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The doctorate, and specifically the Doctor of Philosophy degree, is awarded in recognition of a candidate's in-depth knowledge of a broad field of learning, and for demonstrated ability to make original and distinguished contributions to the field. More generally, the degree is an affidavit of critical aptitude in scholarship, imaginative enterprise in research, and proficiency and style in communication.
The requirements described here for master's and doctoral degrees are minimum standards set by the University. Individual schools or departments may set higher standards and may require additional courses and/or examinations for their master's degree. Each department also sets additional requirements for doctoral degrees according to the demands of the field of study. Students are advised to consult the appropriate school announcement or their departmental graduate adviser for details.
There are two general regulations governing transfer of credit. No courses completed before the award of the bachelor's degree may be applied toward a graduate degree unless students are UCLA Departmental Scholars (see Academic Excellence in the Undergraduate Study section on this catalog). Also, courses taken for any other degree may not be applied toward a master's degree at UCLA unless students are enrolled in a Graduate Council-approved concurrent degree program (see Concurrent and Articulated Degree Programs later in this section).
Transfer of Credit from Within the University
Students may petition to have units and grade points for graduate work completed at other campuses of the University applied toward satisfaction of master's degree requirements at UCLA. Such courses may fulfill up to one half of both the total course and graduate course requirements, and one third of the academic residence requirement, but may not have been used to fulfill the requirements for another degree.
Transfer of Credit from Outside the University
With approval of the dean of the Graduate Division and the major department, courses completed with a grade of B or better in graduate standing at institutions outside the University of California may apply toward UCLA master's programs. However, courses taken for any degree awarded at another institution may not be applied toward a graduate degree at UCLA. A maximum of two courses (eight quarter units or five semester units) may be applied, but they cannot be used to reduce either the minimum graduate course requirement or the academic residence requirement. (To convert semester units into quarter units, multiply the semester units by 1.5 -- e.g., 12 semester units [yen] 1.5 = 18 quarter units. To convert quarter units into semester units, multiply the quarter units by .666 -- e.g., 12 quarter units [yen] .666 = 7.99 or 8 semester units.)
Transfer of Credit from Summer Sessions
Regular session courses offered in UCLA Summer Sessions by regular faculty qualify for credit toward a higher degree with departmental approval. Courses offered by visiting faculty may apply, with a recommendation from the department chair. Students should consult their departmental graduate adviser about applying Summer Sessions courses to their graduate program.
Transfer of Credit from UCLA Extension
Extension courses taken after July 1, 1969, can be applied only if they are concurrent courses prefixed by XLC (offered for students in degree programs and open to Extension students by petition) in the 100, 200, or 400 series, completed with a grade of B or better. By petition to the dean of the Graduate Division and with departmental approval, a maximum of two such courses may be applied toward the nine-course minimum and the five-graduate-course requirements for the master's degree. The master's program, then, would include at least three courses in the 200 or 500 series for academic degrees, or three courses in the 200, 400, or 500 series for professional degrees.
If the master's program requires more than nine courses, concurrent Extension courses may be applied toward one half of the course requirements over the minimum of nine.
Grades earned in Extension courses or in courses taken outside the University of California are not included in computing the grade-point average nor may they be used to remove scholarship deficiencies. Correspondence courses are not applicable to graduate degrees.
Master's Degree
The minimum residence requirement consists of three academic terms in graduate standing at the University of California, including at least two terms at UCLA.
Doctoral Degree
The minimum residence requirement is two years (six terms) in graduate standing at the University of California, including one year (usually the second) in continuous residence at UCLA. If students earned a master's degree at UCLA, one year of this requirement will have been met. In most cases a longer period of residence is necessary, and from three to five years is generally considered optimal.
Academic residency for both degrees is established by successfully completing a minimum of one graduate or upper division course (four units) during a term.
Students may earn one term of residence for summer study in either of these ways: (1) enroll in two six-week Summer Sessions taking at least two units of upper division and/or graduate work in each session OR (2) enroll in one eight-week session for at least four units of credit. Residence earned through Summer Sessions enrollment is limited to one third of the degree requirements.
To maintain satisfactory progress toward the degree, UCLA requires at least a B average in all courses taken in graduate standing at the University and in all courses applied toward a graduate degree, including those taken at another UC campus.
Foreign language requirements are determined by individual departments and programs. If their program has a language requirement, students should fulfill it either before they begin graduate study or as soon as possible thereafter. All foreign language requirements must be satisfied before advancement to candidacy.
Many departments require graduate degree candidates to demonstrate proficiency in one or more foreign languages, so that they can acquire broad knowledge in their field of study and keep abreast of foreign developments in the field. Students are urged to complete language requirements as early as possible in their graduate career. If the department requires two or more foreign languages, students must complete at least one before the University Oral Qualifying Examination (unless the department requires that both be completed before the examination).
Some departments allow students to fulfill language requirements either by passing departmental examinations or by completing coursework in a foreign language. Certain departments may require additional languages, special competence, or other special procedures. In some departments, English satisfies the foreign language requirement if it is not the native language.
For further details on foreign language requirements, consult the departmental graduate adviser.
Program of Study and Scholarship
At least nine graduate and upper division courses (or any number of fractional courses totaling 36 units) must be completed in graduate standing; at least five (20 units) of the nine must be graduate-level courses.
UCLA offers master's degrees under two plans: Plan I, the Master's Thesis, and Plan II, the Master's Comprehensive Examination. Some departments offer both plans, and students must consult with their department to determine the plan for meeting their degree requirements. University minimum requirements are the same under either plan.
Master's Thesis (Plan I)
After advancement to candidacy, students under Plan I must submit a thesis reporting on results of their original investigation of a problem. While the problem may be one of only limited scope, the thesis must show a significant style, organization, and depth of understanding of the subject.
A thesis committee, consisting of at least three faculty members who hold regular professorial appointments at the University, is nominated by the department and appointed by the dean of the Graduate Division for each student (consult the Graduate Division for more details on committee members' eligibility requirements). The thesis committee, which must be appointed before students may be advanced to candidacy, approves the subject and plan of the thesis, provides the guidance necessary to complete it, then reads and approves the completed manuscript. Approval must be unanimous among committee members.
Once the thesis committee and other concerned faculty members have approved the subject for the thesis, work may begin. Students are responsible for preparing the thesis in the proper form and for observing filing deadlines.
Master's Comprehensive Examination (Plan II)
Following advancement to candidacy, students under Plan II must pass a comprehensive examination administered by a committee consisting of at least three faculty members appointed by the department. In some departments the comprehensive examination may serve as a screening examination for admission to doctoral programs. Information concerning this examination and its format is available in the departments.
Doctoral programs are individualized and permit a high degree of specialization. The University does not specify course requirements for doctoral programs. Individual programs set their own requirements, which may include specific courses, and these must be completed before students take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Students determine their course of study in consultation with a graduate adviser until the doctoral committee is appointed.
Doctoral Examinations before Advancement to Candidacy
Prior to advancement to candidacy, doctoral candidates fulfill the coursework, teaching, and/or examinations required by the major department or group. They are supervised during this period by a departmental adviser and/or departmental guidance committee. This committee administers a departmental written and, in some cases, oral examination (not to be confused with the University Oral Qualifying Examination) after students complete the recommended or required work. Once all departmental and foreign language requirements are met, the department chair consults with the student and then nominates a doctoral committee.
University Oral Qualifying Examination
The doctoral committee, consisting of at least four faculty members nominated by the department, is appointed by the dean of the Graduate Division (consult the Graduate Division for details on committee membership). To determine qualifications for advancement to candidacy, the committee administers the University Oral Qualifying Examination and, at its option, a written examination.
Advancement to Candidacy
When students have completed approximately half the program for the master's degree (usually at least two terms), they should formally apply for advancement to candidacy. Application forms are available from the departments and must be filed there no later than the second week of the term in which students expect to receive their degree (by the end of the second week of the first Summer Session for a September degree).
Students may not be advanced to candidacy until all departmental requirements for advancement, including foreign language examinations, have been satisfied. They then have one year from the date of advancement to complete all requirements for the degree, including their thesis or comprehensive examination. Candidacy expires at the end of one year and reinstatement during the term in which they plan to receive the degree is by petition only.
Students are eligible for advancement to doctoral candidacy after passing the University Oral Qualifying Examination with no more than one negative vote, completing four terms of academic residence and any additional departmental requirements, and maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average in graduate standing. They are officially advanced to candidacy on the date the completed application for candidacy form is received in Graduate Admissions/Student and Academic Affairs, provided the information on the form is correct and complete and the examination was conducted in accordance with Graduate Council regulations. The $50 advancement to candidacy fee appears on the next UCLA Billing Statement.
Candidate in Philosophy Degree
In several departments, as approved by the Graduate Council, the intermediate degree of Candidate in Philosophy (C.Phil.) is awarded to qualified students on advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.
The C.Phil. is not a terminal degree but gives formal recognition to a definite state of progress toward the doctorate. Academic requirements are the same as for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. (see above). Four terms in academic residence at UCLA are required. (Also refer to Academic Residence earlier in this section.)
The C.Phil. may not be conferred after or simultaneously with the Ph.D. For departments offering the C.Phil., see the degree chart at the end of this section. For further details, consult the Graduate Division.
Doctoral Dissertation
Once the doctoral committee approves the subject for the dissertation, the in-candidacy stage of the doctoral program begins and is devoted primarily to independent study and research and to the preparation of the dissertation, which demonstrates ability for independent investigation. The doctoral committee guides the progress toward its completion. Students are responsible for following instructions on the preparation of the dissertation and for observing filing deadlines.
Final Preparation and Filing of Thesis or Dissertation
For guidance in the final preparation of the thesis or in the preparation and submission of the dissertation and accompanying abstract, students may
(1) Consult the theses and dissertations adviser, Office of the University Archivist, 390 Powell Library.
(2) Read Regulations for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation, available in Graduate Admissions/Student and Academic Affairs or in the Archivist's Office.
(3) Attend an orientation meeting on manuscript preparation and filing procedures conducted soon after the start of each term (see the Calendar at the beginning of this catalog).
When all members of the committee have approved the thesis and students are ready to file it, they must initiate the final steps in the process by submitting the original signature (approval) page, title page, and any other required forms to Graduate Admissions/Student and Academic Affairs where completion of degree requirements is verified. After final approval by the dean of the Graduate Division, students must file the thesis with the theses and dissertations adviser by the published deadline (approximately two weeks before the degree is to be awarded).
When all members of the committee have approved the dissertation and students are ready to file it, they must submit the original signature (approval) page and title page to Graduate Admissions/Student and Academic Affairs where completion of degree requirements is verified. After final approval by the dean of the Graduate Division, students must file two paper copies of the dissertation with the theses and dissertations adviser by the published deadline (approximately two weeks before the degree is to be awarded). Consult the Schedule of Classes Calendar for exact dates.
A final oral examination may be required at the option of any member of the doctoral committee, and in some departments is required of all doctoral candidates. The examination, for which all committee members must be present, may be held before students have prepared the final copy of their dissertation, but passing the examination (with no more than one negative vote of the committee members) does not imply approval of the final manuscript. Consult the doctoral committee chair or graduate adviser for further information.
Interdepartmental Degree Programs
In addition to graduate degree programs offered within schools and departments, UCLA offers interdisciplinary programs involving two or more participating departments. A total of 28 interdepartmental programs offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in some combination; several units offer all three degrees. These programs are administered by interdepartmental committees made up of faculty whose membership is determined by research interest, not by departmental affiliation. By cutting across the usual lines of faculty division, a subject area is studied from the perspectives of different disciplines and a greater degree of program flexibility is achieved.
Interdepartmental degree programs which currently lead to advanced degrees are listed below. All are described more fully in the Curricula and Courses section of this catalog. For further information, students should contact the chair or graduate adviser of the specific program that interests them.
African Area Studies (M.A.)
Afro-American Studies (M.A.)
American Indian Studies (M.A.)
Applied Linguistics (Ph.D.)
Archaeology (M.A., Ph.D.)
Asian American Studies (M.A.)
Biomedical Physics (M.S., Ph.D.)
Comparative Literature (M.A., Ph.D.)
Environmental Science and Engineering (D.Env.)
Folklore and Mythology (M.A., Ph.D.)
Indo-European Studies (Ph.D.)
Integrated Manufacturing Engineering (M.Engr.)
Islamic Studies (M.A., Ph.D.)
Latin American Studies (M.A.)
Molecular Biology (Ph.D.)
Neuroscience (Ph.D.)
Romance Linguistics and Literature (M.A., Ph.D.)
Concurrent and Articulated Degree Programs
Each of the programs described thus far leads to a single degree -- either master's or doctoral. UCLA also offers concurrent and articulated degree programs, which allow students to earn two degrees simultaneously by combining two free-standing degree programs into a coordinated course of study. Students may petition to design their own articulated program (with departmental and Graduate Division approval), but they may not apply credits for one degree to the other. Concurrent degree programs, which may not be individually designed, allow some credit overlap.
These programs accomplish several important objectives: they enable the University to respond to societal changes by creating new fields of study; they prepare students more fully for the world's complexities by combining the cultural (political/social/economic) aspects of their field with the tools of a professional degree; and they allow faculty members to cross departmental lines and interact on a broader scale.
Concurrent Degree Programs
By allowing a specified amount of credit to apply to both degrees, concurrent degree programs permit students to reduce the total number of courses required for the two degrees and thereby reduce the time normally required if courses were taken in sequence. Programs leading to concurrent degrees are offered in the following disciplines:
American Indian Studies, Interdepartmental M.A. -- Law, J.D.
Education, M.A., Ph.D., M.Ed., or Ed.D. -- Law, J.D.
History, M.A. -- Library and Information Science, M.L.I.S.
Islamic Studies, Interdepartmental M.A. -- Public Health, M.P.H.
Latin American Studies, Interdepartmental M.A. -- Urban Planning, M.A.
Management, M.B.A. -- Computer Science, M.S.
Management, M.B.A. -- Latin American Studies, Interdepartmental M.A.
Management, M.B.A. -- Law, J.D.
Management, M.B.A. -- Library and Information Science, M.L.I.S.
Management, M.B.A. -- Medicine, M.D.
Management, M.B.A. -- Nursing, M.S.N.
Management, M.B.A. -- Public Health, M.P.H.
Management, M.B.A. -- Urban Planning, M.A.
Urban Planning, M.A. -- Law, J.D.
Articulated Degree Programs
Articulated degree programs permit no credit overlap, and students must complete degree requirements separately for each degree. Programs leading to articulated degrees are offered in the following disciplines:
African Area Studies, Interdepartmental M.A. -- Public Health, M.P.H.
African Area Studies, Interdepartmental M.A. -- Film and Television, M.F.A.
Latin American Studies, Interdepartmental M.A. -- Education, M.Ed. in Curriculum
Latin American Studies, Interdepartmental M.A. -- Library and Information Science, M.L.I.S.
Latin American Studies, Interdepartmental M.A. -- Public Health, M.P.H.
Medicine, M.D. -- Graduate Division health science major, Ph.D.
Oral Biology, M.S. -- Dentistry, D.D.S. or Certificate
Inquiries about concurrent and articulated degree programs should be directed to graduate advisers in the departments and schools involved. Students should contact Graduate Admissions/Student and Academic Affairs for information on designing articulated programs.
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