The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Epidemiology is an advanced research degree that is intended for students who wish to pursue a career in research and teaching.

ADMISSION

In addition to the University minimum requirements, the Department requires: 1) satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE); 2) at least a 3.0 junior/senior grade-point average and at least a 3.5 grade-point average in graduate studies; and 3) approval by the Department Admissions Committee, an academic adviser, and the Department Chair.

ADVISING

An academic adviser is assigned to each student by the Department Chair. Student and adviser together agree upon a study list for each academic quarter. Any subsequent alterations must be approved by the adviser. Courses to be taken must be approved by the adviser.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

The student must fulfill training equivalent to the course requirements for the M.S. degree in epidemiology with an average of no less than 3.3 (B+) in Epidem 200A, 200B, 200C and 220. Equivalent courses taken at other institutions may be used to fulfill these requirements subject to approval by the Department of Epidemiology. Continuation in the doctoral program is contingent on satisfying the 3.3 (B+) average grade-point requirements in each of the four core courses or their equivalent. The student must also take M204 (4 units), M211 and M212 or one additional statistics course beyond the M.S. requirements (4 units), one course on pathobiology (4 units), and at least three quarters of Epidem 292 (2 units per quarter). The statistics and pathobiology courses must be approved by the Department of Epidemiology. In addition, the student must take at least 12 units of graduate-level courses (excluding 500 level courses) outside the Department of Epidemiology. The 12 units must be selected with the approval of the academic advisor. Students with prior post-baccalaureate coursework may petition for substitution of part or all of the 12 unit requirement. Recommendation for the degree is based on the attainments of the candidate rather than on the completion of specific courses.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Teaching experience is recommended but not required for the doctoral degree.

WRITTEN AND ORAL QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

Before advancement to candidacy, students must pass the departmental written doctoral examination and the University Oral Qualifying Examination. Normally for the written doctoral examination no more than one reexamination is allowed. A doctoral committee, consisting of at least four faculty members who hold professorial appointments at UCLA, is nominated and submitted to the Graduate Division and, if approved, administers the oral qualifying examination after successful completion of the written examination. Two of the faculty must be tenured. Three of the four must hold appointments in the department; at least one must hold an appointment in another department at UCLA. After completing the course requirements and passing both the written doctoral examination and the oral qualifying examination, the student may be advanced to candidacy and complete work on a dissertation in the principal field of study.

ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY

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

FINAL ORAL EXAMINATION (DEFENSE OF THE DISSERTATION)

Required of all students in the program.

TIME-TO-DEGREE

Maximum allowable time for the attainment of the degree is 20 quarters of enrollment or eight years. This limitation includes quarters enrolled in previous graduate study at a UC campus prior to admission to the doctoral degree program and leaves of absence. However, the approved normative time-to-degree is eighteen quarters (six years).

GRADUATE DIVISION PHD REQUIREMENTS

UCLA Graduate Division site for Epidemiology Department

Requirements for the Ph.D., as stated in the UCLA General Catalogue, and the Graduate Division publication.