Applicable only to students admitted during the 2018-2019 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.

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) graduate program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research adviser to supervise their thesis research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and other key faculty, 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, staff in the graduate office and the Director of Graduate Student Affairs are available for personal consultation.

Areas of Study

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Thirty-eight units of course work are required. At least 20 of the 38 units must be at the graduate level (courses numbered 200 and above), while the remaining units may be upper division undergraduate courses (courses numbered from 100 to 199). Required courses include Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units); Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 during the first quarter of the second year; Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 during the first three quarters; additional lecture courses (minimum of 8 units) chosen from a list of approved graduate courses available from the schedule of classes, and three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596) during the first year. Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 may be applied toward the total course requirement; up to eight units may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Up to four units of graduate-level seminar courses may be applied to the graduate course requirement. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser.

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

In exceptional cases, a comprehensive examination is administered in lieu of a thesis. This written examination is administered and graded by a faculty committee selected by the faculty graduate adviser and is graded pass or fail. For students who fail, recommendation for or against a second examination is made by the faculty graduate adviser.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis plan is the preferred method of attaining the M.S. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology. Preference in admissions is given to students who have already identified a research adviser under whose direction the thesis research is conducted. By the sixth week of the first term in residence, a master’s committee is appointed for each student consisting of the student’s faculty research adviser and two additional faculty members chosen by the faculty graduate adviser. This committee has the responsibility for approving or disapproving the master’s thesis. By the end of the first term, the student is required to submit a brief written research proposal for approval by the master’s committee. Students have five academic quarters after the submission of the proposal to complete the degree.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to award of degree: Three to seven academic 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 Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a thesis adviser to supervise their dissertation research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the BMSB Graduate Studies Committee. They assess student progress, evaluating student 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 termination.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Candidates typically complete, at a minimum, the course work indicated below. Required course work must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser. Some of the course requirements listed below can be met on the basis of courses taken prior to entry into the graduate program with consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser.

(1) Required background material: one year of organic chemistry, one course in physical chemistry or biophysical chemistry, one year of biochemistry, some course work in the life sciences, and some biochemistry laboratory experience.

(2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units) should be taken in the first year.

(3) Sixteen units of additional graduate-level courses. The courses are to be chosen with the following goals in mind: (a) in addition to the in-depth training in the student’s areas of specialization, the selected courses should provide broad training in the multiple areas of biochemistry, molecular and structural biology; and (b) in addition to a didactic lecture component, there should be a significant discussion component of primary research literature. Two seminar courses should be included in the selected courses to ensure that the student gains training in the critical evaluation of scientific literature.

(4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 during the first quarter of the second year.

(5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 during the first three quarters of the first year.

(6) Three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596) during the first year.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written examination requirement is coupled to the graduate student seminar (Chemistry and Biochemistry 258). Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 requires a presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation research. After completing this oral presentation, the student prepares a written dissertation research proposal. The proposal includes information about the background and significance of the area of research, the specific aims to be addressed and experiments proposed. The written qualifying component of the Ph.D. program is fulfilled after the student satisfactorily completes this proposal. A written proposal that is deemed unsatisfactory may be revised once.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination consists of an original research proposal in an area related to the student’s dissertation research. The specific topic of the exam is chosen in consultation with the student’s Ph.D. adviser. The exam is prepared by the student without assistance from the research adviser. The proposal is presented orally to the committee, and the committee questions the candidate 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.

All students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by June 30 of their second year. The committee’s decision to advance a student to candidacy, to allow the student to repeat all or part of the oral, or to disqualify the student, is based on the student’s overall record at UCLA as reflected in course work 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

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations (see above for definition/description of these for each major): three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

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

From admission to award of degree: 23 quarters (four to six calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	7	23	31

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 student may be recommended for termination by the Graduate Study Committee or the Biochemistry Faculty Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2019-2020 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.

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) graduate program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research adviser to supervise their thesis research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and other key faculty, 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, staff in the graduate office and the Director of Graduate Student Affairs are available for personal consultation.

Areas of Study

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

38 units of course work are required. At least 20 of the 38 units (5 courses) must be taken for a letter grade at the graduate level (courses numbered 200 and above). Required courses include Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG); Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year; Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters; additional lecture courses (minimum of 8 units, LG) chosen from a list of approved graduate courses available from the schedule of classes; and three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year. Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 (S/U) may be applied toward the total 38 unit course requirement; up to eight units may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Up to four units of graduate-level seminar courses may be applied to the 20-unit graduate course requirement. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser.

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

The Capstone Plan is a written examination that is administered in Chem 258, typically taken in the second year. The exam is  graded by three faculty members: the Chem 258 instructor, student’s mentor, and the BMSB graduate adviser. The written examination consists of a written research proposal and a presentation in the Chem 258 course. This research proposal should reflect the student’s current research. For students who fail, recommendation for (or against) a second examination is made by the BMSB Graduate Committee.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis plan is the preferred method of attaining the M.S. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology. Preference in admissions is given to students who have already identified a research adviser under whose direction the thesis research is conducted. By the sixth week of the first term in residence, a master’s committee is appointed for each student consisting of the student’s faculty research adviser and two additional faculty members chosen by the faculty graduate adviser. This committee has the responsibility for approving or disapproving the master’s thesis. By the end of the first term, the student is required to submit a brief written research proposal for approval by the master’s committee. Students have five academic quarters after the submission of the proposal to complete the thesis and the degree.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to award of degree: Three to six academic quarters (one to two academic years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6	6	11

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a dissertation adviser to supervise their dissertation research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the BMSB Graduate Studies Committee. They assess student progress, evaluating student 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

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required course work must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser. Some of the course requirements listed below can be substituted with courses taken prior to entry into the graduate program with consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser and BMSB graduate committee.

(1) Required background material: one year of organic chemistry, one course in physical chemistry or biophysical chemistry, one year of biochemistry, some course work in the life sciences, and some biochemistry laboratory experience.

(2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG) should be taken in the first year.

(3) 16 units of additional graduate-level courses (LG). The courses are to be chosen with the following goals in mind: (a) in addition to the in-depth training in the student’s areas of specialization, the selected courses should provide broad training in the multiple areas of biochemistry, molecular and structural biology; and (b) in addition to a didactic lecture component, there should be a significant discussion component of primary research literature. Two seminar courses should be included in the selected courses to ensure that the student gains training in the critical evaluation of scientific literature.

(4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year.

(5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters of the first year.

(6) Three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year.

(7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 495 (S/U) during the first year of graduate school.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written examination requirement is coupled to the graduate student seminar Chemistry and Biochemistry 258. Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 requires an oral presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation research. After completing this oral presentation, the student prepares a written dissertation research proposal. The proposal includes information about the background and significance of the area of research, the specific aims to be addressed, and the experiments proposed. The doctoral written qualifying examination is fulfilled after the student satisfactorily completes this proposal. A written proposal that is deemed unsatisfactory by the Chem 258 instructor may be revised once.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is based on a substantial revision of the dissertation research proposal from the written examination. The specific topic of the exam is chosen in consultation with the student’s Ph.D. adviser. The revised proposal is prepared by the student without assistance from the research adviser. In the oral qualifying examination, the student presents their final proposal 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.

All students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by June 30 of their second year. The committee’s decision to advance the 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 course work 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

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations (see above for definition/description of these for each major): three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

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

From admission to award of degree: 18 quarters (six calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	6 + 1 summer	18	31

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 student may be recommended for academic disqualification by the Graduate Study Committee or the Biochemistry Faculty Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2020-2021 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.

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) graduate program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research adviser to supervise their thesis research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and other key faculty, 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, staff in the graduate office and the Director of Graduate Student Affairs are available for personal consultation.

Areas of Study

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

38 units of course work are required. At least 20 of the 38 units (5 courses) must be taken for a letter grade at the graduate level (courses numbered 200 and above). Required courses include Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG); Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year; Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters; additional lecture courses (minimum of 8 units, LG) chosen from a list of approved graduate courses available from the schedule of classes; and three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year. Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 (S/U) may be applied toward the total 38 unit course requirement; up to eight units may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Up to four units of graduate-level seminar courses may be applied to the 20-unit graduate course requirement. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser.

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

The Capstone Plan is a written examination that is administered in Chem 258, typically taken in the second year. The exam is  graded by three faculty members: the Chem 258 instructor, student’s mentor, and the BMSB graduate adviser. The written examination consists of a written research proposal and a presentation in the Chem 258 course. This research proposal should reflect the student’s current research. For students who fail, recommendation for (or against) a second examination is made by the BMSB Graduate Committee.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis plan is the preferred method of attaining the M.S. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology. Preference in admissions is given to students who have already identified a research adviser under whose direction the thesis research is conducted. By the sixth week of the first term in residence, a master’s committee is appointed for each student consisting of the student’s faculty research adviser and two additional faculty members chosen by the faculty graduate adviser. This committee has the responsibility for approving or disapproving the master’s thesis. By the end of the first term, the student is required to submit a brief written research proposal for approval by the master’s committee. Students have five academic quarters after the submission of the proposal to complete the thesis and the degree.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to award of degree: Three to six academic quarters (one to two academic years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6	6	11

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a dissertation adviser to supervise their dissertation research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the BMSB Graduate Studies Committee. They assess student progress, evaluating student 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

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required course work must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser. Some of the course requirements listed below can be substituted with courses taken prior to entry into the graduate program with consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser and BMSB graduate committee.

(1) Required background material: one year of organic chemistry, one course in physical chemistry or biophysical chemistry, one year of biochemistry, some course work in the life sciences, and some biochemistry laboratory experience.

(2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG) should be taken in the first year.

(3) 16 units of additional graduate-level courses (LG). The courses are to be chosen with the following goals in mind: (a) in addition to the in-depth training in the student’s areas of specialization, the selected courses should provide broad training in the multiple areas of biochemistry, molecular and structural biology; and (b) in addition to a didactic lecture component, there should be a significant discussion component of primary research literature. Two seminar courses should be included in the selected courses to ensure that the student gains training in the critical evaluation of scientific literature.

(4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year.

(5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters of the first year.

(6) Three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year.

(7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 495 (S/U) during the first year of graduate school.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written examination requirement is coupled to the graduate student seminar Chemistry and Biochemistry 258. Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 requires an oral presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation research. After completing this oral presentation, the student prepares a written dissertation research proposal. The proposal includes information about the background and significance of the area of research, the specific aims to be addressed, and the experiments proposed. The doctoral written qualifying examination is fulfilled after the student satisfactorily completes this proposal. A written proposal that is deemed unsatisfactory by the Chem 258 instructor may be revised once.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is based on a substantial revision of the dissertation research proposal from the written examination. The specific topic of the exam is chosen in consultation with the student’s Ph.D. adviser. The revised proposal is prepared by the student without assistance from the research adviser. In the oral qualifying examination, the student presents their final proposal 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.

All students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by June 30 of their second year. The committee’s decision to advance the 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 course work 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

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations (see above for definition/description of these for each major): three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

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

From admission to award of degree: 18 quarters (six calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	6 + 1 summer	18	31

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may be recommended for academic disqualification by the Graduate Study Committee or the Biochemistry Faculty Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

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.

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) graduate program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research adviser to supervise their thesis research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and other key faculty, 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, staff in the graduate office and the Director of Graduate Student Affairs are available for personal consultation.

Areas of Study

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

38 units of course work are required. At least 20 of the 38 units (5 courses) must be taken for a letter grade at the graduate level (courses numbered 200 and above). Required courses include Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG); Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year; Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters; additional lecture courses (minimum of 8 units, LG) chosen from a list of approved graduate courses available from the schedule of classes; and three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year. Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 (S/U) may be applied toward the total 38 unit course requirement; up to eight units may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Up to four units of graduate-level seminar courses may be applied to the 20-unit graduate course requirement. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser.

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

The Capstone Plan is a written examination that is administered in Chem 258, typically taken in the second year. The exam is  graded by three faculty members: the Chem 258 instructor, student’s mentor, and the BMSB graduate adviser. The written examination consists of a written research proposal and a presentation in the Chem 258 course. This research proposal should reflect the student’s current research. For students who fail, recommendation for (or against) a second examination is made by the BMSB Graduate Committee.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis plan is the preferred method of attaining the M.S. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology. Preference in admissions is given to students who have already identified a research adviser under whose direction the thesis research is conducted. By the sixth week of the first term in residence, a master’s committee is appointed for each student consisting of the student’s faculty research adviser and two additional faculty members chosen by the faculty graduate adviser. This committee has the responsibility for approving or disapproving the master’s thesis. By the end of the first term, the student is required to submit a brief written research proposal for approval by the master’s committee. Students have five academic quarters after the submission of the proposal to complete the thesis and the degree.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to award of degree: Three to six academic quarters (one to two academic years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6	6	11

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a dissertation adviser to supervise their dissertation research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the BMSB Graduate Studies Committee. They assess student progress, evaluating student 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

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required course work must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser. Some of the course requirements listed below can be substituted with courses taken prior to entry into the graduate program with consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser and BMSB graduate committee.

(1) Required background material: one year of organic chemistry, one course in physical chemistry or biophysical chemistry, one year of biochemistry, some course work in the life sciences, and some biochemistry laboratory experience.

(2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG) should be taken in the first year.

(3) 16 units of additional graduate-level courses (LG). The courses are to be chosen with the following goals in mind: (a) in addition to the in-depth training in the student’s areas of specialization, the selected courses should provide broad training in the multiple areas of biochemistry, molecular and structural biology; and (b) in addition to a didactic lecture component, there should be a significant discussion component of primary research literature. Two seminar courses should be included in the selected courses to ensure that the student gains training in the critical evaluation of scientific literature.

(4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year.

(5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters of the first year.

(6) Three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year.

(7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 495 (S/U) during the first year of graduate school.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written examination requirement is coupled to the graduate student seminar Chemistry and Biochemistry 258. Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 requires an oral presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation research. After completing this oral presentation, the student prepares a written dissertation research proposal. The proposal includes information about the background and significance of the area of research, the specific aims to be addressed, and the experiments proposed. The doctoral written qualifying examination is fulfilled after the student satisfactorily completes this proposal. A written proposal that is deemed unsatisfactory by the Chem 258 instructor may be revised once.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is based on a substantial revision of the dissertation research proposal from the written examination. The specific topic of the exam is chosen in consultation with the student’s Ph.D. adviser. The revised proposal is prepared by the student without assistance from the research adviser. In the oral qualifying examination, the student presents their final proposal 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.

All students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by June 30 of their second year. The committee’s decision to advance the 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 course work 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

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations (see above for definition/description of these for each major): three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

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

From admission to award of degree: 18 quarters (six calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	6 + 1 summer	18	31

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may be recommended for academic disqualification by the Graduate Study Committee or the Biochemistry Faculty Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2022-2023 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.

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) graduate program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research adviser to supervise their thesis research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and other key faculty, 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, staff in the graduate office and the Director of Graduate Student Affairs are available for personal consultation.

Areas of Study

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

38 units of course work are required. At least 20 of the 38 units (5 courses) must be taken for a letter grade at the graduate level (courses numbered 200 and above). Required courses include Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG); Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year; Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters; additional lecture courses (minimum of 8 units, LG) chosen from a list of approved graduate courses available from the schedule of classes; and three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year. Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 (S/U) may be applied toward the total 38 unit course requirement; up to eight units may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Up to four units of graduate-level seminar courses may be applied to the 20-unit graduate course requirement. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser.

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

The Capstone Plan is a written examination that is administered in Chem 258, typically taken in the second year. The exam is  graded by three faculty members: the Chem 258 instructor, student’s mentor, and the BMSB graduate adviser. The written examination consists of a written research proposal and a presentation in the Chem 258 course. This research proposal should reflect the student’s current research. For students who fail, recommendation for (or against) a second examination is made by the BMSB Graduate Committee.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis plan is the preferred method of attaining the M.S. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology. Preference in admissions is given to students who have already identified a research adviser under whose direction the thesis research is conducted. By the sixth week of the first term in residence, a master’s committee is appointed for each student consisting of the student’s faculty research adviser and two additional faculty members chosen by the faculty graduate adviser. This committee has the responsibility for approving or disapproving the master’s thesis. By the end of the first term, the student is required to submit a brief written research proposal for approval by the master’s committee. Students have five academic quarters after the submission of the proposal to complete the thesis and the degree.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to award of degree: Three to six academic quarters (one to two academic years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6	6	11

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a dissertation adviser to supervise their dissertation research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the BMSB Graduate Studies Committee. They assess student progress, evaluating student 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

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required course work must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser. Some of the course requirements listed below can be substituted with courses taken prior to entry into the graduate program with consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser and BMSB graduate committee.

(1) Required background material: one year of organic chemistry, one course in physical chemistry or biophysical chemistry, one year of biochemistry, some course work in the life sciences, and some biochemistry laboratory experience.

(2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG) should be taken in the first year.

(3) 16 units of additional graduate-level courses (LG). The courses are to be chosen with the following goals in mind: (a) in addition to the in-depth training in the student’s areas of specialization, the selected courses should provide broad training in the multiple areas of biochemistry, molecular and structural biology; and (b) in addition to a didactic lecture component, there should be a significant discussion component of primary research literature. Two seminar courses should be included in the selected courses to ensure that the student gains training in the critical evaluation of scientific literature.

(4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year.

(5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters of the first year.

(6) Three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year.

(7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 495 (S/U) during the first year of graduate school.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written examination requirement is coupled to the graduate student seminar Chemistry and Biochemistry 258. Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 requires an oral presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation research. After completing this oral presentation, the student prepares a written dissertation research proposal. The proposal includes information about the background and significance of the area of research, the specific aims to be addressed, and the experiments proposed. The doctoral written qualifying examination is fulfilled after the student satisfactorily completes this proposal. A written proposal that is deemed unsatisfactory by the Chem 258 instructor may be revised once.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is based on a substantial revision of the dissertation research proposal from the written examination. The specific topic of the exam is chosen in consultation with the student’s Ph.D. adviser. The revised proposal is prepared by the student without assistance from the research adviser. In the oral qualifying examination, the student presents their final proposal 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.

All students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by June 30 of their second year. The committee’s decision to advance the 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 course work 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

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations (see above for definition/description of these for each major): three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

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

From admission to award of degree: 18 quarters (six calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	6 + 1 summer	18	31

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may be recommended for academic disqualification by the Graduate Study Committee or the Biochemistry Faculty Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2023-2024 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.

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) graduate program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research adviser to supervise their thesis research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and other key faculty, 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, staff in the graduate office and the Director of Graduate Student Affairs are available for personal consultation.

Areas of Study

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

38 units of course work are required. At least 20 of the 38 units (5 courses) must be taken for a letter grade at the graduate level (courses numbered 200 and above). Required courses include Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG); Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year; Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters; additional lecture courses (minimum of 8 units, LG) chosen from a list of approved graduate courses available from the schedule of classes; and three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year. Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 (S/U) may be applied toward the total 38 unit course requirement; up to eight units may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Up to four units of graduate-level seminar courses may be applied to the 20-unit graduate course requirement. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser.

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

The Capstone Plan is a written examination that is administered in Chem 258, typically taken in the second year. The exam is  graded by three faculty members: the Chem 258 instructor, student’s mentor, and the BMSB graduate adviser. The written examination consists of a written research proposal and a presentation in the Chem 258 course. This research proposal should reflect the student’s current research. For students who fail, recommendation for (or against) a second examination is made by the BMSB Graduate Committee.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis plan is the preferred method of attaining the M.S. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology. Preference in admissions is given to students who have already identified a research adviser under whose direction the thesis research is conducted. By the sixth week of the first term in residence, a master’s committee is appointed for each student consisting of the student’s faculty research adviser and two additional faculty members chosen by the faculty graduate adviser. This committee has the responsibility for approving or disapproving the master’s thesis. By the end of the first term, the student is required to submit a brief written research proposal for approval by the master’s committee. Students have five academic quarters after the submission of the proposal to complete the thesis and the degree.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to award of degree: Three to six academic quarters (one to two academic years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6	6	11

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a dissertation adviser to supervise their dissertation research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the BMSB Graduate Studies Committee. They assess student progress, evaluating student 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

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required course work must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser. Some of the course requirements listed below can be substituted with courses taken prior to entry into the graduate program with consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser and BMSB graduate committee.

(1) Required background material: one year of organic chemistry, one course in physical chemistry or biophysical chemistry, one year of biochemistry, some course work in the life sciences, and some biochemistry laboratory experience.

(2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG) should be taken in the first year.

(3) 16 units of additional graduate-level courses (LG). The courses are to be chosen with the following goals in mind: (a) in addition to the in-depth training in the student’s areas of specialization, the selected courses should provide broad training in the multiple areas of biochemistry, molecular and structural biology; and (b) in addition to a didactic lecture component, there should be a significant discussion component of primary research literature. Two seminar courses should be included in the selected courses to ensure that the student gains training in the critical evaluation of scientific literature.

(4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year.

(5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters of the first year.

(6) Three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year.

(7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 495 (S/U) during the first year of graduate school.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written examination requirement is coupled to the graduate student seminar Chemistry and Biochemistry 258. Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 requires an oral presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation research. After completing this oral presentation, the student prepares a written dissertation research proposal. The proposal includes information about the background and significance of the area of research, the specific aims to be addressed, and the experiments proposed. The doctoral written qualifying examination is fulfilled after the student satisfactorily completes this proposal. A written proposal that is deemed unsatisfactory by the Chem 258 instructor may be revised once.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is based on a substantial revision of the dissertation research proposal from the written examination. The specific topic of the exam is chosen in consultation with the student’s Ph.D. adviser. The revised proposal is prepared by the student without assistance from the research adviser. In the oral qualifying examination, the student presents their final proposal 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.

All students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by June 30 of their second year. The committee’s decision to advance the 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 course work 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

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations (see above for definition/description of these for each major): three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

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

From admission to award of degree: 18 quarters (six calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	6 + 1 summer	18	31

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may be recommended for academic disqualification by the Graduate Study Committee or the Biochemistry Faculty Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

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 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.

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) graduate program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research adviser to supervise their thesis research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and other key faculty, 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, staff in the graduate office and the Director of Graduate Student Affairs are available for personal consultation.

Areas of Study

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

38 units of course work are required. At least 20 of the 38 units (5 courses) must be taken for a letter grade at the graduate level (courses numbered 200 and above). Required courses include Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG); Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year; Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters; additional lecture courses (minimum of 8 units, LG) chosen from a list of approved graduate courses available from the schedule of classes; and three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year. Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 (S/U) may be applied toward the total 38 unit course requirement; up to eight units may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Up to four units of graduate-level seminar courses may be applied to the 20-unit graduate course requirement. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser.

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

The Capstone Plan is a written examination that is administered in Chem 258, typically taken in the second year. The exam is  graded by three faculty members: the Chem 258 instructor, student’s mentor, and the BMSB graduate adviser. The written examination consists of a written research proposal and a presentation in the Chem 258 course. This research proposal should reflect the student’s current research. For students who fail, recommendation for (or against) a second examination is made by the BMSB Graduate Committee.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis plan is the preferred method of attaining the M.S. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology. Preference in admissions is given to students who have already identified a research adviser under whose direction the thesis research is conducted. By the sixth week of the first term in residence, a master’s committee is appointed for each student consisting of the student’s faculty research adviser and two additional faculty members chosen by the faculty graduate adviser. This committee has the responsibility for approving or disapproving the master’s thesis. By the end of the first term, the student is required to submit a brief written research proposal for approval by the master’s committee. Students have five academic quarters after the submission of the proposal to complete the thesis and the degree.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to award of degree: Three to six academic quarters (one to two academic years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6	6	11

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a dissertation adviser to supervise their dissertation research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the BMSB Graduate Studies Committee. They assess student progress, evaluating student 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

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required course work must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser. Some of the course requirements listed below can be substituted with courses taken prior to entry into the graduate program with consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser and BMSB graduate committee.

(1) Required background material: one year of organic chemistry, one course in physical chemistry or biophysical chemistry, one year of biochemistry, some course work in the life sciences, and some biochemistry laboratory experience.

(2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG) should be taken in the first year.

(3) 16 units of additional graduate-level courses (LG). The courses are to be chosen with the following goals in mind: (a) in addition to the in-depth training in the student’s areas of specialization, the selected courses should provide broad training in the multiple areas of biochemistry, molecular and structural biology; and (b) in addition to a didactic lecture component, there should be a significant discussion component of primary research literature. Two seminar courses should be included in the selected courses to ensure that the student gains training in the critical evaluation of scientific literature.

(4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year.

(5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters of the first year.

(6) Three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year.

(7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 495 (S/U) during the first year of graduate school.

Teaching Experience

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

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written examination requirement is coupled to the graduate student seminar Chemistry and Biochemistry 258. Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 requires an oral presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation research. After completing this oral presentation, the student prepares a written dissertation research proposal. The proposal includes information about the background and significance of the area of research, the specific aims to be addressed, and the experiments proposed. The doctoral written qualifying examination is fulfilled after the student satisfactorily completes this proposal. A written proposal that is deemed unsatisfactory by the Chem 258 instructor may be revised once.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is based on a substantial revision of the dissertation research proposal from the written examination. The specific topic of the exam is chosen in consultation with the student’s Ph.D. adviser. The revised proposal is prepared by the student without assistance from the research adviser. In the oral qualifying examination, the student presents their final proposal 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.

All students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by June 30 of their second year. The committee’s decision to advance the 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 course work 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

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations (see above for definition/description of these for each major): three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

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

From admission to award of degree: 18 quarters (six calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	6 + 1 summer	18	31

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may be recommended for academic disqualification by the Graduate Study Committee or the Biochemistry Faculty Committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the departmental chair.

Applicable only to students admitted during the 2025-2026 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.

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) graduate program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a research adviser to supervise their thesis research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and other key faculty, 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, staff in the graduate office and the Director of Graduate Student Affairs are available for personal consultation.

Areas of Study

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

38 units of course work are required. At least 20 of the 38 units (5 courses) must be taken for a letter grade at the graduate level (courses numbered 200 and above). Required courses include Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG); Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year; Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters; additional lecture courses (minimum of 8 units, LG) chosen from a list of approved graduate courses available from the schedule of classes; and three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year. Up to 24 units of Chemistry and Biochemistry 596 or 598 (S/U) may be applied toward the total 38 unit course requirement; up to eight units may be applied toward the graduate course requirement. Up to four units of graduate-level seminar courses may be applied to the 20-unit graduate course requirement. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

The Capstone Plan is a written examination that is administered in Chem 258, typically taken in the second year. The exam is  graded by three faculty members: the Chem 258 instructor, student’s mentor, and the BMSB graduate adviser. The written examination consists of a written research proposal and a presentation in the Chem 258 course. This research proposal should reflect the student’s current research. For students who fail, recommendation for (or against) a second examination is made by the BMSB Graduate Committee.

Thesis Plan

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

The thesis plan is the preferred method of attaining the M.S. degree in Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology. Preference in admissions is given to students who have already identified a research adviser under whose direction the thesis research is conducted. By the sixth week of the first term in residence, a master’s committee is appointed for each student consisting of the student’s faculty research adviser and two additional faculty members chosen by the faculty graduate adviser. This committee has the responsibility for approving or disapproving the master’s thesis. By the end of the first term, the student is required to submit a brief written research proposal for approval by the master’s committee. Students have five academic quarters after the submission of the proposal to complete the thesis and the degree.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to award of degree: Three to six academic quarters (one to two academic years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
M.S.	6	6	11

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Initial academic advising is handled by the Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology (BMSB) program faculty adviser. Students continue to consult with this adviser each quarter until completion of their course requirements. During this period, students also choose a dissertation adviser to supervise their dissertation research. The BMSB Graduate Studies Committee, consisting of the faculty and staff graduate 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 BMSB graduate program faculty adviser, and Director of Graduate Student Services are available for personal consultation.

Minimum Progress. At the end of the first and second year, the overall progress of each student is evaluated by the BMSB Graduate Studies Committee. They assess student progress, evaluating student 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

Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

Required course work must be completed prior to advancement to candidacy. Substitutions may be made with the consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser. Some of the course requirements listed below can be substituted with courses taken prior to entry into the graduate program with consent of the BMSB graduate program faculty adviser and BMSB graduate committee.

(1) Required background material: one year of organic chemistry, one course in physical chemistry or biophysical chemistry, one year of biochemistry, some course work in the life sciences, and some biochemistry laboratory experience.

(2) Chemistry and Biochemistry 269A-269B-269C-269D-269E (10 units, LG) should be taken in the first year.

(3) 16 units of additional graduate-level courses (LG). The courses are to be chosen with the following goals in mind: (a) in addition to the in-depth training in the student’s areas of specialization, the selected courses should provide broad training in the multiple areas of biochemistry, molecular and structural biology; and (b) in addition to a didactic lecture component, there should be a significant discussion component of primary research literature. Two seminar courses should be included in the selected courses to ensure that the student gains training in the critical evaluation of scientific literature.

(4) Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 (LG) during the first quarter of the second year.

(5) Chemistry and Biochemistry 268 (LG) during the first three quarters of the first year.

(6) Three laboratory rotations (Chemistry and Biochemistry 596, S/U) during the first year.

(7) Chemistry and Biochemistry 495 (S/U) during the first year of graduate school.

Teaching Experience

One year of teaching experience (three quarters) is generally required.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

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

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

The written examination requirement is coupled to the graduate student seminar Chemistry and Biochemistry 258. Chemistry and Biochemistry 258 requires an oral presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation research. After completing this oral presentation, the student prepares a written dissertation research proposal. The proposal includes information about the background and significance of the area of research, the specific aims to be addressed, and the experiments proposed. The doctoral written qualifying examination is fulfilled after the student satisfactorily completes this proposal. A written proposal that is deemed unsatisfactory by the Chem 258 instructor may be revised once.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is based on a substantial revision of the dissertation research proposal from the written examination. The specific topic of the exam is chosen in consultation with the student’s Ph.D. adviser. The revised proposal is prepared by the student without assistance from the research adviser. In the oral qualifying examination, the student presents their final proposal 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.

All students are required to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination by June 30 of their second year. The committee’s decision to advance the 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 course work 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

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

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

From admission to completion of written qualifying examinations (see above for definition/description of these for each major): three to five academic quarters (one to one and two-thirds calendar years).

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

From admission to award of degree: 18 quarters (six calendar years).

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
PhD	6 + 1 summer	18	31

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

A student may be recommended for academic disqualification by the Graduate Study Committee or the Biochemistry Faculty Committee.

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

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a faculty graduate adviser. Students who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing are assigned to the faculty graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty research adviser upon admission to the School. The department will consider changing an adviser upon written request from the student in consultation with the faculty graduate adviser.

During the second quarter in residence, students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty research adviser to plan the proposed program of study towards the M.S. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with their research adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

During the first quarter in residence, students who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing should arrange for an appointment with the research adviser for this specialization, and obtain an approved plan of study for the semiconductor specialization. The program of study may be changed only with the approval of the adviser.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students were admitted provisionally or are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Students who receive teaching or research assistantships must receive approval from their research adviser or the departmental graduate adviser to add or drop courses.

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

Areas of Study

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. The specialization requires that the student have advanced knowledge of processing semiconductor devices on the nanoscale. This knowledge is assessed in a comprehensive examination.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The requirements for the M.S. degree are nine courses (36 units) and a minimum 3.0 grade-point average in the graduate courses. Chemical Engineering 200, 210, and 220 are required. Two other courses must be taken from regular offerings of the department, and two additional courses may be Chemical Engineering 598, involving work on the thesis. The remaining two of the nine courses may be taken from those offered by the department, or from any other field in life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. At least 24 units must be in letter-graded 200-level courses.

All master’s degree candidates are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 299 during each quarter of residence.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization are required to complete 10 courses (44 units) with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average overall and in graduate courses. A minimum of five (20 units) 200-series courses are required including 270 and 270R. Students are also required to take Chemical Engineering 104C and 104CL; Electrical Engineering 123A; and Materials Science and Engineering 121. In addition, students must select two courses from the department’s list of electives as well as two courses from elective offerings in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering; a minimum of two of these elective courses must be in the 200 series. Approved elective courses include: Chemical Engineering C219, C214, C218, 223, C240; Electrical Engineering 124, 221A, 221B, 223, 224; Materials Science and Engineering 210 and 223.

Students in the specialization of semiconductor manufacturing who have been undergraduates or graduates at UCLA and who have already taken some of the required courses may substitute electives for these courses. However, no courses taken while not enrolled in the semiconductor manufacturing specialization may be counted toward the 10-course requirement for the degree. A program of study encompassing the course requirements must be submitted to the research adviser for approval before the end of the student’s first quarter in residence.

A program of study which encompasses these requirements must be submitted to the departmental Student Affairs Office for approval before the end of the student’s second quarter of residence.

Undergraduate Courses. No lower division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees. In addition, the following upper division courses are not applicable toward graduate degrees: Chemical Engineering 102A, 199; Civil Engineering 106A, 108, 199; Computer Science M152A, M152B, 199; Electrical Engineering 100, 101, 102, 103, 110L, M116L,199; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 120, 130, 131, 131L, 132, 150, 160, 161L, 199; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 102, 103, 105A, 105D, 199.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students are required to take Chemical Engineering 270R, a directed research course, in the field, working at an industrial semiconductor fabrication facility. The proposed research must be approved by the graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing and the industrial sponsor of the research.

Capstone Plan

This plan is only for students in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students take Chemical Engineering 597A to prepare for a comprehensive written examination. The examination tests for knowledge of the engineering principles of semiconductor manufacturing. In case of failure, the examination may be repeated once within one quarter with the consent of the graduate adviser for the specialization. Second failure of the examination leads to a recommendation to the Graduate Division for academic disqualification.

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.

This plan is for all M.S. degree students who are not in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. These students must complete a thesis. Students should consult the research adviser for details on the thesis plan. Thesis plan students nominate a three member thesis committee that must meet University regulations and be approved by the Graduate Division, as outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Time-to-Degree

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

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization must complete the degree in two years (six quarters). The program may be completed in one calendar year (three quarters and a summer session) by enrolling in three courses per quarter and for one summer session. Students who are enrolled less than full-time must complete the degree in three years (nine quarters).

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a faculty graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty research adviser upon admission to the School. The department will consider changing an adviser upon written request from the student in consultation with the faculty graduate adviser.

During the second quarter in residence, students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty research adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with their research adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental faculty graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students were admitted provisionally, or are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Students who receive teaching or research assistantships must receive approval from their research adviser or the departmental faculty graduate adviser to add or drop courses.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the Student Affairs Officer and/or the Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements, and implementation of the policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy, on the procedures for taking Ph.D. examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

All Ph.D. students are required to take six courses (24 units). All of these units must be letter-graded 200-level courses. Students can choose three out of five core Chemical Engineering courses which are 200, 210, 220, 245 and a graduate Engineering Mathematics course. Two additional courses must be taken from those offered by the department. The final course can be selected from offerings in life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Students are encouraged to take more courses in their field of specialization. These minor field courses should be selected in consultation with their research adviser. A minimum 3.33 grade-point average in graduate courses is required. A program of study to fulfill the course requirements must be submitted for approval to the departmental Student Affairs Office no later than one quarter after successful completion of the preliminary oral examination.

All Ph.D. students are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 299 during each quarter of residence.

For information on completing the Engineering degree, students should see Engineering Schoolwide Programs in Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees.

Teaching Experience

At least three quarters of teaching experience are highly recommended. During the quarters when they serve as teaching assistants, students are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 375. Chemical Engineering 495A and 495B are highly recommended for all new teaching assistants.

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.

Students are required to pass the Preliminary Written Examination (PWE) to demonstrate their proficiency in at least Three of the Five Core Areas selected as the following:

Transport Phenomena – (Mandatory for all students)

Students must choose Thermodynamics or Reaction Engineering or Both.

If only one of the above is chosen, then students must choose either Biomolecular Engineering or Engineering Mathematics.

The PWE will be offered at the end of the Winter quarter of each academic year and graded by a faculty committee. Students must take the PWE in their first year. If a student fails the PWE in the first attempt, they can retake it for the second time during the following Spring quarter. Students that fail both PWE attempts will not be allowed to continue in the program. Specifically, if a student has failed two or three subjects after the second PWE attempt, they may petition to transition to the M.S. Thesis program and may graduate with an M.S. degree. If a student has failed only one subject after the second PWE attempt, then the student may petition to transition to the MS Thesis Program. The adviser of this student, however, may petition to allow this student to retake the failed subject in the first PWE of the next year’s class, and if the student passes the failed subject, then the student may petition to re-enter the Ph.D. program. If the student fails this subject for the third attempt, then the student may graduate with an M.S. degree.

After completion of the required courses for the degree and passing the PWE, each student must pass the written and oral qualifying examinations. These examinations focus on the student’s dissertation research and are conducted by a doctoral committee consisting of at least four faculty members nominated by the department in accordance with university regulations. Three members, including the chair, are inside members and must hold faculty appointments in the department. The outside member must be a UCLA faculty member in another department. Students are required to have a minimum 3.33 grade-point average in graduate course work to be eligible to take these examinations.

The written qualifying examination consists of a dissertation research proposal that provides a clear description of the problem(s) considered, a literature review of the current state of the art, and a detailed explanation of the research plan that will be followed to solve the problem(s). The student normally submits the dissertation research proposal to the doctoral committee before the end of the winter quarter of the student’s second year of academic residence.

The University Oral Qualifying examination consists of an oral defense of the dissertation research proposal, and is also administered by the doctoral committee. The written research proposal must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks prior to the oral examination to allow the members sufficient time to evaluate the work.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to graduate status (including work for the master’s degree) to award of the Ph.D. degree: 20 quarters (normative time to degree). Doctoral students are expected to advance to candidacy by the spring quarter of their second year in residence. All Ph.D. candidates are required to present a departmental oral seminar to the department; this seminar is normally scheduled in their fourth year of academic residence. With input from their research adviser, students may petition to postpone this seminar. After the departmental seminar, students should complete their dissertation research within the next one to two years.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	5	20	26

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

Master’s

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

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

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

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

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

Doctoral

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

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.3 in graduate courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the preliminary written examination.

(3) Failure of the written and oral qualifying examination.

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

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

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

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

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science

Graduate Degrees

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

Admissions Requirements

Master’s Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a faculty graduate adviser. Students who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing are assigned to the faculty graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty research adviser upon admission to the School. The department will consider changing an adviser upon written request from the student in consultation with the faculty graduate adviser.

During the second quarter in residence, students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty research adviser to plan the proposed program of study towards the M.S. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with their research adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

During the first quarter in residence, students who specialize in semiconductor manufacturing should arrange for an appointment with the research adviser for this specialization, and obtain an approved plan of study for the semiconductor specialization. The program of study may be changed only with the approval of the adviser.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students were admitted provisionally or are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.

Students who receive teaching or research assistantships must receive approval from their research adviser or the departmental graduate adviser to add or drop courses.

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

Areas of Study

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. The specialization requires that the student have advanced knowledge of processing semiconductor devices on the nanoscale. This knowledge is assessed in a comprehensive examination.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

The requirements for the M.S. degree are nine courses (36 units) and a minimum 3.0 grade-point average in the graduate courses. Chemical Engineering 200, 210, and 220 are required. Two other courses must be taken from regular offerings of the department, and two additional courses may be Chemical Engineering 598, involving work on the thesis. The remaining two of the nine courses may be taken from those offered by the department, or from any other field in life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. At least 24 units must be in letter-graded 200-level courses.

All master’s degree candidates are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 299 during each quarter of residence.

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization are required to complete 10 courses (44 units) with a minimum 3.0 grade-point average overall and in graduate courses. A minimum of five (20 units) 200-series courses are required including 270 and 270R. Students are also required to take Chemical Engineering 104C and 104CL; Electrical Engineering 123A; and Materials Science and Engineering 121. In addition, students must select two courses from the department’s list of electives as well as two courses from elective offerings in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering; a minimum of two of these elective courses must be in the 200 series. Approved elective courses include: Chemical Engineering C219, C214, C218, 223, C240; Electrical Engineering 124, 221A, 221B, 223, 224; Materials Science and Engineering 210 and 223.

Students in the specialization of semiconductor manufacturing who have been undergraduates or graduates at UCLA and who have already taken some of the required courses may substitute electives for these courses. However, no courses taken while not enrolled in the semiconductor manufacturing specialization may be counted toward the 10-course requirement for the degree. A program of study encompassing the course requirements must be submitted to the research adviser for approval before the end of the student’s first quarter in residence.

A program of study which encompasses these requirements must be submitted to the departmental Student Affairs Office for approval before the end of the student’s second quarter of residence.

Undergraduate Courses. No lower division courses may be applied toward graduate degrees. In addition, the following upper division courses are not applicable toward graduate degrees: Chemical Engineering 102A, 199; Civil Engineering 106A, 108, 199; Computer Science M152A, M152B, 199; Electrical Engineering 100, 101, 102, 103, 110L, M116L,199; Materials Science and Engineering 110, 120, 130, 131, 131L, 132, 150, 160, 161L, 199; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering 102, 103, 105A, 105D, 199.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students are required to take Chemical Engineering 270R, a directed research course, in the field, working at an industrial semiconductor fabrication facility. The proposed research must be approved by the graduate adviser for semiconductor manufacturing and the industrial sponsor of the research.

Capstone Plan

This plan is only for students in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students take Chemical Engineering 597A to prepare for a comprehensive written examination. The examination tests for knowledge of the engineering principles of semiconductor manufacturing. In case of failure, the examination may be repeated once within one quarter with the consent of the graduate adviser for the specialization. Second failure of the examination leads to a recommendation to the Graduate Division for academic disqualification.

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.

This plan is for all M.S. degree students who are not in the specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. These students must complete a thesis. Students should consult the research adviser for details on the thesis plan. Thesis plan students nominate a three member thesis committee that must meet University regulations and be approved by the Graduate Division, as outlined in Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

Time-to-Degree

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

Specialization in semiconductor manufacturing. Students in this specialization must complete the degree in two years (six quarters). The program may be completed in one calendar year (three quarters and a summer session) by enrolling in three courses per quarter and for one summer session. Students who are enrolled less than full-time must complete the degree in three years (nine quarters).

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

Doctoral Degree

Advising

Each department in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science has a faculty graduate adviser. A current list of graduate advisers can be obtained from the Office of the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, 6426 Boelter Hall, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Students are assigned a faculty research adviser upon admission to the School. The department will consider changing an adviser upon written request from the student in consultation with the faculty graduate adviser.

During the second quarter in residence, students should arrange an appointment as early as possible with their faculty research adviser to plan the proposed program of study toward the Ph.D. degree. Continuing students are required to confer with their research adviser during the time of enrollment each quarter so that progress can be assessed and the study list approved.

Based on the quarterly transcripts, student records are reviewed at the end of each quarter by the departmental faculty graduate adviser and Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Special attention is given if students were admitted provisionally, or are on probation. If their progress is unsatisfactory, students are informed of this in writing by the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs.

Students who receive teaching or research assistantships must receive approval from their research adviser or the departmental faculty graduate adviser to add or drop courses.

Students are strongly urged to consult with the Student Affairs Officer and/or the Office of Academic and Student Affairs regarding procedures, requirements, and implementation of the policies. In particular, advice should be sought on advancement to candidacy, on the procedures for taking Ph.D. examinations, and on the use of the Filing Fee.

Major Fields or Subdisciplines

None.

Foreign Language Requirement

None.

Course Requirements

All Ph.D. students are required to take six courses (24 units). All of these units must be letter-graded 200-level courses. Students can choose three out of five core Chemical Engineering courses which are 200, 210, 220, 245 and a graduate Engineering Mathematics course. Two additional courses must be taken from those offered by the department. The final course can be selected from offerings in life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Students are encouraged to take more courses in their field of specialization. These minor field courses should be selected in consultation with their research adviser. A minimum 3.33 grade-point average in graduate courses is required. A program of study to fulfill the course requirements must be submitted for approval to the departmental Student Affairs Office no later than one quarter after successful completion of the preliminary oral examination.

All Ph.D. students are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 299 during each quarter of residence.

For information on completing the Engineering degree, students should see Engineering Schoolwide Programs in Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees.

Teaching Experience

At least three quarters of teaching experience are highly recommended. During the quarters when they serve as teaching assistants, students are required to enroll in Chemical Engineering 375. Chemical Engineering 495A and 495B are highly recommended for all new teaching assistants.

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.

Students are required to pass the Preliminary Written Examination (PWE) to demonstrate their proficiency in at least Three of the Five Core Areas selected as the following:

Transport Phenomena – (Mandatory for all students)

Students must choose Thermodynamics or Reaction Engineering or Both.

If only one of the above is chosen, then students must choose either Biomolecular Engineering or Engineering Mathematics.

The PWE will be offered at the end of the Winter quarter of each academic year and graded by a faculty committee. Students must take the PWE in their first year. If a student fails the PWE in the first attempt, they can retake it for the second time during the following Spring quarter. Students that fail both PWE attempts will not be allowed to continue in the program. Specifically, if a student has failed two or three subjects after the second PWE attempt, they may petition to transition to the M.S. Thesis program and may graduate with an M.S. degree. If a student has failed only one subject after the second PWE attempt, then the student may petition to transition to the MS Thesis Program. The adviser of this student, however, may petition to allow this student to retake the failed subject in the first PWE of the next year’s class, and if the student passes the failed subject, then the student may petition to re-enter the Ph.D. program. If the student fails this subject for the third attempt, then the student may graduate with an M.S. degree.

After completion of the required courses for the degree and passing the PWE, each student must pass the written and oral qualifying examinations. These examinations focus on the student’s dissertation research and are conducted by a doctoral committee consisting of at least four faculty members nominated by the department in accordance with university regulations. Three members, including the chair, are inside members and must hold faculty appointments in the department. The outside member must be a UCLA faculty member in another department. Students are required to have a minimum 3.33 grade-point average in graduate course work to be eligible to take these examinations.

The written qualifying examination consists of a dissertation research proposal that provides a clear description of the problem(s) considered, a literature review of the current state of the art, and a detailed explanation of the research plan that will be followed to solve the problem(s). The student normally submits the dissertation research proposal to the doctoral committee before the end of the winter quarter of the student’s second year of academic residence.

The University Oral Qualifying examination consists of an oral defense of the dissertation research proposal, and is also administered by the doctoral committee. The written research proposal must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks prior to the oral examination to allow the members sufficient time to evaluate the work.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student’s ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

From admission to graduate status (including work for the master’s degree) to award of the Ph.D. degree: 20 quarters (normative time to degree). Doctoral students are expected to advance to candidacy by the spring quarter of their second year in residence. All Ph.D. candidates are required to present a departmental oral seminar to the department; this seminar is normally scheduled in their fourth year of academic residence. With input from their research adviser, students may petition to postpone this seminar. After the departmental seminar, students should complete their dissertation research within the next one to two years.

DEGREE	NORMATIVE TIME TO ATC (Quarters)	NORMATIVE TTD	MAXIMUM TTD
Ph.D.	5	20	26

Academic Disqualification and Appeal of Disqualification

University Policy

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

Special Departmental or Program Policy

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

Master’s

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

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

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

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

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

Doctoral

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

(1) Failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.3 in graduate courses and in any two consecutive quarters.

(2) Failure of the preliminary written examination.

(3) Failure of the written and oral qualifying examination.

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

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

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