Physics & Astronomy

Program of Graduate Studies

The graduate programs in physics and astronomy at UCLA provide specialized study based on an understanding of the content and methods of core areas of basic physics. The programs begin with studies in several basic courses. Later, even though students increasingly focus on their chosen areas of specialization, they continue work intended to broaden and enhance their approach to their major area of study. The following course information should help the student plan his or her own program. However, each student's program must be approved by a graduate advisor. The student is required to consult his or her designated advisor before the beginning of each academic year of residence. The graduate program in physics and astronomy leads to the PhD degree. Although you may obtain the MS degree en route to the PhD, the department does not admit candidates for the MS degree only.

Residence Requirements for Masters & PhD Degrees
Definition of Residence:
A graduate student obtains residence in a UCLA Department of Physics & Astronomy during each quarter in which he or she registers, enrolls, attends, and completes at least one upper division or graduate course during any regular University term. (Note: Full time student status requires enrollment in at least 8 units, preferrably 12 units.)

Residence Requirement for the MS or MAT degrees:
The minimum residence requirement consists of three academic terms in graduate standing at the University of California, including at least two terms at UCLA.

Residence Requirement for the PhD 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.

Recommended Course Sequence for the PhD Degree

PHYSICS
PhD degrees are granted mainly in the following fields: Accelerator Physics, Astrophysics, Biophysics, Experimental Elementary Particles, Intermediate Energy & Relativistic Heavy Ion Physics, Elementary Particle & Field Theory, Experimental & Theoretical Plasma, Experimental & Theoretical Condensed Matter, and Low Temperature Physics. Graduate students can make arrangements for a PhD in physics while doing their research in an interdisciplinary field of which physics is a part, such as astrophysics, geophysics, etc. The details of each individual program should be worked out in consultation with the Physics Graduate Affairs Officer. The normal course load for full-time students consists of three courses per quarter. All entering graduate students, regardless of the field of concentration, are urged to take the five core courses (see Physics Course Listings) during their first year of residency. These and other core courses are taken according to a schedule determined in consultation with a designated graduate advisor. All graduate students will be asked to take a number of courses and seminars selected with the aid of an advisor from the list of general and speciality courses. Each student must take one or more quarters of the appropriate Graduate Research Tutorial after choosing a field of specialization and before giving his or her field oral presentation. These tutorials are designed to introduce beginning students to current problems in their field. Examinations for the PhD Degree Written Comprehensive Examination: Each student seeking candidacy for the MS, MAT, or PhD degrees is required by the University to take this departmental examination which consists of two three-hour sections given on consecutive days. The scope of the exam is defined by the graduate physics material in the five core courses 210A, 210B, 215A, 221A, and 221B. Detailed syllabi for these five courses are available in the Physics and Astronomy Graduate Affairs Office. The written comprehensive examination on the level of graduate physics is given twice each year, before the beginning of the Fall and Spring quarters. This examination must be taken not later than the fourth quarter of residence by all students. To qualify for the PhD degree, the student must pass the examination at a superior level of achievement. Students who fail to qualify must repeat the examination the next time it is given. Permission to take the written comprehensive examination a third time may be granted by the Committee of Graduate Advisors only under extraordinary circumstances. Oral Examinations: Each student seeking candidacy for the PhD degree will be required to pass the following University examinations:

Oral Qualifying Examination: After the student has notified the Department that he or she has passed all the preceding examinations, a Doctoral Committee will be appointed by the Dean of the Graduate Division (acting for the Graduate Council) upon nomination by the Department Chair. This committee conducts the Oral Qualifying Examination which may include:
- Material in the student's field of specialization,
- Related material that committee members from other departments may wish to ask about,
- Discussion of the proposed dissertation topic.
- Final Oral Examination (required): This examination is administered by the Doctoral Committee. Ordinarily, this is a discussion of the student's original work, including his or her dissertation, and other related matters to be determined by the committee.

The Normal Schedule of Progress Toward a PhD Degree

The Written Comprehensive Examination should be taken by the fourth quarter in residence at UCLA.
A specialized course of study should begin during the second year, with the sequence 596 courses begun by the fifth quarter.
The Oral Qualifying Examination (advancement to candidacy) should be taken no later than the end of the tenth quarter.
The dissertation and Final Oral Examination should be finished during the fourth and fifth years.

Prescribed Quarter Courses & Examination for the MS Degree The University requires a total of nine courses for the MS degree. The Physics Division requires that a minimum of six of the nine be graduate courses in physics, of which the five fundamental (core) courses must be passed with a grade of B or better (Physics 210A, 210B, 215A, 221A, 221B). To complete the minimum six graduate courses, the student is required to pass one of the following courses with a grade of B or better: Physics 220, 221C, 231A. The remaining three courses, which must be taken for a letter grade (with the exception of 596), may be satisfied by upper division or graduate courses, not necessarily in Physics, but which are acceptable to the Physics Department. No more than two of the three courses may be from Physics 596 or seminar courses. Only eight units of 596 may be applied toward the total course requirement for the MS degree. A passing grade on the Written Comprehensive Examination is required. NOTE: The department does not offer a terminal Master of Science program. The MS degree is awarded to students in the PhD program after satisfying the requirements described above. The Master of Arts in Teaching The Physics division is not admitting student to the program at this time. Counseling of Graduate Students Every graduate student, except those already advanced to candidacy (having passed the Qualifying Oral Exam and paid the advancement fee) must be counseled by a designated graduate advisor at the beginning of each academic year. Every graduate student subject to counseling should consult the bulletin board outside the Physics and Astronomy Graduate Affairs Office to sign up for his or her counseling appointment. Failure to keep this appointment may mean loss of registration privileges.

ASTRONOMY
Students are required to take 10 core courses (including 2 physics courses), one 2-quarter research project during the 2nd year and at least 3 special topics courses. Examinations for the PhD Degree Comprehensive Examination: The comprehensive examination consists of satisfactory completion of: the second-year research project, culminating in a written report of the methods used and results obtained, and passing the oral portion of the comprehensive examination at the master's level. The oral exam is administrated by the Comprehensive Examination Committee at the beginning of the spring quarter of the student's 2nd year. In addition the committee will review the instructor's written narrative of the student's performance in all graduate courses taken during the first five quarters. The potential outcomes of the assessment are:

pass
no pass, with the possibility of reassessment
terminal Masters pass
fail

Oral Examinations: Each student seeking candidacy for the PhD degree will be required to pass the following University examinations:

Oral Qualifying Examination: After the student has passed the Comprehensive Examination and has defined the scope of his or her Ph.D. dissertation research, the student will nominate, in consultation with his or her dissertation advisor, a doctoral committee, approved by the department chair and appointed by the Graduate Division. The main purpose of this examination is to discuss and evaluate your proposed dissertation problem, but at the discretion of the committee, you may be asked questions with regard to other material in your field of specialization and related matters. The committee members will guide, read, approve and certify the dissertation. At the end of this examination, the committee will decide whether a final oral examination is required or not. The oral qualifying examination is taken not later than the tenth quarter in residence.

Final Oral Examination: You must pass a final examination upon completion of your dissertation.

The Normal Schedule of Progress Toward a PhD Degree

The Comprehensive Examination should be completed by the beginning of the sixth quarter in residence at UCLA.
The Oral Qualifying Examination (advancement to candidacy) should be taken no later than the end of the tenth quarter.
The Final Oral Examination and dissertation should finished during the fourth or fifth years.

Prescribed Quarter Courses & Examination for the MS Degree Eleven courses are required for the master's degree of which at least ten must be at the graduate level in astronomy. At least one of the courses must consist of a quarter of work on the second-year research project. Courses taken in the 300 or 500 series may not apply toward the total course requirements or the graduate course requirement. You must obtain at least a "B" average in all graduate physics and astronomy courses. The comprehensive examination must be passed at least at the terminal master's level. NOTE: The department does not offer a terminal Master of Science program for Astronomy. The MS degree is awarded to students in the PhD program after satisfying the requirements described above. The Master of Arts in Teaching The astronomy division is not admitting students to the program at this time. Counseling of Graduate Students New students are advised by the Graduate Affairs Officer prior to the beginning of fall quarter. Every Spring Quarter, a committee of astronomy faculty meets to evaluate the progress of graduate students. The student is advised either informally or in writing on the faculty's evaluation of his or her progress.

Note:
The information in this section has been abridged. See the Physics and Astronomy section of the UCLA catalog for the unabridged copy.