, and courses in the 500 series), are required, as are three upper division or graduate courses in one or two fields (outside of geography) related to the student’s major research area or sub-disciplinary specialization, subject to approval of the guidance committee. One appropriate course must be taken to fulfill the department’s methods requirement, though this requirement can be fulfilled in other ways in consultation with the committee chair. Fulfillment of the methods requirement through other means does not reduce the total number of courses the student is required to complete. Instead, students will be required to complete one course in place of the methods course. All course requirements must be met before the student takes the oral qualifying examination. Each student must in every term of residence enroll in one of the two research group seminars, either Geography 299A or C299B. The courses GEOG 299A and C299B do not count toward the minimum 10-course requirement. The requirement is eight courses for students who earned their MA in Geography at UCLA. With the exception of GEOG 200B, 299A, and C299B all courses must be taken for a letter grade, and a minimum grade of B is required. Quarterly course enrollment plans should be approved by the student’s adviser.

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The goal of the written examinations is to ensure that students develop a command of literature in two subdisciplines or fields of geography and that they are adequately prepared to carry out their dissertation research. Command of that literature is demonstrated through the completion of field statements. Each of the two statements consists of a substantial document prepared over the course of three months. A third practical examination, significantly shorter in length and completed within 48 hours, assesses the ability of the student to develop a research strategy around a particular geographical problem. The three papers are to be completed no later than the student’s sixth term of residence. Exceptions may be made for students who enter the program without a Geography degree. In case of failure, the student may make one more attempt, but no sooner than three months nor longer than one year after the first examination.

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

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	28

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

Every Spring quarter, the departmental faculty hold a review of all of its graduate students. The purpose of the Spring Review is twofold: first, to provide the faculty with an opportunity to assess the progress toward the degree of every student; and second, to provide every student with that assessment. The criteria are timely completion of coursework with satisfactory grades; timely completion of examinations; timely preparation of thesis/dissertation proposals; satisfactory research progress; and timely completion of the degree. Additionally, regular participation in the EOS (C299B) and SOPHOS (299A) courses is also evaluated. Each year, before the Spring Review faculty meeting, the student should meet with his/her committee members to discuss the student’s progress (a Spring Review form will be sent by the Student Affairs Officer to all students). The student’s advisor brings the results of the discussion to the Spring Review meeting. Hence, it is important that early in the first year, the student begins to construct at least a provisional committee. In the event that a student has not decided on a committee, the Director of Graduate Studies shall, in consultation with the interim advisor, choose a reviewing committee.

The student’s interim adviser or committee chair has the primary responsibility in setting forth the necessary information for the assessment. Other members of the student’s committee, instructors in courses the student has taken, and other faculty may contribute to the appraisal. After discussion, the faculty assess the student’s progress as Favorable, With Reservations, or Unfavorable. The interim adviser or committee chair and the graduate adviser inform the student by letter of the appraisal. The three possible outcomes indicate the following:

Favorable – student is making good progress towards the degree in keeping with the suggested timetables outlined in the Graduate Manual.

With Reservations – student has made some visible progress since the previous Spring Review (for example, has completed additional required coursework, has finished a thesis/dissertation proposal, has passed the written or oral qualifying examinations), but has made insufficient progress overall. For example, the student has well exceeded the suggested timeline for fulfilling requirements, extending their time to degree, or the student needs to make major revisions to their proposed project in order to fulfill their requirement (e.g., thesis/dissertation proposal, written or oral qualifying exam, or dissertation). The committee chair will provide a letter that details the reasons why “With Reservations” was given. This letter will include an individualized academic plan for the student that includes expectations and a timeline for the student to meet until the next Spring Review.

Unfavorable – student has made little, if any, visible progress toward the degree since the last Spring. The committee chair will detail the reasons for the “unfavorable” evaluation and specify steps to rectify the situation in a letter. This letter will include an individualized academic plan for the student that includes expectations and a timeline for the student to meet until the Spring Review. Usually, the student will be asked to complete a specified thesis/dissertation-related task within a given period. Failure to meet this deadline may result in a recommendation for academic disqualification from the program.

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

Program Requirements for Geography

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2018-2019 academic year.

Geography

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

None.

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	8	9	n/a

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The goal of the written examinations is to ensure that students develop a command of literature in two subdisciplines or fields of geography and that they are adequately prepared to carry out their dissertation research. Command of that literature is demonstrated through the completion of field statements. Each of the two statements consists of a substantial document prepared over the course of three months. A third practical examination, significantly shorter in length and completed within 48 hours, assesses the ability of the student to develop a research strategy around a particular geographical problem. The three papers are to be completed no later than the student’s sixth term of residence. Exceptions may be made for students who enter the program without a Geography degree. In case of failure, the student may make one more attempt, but no sooner than three months nor longer than one year after the first examination.

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

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	28

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Favorable – student is making good progress towards the degree in keeping with the suggested timetables outlined in the Graduate Manual.

Program Requirements for Geography

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

Geography

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

None.

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	8	9	n/a

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The goal of the written examinations is to ensure that students develop a command of literature in two subdisciplines or fields of geography and that they are adequately prepared to carry out their dissertation research. Command of that literature is demonstrated through the completion of field statements. Each of the two statements consists of a substantial document prepared over the course of three months. A third practical examination, significantly shorter in length and completed within 48 hours, assesses the ability of the student to develop a research strategy around a particular geographical problem. The three papers are to be completed no later than the student’s sixth term of residence. Exceptions may be made for students who enter the program without a Geography degree. In case of failure, the student may make one more attempt, but no sooner than three months nor longer than one year after the first examination.

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

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	28

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Favorable – student is making good progress towards the degree in keeping with the suggested timetables outlined in the Graduate Manual.

Program Requirements for Geography

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

Geography

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

None.

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	8	9	n/a

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The goal of the written examinations is to ensure that students develop a command of literature in two subdisciplines or fields of geography and that they are adequately prepared to carry out their dissertation research. Command of that literature is demonstrated through the completion of field statements. Each of the two statements consists of a substantial document prepared over the course of three months. A third practical examination, significantly shorter in length and completed within 48 hours, assesses the ability of the student to develop a research strategy around a particular geographical problem. The three papers are to be completed no later than the student’s sixth term of residence. Exceptions may be made for students who enter the program without a Geography degree. In case of failure, the student may make one more attempt, but no sooner than three months nor longer than one year after the first examination.

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

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	28

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Favorable – student is making good progress towards the degree in keeping with the suggested timetables outlined in the Graduate Manual.

Program Requirements for Geography

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

Geography

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

None.

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	8	9	n/a

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The goal of the written examinations is to ensure that students develop a command of literature in two subdisciplines or fields of geography and that they are adequately prepared to carry out their dissertation research. Command of that literature is demonstrated through the completion of field statements. Each of the two statements consists of a substantial document prepared over the course of three months. A third practical examination, significantly shorter in length and completed within 48 hours, assesses the ability of the student to develop a research strategy around a particular geographical problem. The three papers are to be completed no later than the student’s sixth term of residence. Exceptions may be made for students who enter the program without a Geography degree. In case of failure, the student may make one more attempt, but no sooner than three months nor longer than one year after the first examination.

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

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	28

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Favorable – student is making good progress towards the degree in keeping with the suggested timetables outlined in the Graduate Manual.

Program Requirements for Geography

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

Geography

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

A minimum of nine courses (36 units) are required for the degree. The course requirement includes three graduate courses, four electives, one methods requirement, two graduate core courses, and the research group seminars. Of this minimum, five courses (20 units) must be graduate level. One appropriate course may be applied toward the Department’s methods requirement, if approved by the student’s committee chair, though this requirement can be fulfilled in other ways in consultation with the committee chair. Fulfillment of the methods requirement through other means does not reduce the total number of courses the student is required to complete. One 500-series course may be applied toward the minimum course requirement for the M.A. degree, but not toward the minimum graduate course requirement. The core courses (Geography 200A and 200B) must be completed within the first year and with a grade of B or better in GEOG 200A and a grade of S in 200B. Each student must in every term of residence enroll in one of the two research group seminars, either Geography 299A or C299B. The courses GEOG 200B, 299A, and C299B do not count toward the minimum nine-course requirement. With the exception of GEOG 200B, 299A, C299B, and any 500-level courses, all courses must be taken for a letter grade, and a minimum grade of B is required. Quarterly course enrollment plans should be approved by the student’s committee chair.

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Under the capstone plan, students complete a capstone requirement, which may be a comprehensive examination or an individual project. Selection of the type of requirement (exam or project) should proceed under the supervision of the student’s capstone committee. A committee of at least three faculty members will administer and determine satisfactory performance on the comprehensive examination. a A committee of at least three faculty members will determine satisfactory performance on the project.

Capstone examinations or projects can be completed in any quarter. The capstone should be completed no later than the fifth or sixth quarter in residence (normally Winter or Spring quarter). Students may retake the examination or resubmit their project only once, within one quarter of the failed initial attempt.

Thesis Plan

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

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

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	8	9	n/a

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must, within their first year and with a grade of B or better in each, successfully complete the required graduate core courses (if they were not already completed at the M.A. level). Students that completed the M.A. in the UCLA Geography department must complete an additional three graduate courses, two of which must be graduate geography courses. Students who enter the PhD program with a M.A./M.S. from another department or University must complete at least three graduate geography courses, (excluding core courses, and Geography, 495, and courses in the 500 series) and four upper division or graduate courses in fields (related to the student’s major research area or sub-disciplinary specialization, subject to approval of the guidance committee. One appropriate course must be taken to fulfill the department’s methods requirement, though this requirement can be fulfilled in other ways in consultation with the committee chair. Fulfillment of the methods requirement through other means does not reduce the total number of courses the student is required to complete. Instead, students will be required to complete one course in place of the methods course. All course requirements must be met before the student takes the oral qualifying examination. Each student must in every term of residence enroll in one of the two research group seminars, either Geography 299A or C299B. The courses GEOG 299A and C299B do not count toward the minimum 10-course requirement. The requirement is eight courses for students who earned their MA in Geography at UCLA. With the exception of GEOG 200B, 299A, and C299B all courses must be taken for a letter grade, and a minimum grade of B is required. Quarterly course enrollment plans should be approved by the student’s adviser.

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The goal of the written examinations is to ensure that students develop a command of literature in two subdisciplines or fields of geography and that they are adequately prepared to carry out their dissertation research. Command of that literature is demonstrated through the completion of field statements. Each of the two statements consists of a substantial document prepared over the course of three months. Students who completed their M.A. in the UCLA Geography Department can petition to have their thesis or capstone count as one of their field statements. These petitions are evaluated and approved by the student’s doctoral committee. A third practical examination, significantly shorter in length and completed within 48 hours, assesses the ability of the student to develop a research strategy around a particular geographical problem. The three papers are to be completed no later than the student’s sixth term of residence. Exceptions may be made for students who enter the program without a Geography degree. In case of failure, the student may make one more attempt, but no sooner than three months nor longer than one year after the first examination.

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

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	28

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Favorable – student is making good progress towards the degree in keeping with the suggested timetables outlined in the Graduate Manual.

Program Requirements for Geography

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

Geography

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

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

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

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

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

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.

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

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	8	9	n/a

Doctoral Degree

Advising

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

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

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

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students must, within their first year and with a grade of B or better in each, successfully complete the required graduate core courses (if they were not already completed at the M.A. level). Students that completed the M.A. in the UCLA Geography department must complete an additional three graduate courses, two of which must be graduate geography courses. Students who enter the PhD program with a M.A./M.S. from another department or University must complete at least three graduate geography courses, (excluding core courses, and Geography, 495, and courses in the 500 series) and four upper division or graduate courses in fields (related to the student’s major research area or sub-disciplinary specialization, subject to approval of the guidance committee. One appropriate course must be taken to fulfill the department’s methods requirement, though this requirement can be fulfilled in other ways in consultation with the committee chair. Fulfillment of the methods requirement through other means does not reduce the total number of courses the student is required to complete. Instead, students will be required to complete one course in place of the methods course. All course requirements must be met before the student takes the oral qualifying examination. Each student must in every term of residence enroll in one of the two research group seminars, either Geography 299A or C299B. The courses GEOG 299A and C299B do not count toward the minimum 10-course requirement. The requirement is eight courses for students who earned their MA in Geography at UCLA. With the exception of GEOG 200B, 299A, and C299B all courses must be taken for a letter grade, and a minimum grade of B is required. Quarterly course enrollment plans should be approved by the student’s adviser.

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

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

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The goal of the written examinations is to ensure that students develop a command of literature in two subdisciplines or fields of geography and that they are adequately prepared to carry out their dissertation research. Command of that literature is demonstrated through the completion of field statements. Each of the two statements consists of a substantial document prepared over the course of three months. Students who completed their M.A. in the UCLA Geography Department can petition to have their thesis or capstone count as one of their field statements. These petitions are evaluated and approved by the student’s doctoral committee. A third practical examination, significantly shorter in length and completed within 48 hours, assesses the ability of the student to develop a research strategy around a particular geographical problem. The three papers are to be completed no later than the student’s sixth term of residence. Exceptions may be made for students who enter the program without a Geography degree. In case of failure, the student may make one more attempt, but no sooner than three months nor longer than one year after the first examination.

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

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	9	15	28

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Favorable – student is making good progress towards the degree in keeping with the suggested timetables outlined in the Graduate Manual.

Program Requirements for Gender Studies

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

Gender Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

The master’s degree program is supervised by a faculty committee. Early in their first year, students are assigned a faculty adviser who assists them with planning their program of study. Students are expected to meet at least once a quarter with their faculty adviser, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. At the beginning of the second year, students are expected to nominate a three-person master’s thesis committee which requires approval of the program and the Graduate Division. This committee is chaired by the student’s faculty adviser and is responsible for supervision, review, and approval of the master’s thesis. A staff adviser provides assistance with policy and procedure.

Areas of Study

The degree in Gender Studies is intensively interdisciplinary. Students develop areas of specialization in consultation with their faculty advisers. Our students and faculty engage in research on women, gender, and sexuality that intersects with a broad range of fields of knowledge, and the Gender Studies Department maintains formal links to faculty and courses in other departments, programs, and research centers, including African American Studies, American Indian Studies, Anthropology, Art History, Asian American Studies, Center for the Study of Women, Chicana and Chicano Studies, Classics, Communication Studies, Comparative Literature, Disability Studies, Education, English, Film and Television, French and Italian, Geography, German, History, Honors Collegium, Institute for Society and Genetics, Japanese Studies, Korean Studies, Labor and Workplace Studies, Latin American Studies, LGBTQ Studies, Music, Near Eastern Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Social Welfare, Sociology, Urban Planning, and World Arts and Cultures.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

10 courses (40 units) are required, of which at least eight (32 units) must be graduate courses (200 or 400 series). A maximum of two (eight units) upper division undergraduate courses may be applied toward the degree. Gender Studies 375, 495, and all 500-series courses may not be applied toward the degree. All core and elective courses that count toward the degree must be taken for a letter grade.

Required courses: Gender Studies 201, 202, and 203 (three core courses; 12 units), plus 28 elective units (seven courses).

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Doctoral students have the option of fulfilling the master’s capstone plan to receive an M.A. degree. The capstone requirement is fulfilled through successful completion of the first written qualifying (breadth) examination for the Ph.D. degree. Possible exam outcomes:

Pass: qualified to progress in the Ph.D. program with immediate eligibility to proceed to the depth exam.
Re-write: reassessment by a date determined by the Chair in consultation with the Vice Chair, exam committee, and the student’s adviser (usually due by Friday of 9th week in Fall quarter of the student’s second year) on the basis of specific written feedback supplied by the evaluation committee. The re-write option can only be used once.
Terminal master’s pass: not qualified to progress in the Ph.D. The student may finish outstanding course requirements for the master’s degree.
Fail: not qualified to progress in the Ph.D. program. Failing to pass results in a recommendation of academic disqualification from the program.

This option is available only to doctoral students.

Thesis Plan

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

Students complete a master’s thesis under enrollment in Gender Studies 598. The thesis committee consists of three qualified faculty selected from a current list of designated members for the interdepartmental program. The committee must be appointed by the Graduate Division.

Time-to-Degree

Students who enroll full-time are expected to complete the M.A. degree within two years (six quarters) of registration.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	9

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The doctoral degree program is supervised by a faculty committee. Early in their first year, students are assigned a faculty adviser who assists them with planning their program of study. Students are expected to meet at least once a quarter with their faculty adviser, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. In the third or fourth year, before taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, the student submits a four-person doctoral committee that requires approval of the program and appointment by the Graduate Division. The doctoral committee is responsible for supervision, review, and approval of the doctoral dissertation. A staff adviser provides assistance with policy and procedure.

With a focus on responsible research skills, student’s research needs are guided by the faculty adviser to successfully complete their dissertation. These could include a foreign language, quantitative and other methods of collecting data, IRB, computer technology skills, and/or any other skills that are necessary before advancing to candidacy.

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Doctoral students are required to complete 56 units of course work. Gender Studies 375 and 495, and all 500-series courses may not be applied toward the degree. A maximum of eight units may consist of upper division undergraduate course work and/or graduate transfer credits from previous graduate course work that did not result in a degree.

Required courses:

Gender Studies core courses 201, 202, 203 and 204 (16 units).
In addition to 201 (Methods in Gender Studies), four units (one course) of additional specialization or training in research methods outside the department is required, and will count toward the 40 elective units. This course should be completed in year two, prior to the second qualifying exam.
40 elective units (10 courses).
All core and elective courses that count toward the degree must be taken for a letter grade.

Teaching assistants must enroll in Gender Studies 375 each quarter they hold a teaching appointment.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

Two written qualifying examinations are required:

(1) A first-year breadth examination covering general knowledge and current debates in the field of gender studies. This examination is administered by a committee composed of faculty designated by the chair or the graduate chair of Gender Studies. The first-year exam is due the first day of the student’s second year of study. Possible exam outcomes:

Pass: qualified to progress in the Ph.D. program with immediate eligibility to proceed to the depth exam.
Re-write: reassessment by a date determined by the Chair in consultation with the Vice Chair, exam committee, and the student’s advisor (usually due by Friday of 9th week in Fall quarter of the student’s second year) on the basis of specific written feedback supplied by the evaluation committee. The re-write option can only be used once.
Terminal master’s pass: not qualified to progress in the Ph.D. The student may finish outstanding course requirements for the master’s degree.
Fail: not qualified to progress in the Ph.D. program. Failing to pass results in a recommendation of academic disqualification from the program.

(2) A depth examination covering the student’s area of specialization. Students are expected to have completed the depth exam by Fall Quarter of their third year. Students who fail the depth exam may be permitted to retake it once as determined by the faculty committee.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is required after completion of the written qualifying examinations, completion of a dissertation proposal, and appointment of a doctoral committee. The oral exam should be taken no later than fall quarter of the student’s fourth year. The four-person doctoral committee is responsible for administering the examination. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal in relation to the selected specialization. Students who fail the oral qualifying examination may be permitted to retake it once as determined by the doctoral committee.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Not required.

Time-to-Degree

Students who enroll are expected to complete the Ph.D. degree within six years (eighteen quarters) of registration.

*Requirement*	*Standard Time to Completion*
Course Work	Spring Quarter of the third year
First Qualifying Examination	Fall Quarter of the second year
Second Qualifying Examination	Fall Quarter of the third year
Oral Qualifying Examination (Advancement to Candidacy)	Spring Quarter of the third year or Fall Quarter of the fourth year at the latest
Dissertation Filed	Within the sixth year

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	18	30

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

The faculty advisers conduct an annual review of students’ progress toward the degree at the end of spring quarter and make recommendations regarding continuance or academic disqualification. The department Chair and Vice Chair review all recommendations and formally approves or rejects any recommendation of academic disqualification. A student may appeal an academic disqualification according to the guidelines for appeals outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Program Requirements for Gender Studies

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

Gender Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required courses: Gender Studies 201, 202, and 203 (three core courses; 12 units), plus 28 elective units (seven courses).

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Pass: qualified to progress in the Ph.D. program with immediate eligibility to proceed to the depth exam.
Re-write: reassessment by a date determined by the Chair in consultation with the Vice Chair, exam committee, and the student’s adviser (usually due by Friday of 9th week in Fall quarter of the student’s second year) on the basis of specific written feedback supplied by the evaluation committee. The re-write option can only be used once.
Terminal master’s pass: not qualified to progress in the Ph.D. The student may finish outstanding course requirements for the master’s degree.
Fail: not qualified to progress in the Ph.D. program. Failing to pass results in a recommendation of academic disqualification from the program.

This option is available only to doctoral students.

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

Students who enroll full-time are expected to complete the M.A. degree within two years (six quarters) of registration.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.A.	6	6	9

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required courses:

Gender Studies core courses 201, 202, 203 and 204 (16 units).
In addition to 201 (Methods in Gender Studies), four units (one course) of additional specialization or training in research methods outside the department is required, and will count toward the 40 elective units. This course should be completed in year two, prior to the second qualifying exam.
40 elective units (10 courses).
All core and elective courses that count toward the degree must be taken for a letter grade.

Teaching assistants must enroll in Gender Studies 375 each quarter they hold a teaching appointment.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

Two written qualifying examinations are required:

Pass: qualified to progress in the Ph.D. program with immediate eligibility to proceed to the depth exam.
Re-write: reassessment by a date determined by the Chair in consultation with the Vice Chair, exam committee, and the student’s advisor (usually due by Friday of 9th week in Fall quarter of the student’s second year) on the basis of specific written feedback supplied by the evaluation committee. The re-write option can only be used once.
Terminal master’s pass: not qualified to progress in the Ph.D. The student may finish outstanding course requirements for the master’s degree.
Fail: not qualified to progress in the Ph.D. program. Failing to pass results in a recommendation of academic disqualification from the program.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Not required.

Time-to-Degree

Students who enroll are expected to complete the Ph.D. degree within six years (eighteen quarters) of registration.

*Requirement*	*Standard Time to Completion*
Course Work	Spring Quarter of the third year
First Qualifying Examination	Fall Quarter of the second year
Second Qualifying Examination	Fall Quarter of the third year
Oral Qualifying Examination (Advancement to Candidacy)	Spring Quarter of the third year or Fall Quarter of the fourth year at the latest
Dissertation Filed	Within the sixth year

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	10	18	30

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

We're Sorry

Geography

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Geography

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Geography

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Geography

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Geography

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Geography

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Geography

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Geography

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Gender Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Gender Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree