Program Requirements for Computer Science

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

Computer Science

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Students are assigned a faculty adviser upon enrollment in the School. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. The M.S. program is supervised by the graduate faculty and the vice-chair for graduate programs, who are assisted by two student affairs officers.

New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the M.S. degree. Continuing students are encouraged to confer with their adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office and the HSSEAS Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy for the M.S. degree and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Areas of Study

M.S. students are not required to select a major field. They may choose a broad selection of courses or any combination of courses from the following fields: artificial intelligence; computational systems biology; computer networks; computer science theory; computer system architecture; graphics and vision; data science computing; and software systems.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

THESIS PLAN – PLAN I

A total of 9 courses are required to fulfill the requirement towards the M.S. degree under Plan I: 7 must be formal courses (taken for letter grades), and at least 4 of the 7 must be 200-level courses in Computer Science. 2 courses (or 8 units) must be CS 598, which involves work on the thesis. The remaining 3 courses are elective courses, which may be 100- or 200-level courses in Computer Science or 200-level courses in a closely related discipline, e.g. Electrical and Computer Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, etc. (CS 201 seminars cannot be applied towards the 9 courses).

CAPSTONE PLAN – PLAN II

A total of 9 courses are required to fulfill the requirement towards the M.S. degree under Plan II: At least 5 courses must be 200-level courses in Computer Science (taken for letter grades). 500-level courses cannot be applied. The remaining 4 courses are elective courses, which may be 100- or 200-level courses in Computer Science or 200-level courses in a closely related discipline, e.g. Electrical and Computer Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, etc. (CS 201 seminars cannot be applied towards the 9 courses).

Undergraduate Courses. No lower division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees. In addition, the following upper division courses are not applicable toward graduate degrees: Chemical Engineering 199; Computer Science M152A, 152B, M171L, 199; Electrical and Computer Engineering 100, 101, 102, 103,110L, M116L, 199; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 120, 130, 131, 131L, 132, 150, 160, 161L, 199; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 102, 103, 105D, 199.

Breadth Requirement. Master’s degree students must satisfy the computer science breadth requirement by the end of the fourth quarter in graduate residence at UCLA. This requirement is satisfied by mastering the contents of five undergraduate courses or the equivalent: Computer Science 180, two of 111, 118, or M151B, one of 143, 161, or 174A, and one of 130, 131 or 132.

In addition, for the M.S. degree the student must complete at least three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory.

Competence in any or all courses in the breadth requirement may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion, without enrollment in the course, of a midterm and final examination typically administered in the course at UCLA.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The master’s Capstone Project requirement is satisfied through satisfactory completion of an individual project under the direction of the student’s faculty adviser. A final report is reviewed by a committee consisting of three faculty members.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis is a report on the results of the student’s investigation of a problem in the student’s major field of study under the supervision of the thesis committee, which approves the subject and plan of the thesis and reads and approves the completed manuscript. While the problem may be one of only limited scope, the thesis must exhibit a satisfactory style, organization, and depth of understanding of the subject. A student should normally start to plan the thesis at least one year before the award of the M.S. degree is expected.

Time-to-Degree

The average (normative) length of time for students in the M.S. program is six quarters. The maximum time allowed for completing the M.S. degree is seven quarters from the time of admission to the M.S. program in the School.

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are assigned a faculty adviser upon admission to the school. Advisers may be changed upon written request from the student. The Ph.D. program is supervised by the faculty and the vice-chair for graduate programs who are assisted by two student affairs officers. New students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with the faculty adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are encouraged to confer with their adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office and the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Artificial intelligence; computational systems biology; computer networks; computer science theory; computer system architecture; graphics and vision; information and data management; and software systems.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Normally, the student takes courses to acquire the knowledge needed to prepare for the written and oral preliminary examinations, and for conducting Ph.D. research. The basic program of study for the Ph.D. degree is built around the written qualifying examination, the major field requirement, and two minor fields. The major field and at least one minor field must be in computer science.

The written qualifying examination is common for all Ph.D. candidates in the department.

To satisfy the major field requirement, the student is expected to attain a body of knowledge contained in five courses, at least four of which must be graduate courses in the major field of Ph.D. research. Grades of B- or better, with a grade-point average of at least 3.33 in all courses used to satisfy the major field requirement, are required.

Each minor field normally embraces a body of knowledge equivalent to two courses, at least one of which must be a graduate course. Grades of B- or better, with a grade-point average of at least 3.33 in all courses included in the minor field are required.

Major and minor field courses are selected in accordance with the guidelines specific to each field. These guidelines for course selection are available from the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office. All major and minor field courses must be completed before taking the Oral Qualifying Exam.

Breadth Requirement. Doctoral degree students must satisfy the computer science breadth requirement by the end of the 9th quarter of study and before taking the Oral Qualifying Examination. This requirement is satisfied by mastering the contents of five undergraduate courses or the equivalent: Computer Science 180, two of 111, 118, or M151B, one of 143, 161, or 174A, and one of 130, 131 or 132.

For the Ph.D. degree, the student must complete at least three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory (in addition to the three quarters of CS 201 that may have been completed for the M.S. degree).

Competence in any or all courses may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion of a midterm and final examination in the course at UCLA.

Teaching Experience

At least one quarter of satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant, or equivalent teaching experience, is 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 written qualifying examination consists of a high-quality paper, solely authored by the student. This paper can be a research paper containing an original contribution, or a focused critical survey paper. The paper should demonstrate that the student understands and can integrate and communicate ideas clearly and concisely. The paper should be approximately 10 pages, single-spaced, and the style should be suitable for submission to a first-rate technical conference or journal. The paper must represent work that the student did as a UCLA graduate student. Any contributions that are not the student’s, including those of the student’s adviser, must be explicitly acknowledged in detail. The paper must be approved by the student’s adviser prior to submission on a cover page with the adviser’s signature indicating approval. After submission the paper must be reviewed and approved by at least two other members of the faculty. There are two deadlines a year for submission of papers.

After passing the preliminary examination, the breadth requirements, and course work for the major and minor fields, the student should form a doctoral committee and prepare to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. A doctoral committee consists of a minimum of four members. Three members, including the chair, are inside members and must hold appointments in the student’s major department in the School. The outside member is normally a UCLA faculty member outside the student’s major department. The nature and content of the University Oral Qualifying Examination are at the discretion of the doctoral committee, but ordinarily include a broad inquiry into the student’s preparation for research. The doctoral committee also reviews the prospectus of the dissertation prior to the oral qualifying examination.

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)

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 student is expected to pass the Written Qualifying Exam within the first six quarters (two years), complete the breadth requirements and major and minor field courses within the first nine quarters (three years), pass the Oral Qualifying Exam within nine quarters ( three years), and complete the Ph.D. within eighteen quarters (six years).

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

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(6) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the University Written Qualifying Examination.

(3) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

(4) Failure of the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(5) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(6) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(7) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.

Program Requirements for Computer Science

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

Computer Science

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

THESIS PLAN – PLAN I

CAPSTONE PLAN – PLAN II

In addition, for the M.S. degree the student must complete at least three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory.

Competence in any or all courses in the breadth requirement may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion, without enrollment in the course, of a midterm and final examination typically administered in the course at UCLA.

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.	5	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are strongly urged to consult with the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The written qualifying examination is common for all Ph.D. candidates in the department.

Competence in any or all courses may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion of a midterm and final examination in the course at UCLA.

Teaching Experience

At least one quarter of satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant, or equivalent teaching experience, is required.

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)

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

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

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(6) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the University Written Qualifying Examination.

(3) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

(4) Failure of the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(5) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(6) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(7) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.

Program Requirements for Computer Science

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

Computer Science

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

THESIS PLAN – PLAN I

CAPSTONE PLAN – PLAN II

In addition, for the M.S. degree the student must complete at least three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory.

Competence in any or all courses in the breadth requirement may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion, without enrollment in the course, of a midterm and final examination typically administered in the course at UCLA.

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.	5	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are strongly urged to consult with the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The written qualifying examination is common for all Ph.D. candidates in the department.

Competence in any or all courses may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion of a midterm and final examination in the course at UCLA.

Teaching Experience

At least one quarter of satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant, or equivalent teaching experience, is required.

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)

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

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 recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(6) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the University Written Qualifying Examination.

(3) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

(4) Failure of the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(5) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(6) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(7) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.

Program Requirements for Computer Science

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

Computer Science

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

THESIS PLAN – PLAN I

CAPSTONE PLAN – PLAN II

In addition, for the M.S. degree the student must complete at least three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory.

Competence in any or all courses in the breadth requirement may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion, without enrollment in the course, of a midterm and final examination typically administered in the course at UCLA.

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.	5	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are strongly urged to consult with the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The written qualifying examination is common for all Ph.D. candidates in the department.

Competence in any or all courses may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion of a midterm and final examination in the course at UCLA.

Teaching Experience

At least one quarter of satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant, or equivalent teaching experience, is required.

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)

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

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

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(6) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the University Written Qualifying Examination.

(3) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

(4) Failure of the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(5) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(6) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(7) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.

Program Requirements for Computer Science

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

Computer Science

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

THESIS PLAN – PLAN I

CAPSTONE PLAN – PLAN II

In addition, for the M.S. degree the student must complete at least three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory.

Competence in any or all courses in the breadth requirement may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion, without enrollment in the course, of a midterm and final examination typically administered in the course at UCLA.

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.	5	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are strongly urged to consult with the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The written qualifying examination is common for all Ph.D. candidates in the department.

Competence in any or all courses may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion of a midterm and final examination in the course at UCLA.

Teaching Experience

At least one quarter of satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant, or equivalent teaching experience, is required.

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)

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

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

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(6) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the University Written Qualifying Examination.

(3) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

(4) Failure of the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(5) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(6) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(7) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.

Program Requirements for Computer Science

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

Computer Science

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

THESIS PLAN – PLAN I

CAPSTONE PLAN – PLAN II

In addition, for the M.S. degree the student must complete at least three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory.

Competence in any or all courses in the breadth requirement may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion, without enrollment in the course, of a midterm and final examination typically administered in the course at UCLA.

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.	5	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are strongly urged to consult with the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The written qualifying examination is common for all Ph.D. candidates in the department.

Competence in any or all courses may be demonstrated in one of three ways:

(1) Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.

(2) Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

(3) Satisfactory completion of a midterm and final examination in the course at UCLA.

Teaching Experience

At least one quarter of satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant, or equivalent teaching experience, is required.

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)

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

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

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(6) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the University Written Qualifying Examination.

(3) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

(4) Failure of the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(5) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(6) Failure to satisfy the Computer Science breadth requirement.

(7) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.

Program Requirements for Computer Science

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

Computer Science

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

THESIS PLAN – PLAN I

CAPSTONE PLAN – PLAN II

In addition, for the M.S. degree the student must complete at least three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory.

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.	5	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are strongly urged to consult with the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Artificial intelligence; computational systems biology; computer networks; computer science theory; computer system architecture; graphics and vision; data science computing; and software systems.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The written qualifying examination is required for all Ph.D. candidates in the department.

Teaching Experience

At least one quarter of satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant, or equivalent teaching experience, is required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

After passing the preliminary examination and course work for the major and minor fields, the student should form a doctoral committee and prepare to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. A doctoral committee consists of a minimum of four members. Three members, including the chair, are inside members and must hold appointments in the student’s major department in the School. The outside member is normally a UCLA faculty member outside the student’s major department. The nature and content of the University Oral Qualifying Examination are at the discretion of the doctoral committee, but ordinarily include a broad inquiry into the student’s preparation for research. The doctoral committee also reviews the prospectus of the dissertation prior to the oral qualifying examination.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

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

Time-to-Degree

The student is expected to pass the Written Qualifying Examination within the first six quarters (two years), complete the major and minor field courses within the first nine quarters (three years), pass the Oral Qualifying Exam within nine quarters (three years), and complete the Ph.D. within eighteen quarters (six years).

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

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the University Written Qualifying Examination.

(3) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

(4) Failure of the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(5) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(6) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.

Program Requirements for Computer Science

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

Computer Science

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

THESIS PLAN – PLAN I

A total of 9 courses (each must be taken for 4 units) are required to fulfill the requirement towards the M.S. degree under Plan I: 7 must be formal courses (taken for letter grades), and at least 4 of the 7 must be 200-level courses in Computer Science. 2 courses (or 8 units) must be CS 598 (with grades of Satisfactory), which involves work on the thesis. The remaining 3 courses are elective courses, which may be 100- or 200-level courses in Computer Science or 200-level courses in a closely related discipline, e.g. Electrical and Computer Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, etc. (CS 201 seminars cannot be applied towards the 9 courses). 200- and 100-level courses must be taken for a letter grade. Grades of B- or better are required.

CAPSTONE PLAN – PLAN II

A total of 9 courses (each must be taken for 4 units) are required to fulfill the requirement towards the M.S. degree under Plan II: At least 5 courses must be 200-level courses in Computer Science (taken for letter grades). 500-level courses cannot be applied. The remaining 4 courses are elective courses, which may be 100- or 200-level courses in Computer Science or 200-level courses in a closely related discipline, e.g. Electrical and Computer Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, etc. (CS 201 seminars cannot be applied towards the 9 courses). The 9 courses must be taken for a letter grade. Grades of B- or better are required.

In addition, for the M.S. degree the student must complete at least three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory.

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.	5	6	7

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students are strongly urged to consult with the department’s Graduate Student Affairs Office regarding procedures, requirements and the implementation of policies. In particular, advice should be sought on the procedures for taking Ph.D. written and oral examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Artificial intelligence; computational systems biology; computer networks; computer science theory; computer system architecture; graphics and vision; data science computing; and software systems.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The written qualifying examination is required for all Ph.D. candidates in the department.

Teaching Experience

At least one quarter of satisfactory performance as a teaching assistant, or equivalent teaching experience, is required.

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)

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

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

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for termination is reviewed by the school’s Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Master’s

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in all courses and in those in the 200 series.

(2) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 in any two consecutive terms.

(3) Failure of the comprehensive examination.

(4) Failure to complete the thesis to the satisfaction of the committee members.

(5) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the three-year time limit for completing all degree requirements.

Doctoral

In addition to the standard reasons noted above, a student may be recommended for termination for

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.25 in all courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the University Written Qualifying Examination.

(3) Failure of the University Oral Qualifying Examination.

(4) Failure of the final oral examination (defense of the dissertation).

(5) Failure to obtain permission to repeat an examination from an examining committee.

(6) Failure to maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree within the specified time limits.

Program Requirements for Comparative Literature

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

Comparative Literature

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Comparative Literature offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Comparative Literature. The department only admits students with the objective of the Ph.D. degree.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

During their first year of doctoral study, students are assigned a faculty mentor. This person 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 Director of Graduate Studies to plan their progress to degree. Topics for discussion should include but are not limited to, major and minor areas, course approvals for language and degree requirements and exam planning. Student records are reviewed regularly by the Director of Graduate Studies 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.

Each year, students are required to submit an end of the year assessment, which is reviewed by the faculty at the last faculty meeting of the year. Following the faculty meeting, the Director of Graduate Studies writes and sends a letter to each student indicating whether the student is making satisfactory or unsatisfactory degree progress.

Students are strongly encouraged to approach faculty regarding mentorship immediately following the Second Year Review/M.A. Exam. Students who are interested in working with a particular faculty member early in their careers may wish to approach that person during their first two years of graduate study.

Areas of Study

The major field should reflect the primary emphasis of the student’s dissertation and illustrate the student’s knowledge of literary studies. The major field should encompass literary and cultural studies in one language area. A general knowledge of the major field is demonstrated through course work. The major field should be discussed with the Director of Graduate Studies during the quarter preceding the Second Year Review/M.A. Exam and declared during the Second Year Review/M.A. Exam.

The student’s minor field should focus either on another literary or cultural tradition, or on a defined theoretical or interdisciplinary approach from related disciplines such as musicology, film studies, gender studies, or art history. The minor field should be discussed with the Director of Graduate Studies prior to the First Stage Ph.D. Evaluation Qualifying Examination.

Students must consult with the Director of Graduate Studies regarding changes to their major and minor fields.

Foreign Language Requirement

Proficiency in the language of the major field is an essential prerequisite for courses and degrees in Comparative Literature. Before completing the Ph.D., students must demonstrate knowledge of two languages other than English. Students should plan to fulfill these requirements early on in their degree because many language courses fill up quickly. At least one of the two required foreign languages must be completed prior to the Second Year Review/M.A. Exam (i.e. by Spring Quarter of a student’s second year in the program). Proficiency in one language must be certified by completing two or more upper division and/or graduate literature courses, taken for a letter grade in the appropriate language department. If the course is not taught in the language in question, students must confirm with the teacher in advance that it can fulfill a language requirement in another way, perhaps with supplemental assignments. Students must demonstrate language competency beyond the intermediate level (or, the equivalent of two years of instruction at UCLA) in order to enroll in these courses.

In cases where sufficient courses are not available, students may substitute a translation examination administered by a departmental faculty member in place of coursework. In such cases, the Director of Graduate Studies or Department Chair must approve the translation examination ahead of time in consultation with the faculty who will be administering it.

Course Requirements

12 courses (48 units), including 11 letter-graded seminar courses and COM LIT 495, are required prior to their Second Year Review/M.A. Exam, distributed as follows:

Comparative Literature 200A, 200B, and 495; three additional Comparative Literature graduate courses; six major and minor field courses, of which at least three must be in the major field. A maximum of one course in the major field and one course in the minor field may be upper division courses.

The recommended schedule is as follows:

First year: COM LIT 200A plus one additional graduate seminar in the first quarter, followed by COM LIT 200B and two graduate seminars for the second quarter, and COM LIT 495 and two graduate seminars in the third quarter.
Second year: For all teaching graduate students, the recommended course load, excluding language course work, is two seminars per quarter plus the appropriate 375 teaching apprentice practicum.

Students may petition to apply up to two individual study (596) courses, taken for at least four letter-graded units, toward the course requirements with approval from the Director of Graduate Studies.

Teaching Experience

Departmental teaching experience is not required; however, Teaching Apprentice (TA) appointments are routinely offered to all graduate students who have completed COM LIT 495.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Second Year Review/M.A. Exam

Students in the Department of Comparative Literature are required to undergo a Second Year Review/M.A. Exam during the spring quarter of their second year. Under exceptional circumstances, students may defer this Exam in fall quarter of their third year with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies. Prior to the review, students must complete a minimum of 12 seminars, including COM LIT 495. At least one of the two required foreign languages must be completed prior to the review.

Students must convene a review/exam committee comprised of three faculty members; one of these three faculty members must be the Director of Graduate Studies, and at least one other must be faculty in the Department of Comparative Literature.

Students are required to choose two seminar papers (with or without revisions) and circulate them among the review committee at least two weeks in advance of the review. With prior approval from their committee members, students may also present papers that were submitted to a conference or journal. The papers serve as tangible evidence of successfully completed academic tasks. Students are advised to submit two papers totaling 30-50 pages of written work. They are permitted to revise or work on these papers after the seminars in which they were submitted have concluded, but they are not required to do so. Papers should demonstrate mastery of course material covered in years 1 and 2 and potential for future research, but need not be relevant to possible dissertation topics. Students should review these papers in advance, and should be able to speak knowledgeably about their content. Both form and content are evaluated and discussed during the review.

Students who enter the program with an M.A. in Comparative Literature must hold a Second Year Review, but will not be awarded an M.A. from UCLA. The results of the Second Year Review for students who hold an M.A. are recorded as follows: (1) Pass with permission to continue toward the Ph.D.; (2) Pass with reservations and specific recommendations for improvement with permission to continue toward the Ph.D; or (3) Fail without permission to continue toward the Ph.D. Students may fail the Second Year Review/M.A. if they are unable to demonstrate the level of mastery necessary for success in the more advanced stages of doctoral study. The faculty will not permit students to retake the Second Year Review. Students who fail the Second Year Review will be recommended for academic disqualification.

Students who do not hold a Comparative Literature M.A. upon entering the Ph.D. program may be awarded an M.A., contingent upon successful completion of the Second Year Review, coursework, and language proficiency requirement. The results of the Second Year Review for students who do not hold an M.A. in Comparative Literature upon matriculation are recorded as follows: (1) Pass, with an M.A. and permission to continue toward the Ph.D.; (2) Pass with reservations, with an M.A. and specific recommendations for improvement with permission to continue toward the Ph.D; (3) Pass with a terminal M.A.; or (4) Fail without an M.A. or permission toward continue to the Ph.D. Students may fail the Second Year Review/M.A. Exam if they are unable to demonstrate the level of mastery necessary for success in the advanced stages of doctoral study. The faculty will not permit students to retake the Second Year Review. Students who fail the Second Year Review will be recommended for academic disqualification.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Students who are admitted to graduate status should be able to obtain the M.A. degree within six quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Students should consult regularly with the Director of Graduate Studies to plan their progress to degree. Topics for discussion should include, but are not limited to, major and minor areas, course approvals for language and degree requirements, and exam planning. Student records are reviewed regularly by the Director of Graduate Studies 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.

Students will be informed in writing if they fall behind in their progress to degree. In certain situations, students not making adequate progress to degree will be required to follow an academic plan, in coordination with Graduate Division. Students who consistently fail to meet deadlines may be recommended for academic disqualification.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students must consult with the Director of Graduate Studies and all relevant faculty advisers regarding changes to their major and minor fields.

Foreign Language Requirement

The second language requirement may be satisfied by completion of one graduate or upper division literature class with a letter grade of “B+” or higher. If the course is not taught in the language in question, students must confirm with the teacher in advance that it can fulfill a language requirement in another way, perhaps with supplemental assignments. Students must demonstrate language competency beyond the intermediate level (or, the equivalent of two years of instruction at UCLA) in order to enroll in these courses. In rare cases where sufficient courses are not available, students may substitute a translation examination administered by a departmental faculty member in place of coursework. In such cases, the Director of Graduate Studies or Department Chair must provide a memorandum of support.

Course Requirements

All course work must be completed by the end of the third year. 16 letter-graded seminar courses and one pedagogy course taken at UCLA are required for the Ph.D., distributed as follows:

Comparative Literature 200A and 200B
Comparative Literature 495 pedagogy course
Six graduate courses in Comparative Literature
Six graduate courses in the major literature (of which one may be upper division)
Two graduate courses in the minor literature/field (of which one may be upper division)

There are two stages in having courses recognized from other institutions. Before the Second Year Review, students can petition to have two courses recognized, if they have not been taken for any other degree previously awarded, at UCLA or another institution, or before the award of the bachelor’s degree.

After the Second Year Review, students who have been admitted to the program with an M.A. may petition to validate up to three courses taken toward a degree at another institution toward the Ph.D. The approval of the Department is required. Correspondence courses are not applicable to graduate degrees at UCLA.

Teaching Experience

Departmental teaching experience is not required; however, Teaching Apprentice (TA) appointments are routinely offered to all graduate students who have completed COM LIT 495.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

First Stage Evaluation: University Written Qualifying Examination

The Academic Senate requires that students take a written qualifying examination. In the Department of Comparative Literature, this examination is in two parts. The first part consists of a 72-hour take-home written examination in the major and minor fields. The second part is an oral examination. This qualifying exam assesses a student’s ability to draw principles and concepts from the relevant literature.

Students must constitute an examining committee comprised of three faculty members, of which two must be Comparative Literature faculty, in the quarter preceding the examination. Students should provide the Student Affairs Officer with the names and email address of their committee members and specify which faculty members will serve as the major and minor field examiners. Committees are limited to three members. Students should try to choose faculty members who will later be on their dissertation committee, but are not required to do so, in the sense that they will constitute their dissertation committee only after this examination.

The written examination questions are based on a reading list of 50 works in the major field and 25 works in the minor field; 15-20 percent of these lists will be theoretical works related to each field. The student prepares reading lists for one major field and one minor field. Each student is responsible for preparing their own reading lists with guidance from appropriate faculty advisors. Each reading list must be approved by the appropriate field examiner; both lists must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies by the end of the quarter preceding the qualifying examination. Students should send their reading lists to the appropriate faculty in the major and minor fields first, with instructions to send their approval to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Student Affairs Officer via email so that copies can be added to the student’s Departmental file.

The take-home written examinations require responses to one long or two shorter questions for the major field examination and one question for the minor field. The examiners have the choice of asking one question, or allowing the student to answer one or two of a selection of two or more questions. Students are expected to demonstrate their knowledge of the field and engagement with relevant ideas and methodologies as they produce 25-30 pages of original writing during the 72-hour examination period. These pages may not include any excerpts of previously written seminar papers. Plagiarism is grounds for dismissal from the program. Students should not discuss works that are not included in the reading lists. Furthermore, they may quote from works on the reading lists, but are not required to do so. Should a question be deemed problematic (i.e. the question asks about material not included on the approved reading lists), the student should immediately contact the Student Affairs Officer, who will stop the exam period and follow up with the Director of Graduate Studies and Chair.

The oral examination must be completed no later than two weeks after the submission of the written portion. In exceptional situations, this exam can be slightly delayed by a few weeks with permission from the Director of Graduate Studies and/or Chair.

The outcome of the first stage evaluation can be: pass with permission to proceed to the prospectus phase of the dissertation; or fail. Students must pass both the written and oral sections of the exam in the major and minor fields in order to pass with permission to proceed to the prospectus phase of the dissertation. In the case of failure, the committee may offer the student an opportunity to retake one or both sections of the exam in the following quarter. A second failed exam results in a recommendation for academic disqualification from the program.

Second Stage Evaluation: University Oral Qualifying Examination (Prospectus Defense)

After completion of the written qualifying examination, students enroll in COM LIT 597 under the supervision of their major field adviser to begin writing the dissertation prospectus. Although actual times for its completion vary, students would ideally produce a completed draft after two quarters. The prospectus serves as the student’s outline for their dissertation, and should define a thesis and its proposed development over several chapters. The prospectus should answer a question (instead of merely outlining a description) over the course of 35-50 pages.

Each member of the committee reports the examination as “passed” or “not passed.” A student may not be advanced to candidacy if more than one member votes “not passed” regardless of the size of the committee. Upon majority vote of the doctoral committee, the oral qualifying examination may be repeated once.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree upon successful completion of the University Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations, as described above.

Doctoral Dissertation

Following completion of the dissertation, and with the approval of the chair of the doctoral committee, the student may file their dissertation. The Director of Graduate Studies and all members of the doctoral committee must be notified of the student’s plan to file the dissertation. The final draft of the dissertation must be submitted to the committee for review no later than two months prior to the planned date of filing to allow sufficient time for final revisions.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Not required for all students in the program. The defense of the dissertation may be required for individual students at the discretion of their doctoral committees at the time of the prospectus defense.

Time-to-Degree

By the twelfth quarter in the program, students must have completed the first and second stage of the University Qualifying Examinations, and advance to doctoral candidacy.

Students regularly advance to candidacy (ATC) by the end of their fourth year, and complete their degree by the end of their sixth year (18 quarters). The maximum time to degree allowed in the Department of Comparative Literature is nine years (27 quarters).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	18	27

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Students may be recommended for academic disqualification if their grade point average falls below a 3.4 for two consecutive terms, failure to progress toward the degree through the completion of five courses per academic year or failure to pass the Second Year Review, or University Qualifying Examinations. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the program chair who will appoint a committee, which may include the chair, to review the recommendation, and if necessary, meet with the student. The chair makes a final decision based on the committee’s report.

Program Requirements for Comparative Literature

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

Comparative Literature

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

After admission and before the beginning of their first quarter of doctoral study, students are assigned a first-year mentor by the Director of Graduate Studies. This person serves as a resource for students’ professional and personal development as they acclimatize to graduate student life at UCLA.

Students can also consult as needed with the Director of Graduate Studies and Student Affairs Officer to plan their progress to degree. Generally, the Director of Graduate Studies is available for academic questions and the Student Affairs Officer for administrative questions, but students should feel free to consult both. Students should feel free to ask any questions at any time, including questions about choosing classes, course loads, major and minor areas, funding, language study, degree requirements, and examination planning.

Students are encouraged to begin approaching faculty regarding mentorship of their doctoral dissertation following the Second Year Review/M.A. Examination. Students who are interested in working with a particular faculty member early in their careers may wish to approach that person during their first two years of graduate study. While the students are in the process of choosing their mentors and committees, the Director of Graduate Studies and Student Affairs Officer are available to help them in formulating their plans for their degrees.

Students are required to adhere to the Division of Graduate Education’s Standards of Scholarship. The Division of Graduate Education requires a ‘B’ (3.0) grade point average to be in good academic standing. If a student should fall below this average, the student will meet with the Director of Graduate Studies and the Student Services Advisor to discuss their degree progress and establish a plan to raise their GPA. The Department will then issue the student a letter in which it will clearly define future expectations that need to be met (clearing Incompletes, NRs, etc.). In the quarter following this first letter, the student must raise their GPA to a B+ (3.3) grade point average. If a student is not able to raise their GPA accordingly, the Department will consult with the Division of Graduate Education. Note that this action does not constitute an exception to policies governing any other situation in which a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required (e.g., an apprentice personnel appointment).

Areas of Study

Students in Comparative Literature develop their curriculum on the basis of self-chosen major and minor fields. In their first year of study, they gradually begin thinking about these fields, which are determined through conversations with their Committee at the Second-Year Review/M.A. Examination.

The major field should reflect the primary emphasis of the student’s dissertation. A general knowledge of the major field is demonstrated through course work. The major field is confirmed and recorded in paperwork during the Second Year Review/M.A. Examination.

The student’s minor field should focus either on another literary or cultural tradition, a theoretical approach, or theory from related disciplines such as musicology, film studies, gender studies, or art history. The minor field confirmed and recorded in paperwork in the Second-Year Review/M.A. Examination.

The major and minor fields together create the dynamic relation that establishes the foundation for the comparative work undertaken in the dissertation. The comparative work can take place in the major, or between the major and minor.

After the Second-Year Review/M.A. Examination, students begin to prepare for the First Stage Evaluation: University Written Qualifying Examination, or Special Fields, in which they will be examined on their major and minor fields. During this period they can modify their major and minor fields, but this becomes more difficult as they finish coursework and approach the examination. Once their lists for the examination are approved they can no longer change their fields.

Foreign Language Requirement

Proficiency in the language of the major field is an essential prerequisite for courses and degrees in Comparative Literature. Before completing the Ph.D., students must demonstrate knowledge of two languages other than English. Students should plan to fulfill these requirements early on in their degree because many language courses fill up quickly. At least one of the two required languages must be completed prior to the Second Year Review/M.A. Examination (i.e. by Spring Quarter of a student’s second year in the program). Proficiency in one language must be certified by completing two or more upper division and/or graduate literature courses, taken for a letter grade in the appropriate language department. If the course is not taught in the language in question, students must confirm with the instructor in advance that it can fulfill a language requirement in another way, perhaps with supplemental assignments. Students must demonstrate language competency beyond the intermediate level (or, the equivalent of two years of instruction at UCLA) in order to enroll in these courses.

Course Requirements

12 courses (48 units), including 11 letter-graded seminar courses and COM LIT 495, are required prior to their Second Year Review/M.A. Examination, distributed as follows:

Comparative Literature 200A, 200B, and 495; three additional Comparative Literature graduate courses; six major and minor field courses, of which at least three must be in the major field. A maximum of one course in the major field and one course in the minor field may be upper division courses.

The recommended schedule is as follows:

First year: COM LIT 200A plus one additional graduate seminar in the first quarter, followed by COM LIT 200B and two graduate seminars for the second quarter, and COM LIT 495 and two graduate seminars in the third quarter.
Second year: For all teaching graduate students, the recommended course load, excluding language course work, is two seminars per quarter.

Teaching Experience

Departmental teaching experience is not required; however, Teaching Apprentice (TA) appointments are routinely offered to all graduate students who are in the process of taking or have completed COM LIT 495.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Second Year Review/M.A. Examination

Students in the Department of Comparative Literature are required to undergo a Second Year Review/M.A. Examination during the spring quarter of their second year. Under exceptional circumstances, students may defer this Examination in fall quarter of their third year with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies. Prior to the review, students must complete a minimum of 12 seminars, including COM LIT 495. At least one of the two required languages must be completed prior to the review.

Students must convene a review/examination committee comprised of three faculty members; one of these three faculty members must be the Director of Graduate Studies, and at least one other must be faculty in the Department of Comparative Literature.

Students who do not hold a Comparative Literature M.A. upon entering the Ph.D. program may be awarded an M.A., contingent upon successful completion of the Second Year Review, coursework, and language proficiency requirement. The results of the Second Year Review for students who do not hold an M.A. in Comparative Literature upon matriculation are recorded as follows: (1) Pass, with an M.A. and permission to continue toward the Ph.D.; (2) Pass with reservations, with an M.A. and specific recommendations for improvement with permission to continue toward the Ph.D; (3) Pass with a terminal M.A.; or (4) Fail without an M.A. or permission to continue to the Ph.D. Students may fail the Second Year Review/M.A. Examination if they are unable to demonstrate the level of mastery necessary for success in the advanced stages of doctoral study. The faculty will not permit students to retake the Second Year Review. Students who fail the Second Year Review will be recommended for academic disqualification.

Thesis Plan

None.

Time-to-Degree

Students who are admitted to graduate status should be able to obtain the M.A. degree within six quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

After the Second-Year Review/M.A. Examination, students begin to work with the three-person committee they have chosen for their First Stage Evaluation: University Written Qualifying Examination, or Special Fields. This committee guides them through this part of their degree. The faculty member the student chooses to examine their major field may become their doctoral advisor, and the committee itself may become the student’s doctoral committee, but this is not necessarily the case. In other words, the student should plan the committee for their first qualifying examination with their doctoral committee and dissertation in mind, but also understand they can change this committee and their main advisor after this examination.

Students are required to choose their doctoral committee after their First Stage Evaluation (Special Fields) and before taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination or Prospectus Defense. At this point, they generally receive primary advising from their dissertation advisor, but are also welcome at any time to consult with the Director of Graduate Studies and Student Affairs Officer on any aspect of their degrees.

Each year, students are required to submit a self-report at the end of Spring Quarter, which is reviewed by the faculty at the last faculty meeting of the year. Before the Fall Quarter starts, the Director of Graduate Studies writes and sends a letter to each student with a review of their fulfilled or outstanding requirements, and degree progress. These letters are intended to support students in planning their schedules for completion of their degrees. If students are falling behind in progress to degree, they may receive an academic plan in consultation with the Division of Graduate Education. Should they fall behind on requirements or miss deadlines, they receive a letter from the Director of Graduate Studies. After three such missed deadlines, followed up by letters from the Director of Graduate Studies, the Department can recommend the student for disqualification to the Division of Graduate Education.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Students must consult with the Director of Graduate Studies and all relevant faculty advisers regarding changes or modifications to their major and minor fields.

Foreign Language Requirement

Course Requirements

All course work must be completed by the end of the third year. 16 letter-graded seminar courses and one pedagogy course are required for the Ph.D. This includes the coursework done to complete the M.A. The total coursework is distributed as follows:

Comparative Literature 200A and 200B
Comparative Literature 495 pedagogy course
Six graduate courses in Comparative Literature
Six graduate courses in the major field (of which one may be upper division)
Two graduate courses in the minor field (of which one may be upper division)

The same course can fulfill both the Comp Lit and major or minor course requirements at the same time (e.g. COM LIT 290 could count as both a graduate level COM LIT course and a course in the major field). Regardless, 16 letter-graded seminar courses are still required for the Ph.D.

Course Requirements for students entering the Ph.D. program with a Master’s degree from another institution

The course requirements are the same for students entering the Ph.D. program with or without a Master’s degree from another institution. Students can petition, however, to have previously completed coursework recognized.

There are two stages in having courses recognized from other institutions:

Before the Second Year Review, students can petition to have two courses (with a minimum grade of “B”) recognized. Per university policy, these courses cannot have been taken for any other degree previously awarded, at UCLA or another institution, or before the award of the bachelor’s degree. These two courses may apply toward the 12 courses required for the M.A. prior to the Second Year Review/M.A. Examination. Two courses would be the equivalent of eight quarter units or five semester units. The approval of the Division of Graduate Education and the Department is required.

Teaching Experience

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

First Stage Evaluation: University Written Qualifying Examination

The Academic Senate requires that students take a University Written Qualifying Examination. In the Department of Comparative Literature this University Written Qualifying Examination has a written and oral component. It is in two parts. The first part consists of a 72-hour take-home written examination in the major and minor fields. The second part is an oral examination.

Students must constitute an examining committee comprised of three faculty members, of which two must be Comparative Literature faculty, in the quarter preceding the examination. Students should provide the Student Affairs Officer with the names and email address of their committee members and specify which faculty members will serve as the major and minor field examiners. Committees are limited to three members, however a fourth member can be added with permission of the Director of Graduate Studies. Students should try to choose faculty members who will later be on their dissertation committee, but are not required to do so, in the sense that they will constitute their dissertation committee only after this examination.

The written examination questions are based on a reading list of 50 works in the major field and 25 works in the minor field. The student prepares reading lists for their major field and minor field. Each student is responsible for preparing their own reading lists with guidance from the members of their examination committee and the Director of Graduate Studies. Each reading list must be approved by the appropriate field examiner; both lists must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies by the end of the quarter preceding the qualifying examination. Students should send their reading lists to the appropriate faculty in the major and minor fields first, with instructions to send their approval to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Student Affairs Officer via email so that copies can be added to the student’s departmental file.

The take-home written examinations require responses to one long or two shorter questions for the major field examination and one question for the minor field. The examiners have the choice of asking one question, or allowing the student to answer one or two of a selection of two or more questions. Students are expected to demonstrate their knowledge of the field and engagement with relevant ideas and methodologies as they produce 25-30 pages of original writing during the 72-hour examination period. These pages may not include any excerpts of previously written seminar papers. Should a question be deemed problematic (i.e. the question asks about material not included on the approved reading lists), the student should immediately contact the Student Affairs Officer, who will stop the examination period and follow up with the Director of Graduate Studies and Chair.

The oral examination must be completed no later than two weeks after the submission of the written portion. In exceptional situations, this examination can be slightly delayed by a few weeks with permission from the Director of Graduate Studies and/or Chair.

The outcome of the first stage evaluation can be: pass with permission to proceed to the prospectus phase of the dissertation; or fail. Students must pass both the written and oral sections of the exam in the major and minor fields in order to pass with permission to proceed to the prospectus phase of the dissertation. In the case of failure, the committee may offer the student an opportunity to retake one or both sections of the examination in the following quarter. A second failed examination results in a recommendation for academic disqualification from the program.

Second Stage Evaluation: University Oral Qualifying Examination (Prospectus Defense)

After completion of the written qualifying examination, students enroll in COM LIT 597 under the supervision of their adviser to begin writing the dissertation prospectus. Although actual times for its completion vary, students would ideally produce a completed draft after two quarters. The prospectus serves as the student’s outline for their dissertation, and should define a thesis and its proposed development over several chapters. The prospectus should answer a question (instead of merely outlining a description) over the course of 30-40 pages.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is a two-hour examination based primarily on a defense of the prospectus. Students should nominate their doctoral committee, which will serve as their examination committee for the oral qualifying examination, at least two months in advance of the examination. The doctoral committee is comprised of at least four faculty members, including two faculty members from the department (one of whom must serve as the committee chair or co-chair). The size of the committee is not limited, and may include members outside UCLA, and outside the UC system. Students must follow the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution (Effective 2016 Fall) in constituting ther doctoral committee. See https://grad.ucla.edu/academics/doctoral-studies/minimum-standards-for-doctoral-committee-constitution-effective-2016-fall/

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) degree upon successful completion of the University Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations.

Doctoral Dissertation

Students are not obliged to duplicate the ideas of the prospectus in the dissertation. Basic concepts or assumptions may change from the prospectus to the dissertation; however, any such changes should be discussed with the committee as a different trajectory of investigation. Students should also consult with their faculty advisors regarding matters of breadth and focus.

At minimum, faculty advisors should be in contact with their students once per quarter throughout the dissertation stage; however, more consistent contact is strongly encouraged. Conversely, students should maintain the same degree of contact with their advisors. Issues regarding insufficient faculty guidance should be immediately brought to the attention of the Department Chair.

Following completion of the dissertation, and with the approval of the chair of the doctoral committee, the student may file their dissertation. The Director of Graduate Studies and all members of the doctoral committee must be notified of the student’s plan to file the dissertation. The final draft of the dissertation must be submitted to the committee for review no later than one month prior to the planned date of filing to allow sufficient time for final revisions.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Time-to-Degree

By the twelfth quarter in the program, students must have completed the first and second stage of the University Qualifying Examinations, and advance to doctoral candidacy.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	18	27

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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