Program Requirements for Chicana and Chicano Studies

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

Chicana and Chicano Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Cesar E. Chavez Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

The M.A. degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies is not intended to be a stand-alone, terminal degree, but is, rather, a requirement for the Ph.D. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program without an M.A. degree will follow Plan A, as described below. Students entering the Ph.D. program with an approved M.A. thesis should follow Plan B (see under Doctoral Degree).

Advising

The Director of Graduate Studies is assigned as provisional adviser to all incoming M.A. students until a permanent faculty adviser is selected in the second year. The faculty adviser assists students with planning their program of study. Students are expected to meet with their faculty adviser at least once a quarter, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. The student affairs officer provides assistance with policy and procedure.

Areas of Study

The Chicana and Chicano Studies curriculum is organized into five interdisciplinary areas of study: 1) border and transnational studies; 2) expressive arts; 3) genders and sexualities; 4) history, culture, and language of the Americas; and 5) labor, law, and policy studies.

Foreign Language Requirement

See under Doctoral Degree.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Students must successfully complete a total of 40 units (normally ten courses), completed while in graduate status and taken for a letter grade with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. Of the 40 units, at least 32 must be completed at the graduate level. Up to 8 units of upper division undergraduate courses may be applied to the 40-unit requirement. One 500-series course (up to four units) may be applied toward the 40-unit requirement.

Required courses:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.

Four graduate courses in the research areas of specialization (16 units), all of which should be taken in the department.

Two elective courses (8 units) of which both may be upper division undergraduate courses or taken outside the department.

Four units of Chicana/o Studies 598 (master’s thesis research) or 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research).

Students may take up to a maximum of 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 598, and up to a maximum of 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 596 in a single academic year. However, students may not take more than one Chicana/o Studies 596 per quarter before the M.A. degree requirements are completed.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

New Teaching Assistants must enroll in Chicana/o Studies 495 when they receive their first teaching appointment. In the following quarters, Teaching Assistants may enroll in Chicana/o Studies 375 to fulfill unit requirements. Neither of these courses may be counted toward the degree requirements.

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 will complete the M.A. degree by writing an original interdisciplinary research paper, critical reflection, or creative portfolio that integrates knowledge learned in their graduate course work. The M.A. thesis should be submitted by spring quarter of their second year, but no later than the seventh quarter (normally fall quarter of the third year). Students must enroll in Chicana/o Studies 598 (M.A. Thesis Research) under the guidance of their faculty adviser to produce the thesis. The thesis is evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

The thesis committee will consist of the student’s faculty adviser and two ladder-ranked faculty, one of which should be from the list of core or jointly-appointed faculty in the department, and the other may be from outside the department. The thesis committee should be appointed by the Graduate Division no later than spring quarter of the student’s second year.

Time-to-degree

The normative time-to-degree (TTD) for full-time students is seven quarters and the maximum time-to-degree is seven quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Students who already have a Master’s degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies or in a related field must submit their Master’s thesis once admitted to the program. The department’s Graduate Committee will evaluate the submitted material to determine whether or not it fulfills the M.A. requirements of the program. If the Master’s thesis is deemed satisfactory, the student will be allowed to enter the Ph.D. program under Plan B (see Doctoral Degree requirements below).

Advising

The Director of the Graduate Program and the Student Advising Officer (SAO) assist students with planning their program of study and guide them toward the fulfillment of the program requirements. Students should select their faculty adviser and mentor by the end of the second year. After completing course work for the Ph.D., but before taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, the student submits a four-person doctoral committee that requires approval of the department’s Graduate Committee and appointment by the Graduate Division. The doctoral committee is responsible for supervision, review, and approval of the doctoral dissertation. The SAO provides assistance with policy and procedure.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to have, at minimum, reading fluency in Spanish. Students may satisfy the language requirement in one of the following ways:

1) By passing a level 5 oral and written exam administered by the Spanish and Portuguese Department.

2) By completing, with a passing grade in each term, two years of course work in the target language at the University level. If the course work consists of Spanish language courses, they should be above level 5.

3) By passing a translation examination administered by the department. Students are given two hours to take the exam, and are permitted the use of a dictionary. Exams will also be offered once a year, in fall quarter. Students should inform the Graduate Program Director or the SAO of their intention to take the translation exam, and an exam date will be scheduled (usually between the fourth and sixth week of classes).

Course Requirements

Plan A

For students under Plan A, who have completed all the course requirements for the M.A. as described above, a minimum of 24 additional units (normally six graduate courses) will be required to complete the Ph.D. These 24 units should provide more depth to the student’s preparation in the field and research agenda. Eight units (2 courses) may be taken outside the department.

Plan B

Students entering the Ph.D. program with an approved M.A. thesis are expected to take a minimum of 44 units (regularly 11 courses) as follows:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.

Eight graduate courses in the research areas of specialization (32 units), 3 of which could be taken outside the department.

Units taken in the 500-series—Chicana/o Studies 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research), Chicana/o Studies 597 (Preparation for Qualifying Exams) or Chicana/o Studies 599 (doctoral dissertation research)—may not be applied toward course requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

Students may not take more than 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 597, and no more than 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 596 per academic year before the Ph.D. course work requirements are completed.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

All doctoral students are expected to fulfill at least one year of teaching experience as teaching assistants in the department.

New teaching assistants must enroll in Chicana/o Studies 495 when they receive their first teaching appointment. In the following quarters, teaching assistants may enroll in Chicana/o Studies 375 to fulfill unit requirement. Neither of these courses may be counted toward the degree requirements.

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 Qualifying Examinations consist of written and oral sections. All course work and language requirements must be completed before the examination takes place. Prior to taking the exams, an examination committee should be formed. In consultation with the dissertation adviser, students choose two other committee members, one of which could be a faculty who holds a joint appointment with the department, and whose interests and fields of expertise support research in the proposed dissertation topic. These three department faculty members constitute the departmental examination committee, which is responsible for administering the Written Qualifying Exams. The examination committee should be constituted not later than the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given.

The Written Qualifying Examination is a two-part exam based on the student’s course work, research interests, and familiarity with the field. Part One seeks to evaluate the student’s knowledge of the Chicana/Chicano Studies field. It will consist of a literature review based on a reading list of minimum 50 texts drawn up by the student in consultation with his/her dissertation adviser. The core of this bibliography will emerge from the department reading list. The question for Part One will be provided by the Graduate Committee. Part Two will be a paper in response to a question related to the student’s dissertation research; it will require a theoretical grounding in the student’s areas of specialization, an ability to define and apply interdisciplinary methodology, and a well-supported argument. Students will have two weeks to complete their written qualifying exam.

Students may enroll in up to 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 597 (examination preparation) to help prepare for the exam. Students who fail to pass either part of the written qualifying examination may retake it once without petition, as early as the following quarter. Students who fail the Written Qualifying Examination a second time will not advance to doctoral candidacy and will be dismissed from the program.

Following completion of the Written Qualifying Examination, students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than Spring of the fourth year. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the members of the doctoral committee and the student. Both the Written and the Oral Qualifying Examinations will be evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

Advancement to Candidacy

Students are advanced to candidacy and awarded the Candidate in Philosophy degree (C.Phil.) upon successful completion of the Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations. The normative time to advance-to-candidacy (ATC) is 12 quarters.

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 student’s principal fields of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

No public defense of the dissertation is required, but the doctoral committee, in conjunction with the student, may opt to voluntarily hold a defense of the dissertation.

Time-to-Degree

Full-time graduate students should normally complete the requirements for the Ph.D. degree within five years of completion of the requirements for the master’s degree, with the total time from admission to the completion of the Ph.D. being seven years (21 quarters). The maximum time-to-degree (TTD) is 24 quarters.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	21	24

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 made by the Director of Graduate Studies after a vote of the department’s faculty. Before the recommendation is sent to Graduate Division, a student is notified in writing and given two weeks to respond in writing to the Chair. An appeal is reviewed by the department’s faculty, which makes the final departmental recommendation to Graduate Division.

Program Requirements for Chicana and Chicano Studies

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

Chicana and Chicano Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Cesar E. Chavez Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

A faculty member is assigned as provisional adviser to each incoming student until a permanent faculty adviser is selected in the second year. The faculty adviser and the Director of Graduate Studies assist students with planning their program of study. Students are expected to meet with their faculty adviser at least once a quarter, usually at the beginning of the quarter to have their enrollment plan approved. The Graduate Student Affairs Officer provides assistance with policy and procedure.

Areas of Study

One distinctive feature of our program is its foundational interdisciplinarity. The program integrates four areas of study that are drawn from the research and curricular strengths of the core and joint faculty of Chicana and Chicano Studies.

M.A. and Ph.D. students may take courses in each of the four areas:

Border and Transnational Studies
Expressive Arts
History, Culture, and Language of the Americas
Labor, Law, and Policy Studies

Please note that the research paradigms of genders and sexualities, power and inequalities, and the colonial-decolonial-postcolonial intersect with all four areas.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students at the M.A. level must demonstrate reading fluency in Spanish in one of two ways: (1) passing a departmentally-administered written examination; or (2) completing two years of Spanish language instruction at an institution of higher learning, with a grade of C or better.

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Students must successfully complete a total of 40 units (normally ten courses), completed while in graduate status and taken for a letter grade with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. Of the 40 units, at least 32 must be completed at the graduate level. Up to four units of upper division undergraduate courses may be applied to the 40-unit requirement. One 500-series course (up to four units) may be applied toward the 40-unit requirement

Required courses:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Four graduate courses (16 units) in areas that relate most closely to the student’s research interests, all of which should be taken in the department.
Two elective courses (eight units) of graduate and/or upper division undergraduate courses taken within or outside the department.
Four units of Chicana/o Studies 598 (master’s thesis research) or 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research).

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

New Teaching Assistants must enroll in Chicana/o Studies 495 preferably before or during the quarter when they receive their first teaching appointment. In the following quarters, Teaching Assistants must enroll in Chicana/o Studies 375; enrollment in 375 may be used toward the minimum course load of 12 units per quarter. Neither of these courses may be counted toward the degree requirements.

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.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree (TTD) for full-time students is six quarters and the maximum time-to-degree is seven quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students at the Ph.D. level must demonstrate reading fluency in Spanish in one of two ways: (1) passing a departmentally-administered written examination; or (2) completing two years of Spanish language instruction at an institution of higher learning, with a grade of C or better.

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

For students under Plan A, who have completed all the course requirements for the M.A. as described above, a minimum of 24 additional units (normally six graduate courses), taken for a letter grade, are required to complete the Ph.D. These 24 units should provide more depth to the student’s preparation in the field and research agenda. Eight units (2 courses) may be taken outside the department.

Plan B

Students entering the Ph.D. program with an approved M.A. thesis are expected to take a minimum of 44 units (regularly 11 courses), taken for a letter grade, as follows:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Eight graduate courses in the research areas of specialization (32 units), 3 of which may be taken outside the department.

Students may not take more than 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 597, and no more than 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 596 per academic year, before the Ph.D. course work requirements are completed. Students are eligible to enroll in 599 units only after advancing to PhD candidacy.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

All doctoral students are expected to fulfill at least one year of teaching experience as teaching assistants in the department.

New teaching assistants must enroll in Chicana/o Studies 495 preferably before or during the quarter when they receive their first teaching appointment. In the following quarters, teaching assistants must enroll in Chicana/o Studies 375; enrollment in 375 may be used toward the minimum course load of 12 units per quarter. Neither of these courses may be counted toward the degree requirements.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The Qualifying Examinations consist of written and oral sections. All course work and language requirements must be completed before the examination takes place. Prior to taking the exams, an examination committee should be formed. In consultation with the dissertation adviser, students choose two other committee members, one of which could be a faculty who holds a joint appointment with the department, and whose interests and fields of expertise support research in the proposed dissertation topic. These three department faculty members constitute the departmental examination committee, which is responsible for administering the Written Qualifying Exams. The examination committee should be constituted no later than the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given.

The Written Qualifying Examination consists of two essays based on the student’s course work, research interests, and familiarity with the field. Students have two weeks to complete both essays. The first essay seeks to evaluate the student’s knowledge of the Chicana/Chicano Studies field. It will consist of a literature review based on a reading list of a minimum of 50 texts drawn up by the student in consultation with his/her/their dissertation adviser. The core part of this bibliography will be based on the department reading list. The question for the first essay will be developed by the graduate advisers of students taking the exam in any given quarter.

The second essay will be related to the student’s dissertation research; it will require a theoretical grounding in the student’s areas of specialization, an ability to define and apply interdisciplinary methodology, and a well-supported argument..

Students may enroll in up to 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 597 (examination preparation) to help prepare for the exam. Students who fail to pass either part of the Written Qualifying Examination may retake it once without petition, as early as the following quarter. Students who fail the Written Qualifying Examination a second time will not advance to doctoral candidacy and will be recommended for academic disqualification.

Following completion of the Written Qualifying Examination, students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than Spring of the fourth year. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal, which should draw from Essay 2 of the Written Qualifying Exam. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the members of the doctoral committee and the student.

Both the Written and the Oral Qualifying Examinations will be evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

No public defense of the dissertation is required, but the doctoral committee, in conjunction with the student, may opt to voluntarily hold a defense of the dissertation.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	21	24

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for academic disqualification is made by the Director of Graduate Studies after a vote of the department’s faculty. Before the recommendation is sent to Graduate Division, a student is notified in writing and given two weeks to respond in writing to the Chair. An appeal is reviewed by the department’s faculty, which makes the final departmental recommendation to Graduate Division.

Program Requirements for Chicana and Chicano Studies

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

Chicana and Chicano Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

UCLA César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

M.A. and Ph.D. students may take courses in each of the four areas:

Border and Transnational Studies
Expressive Arts
History, Culture, and Language of the Americas
Labor, Law, and Policy Studies

Please note that the research paradigms of genders and sexualities, power and inequalities, and the colonial-decolonial-postcolonial intersect with all four areas.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Students must successfully complete a total of 40 units (normally ten courses), completed while in graduate status and taken for a letter grade with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. Of the 40 units, at least 32 must be completed at the graduate level. Up to four units of upper division undergraduate courses may be applied to the 40-unit requirement. One 500-series course (up to four units) may be applied toward the 40-unit requirement

Required courses:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Four graduate courses (16 units) in areas that relate most closely to the student’s research interests, all of which should be taken in the department.
Two elective courses (eight units) of graduate and/or upper division undergraduate courses taken within or outside the department.
Four units of Chicana/o Studies 595 (Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation) or 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research).

Students may take up to a maximum of 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 595, and up to a maximum of 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 596 in a single academic year. However, students may not take more than one Chicana/o Studies 596 per quarter before the M.A. degree requirements are completed.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

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.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree (TTD) for full-time students is six quarters and the maximum time-to-degree is seven quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Students who already have a Master’s degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies Studies or in a related field must submit their Master’s thesis once admitted to the program. The department’s Graduate Committee will evaluate the submitted material to determine whether or not it fulfills the M.A. requirements of the program. If the Master’s thesis is deemed satisfactory, the student will be allowed to enter the Ph.D. program under Plan B (see Doctoral Degree Course Requirements below).

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Plan B

Students entering the Ph.D. program with an approved M.A. thesis are expected to take a minimum of 44 units (regularly 11 courses), taken for a letter grade, as follows:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Eight graduate courses in the research areas of specialization (32 units), 3 of which may be taken outside the department.

Units taken in the 500-series— Chicana/o Studies 595 (MA Thesis Research and Preparation) Chicana/o Studies 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research), 597 (Preparation for Qualifying Examinations), or Chicana/o Studies 599 (doctoral dissertation research)—may not be applied toward course requirements for the Ph.D. degree.

Students may not take more than 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 595, and no more than 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 596 per academic year, before the Ph.D. course work requirements are completed. Students are eligible to enroll in 599 units only after advancing to PhD candidacy.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

All doctoral students are expected to fulfill at least one year of teaching experience as teaching assistants in the department.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The Qualifying Examinations consist of written and oral sections. All course work and language requirements must be completed before the examination takes place. Prior to taking the exams, an examination committee should be formed. In consultation with the dissertation adviser, students choose two other committee members, one of which could be a faculty who holds a joint appointment with the department, and whose interests and fields of expertise support research in the proposed dissertation topic. These three department faculty members constitute the departmental examination committee, which is responsible for administering the Written Qualifying Exams. The examination committee should be constituted no later than the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given.

Following completion of the Written Qualifying Examination, students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than Spring of the fourth year. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal, which should draw from Essay 2 of the Written Qualifying Exam. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the members of the doctoral committee and the student.

Both the Written and the Oral Qualifying Examinations will be evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Students should enroll in up to 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 599 (Dissertation Research and Preparation) every quarter until they complete the dissertation.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

No public defense of the dissertation is required, but the doctoral committee, in conjunction with the student, may opt to voluntarily hold a defense of the dissertation.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	21	24

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

Program Requirements for Chicana and Chicano Studies

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

Chicana and Chicano Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

UCLA César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

One distinctive feature of our program is its foundational interdisciplinarity.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Students must successfully complete a total of 40 units (normally ten courses), completed while in graduate status and taken for a letter grade with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. Of the 40 units, at least 32 must be completed at the graduate level. Up to four units of upper division undergraduate courses may be applied to the 40-unit requirement. One 500-series course (up to four units) may be applied toward the 40-unit requirement

Required courses:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Four graduate courses (16 units) in areas that relate most closely to the student’s research interests, all of which should be taken in the department.
Two elective courses (eight units) of graduate and/or upper division undergraduate courses taken within or outside the department.
Four units of Chicana/o Studies 595 (Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation) or 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research).

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

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.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree (TTD) for full-time students is six quarters and the maximum time-to-degree is seven quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Plan B

Students entering the Ph.D. program with an approved M.A. thesis are expected to take a minimum of 44 units (regularly 11 courses), taken for a letter grade, as follows:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Eight graduate courses in the research areas of specialization (32 units), 3 of which may be taken outside the department.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

All doctoral students are expected to fulfill at least one year of teaching experience as teaching assistants in the department.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The Qualifying Examinations consist of written and oral sections. All course work and language requirements must be completed before the examination takes place. Prior to taking the exams, an examination committee should be formed. In consultation with the dissertation adviser, students choose two other committee members, one of which could be a faculty who holds a joint appointment with the department, and whose interests and fields of expertise support research in the proposed dissertation topic. These three department faculty members constitute the departmental examination committee, which is responsible for administering the Written Qualifying Exams. The examination committee should be constituted no later than the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given.

Following completion of the Written Qualifying Examination, students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than Spring of the fourth year. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal, which should draw from Essay 2 of the Written Qualifying Exam. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the members of the doctoral committee and the student.

Both the Written and the Oral Qualifying Examinations will be evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Students should enroll in up to 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 599 (Dissertation Research and Preparation) every quarter until they complete the dissertation.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

No public defense of the dissertation is required, but the doctoral committee, in conjunction with the student, may opt to voluntarily hold a defense of the dissertation.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	21	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Program Requirements for Chicana and Chicano Studies

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

Chicana and Chicano Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

UCLA César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

One distinctive feature of our program is its foundational interdisciplinarity.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Students must successfully complete a total of 40 units (normally ten courses), completed while in graduate status and taken for a letter grade with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. Of the 40 units, at least 32 must be completed at the graduate level. Up to four units of upper division undergraduate courses may be applied to the 40-unit requirement. One 500-series course (up to four units) may be applied toward the 40-unit requirement

Required courses:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Four graduate courses (16 units) in areas that relate most closely to the student’s research interests, all of which should be taken in the department.
Two elective courses (eight units) of graduate and/or upper division undergraduate courses taken within or outside the department.
Four units of Chicana/o Studies 595 (Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation) or 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research).

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

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.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree (TTD) for full-time students is six quarters and the maximum time-to-degree is seven quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Plan B

Students entering the Ph.D. program with an approved M.A. thesis are expected to take a minimum of 44 units (regularly 11 courses), taken for a letter grade, as follows:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Eight graduate courses in the research areas of specialization (32 units), 3 of which may be taken outside the department.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

All doctoral students are expected to fulfill at least one year of teaching experience as teaching assistants in the department.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The Qualifying Examinations consist of written and oral sections. All course work and language requirements must be completed before the examination takes place. Prior to taking the exams, an examination committee should be formed. In consultation with the dissertation adviser, students choose two other committee members, one of which could be a faculty who holds a joint appointment with the department, and whose interests and fields of expertise support research in the proposed dissertation topic. These three department faculty members constitute the departmental examination committee, which is responsible for administering the Written Qualifying Exams. The examination committee should be constituted no later than the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given.

Following completion of the Written Qualifying Examination, students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than Spring of the fourth year. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal, which should draw from Essay 2 of the Written Qualifying Exam. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the members of the doctoral committee and the student.

Both the Written and the Oral Qualifying Examinations will be evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Students should enroll in up to 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 599 (Dissertation Research and Preparation) every quarter until they complete the dissertation.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

No public defense of the dissertation is required, but the doctoral committee, in conjunction with the student, may opt to voluntarily hold a defense of the dissertation.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	21	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Program Requirements for Chicana and Chicano Studies

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

Chicana and Chicano Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

UCLA César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

One distinctive feature of our program is its foundational interdisciplinarity.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Students must successfully complete a total of 40 units (normally ten courses), completed while in graduate status and taken for a letter grade with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. Of the 40 units, at least 32 must be completed at the graduate level. Up to four units of upper division undergraduate courses may be applied to the 40-unit requirement. One 500-series course (up to four units) may be applied toward the 40-unit requirement

Required courses:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Four graduate courses (16 units) in areas that relate most closely to the student’s research interests, all of which should be taken in the department.
Two elective courses (eight units) of graduate and/or upper division undergraduate courses taken within or outside the department.
Four units of Chicana/o Studies 595 (Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation) or 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research).

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

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.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree (TTD) for full-time students is six quarters and the maximum time-to-degree is seven quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Plan B

Students entering the Ph.D. program with an approved M.A. thesis are expected to take a minimum of 44 units (regularly 11 courses), taken for a letter grade, as follows:

Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Eight graduate courses in the research areas of specialization (32 units), 3 of which may be taken outside the department.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

All doctoral students are expected to fulfill at least one year of teaching experience as teaching assistants in the department.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The Qualifying Examinations consist of written and oral sections. All course work and language requirements must be completed before the examination takes place. Prior to taking the exams, an examination committee should be formed. In consultation with the dissertation adviser, students choose two other committee members, one of which could be a faculty who holds a joint appointment with the department, and whose interests and fields of expertise support research in the proposed dissertation topic. These three department faculty members constitute the departmental examination committee, which is responsible for administering the Written Qualifying Exams. The examination committee should be constituted no later than the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given.

Following completion of the Written Qualifying Examination, students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than Spring of the fourth year. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal, which should draw from Essay 2 of the Written Qualifying Exam. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the members of the doctoral committee and the student.

Both the Written and the Oral Qualifying Examinations will be evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Students should enroll in up to 12 units of Chicana/o Studies 599 (Dissertation Research and Preparation) every quarter until they complete the dissertation.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

No public defense of the dissertation is required, but the doctoral committee, in conjunction with the student, may opt to voluntarily hold a defense of the dissertation.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	21	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Program Requirements for Chicana and Chicano Studies

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

Chicana and Chicano Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

UCLA César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

One distinctive feature of our program is its foundational interdisciplinarity.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Students must successfully complete a total of 40 units (normally ten courses), completed while in graduate status and taken for a letter grade with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. Of the 40 units, at least 32 must be completed at the graduate level. Up to four units of upper division undergraduate courses may be applied to the 40-unit requirement. One 500-series course (up to four units) may be applied toward the 40-unit requirement

Required courses:

CCAS 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Four graduate courses (16 units) in areas that relate most closely to the student’s research interests, all of which should be taken in the department.
Two elective courses (eight units) of graduate and/or upper division undergraduate courses taken within or outside the department.
Four units of CCAS 595 (Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation) or 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research).

Students may take up to a maximum of 12 units of CCAS 595: Research and Preparation for MA Thesis, and up to a maximum of 12 units of CCAS 596: Directed Individual Study or Research in a single academic year. However, after the M.A. coursework degree requirements are completed, students become eligible to enroll in up to 12 units of CCAS 595 or CCAS 596 per quarter. A petition to the DGE can be submitted to request an exception to the 595 or 596 policy.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

New Teaching Assistants must enroll in CCAS 495 preferably before or during the quarter when they receive their first teaching appointment. CCAS will not count toward the degree requirements.

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 will complete the M.A. degree by writing an original interdisciplinary research paper, critical reflection, or creative portfolio that integrates knowledge learned in their graduate course work. The M.A. thesis should be submitted by spring quarter of their second year, but no later than the seventh quarter (normally fall quarter of the third year). Students must enroll in 595 (M.A. Thesis Research) under the guidance of their faculty adviser to produce the thesis. The thesis is evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

The thesis committee will consist of the student’s faculty adviser and two ladder-ranked faculty, one of which should be from the list of core or jointly-appointed faculty in the department, and the other may be from outside the department. The thesis committee should be appointed by the Division of Graduate Education no later than spring quarter of the student’s second year.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree (TTD) for full-time students is six quarters and the maximum time-to-degree is seven quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Admitted students who already have a Master’s degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies or in a related field must submit their original, unaltered Master’s thesis for evaluation no later than third week of their first Fall term. The department’s Graduate Committee will evaluate the submitted material to determine whether or not it fulfills the M.A. requirements of the program. If the Master’s thesis is deemed satisfactory, the student will be allowed to enter the Ph.D. program under Plan B (see Doctoral Degree Course Requirements below). If the Master’s thesis is deemed unsatisfactory, the student will follow Plan A.

Advising

The Director of the Graduate Program and the Student Advising Officer (SAO) assist students with planning their program of study and guide them toward the fulfillment of the program requirements. Students should select their faculty adviser and mentor by the end of the second year. After completing course work for the Ph.D., but before taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, the student submits a four-person doctoral committee that requires approval of the department’s Graduate Committee and appointment by the Division of Graduate Education. The doctoral committee is responsible for supervision, review, and approval of the doctoral dissertation. The SAO provides assistance with policy and procedure.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Units taken in the 500-series — Students may take up to a maximum of 12 units of CCAS 597: Preparation for PhD Qualifying Examination, and up to a maximum of 12 units of CCAS 596: Directed Individual Study or Research in a single academic year. However, after the Ph.D. degree coursework requirements are completed, students become eligible to enroll in up to 12 units of CCAS 597 or CCAS 596 per quarter. A petition to the DGE can be submitted to request an exception to the 596 or 597 policy. Students become eligible to enroll in up to 12 units of CCAS 599 after advancing to PhD candidacy.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Plan B

Students entering the Ph.D. program with an approved M.A. thesis are expected to take a minimum of 44 units (regularly 11 courses), taken for a letter grade, as follows:

CCAS Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Eight graduate courses in the research areas of specialization (32 units), 3 of which may be taken outside the department.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

All doctoral students are expected to fulfill at least one year of teaching experience as teaching assistants in the department.

New teaching assistants must enroll in Chicana/o Studies 495 preferably before or during the quarter when they receive their first teaching appointment. CCAS 495 will not count toward the degree requirements.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The Qualifying Examinations consist of written and oral sections. All course work and language requirements must be completed before the examination takes place. Prior to taking the exams, an examination committee should be formed. In consultation with the dissertation adviser, students choose two other committee members, one of which could be a faculty who holds a joint appointment with the department, and whose interests and fields of expertise support research in the proposed dissertation topic. These three department faculty members constitute the departmental examination committee, which is responsible for administering the Written Qualifying Exams. The examination committee should be constituted no later than the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given.

Students may enroll in up to 12 units of CCAS 597 (examination preparation) to help prepare for the exam. Students who fail to pass either part of the Written Qualifying Examination may retake it once without petition, as early as the following quarter. Students who fail the Written Qualifying Examination a second time will not advance to doctoral candidacy and will be recommended for academic disqualification.

Following completion of the Written Qualifying Examination, students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than Spring of the fourth year. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal, which should draw from Essay 2 of the Written Qualifying Exam. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the members of the doctoral committee and the student.

Both the Written and the Oral Qualifying Examinations will be evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Students should enroll in up to 12 units of CCAS 599 (Dissertation Research and Preparation) every quarter until they complete the dissertation.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

No public defense of the dissertation is required, but the doctoral committee, in conjunction with the student, may opt to voluntarily hold a defense of the dissertation.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	21	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A recommendation for academic disqualification is made by the Director of Graduate Studies after a vote of the department’s faculty. Before the recommendation is sent to the Division of Graduate Education, a student is notified in writing and given two weeks to respond in writing to the Chair. An appeal is reviewed by the department’s faculty, which makes the final departmental recommendation to the Division of Graduate Education.

Program Requirements for Chicana and Chicano Studies

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

Chicana and Chicano Studies

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

UCLA César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chicana and Chicano Studies.

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Areas of Study

One distinctive feature of our program is its foundational interdisciplinarity.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

Students must successfully complete a total of 40 units (normally ten courses), completed while in graduate status and taken for a letter grade with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average. Of the 40 units, at least 32 must be completed at the graduate level. Up to four units of upper division undergraduate courses may be applied to the 40-unit requirement. One 500-series course (up to four units) may be applied toward the 40-unit requirement

Required courses:

CCAS 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Four graduate courses (16 units) in areas that relate most closely to the student’s research interests, all of which should be taken in the department.
Two elective courses (eight units) of graduate and/or upper division undergraduate courses taken within or outside the department.
Four units of CCAS 595 (Master’s Thesis Research and Preparation) or 596 (Directed Individual Studies or Research).

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

New Teaching Assistants must enroll in CCAS 495 preferably before or during the quarter when they receive their first teaching appointment. CCAS will not count toward the degree requirements.

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 will complete the M.A. degree by writing an original interdisciplinary research paper, critical reflection, or creative portfolio that integrates knowledge learned in their graduate course work. The M.A. thesis should be submitted by spring quarter of their second year, but no later than the seventh quarter (normally fall quarter of the third year). Students must enroll in 595 (M.A. Thesis Research) under the guidance of their faculty adviser to produce the thesis. The thesis is evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

The thesis committee will consist of the student’s faculty adviser and two ladder-ranked faculty, one of which should be from the list of core or jointly-appointed faculty in the department, and the other may be from outside the department. The thesis committee should be appointed by the Division of Graduate Education no later than spring quarter of the student’s second year.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time-to-degree (TTD) for full-time students is six quarters and the maximum time-to-degree is seven quarters.

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

The Director of the Graduate Program and the Student Advising Officer (SAO) assist students with planning their program of study and guide them toward the fulfillment of the program requirements. Students should select their faculty adviser and mentor by the end of the second year. After completing course work for the Ph.D., but before taking the University Oral Qualifying Examination, the student submits a four-person doctoral committee that requires approval of the department’s Graduate Committee and appointment by the Division of Graduate Education. The doctoral committee is responsible for supervision, review, and approval of the doctoral dissertation. The SAO provides assistance with policy and procedure.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students are required to complete the Spanish language requirement by the end of the winter quarter of the second year of graduate study.

Course Requirements

Plan A

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Plan B

Students entering the Ph.D. program with an approved M.A. thesis are expected to take a minimum of 44 units (regularly 11 courses), taken for a letter grade, as follows:

CCAS Chicana/o Studies 200, 201, and 202 (12 units) are required and should be taken within the first two years.
Eight graduate courses in the research areas of specialization (32 units), 3 of which may be taken outside the department.

The minimum course load is 12 units per quarter. Students must be continuously registered and enrolled unless they are on an approved leave of absence.

Teaching Experience

All doctoral students are expected to fulfill at least one year of teaching experience as teaching assistants in the department.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

The Qualifying Examinations consist of written and oral sections. All course work and language requirements must be completed before the examination takes place. Prior to taking the exams, an examination committee should be formed. In consultation with the dissertation adviser, students choose two other committee members, one of which could be a faculty who holds a joint appointment with the department, and whose interests and fields of expertise support research in the proposed dissertation topic. These three department faculty members constitute the departmental examination committee, which is responsible for administering the Written Qualifying Exams. The examination committee should be constituted no later than the quarter preceding that in which the examination is given.

Following completion of the Written Qualifying Examination, students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination no later than Spring of the fourth year. The oral examination is approximately two hours in length and is focused on the student’s dissertation proposal, which should draw from Essay 2 of the Written Qualifying Exam. The University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the members of the doctoral committee and the student.

Both the Written and the Oral Qualifying Examinations will be evaluated on a pass/no pass basis.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Students should enroll in up to 12 units of CCAS 599 (Dissertation Research and Preparation) every quarter until they complete the dissertation.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

No public defense of the dissertation is required, but the doctoral committee, in conjunction with the student, may opt to voluntarily hold a defense of the dissertation.

Time-to-Degree

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	12	21	24

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

Program Requirements for Chemistry and Biochemistry (Chemistry)

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

Chemistry and Biochemistry

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Chemistry, and the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology.

Chemistry

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the appropriate faculty area adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a Research Director to supervise their thesis research. The Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the graduate advisers and faculty area advisers, reviews each student’s progress quarterly. Notification in writing is given to students who are performing at a very high level and to those who are not making adequate progress. The faculty graduate adviser, faculty area advisers, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Areas of Study

Chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, biophysics, theory/computation, and analytical chemistry/measurement science and technology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

At least nine quarter courses (36 units) are required, of which at least five (20 units) must be graduate courses and the remainder upper division courses. Choices may be made as described under Doctoral Degree. Each student’s coursework is determined and approved by the faculty area adviser, sometimes in consultation with the student’s PI.

Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 may be applied toward the total course requirement; up to 20 units may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required. Students who serve as teaching assistants must enroll in and receive a grade of S for Chemistry and Biochemistry 375 for each quarter they teach in order to continue teaching.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

For the capstone plan in Chemistry, students must complete the course work requirements of their specialization, in addition to a Capstone Project. The Capstone Project is a research proposal (4 ½ to 7 pages), that includes four main sections: 1) Specific Aims, 2) Significance & Innovation, 3) Research Plan, and 4) Impact. It is intended to develop the student’s ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems independently.

Research Proposal Submission and Grading: Students should solicit the mentorship of three Chemistry/Biochemistry faculty members who will read and grade their proposal. The final draft is due February 15 of their second year.

Three faculty members will read the proposal and send an e-mail grade and review to the student within three weeks. The grading is Pass/Fail. All three readers must rate the assignment as a “P” to complete the Capstone Project. If one or more of the readers does not rate the assignment as a “P”, the student will be required to revise and resubmit within one month. Students are welcome to receive help and mentorship from faculty members as needed.

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.

For the thesis plan in Chemistry, students must complete the course work requirements of their specialization, in addition to a master’s thesis.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to completion of courses: Three academic quarters (one calendar year).

From admission to award of degree: Three to seven quarters (one to two calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	7	7	11

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the appropriate faculty area adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research director to supervise the dissertation research. The Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate advisers and faculty area advisers, reviews each student’s progress quarterly. Notification in writing is given to students who are performing at a very high level and to those who are not making adequate progress. The faculty graduate adviser, faculty area advisers, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. Students are required to join a research group by the end of winter quarter of the first year. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the Graduate Studies Committee, taking into account performance in courses, written examinations, teaching, and research. The committee may recommend that students (1) proceed to the oral examination, (2) be redirected to the M.S. program, or (3) be recommended for academic disqualification.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, biophysics, theory/computation, and analytical chemistry/measurement science and technology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students in each area of specialization should normally complete as a minimum the course work indicated below. Some of these requirements can be met on the basis of orientation examinations and courses taken prior to entry into the graduate program. If the projected research falls in an area which differs appreciably from that anticipated by the field requirements listed below, students may be permitted appropriate modifications. Course requirements may be substituted with the approval of the faculty area advisers and research mentors.

Graduate students who receive a C+ or lower in a required core course must retake the course for a grade of B or higher. Students who receive a C+ or lower in an elective core course may retake the same course or take another approved course (assuming there are appropriate options available) with approval from the area advisor, for a grade of B or higher.

Students are required to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA in their core courses. Students will have until the end of their second year to raise their core GPA to a 3.0 or higher.

All students must enroll in Chem 375 each quarter they have a Teaching Assistant (TA) appointment for S/U grading. Students must enroll in Chem 495 (S/U grading) during year one. Students should enroll in Chem 596 (S/U) or Chem 599 (S/U or letter grade) each quarter they are officially in a lab.

Chemical Biology: (1) Students entering the program should have a broad undergraduate training in chemistry covering general, organic, and biochemistry course work. Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 30A, 30B, 30BL, 30C, 30CL, 110A, 153A, 153B, 153C and satisfactory performance on the chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 205A, 269A, C for letter grades; (3) choice of 244A or 243A for a letter grade; (4) three courses from Chemistry and Biochemistry 240, 243A, 243B, 244A, 244B, 262, C264, 266, 269B, D and E, C279, C281, CM227 or other courses with approval of the chemical biology area adviser, for a letter grade; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 205B (letter grade), 206A-C (S/U), 203B or 250 (letter grade), and 400 (S/U); (6) one department seminar course each quarter (choice of 247 or 268), for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 209 for S/U; (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249B in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; (9) two optional laboratory rotations, one of which can be taken in the summer; and (10) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in fall of year 2 for S/U.

Inorganic Chemistry: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry C172 or its equivalent, and satisfactory performance on the inorganic chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 207, C267, C276A, 273 or 279, and C280 for a letter grade; (3) one elective course from the following: Chemistry and Biochemistry CM205, C213B, C215B, 215D, C223A, C226A, 232, 236, 241A through 241Z, 242, C243A, C243B, 244A, 244B, C245, 271, C274, 277, or other graduate courses with the approval of the inorganic chemistry area adviser for a letter grade; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 278 each quarter (for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one) and 272 (S/U) each quarter; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249B in winter and spring of the first year; and (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in fall of year 2 for S/U.

Organic Chemistry: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 30A, 30B, 30BL, 30C, 30CL, 136, and satisfactory performance on the organic chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 236, C243A, 244A for a letter grade; (3) three courses from Chemistry and Biochemistry 205A, 207, C243B, 244B, C245, C281, and 241B through 241Z, or other courses with approval of the organic chemistry area adviser for a letter grade; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 248 (minimum three quarters; enroll for a letter grade during the quarter you present); (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 247 each quarter (for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one) (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249B in winter and spring of the first year; and (9) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Physical Chemistry: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 110B, 113A, and satisfactory performance on the physical chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C215A-C215B, C223A-C223B (or equivalent substitutes that are approved by the physical area advisor), and a fifth graduate-level course (200-level) that is approved by the physical area advisor (all taken for a letter grade); (3) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228, 247, 278, or 278 each quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 218 (one quarter) for S/U (substitutions may be made with consent of the physical chemistry area adviser); (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249C in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Materials Chemistry: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 113A, and either 136 or 172, or their equivalents, and satisfactory performance on the physical, inorganic, or organic chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C280 and C285 for a letter grade; (3) two courses from the following: Chemistry and Biochemistry 207, C215A, C215B, C223A, C223B, 236, C243A, C243B, 244A, 244B, C273, C276A, C276B for a letter grade; (4) one course from the following: Chemistry and Biochemistry C240, C281, 267, 277, or any course from the preceding group not already taken for a letter grade (other graduate courses from outside of Chemistry and Biochemistry may also be used with approval of the materials chemistry area adviser); (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228, or 248, or 278, every quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249A in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (9) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Biophysics:

Track A: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 110B and 113A or its equivalent, and satisfactory performance on the physical chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C215A, and C223 A, B for a letter grade; (3) 8 units from: Chemistry and Biochemistry M230B, 257, 269A, B, C, Physics 220, Physics 241A, B, C for a letter grade; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228 or 268, every quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249C in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Track B: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 153A and 153B or its equivalent, and satisfactory performance on the physical chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A, B, C, M230B or 257, C200 or CM260A, and one quarter of 258 for letter grade; (3) 8 units of additional graduate courses from: Chemistry and Biochemistry M230B, 257, M230D, CM260A, CM260B, Physics 220, and Chemistry and Biochemistry C223A, B for letter grade; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 or 228 every quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B, 209 and 400 for S/U; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249C in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Theory/Computation: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 110B and 113A or its equivalent, and satisfactory performance on the physical chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C215A, B, C223A, B, and C226A, or C215A, C223A, and either C215B or C223B and 2 courses from the following: Chemistry and Biochemistry C245, C215C, C223C, C226A, CM260A, 269A, 269B, C276A for a letter grade; (3) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228, every quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U (only required for students working in a lab that uses and/or stores chemicals); (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249C in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Analytical Chemistry/Measurement Science and Engineering: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 110B,113A, 172, 136, or their equivalents, and satisfactory performance on the analytical chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C243A and 244A, or C215A and C223A, or 207 and C276A, or C279 and CM205A for a letter grade; (3) Chemistry and Biochemistry C285 or 257 for a letter grade; (4) 8 units from: Chemistry and Biochemistry C208, 236, C240, 266, 276B, Bioengineering C204, C231, M225, M248, or other engineering or medical school graduate level courses approved by the area advisor for a letter grade; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228, or 247, or 278, every quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249A, B, or C in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (9) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Exit Presentation. Starting the 2018-2019 academic year, students are required to present their dissertation research before graduating.

PHYSICAL division, and BIOPHYSICS, ANALYTICAL/INSTRUMENTATION and THEORY/COMPUTATION specializations: All Chemistry graduate students in these areas are required to enroll in CHEM 218: Chemistry Student Exit Seminar sometime during the final three quarters before they submit their dissertation. CHEM 218 is designed as a weekly seminar in which the student will have opportunity to present an hour-long seminar on the findings described in their dissertation. If a student plans to submit their dissertation during the summer session, they must enroll in CHEM 218 sometime during the academic year before submission. The student will be responsible for inviting their doctoral committee. CHEM 218 will be graded on an S/U basis. The grading will be determined by the quality of the presentation.
INORGANIC and ORGANIC divisions, and CHEMICAL BIOLOGY and MATERIALS specializations: Inorganic students will continue to be required to present a talk, in their fourth year, in the regular Inorganic Research Seminar series. Organic graduate students will be required to participate in the annual organic symposium. Organic students will present their dissertation findings during the academic year in which they file their dissertation. Chemical biology students may participate in either the organic graduate student symposium or the oral thesis defense in the biochemistry division. This choice will be made in conjunction with the student’s adviser based on the norms of their research group. Materials students may present in the CHEM 218 seminar, in the Inorganic Research Seminar, or in the organic graduate student symposium, depending on their area of research. The choice of presentation will be made in conjunction with the student’s research adviser.

Teaching Experience

One year (three quarters) of teaching experience is generally required. Students who serve as teaching assistants must enroll in and receive a grade of S for Chemistry and Biochemistry 375 for each quarter they teach in order to continue teaching and maintain their standing in the Ph.D. program.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

Departmental Written Examination/Written Research Proposal (also known as Chem 210 Proposal)

The written research proposal is coupled to a graduate student course on research excellence and proposal writing, Advanced Topics in Chemical Research, which students complete during the fall of their second year of graduate studies. The course is designed for second-year graduate students and intended to help them engage contemporary challenges in chemical research and their own research projects. Students will build critical thinking skills and gain proposal writing skills. The written research proposal is related to the student’s dissertation research.

Proposal Submission and Grading: Students should solicit the mentorship of three Chemistry/Biochemistry faculty members who will read and grade their proposal. Students should submit a polished version of their proposal to their research adviser no later than January 15 of their second year. After implementing revisions from their research adviser, the final proposal should be submitted to the adviser and two additional faculty members by February 15. The grading is Pass/Fail. If one or more of the readers does not rate the assignment as a “P,” the student will be required to revise and resubmit within one month. Students are welcome to receive help and mentorship from faculty members as needed. Three Pass grades are required to complete the written research proposal and make the student eligible to take the doctoral advancement to candidacy exam.

University Oral Qualifying Examination

The University Oral Qualifying Examination consists of an original research proposal in an area distinct from the student’s dissertation research and done without assistance from the research adviser. Students need to complete this exam before the start of the Fall quarter of the third year. The research proposal must be given to the faculty committee members seven days before the scheduled oral examination.

During the oral examination, the proposal is presented orally to the committee, and the committee questions the student on the proposal, general knowledge of the area, and dissertation research progress. The proposal represents independent work and offers the doctoral committee the opportunity to judge the student’s ability to think creatively and to formulate significant ideas for research. The committee’s decision to advance a student to candidacy, to allow the student to repeat all or part of the oral, or to recommend the student for academic disqualification, is based on the student’s overall record at UCLA as reflected in coursework and examinations, and the student’s research ability and productivity.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Not required. The decision as to whether a defense is required is made by the doctoral committee.

Time-to-Degree

The following are normal times to complete the requirements of the program:

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations: three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

From admission to advancement to candidacy: six quarters (two calendar years).

From admission to award of degree: 17 quarters (four to five calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	6	17	31

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may be recommended for academic disqualification by the Graduate Studies Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair. The Department will notify students in writing if they are being recommended for dismissal. Graduate Division will make the final decision about academic disqualifications. For more information, please see the ‘Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification’ section of the Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA Handbook.

Program Requirements for Chemistry and Biochemistry (Chemistry)

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

Chemistry and Biochemistry

College of Letters and Science

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Chemistry and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, with an optional Master of Science (M.S.) offered en-route to Ph.D. For those interested in pursuing a master’s degree, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers a Master’s in Applied Chemical Sciences (M.A.C.S.)

Chemistry

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the appropriate faculty area adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a primary research advisor to supervise their thesis research. The Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the graduate advisers and faculty area advisers, reviews each student’s progress quarterly. Notification in writing is given to students who are not making adequate progress. Students are encouraged to consult with their primary research advisor, faculty area advisers, and the Graduate Student Services Office regarding their progress in the program.

Areas of Study

Chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, biophysics, theory/computation, and analytical chemistry/instrumentation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Substitutions may be made with consent of the faculty area adviser. With the consent of the faculty graduate adviser, courses of directed individual study, but not research courses, may replace any of the courses listed above.
Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 may be applied toward the total course requirement; up to 20 units may be applied toward the minimum graduate course requirement.

Teaching Experience

Not required. Students who serve as teaching assistants must enroll in and receive a grade of S for Chemistry and Biochemistry 375 for each quarter they teach in order to continue teaching.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Three faculty members will review the proposal and upload their grade via the online system by March 15.The grading is Pass/No Pass. All three readers must rate the assignment as a “Pass” to complete the Capstone Project. If one or more of the readers does not rate the assignment as a “Pass”, the student will be required to revise and resubmit their proposal. Reviewers may indicate in their comments whether the student will need 2 weeks or 2 months for revisions. Students are welcome to receive help and mentorship from faculty members as needed.

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.

For the thesis plan in Chemistry, students must complete the course work requirements of their specialization, in addition to a master’s thesis. This option is only applicable to students in the Departmental Scholars Program. Students in the Departmental Scholars Program cannot pursue the Capstone Plan.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to completion of courses: Six academic quarters (two calendar years). From admission to award of degree: seven quarters (two calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	7	7	11

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the appropriate faculty area adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research director to supervise the dissertation research. The Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate advisers and faculty area advisers, reviews each student’s progress quarterly. Notification in writing is given to students who are performing at a very high level and to those who are not making adequate progress. The faculty graduate adviser, faculty area advisers, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. Students must complete two 5-week laboratory rotations during Fall of year 1, with an optional third rotation during the first 5 weeks of Winter quarter of year 1. Following these rotations, students are required to join a research group by the end of winter quarter of the first year. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the Graduate Studies Committee, taking into account performance in courses, written examinations, teaching, and research. The committee may recommend that students (1) proceed to the oral examination, (2) be redirected to the M.S. program, or (3) be recommended for academic disqualification.

Fourth Year Meeting Requirement: During their 4th year, students must arrange a meeting with PhD committee to discuss dissertation research progress, a graduation timeline, and future plans. It is recommended complete their fourth-year meeting by the end of the Winter quarter of year 4. The meeting must be completed by the end of Spring quarter of year 4.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Chemical biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, biophysics, theory/computation, and analytical chemistry/instrumentation.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Students are required to maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA in their core courses. Students will have until the end of their second year, and before advancing to doctoral candidacy, to raise their core GPA to a 3.0 or higher. While students may have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, they may still be reviewed for dismissal by the Graduate Studies Committee if their core GPA is under a 3.0.

Analytical Chemistry/Instrumentation:(1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 110B,113A, 172, 136, or their equivalents, and satisfactory performance on the analytical chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C243A and 244A, or C215A and C223A, or 207 and C276A, or C279 and CM205A for a letter grade; (3) Chemistry and Biochemistry C285 or 257 for a letter grade; (4) 8 units from: Chemistry and Biochemistry C208, 236, C240, 266, 276B, Bioengineering C204, C231, M225, M248, or other engineering or medical school graduate level courses approved by the area advisor for a letter grade; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228, or 247, or 278, every quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249A, B, or C in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (9) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Biophysics:
Track A: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 110B and 113A or its equivalent, and satisfactory performance on the physical chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C215A, and C223 A, B for a letter grade; (3) 8 units from: Chemistry and Biochemistry M230B, 257, 269A, B, C, Physics 220, Physics 241A, B, C for a letter grade; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228 or 268, every quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249C in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Chemical Biology: (1) Students entering the program should have a broad undergraduate training in chemistry covering general, organic, and biochemistry course work. Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 30A, 30B, 30BL, 30C, 30CL, 110A, 153A, 153B, 153C and satisfactory performance on the chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 205A, 269A, C for letter grades; (3) choice of 244A or 243A for a letter grade; (4) three courses from Chemistry and Biochemistry 240, 243A, 243B, 244A, 244B, 262, C264, 266, C279, C281, CM227 or other courses with approval of the chemical biology area adviser, for a letter grade; (5) 206A-C (S/U), 203B or 250 (letter grade), and 400 (S/U); (6) one department seminar course each quarter (choice of 247 or 268 in Fall and Winter; 263 in Spring), for a letter grade each year; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249B in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (9) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in fall of year 2 for S/U.

Inorganic Chemistry: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry C172 or its equivalent, and satisfactory performance on the inorganic chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 207, C267, C276A, 273 or 279, and C280 for a letter grade; (3) one elective course from the following: Chemistry and Biochemistry CM205, C213B, C215B, 215D, C223A, C226A, 232, 236, 241A through 241Z, 242, C243A, C243B, 244A, 244B, C245, 271, C274, 277, or other graduate courses with the approval of the inorganic chemistry area adviser for a letter grade; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 278 each quarter (for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one) and 272 (S/U) each quarter; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249B in winter and spring of the first year; and (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in fall of year 2 for S/U.

Materials Chemistry: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 113A, and either 136 or 172, or their equivalents, and satisfactory performance on the physical, inorganic, or organic chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C280 and C285 for a letter grade; (3) two courses from the following: Chemistry and Biochemistry 207, C215A, C215B, C223A, C223B, 236, C243A, C243B, 244A, 244B, C273, C276A, C276B for a letter grade; (4) one course from the following: Chemistry and Biochemistry C240, C281, 267, 277, or any course from the preceding group not already taken for a letter grade (other graduate courses from outside of Chemistry and Biochemistry may also be used with approval of the materials chemistry area adviser); (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228, or 248, or 278, every quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249A in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (9) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Organic Chemistry: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 30A, 30B, 30BL, 30C, 30CL, 136, and satisfactory performance on the organic chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 236, C243A, 244A for a letter grade; (3) three courses from Chemistry and Biochemistry 205A, 207, C243B, 244B, C245, C281, and 241B through 241Z, or other courses with approval of the organic chemistry area adviser for a letter grade; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 248 (minimum three quarters; enroll for a letter grade during the quarter you present); (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 247 each quarter (for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one) (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249B in winter and spring of the first year; and (9) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Physical Chemistry: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 110B, 113A, and satisfactory performance on the physical chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C215A-C215B, C223A-C223B (or equivalent substitutes that are approved by the physical area advisor), and a fifth graduate-level course (200-level) that is approved by the physical area advisor (all taken for a letter grade); (3) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228, 247, 278, or 278 each quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 218 (one quarter) for S/U (substitutions may be made with consent of the physical chemistry area adviser); (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U; (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249C in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; and (8) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Theory/Computation: (1) Required background material: Chemistry and Biochemistry 110A, 110B and 113A or its equivalent, and satisfactory performance on the physical chemistry orientation examination; (2) Chemistry and Biochemistry C215A, B, C223A, B, and C226A, or C215A, C223A, and either C215B or C223B and 2 courses from the following: Chemistry and Biochemistry C245, C215C, C223C, C226A, CM260A, 269A, 269B, C276A for a letter grade; (3) Chemistry and Biochemistry 228, every quarter for a letter grade during year one and S/U after year one; (4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 203B and 209 for S/U; (5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 400 for S/U (only required for students working in a lab that uses and/or stores chemicals); (6) Chemistry and Biochemistry 249C in winter and spring of the first year for S/U; (7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 210 in the fall of year 2 for S/U.

Exit Presentation: Starting the 2018-2019 academic year, students are required to present their dissertation research before graduating.

PHYSICAL division, and BIOPHYSICS, ANALYTICAL/INSTRUMENTATION and THEORY/COMPUTATION specializations: All Chemistry graduate students in these areas are required to enroll in CHEM 218: Chemistry Student Exit Seminar sometime during the final three quarters before they submit their dissertation. CHEM 218 is designed as a weekly seminar in which the student will have opportunity to present an hour-long seminar on the findings described in their dissertation. If a student plans to submit their dissertation during the summer session, they must enroll in CHEM 218 sometime during the academic year before submission. The student will be responsible for inviting their doctoral committee. CHEM 218 will be graded on an S/U basis. The grading will be determined by the quality of the presentation.
INORGANIC and ORGANIC divisions, and CHEMICAL BIOLOGY and MATERIALS specializations: Inorganic students will continue to be required to present a talk, in their fourth year, in the regular Inorganic Research Seminar series. Organic graduate students will be required to participate in the annual organic symposium. Organic students will present their dissertation findings during the academic year in which they file their dissertation. Chemical biology students will present in CHEM 263: Seminars in Chemical Biology the Spring quarter before they plan to file their dissertation. CHEM 263 is designed as a weekly seminar in which the student will have opportunity to present an hour-long seminar on the findings described in their dissertation. The student will be responsible for inviting their doctoral committee. CHEM 263 will be graded on an S/U basis. The grading will be determined by the quality of the presentation. Materials students may present in the CHEM 218 seminar, in the Inorganic Research Seminar, in the organic graduate student symposium, or in the Seminars in Chemical Biology depending on their area of research. The choice of presentation will be made in conjunction with the student’s research adviser.

Teaching Experience

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

Departmental Written Examination/Written Research Proposal (also known as Chem 210 Proposal)

Proposal Submission and Grading: Students should solicit the mentorship of three Chemistry/Biochemistry faculty members who will read and grade their proposal. Students should submit a polished version of their proposal to their research adviser no later than January 15 of their second year. After implementing revisions from their research adviser, the final proposal should be submitted to the adviser and two additional faculty members by February 15. The grading is Pass/No Pass. If one or more of the readers does not rate the assignment as a “Pass,” the student will be required to revise and resubmit their proposal. Reviewers may indicate in the comment whether the student will need 2 weeks or 2 months for revisions. Students are welcome to receive help and mentorship from faculty members as needed. Three Pass grades are required to complete the written research proposal and make the student eligible to take the doctoral advancement to candidacy exam.

University Oral Qualifying Examination

The University Oral Qualifying Examination consists of an original research proposal in an area distinct from the student’s dissertation research and done without assistance from the research adviser. Students need to complete this exam before the start of the Fall quarter of the third year. The research proposal and a research summary must be given to the faculty committee members seven days before the scheduled oral examination.

Advancement to Candidacy

Doctoral Dissertation

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Not required. The decision as to whether a defense is required is made by the doctoral committee.

Time-to-Degree

The following are normal times to complete the requirements of the program:

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations: three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

From admission to advancement to candidacy: six quarters (two calendar years).

From admission to award of degree: 17 quarters (five to six calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	6	17	24

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 (<3.0 grade point average in core coursework). 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

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Chicana and Chicano Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Chicana and Chicano Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Chicana and Chicano Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Chicana and Chicano Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Chicana and Chicano Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Chicana and Chicano Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Chicana and Chicano Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Chicana and Chicano Studies

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Graduate Degrees

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree