General Requirements for Higher Degrees

[ graduate degrees offered | division of graduate education and postdoctoral affairs | admission | financial ]

Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs

At UC San Diego, all programs leading to master’s degrees and to doctoral degrees (other than the MD and PharmD) are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate Council and are administered by the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs.

The San Diego campus emphasizes the research character of graduate education. Doctoral and most master’s degrees are the culmination of creative effort and attest to the ability of the recipient to continue original inquiry. In addition to requiring original research, most of UC San Diego’s graduate programs expect their students to obtain teaching experience.

Much of the training that UC San Diego offers takes place outside the classroom—not only in seminars but in independent research and in tutorial work. Students can benefit from the many visitors from other universities; there are opportunities to study at other campuses of the University of California and around the world; and many students become involved in the research activities of UC San Diego’s research institutes and centers. La Jolla has become one of the most important intellectual centers of the West. Not only has UC San Diego attracted many of the world’s great scholars, but other research institutions located nearby such as the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and Scripps Research have enhanced the area’s reputation.

The Nature of Graduate Instruction

Graduate courses demand, on the part of both instructor and student, a capacity for critical analysis and a degree of research interest beyond those appropriate for undergraduate study. These courses generally carry a number in the 200 series and may be conducted in any of several ways: (1) as advanced lecture courses; (2) as seminars in which faculty and students present critical studies of selected problems within the subject field; (3) as independent reading or study under faculty supervision; or (4) as research projects conducted under faculty supervision. Graduate courses numbered 300–399 are designed for educational programs and may not be used to satisfy minimum graduate course requirements for degrees other than the specific degree program for which they are offered. Graduate courses numbered 400–499 are designed for professional programs and may not be used to satisfy minimum graduate course requirements for degrees other than the specific degree program for which they are offered. Courses at the upper-division level (100–197) may be taken in partial satisfaction of the requirements for an advanced degree.

The graduate student is accorded considerable liberty in choice of courses as long as the minimum departmental core courses, departmental requirements and grading standards, and residency requirements are met.

Administration

The Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs

The Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs is administered by the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, who is responsible for graduate admissions; graduate degree programs; the administration of fellowships, traineeships, and other graduate student support; the development of new programs; and the maintenance of common standards of high quality in graduate programs across the campus.

The dean reports to the executive vice chancellor of Academic Affairs and to the Graduate Council on the administration of graduate affairs.

The Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is a standing committee of the San Diego division of the Academic Senate composed of faculty and graduate students. The primary function of the council is to exercise overall responsibility for graduate study programs and to implement systemwide policies, procedures, requirements, and standards.

The Director of Graduate Studies Graduate Adviser

Graduate students may direct requests for information about graduate study in a particular department or program to the director of Graduate Studies graduate adviser. This position can be held by any faculty member who is eligible to serve as the chair of a doctoral committee. Please refer to the website for the graduate program or department for more information.

The director of graduate studies’ duties include

Advising the dean on admission of graduate students.
Advising graduate students regarding their programs of study and other matters pertinent to graduate work.
Appointing individual advisers for each graduate student.
Approving official study lists.
Acting on the petitions of graduate students.
Ensuring that adequate records are maintained on all graduate students in the department, group, or school, and supplying relevant information as requested by the dean.
Assisting the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs in the application of university regulations governing graduate students, graduate study, and graduate courses.
Advising the chair of the department and the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs about developments of the graduate program in the department, group, or school.

Graduate and Professional Student Association

The Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) is the officially recognized graduate student government at UC San Diego. It represents all graduate students—including those at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the School of Global Policy and Strategy, Rady School of Management, the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, the School of Medicine, and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences—in academic, administrative, campus, and university matters. The GPSA council, composed of six executive officers and representatives from each department, group, and school, nominates graduate student representatives for appointment to campus governing bodies and committees, including the Graduate Council, the Student Fee Advisory Committee, and the Systemwide Student Body Presidents’ Council. The GPSA also sponsors projects and social activities designed to improve the academic and social lives of students. Meetings are open to all graduate and professional students at UC San Diego.

For more information, contact the GPSA at (858) 534-6504 or see Graduate and Professional Student Association.

Graduate Student Diversity

The University of California San Diego actively recruits and admits qualified students who will enhance the diversity of UC San Diego graduate programs.

UC San Diego recognizes the value to students, faculty, staff, and the community in having a campus that reflects the full richness and talents of the people of California. Diversity is viewed as a campus strength and a critical component of higher education. The campus has a firm commitment to recruit and admit graduate students from all demographic groups including students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

The Graduate Student Affairs unit in the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs provides an array of support and advocacy services to assist prospective and current students in applying to graduate school, obtaining financial support and fellowships, connecting to the campus community, and successfully progressing through and completing graduate degree programs. Within the Graduate Student Affairs unit, the Office of Outreach, Access, Recruitment, and Retention (OAR²) develops initiatives and programs aimed at enhancing the university’s graduate and professional student diversity.

For assistance and further information about special opportunities for underrepresented students, contact the assistant dean, Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, Student Services Center (SSC), Fourth Floor, North, (858) 534-3555 or (858) 534-3550.

Career Services for Graduate Students

The Career Center offers a wide range of programs and services to assist graduate students with their career planning and job search needs. Individual career advising is available on both an appointment and drop-in basis. In addition, workshops and special events are regularly offered, covering such areas as CV and resume writing, job search strategies, and employment options within and beyond academia. To schedule career advising appointments, view upcoming events, and browse online resources, login to Handshake. For more information, see Career Center.

General Requirements for Higher Degrees

Master’s Degrees

Master of Advanced Study (MAS)

The University of California offers graduate professional degree programs leading to the master of advanced study (MAS). This degree meets the needs of working professionals continuing in educational programs. While some MAS programs are tailored to career advancement, other programs enable individuals to pursue new career directions or advanced study in the liberal arts. Each MAS program accommodates flexible, part-time, academically qualified working adults who cannot be full-time students. All MAS programs must be in conformity with one of the following two plans: Plan I, Thesis Plan, or Plan II, Comprehensive Examination Plan. Pending program approval, an alternative capstone plan is a third option. Specific degree requirements, curriculum, and other details are available with each individual program.

Master of Arts (MA) and Master of Science (MS)

The master of arts and master of science degrees are offered under two plans: Plan I, Thesis, and Plan II, Comprehensive Examination. Since some departments offer both plans, with varying unit requirements, students should consult with their advisers before selecting a plan for completion of degree requirements.

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The MBA is a professional degree that provides distinguished education in the theory and practice of management. The current program provides a comprehensive education in the fundamental disciplines of business coupled with a focus on the business and management issues faced by technology and innovation driven companies. Students interested in becoming managers and leaders in such companies and in understanding the role that technologies play in driving the global business marketplaces will be well suited for the Rady School of Management.

Master of Chinese Economic and Political Affairs (MCEPA)

The MCEPA is a professional degree that trains scholars to analyze and understand China in a contemporary, regional, and international context. Graduates from the program go into United States government service, take jobs in NGOs, work in departments of government in other countries, and work in the private sector in all capacities. For program requirements and curriculum, please refer to the School of Global Policy and Strategy in this catalog.

Master of Education (MEd)

The Department of Education Studies offers a master of education (MEd)/multiple subject credential to authorize teaching grades K–6, and a master of education (MEd)/single subject credential to authorize teaching grades 7–12 in the subject areas of biology, chemistry, geoscience, English, mathematics, and physics. For program requirements and curriculum, please refer to the Department of Education Studies in this catalog.

Master of Engineering (MEng)

The MEng is a terminal degree designed to address the technical needs of professional engineers. For program requirements and curriculum, please refer to the Department of Bioengineering in this catalog.

Master of Finance (MF)

The MF is a professional degree that emphasizes rigorous training in empirical finance, quantitative methods, financial econometrics, data analysis, and risk management. The degree is intended to provide a solid foundation in economic modeling and empirical finance. Please refer to the Rady School of Management in this catalog.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

The master of fine arts degree is offered in the Department of Literature, Department of Theatre and Dance, and Department of Visual Arts under a modified thesis plan. A short written thesis that may be regarded as a position paper, presenting a descriptive background for the student’s work, is required. There is no written final examination, but great weight is given to the candidate’s final presentation and the oral defense of the thesis.

Master of International Affairs (MIA)

The master of international affairs program provides training for those interested in pursuing professional careers in international affairs and international management with an emphasis on the countries of the Pacific Rim. The MIA is offered under two plans: a five-year BA/MIA offered only to current campus undergraduates majoring in International Studies and a two-year, post-graduate MIA. For program requirements and curriculum, please refer to the School of Global Policy and Strategy in this catalog.

Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAc)

The master of professional accountancy prepares students for a wide range of accounting career opportunities that span public accounting firms, corporate accounting departments, and not-for-profit and governmental organizations. Students in the program will fulfill accounting education requirements for CPA licensure and learn key business functions such as marketing, finance, and operations. Please refer to the Rady School of Management in this catalog.

Master of Public Health (MPH)

The master of public health is a rigorous two-year program with thesis and capstone options designed to train tomorrow’s public health leaders and practitioners. It provides instruction in the core public health disciplines: biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health sciences, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences. The program will meet all of the Council on Education for Public Health requirements. Please refer to the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science in this catalog.

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

The master of public policy trains students to solve societal issues using a skill set that includes the hard skills of program evaluation, knowledge of policy making processes, and markets. Graduates of MPP programs are overwhelmingly employed in the public sector, most commonly in local and state governments, which speaks directly to their importance to society. For program requirements and curriculum, please refer to the School of Global Policy and Strategy in this catalog.

Programs of Study

Plan I: Thesis Plan (for MA and MS)

A minimum of at least thirty-six quarter-units are required: twenty-four units in graduate courses, including at least twelve units in graduate-level courses in the major field and no more than twelve units in upper-division courses; and at least six units in research course work leading to the thesis. Students should consult their graduate program for specific unit and course requirements.

Following advancement to candidacy, the student electing Plan I must submit a thesis. The thesis committee, appointed by the chair of the department or group and approved by the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, consists of at least three faculty members, with at least two from the candidate’s major department.

Information covering thesis preparation is contained in the publication, Preparation and Submission Manual for Doctoral Dissertations and Master’s Theses, which can be found online. The completed thesis is submitted to the thesis committee for review.

When all members of the committee have approved the thesis, a final report of the thesis for the master of arts or master of science degree under Plan I must be completed. Upon formal submission of the thesis to the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, the thesis submission fee will be assessed to the student’s financial account. Final approval and acceptance of the thesis by the graduate dean (on behalf of the university archivist and Graduate Council) represent the final steps in the completion of all requirements by the candidate for a master of arts or master of science degree. All theses submitted in partial satisfaction of master’s degree requirements shall be catalogued with the university library and submitted to ProQuest for publication.

Plan II: Comprehensive Examination Plan (for MA and MS)

A minimum of at least thirty-six quarter-units are required: twenty-four units in graduate courses, including a minimum of fourteen units in graduate-level courses in the major field; ten additional units in graduate courses; and twelve additional units in graduate or upper-division courses. Students should consult their graduate program for specific unit and course requirements.

Following advancement to candidacy, the student electing Plan II must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the major department. A final report of the comprehensive examination for the master of arts or master of science degree under Plan II is used to report successful completion of the examination requirement.

Plan III: Modified Thesis Program (for MFA)

Seventy-two quarter units for literature and visual arts and ninety quarter units for theatre and dance, with a GPA equivalent to 3.0 in upper-division and graduate course work undertaken, are required for a master of fine arts degree. Information covering thesis preparation is contained in the publication Preparation and Submission Manual for Doctoral Dissertations and Master’s Theses. The completed thesis is submitted to the thesis committee for review.

Following advancement to candidacy, the student in the Modified Thesis, Plan III program, must submit a thesis. The thesis committee, appointed by the chair of the department and approved by the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, consists of four faculty members: three from the department and one, preferably tenured, from outside the department.

When all members of the committee have approved the thesis, a final report of the modified thesis examination, Plan III, for the master of fine arts degree must be completed. Upon formal submission of the modified thesis to the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, the thesis submission fee will be assessed to the student’s financial account. Final approval and acceptance of the thesis by the graduate dean (on behalf of the university archivist and Graduate Council) represent the final steps in the completion of all requirements by the candidate for a master of fine arts degree. All theses submitted in partial satisfaction of master of fine arts degree requirements shall be catalogued with the university library and submitted to ProQuest for publication.

Apprentice Teaching

A maximum of six units of 500-level courses (apprentice teaching) may be credited toward the degree requirements.

Academic Residence

The minimum residence requirement for the master of arts or science degree is three academic quarters. Academic residence is met by satisfactory completion of six units or more per quarter, some of which must be graduate level.

The minimum residence requirement for the master of fine arts degree is six academic quarters for literature and visual arts and eight academic quarters for theatre and dance. Academic residence is met by satisfactory completion of six units or more per quarter, some of which must be graduate level. The entire residence requirement must be satisfied at UC San Diego.

A candidate must be registered in the quarter in which the degree is to be awarded. (See Registration in the Final Quarter for the Award of the Degree.)

Advancement to Candidacy

After completing all preliminary requirements of the major with a GPA equivalent to 3.0 in upper-division and graduate course work undertaken, a total of no more than eight units of F and/or U grades, and a minimum of two quarters or more of residency, the student may file an application for candidacy for the Thesis or Comprehensive Examination, Plan I or II, for the master of arts or master of science degree, or for the Modified Thesis, Plan III, for the master of fine arts degree. An application for candidacy must be filed no later than three weeks after the first day of the quarter in which degree requirements are to be completed. (See Academic and Administrative Calendar.)

Transferring Credit

With the approval of the major department and the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, upper-division and graduate course work completed with a grade of B– or better while in graduate standing at another campus of the University of California (including UC San Diego Extension XSDC courses) may be accepted in satisfaction of one of the three quarters of residence and up to one-half of the quarter-units of credit required for the master’s degree at UC San Diego.

On the recommendation of the major department and with the approval of the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, a maximum of eight quarter-units of credit for work completed with a grade of B– or better in graduate standing (i.e., matriculated into a graduate degree program) at an institution other than the University of California may be applied toward a master’s degree at UC San Diego. Courses used must be taken prior to matriculation at UC San Diego.

In any case, no more than a total of one-half of the units required for a master’s degree may be transferred in from any UC or other institutions. Courses used for a previous degree may not be transferred. A letter from the institution from which the courses are being transferred will be required stating the courses were not used toward another degree or certificate.

Course work approved for transfer credit will not be included in calculating a student’s grade point average, regardless of the source.

Graduate Work Completed Elsewhere

In exceptional circumstances, a student may be given a leave of absence for the purpose of studying elsewhere. While appropriate credit may be allowed for course work completed elsewhere with a grade of B or better in a graduate program, the period involved will not reduce the UC San Diego academic residence requirement of six academic quarters for literature and visual arts and eight quarters for theatre and dance.

Doctoral Degrees

Doctor of Audiology (AuD)

The AuD is a professional doctoral degree offered jointly with San Diego State University (SDSU). The four-year degree program is designed for individuals who intend to specialize in clinical practice and to meet professional standards requiring a clinical doctorate as the entry-level degree for a certified audiologist. Graduates of this program will have the knowledge base, research exposure, and advanced clinical skills to enter the workforce in any setting and will be prepared to function as independent audiology professionals in the expanding health care arena. For degree requirements and curriculum, please refer to the Audiology section in this catalog.

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The EdD is a professional doctoral degree in which regional professional educators gain content knowledge as well as specific skills related to instructional leadership within the K–12 and postsecondary educational community. Advanced EdD students will conduct research on professional practice within their own institution addressing specific local problems that have national implications for education. For degree requirements and curriculum, please refer to the Department of Education Studies section in this catalog.

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)

The DMA degree is a professional doctoral degree that emphasizes the dual preparation for professional careers in the performance of contemporary music, as well as in the equally demanding area of teaching these skills on an advanced level. Candidates for this degree are expected to demonstrate musical excellence, artistic maturity, and the capability for doing original scholarly work. For degree requirements and curriculum, please refer to the Department of Music section in this catalog.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The PhD degree is a research oriented doctoral degree that requires individual study and specialization within a field or the establishment of connections among fields. It is not awarded solely for the fulfillment of technical requirements such as academic residence and course work. Candidates are recommended for the doctorate in recognition of having mastered in depth the subject matter of their discipline and having demonstrated the ability to make original contributions to knowledge in their field of study. More generally, the degree constitutes an affidavit of critical aptitude in scholarship, imaginative enterprise in research, and proficiency in communication, including—in most departments—practice in teaching.

Program of Study

The student’s program of study is determined in consultation with the faculty adviser who supervises the student’s activities until the appointment of the doctoral committee. A doctoral program generally involves two stages.

The first stage requires at least three quarters of academic residence and is spent in fulfilling the requirements established by the Academic Senate and by the major department, group, or school. When the department considers the student ready to take the qualifying examination, it arranges for the appointment of a doctoral committee. Immediately upon passing the qualifying examination administered by the doctoral committee, the student advances to candidacy.

The second or in-candidacy stage is devoted primarily to independent study and research and to the preparation of the dissertation. A minimum interval of three quarters of academic residence must elapse between advancement to candidacy and the final defense and filing of the dissertation.

Foreign Language Requirements

Some doctoral programs require candidates to demonstrate language proficiency in one or more languages as part of the formal requirements for the degree. In these cases, the testing of proficiency is the responsibility of the department, group, or school concerned.

Doctoral Time Limits

All graduate students in doctoral programs are subject to campus policy on time limits to their degree. Each graduate program has three time limits pertaining to students’ academic progress toward the doctoral degree: (1) the registered time by which a student must advance to doctoral candidacy, (2) the registered time during which a doctoral student is eligible for financial support, and (3) the registered time by which a student must complete all doctoral requirements.

Students will not be permitted to continue in doctoral status beyond the precandidacy and total registered time limits. Students will not be permitted to receive UC San Diego-administered financial support beyond the support limit. Information about these time limits is given in the descriptions of each department’s graduate program in this catalog and departmental publications.

University policy requires that graduate students be continuously registered—unless on an approved leave of absence—from the first quarter of enrollment to completion of degree requirements. (See Continuous Registration and Leave of Absence/Extension.)

For purposes of calculating when precandidacy, support, and total registered time limits are reached, accrued time is the elapsed time from first enrollment as a graduate student at UC San Diego less up to three quarters approved leave of absence. Time spent in graduate study at another institution or University of California campus prior to beginning graduate study at UC San Diego will not count toward accrued time, with the exception of students entering the doctoral program in electrical engineering, computer science, or music who have earned a master’s degree in that discipline. All of the following will count toward accrued time: time spent at UC San Diego as a master’s, non-degree, or intercampus exchange graduate student; time spent on leave beyond three quarters; time spent between completion of or withdrawal from a graduate program at UC San Diego and readmission.

Further information may be obtained from departmental graduate coordinators or the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Academic Residence

The minimum residence requirement for a doctoral degree is six quarters, three of which must be in continuous academic residence at UC San Diego. Residency is established by the satisfactory completion of six units or more per quarter, at least some of which must be at the graduate level. Joint doctoral students meet the UC San Diego academic residency requirement by successfully completing a minimum of thirty-six units of course work at UC San Diego.

A candidate must be registered in the final quarter in which the degree is to be awarded. (See Registration in the Final Quarter.)

The Doctoral Committee

At least two weeks prior to a scheduled qualifying examination, the department requests approval for the appointment of the doctoral committee by the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. This committee conducts the qualifying examination, supervises the preparation and approval of the dissertation, and administers the dissertation defense.

The committee consists of at least four members with faculty appointments at UC San Diego. At least one committee member must have their primary appointment in a different department than the one in which the candidate’s dissertation adviser/committee chair holds their primary appointment. In addition, at least two members must be from the department or program in which the student is enrolled, and at least one doctoral committee member must be tenured or emeritus. Consult the departmental graduate coordinator or the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs for further details.

Reconstituted Doctoral Committee

For a variety of reasons, a doctoral committee may need to be reconstituted. At least two weeks prior to a scheduled qualifying examination or defense of the dissertation, the department requests approval for the reconstitution of the doctoral committee from the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. The request must adhere to the same requirements listed above and must include the reason(s) for requesting the change.

Qualifying Examination and Advancement to Candidacy

The doctoral committee administers the qualifying examination and authorizes the issuance of the Report of the Qualifying Examination and Advancement to Candidacy. Formal advancement to candidacy requires the student to pay a candidacy fee once the form has been submitted to the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs for approval; the candidacy fee will be assessed to the student’s financial account. Students must maintain a GPA equivalent to 3.0 or better in upper-division and graduate course work with a total of no more than eight units of F and/or U grades in order to take the qualifying examination and advance to candidacy.

If the committee does not issue a unanimous report on the examination, the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs shall be called upon to review and present the case for resolution to the Graduate Council, which shall determine appropriate action.

Dissertation and Final Examination

A draft of the doctoral dissertation should be submitted to each member of the doctoral committee at least four weeks before the final examination. The form of the final draft must conform to procedures outlined in the publication, Preparation and Submission Manual for Doctoral Dissertations and Master’s Theses.

The doctoral committee shall supervise and approve the candidate’s dissertation, and conduct the final oral defense, which shall be public and so announced.

The Report of the Final Examination and Filing of the Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree form is initiated by the department, group, or school, signed by all members of the doctoral committee, and the chair of the (major) department, group, or school.

The candidate submits the dissertation to the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. Final approval and acceptance of the dissertation by the graduate dean (on behalf of the university archivist and Graduate Council) represent the final steps in the completion of all requirements by the candidate for a doctoral degree. All dissertations submitted in partial satisfaction of doctoral degree requirements shall be catalogued with the university library and submitted to ProQuest for publication.

Candidate in Philosophy Degree

In several departments, as approved by the Graduate Council, the intermediate degree of candidate in philosophy (CPhil) is awarded to students upon advancement to candidacy for the PhD. The minimum residence requirement for this degree is four quarters of continuous academic residence at UC San Diego. The CPhil cannot be conferred simultaneously with or following the award of a PhD.

Postgraduate Appointments

A UC San Diego graduate student is not eligible for any UC San Diego postdoctoral appointment until all requirements for the doctoral degree have been completed. Such appointments may begin after the university archivist has accepted the dissertation and the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs has accepted the final report.

Registration in the Final Quarter for the Award of the Degree

A student completing course work, using university facilities including the library, or making any demands upon faculty time (other than final reading of the thesis or dissertation, or administering the comprehensive or doctoral examination), must register in the final quarter in which the degree is to be conferred.

Filing Fee

A student registered in the immediately preceding quarter, or on an approved leave of absence who has completed all requirements except for the final reading of the dissertation or thesis or the taking of the final examination is eligible to pay a filing fee in lieu of registering and paying all required fees in the final quarter. The filing fee applies to both residents and nonresidents. Students should check with their graduate program or with the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs regarding payment of the filing fee.

Special Degree Programs

Graduate Programs in the Health Sciences

UC San Diego offers research training programs in the health sciences leading to the doctor of philosophy degree. The purpose of these graduate programs is to prepare students for careers in research and teaching in the basic medical sciences. Program requirements are flexible, consisting of graduate courses and supervised laboratory or clinical investigation. Graduate programs in the health sciences are offered by (1) regular campuswide departments with activities related to the health sciences, for example, the Departments of Bioengineering, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Psychology and (2) interdisciplinary groups of faculties drawn from the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, the School of Medicine, and from campuswide departments or from San Diego State University.

The following departments or interdisciplinary graduate groups provide research-training opportunities in the biomedical sciences and should be contacted directly for further information: biomedical sciences, biochemistry (in either biology or chemistry and biochemistry), bioengineering, bioinformatics, biology, biophysics, biostatistics, chemistry, clinical psychology, medicine, neurosciences, physics, psychology, public health (in epidemiology, global health, or health behavior), and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

PhD-MD Program

Students may meet the requirements for both the PhD and MD in programs offered jointly by the School of Medicine and the graduate programs in the health sciences. In most cases, students are first admitted to the School of Medicine and may then apply for admission to a relevant graduate program. However, those students who wish to be considered for admission to the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) may apply for admission to the School of Medicine and the MSTP concurrently.

Elements of the first two years of the medical school curriculum satisfy many of the requirements of the graduate program, but additional courses will be required. Thus, the student must complete requirements for the PhD in accordance with the regulations of a department or a group and must in addition meet the requirements for the professional degree. Students interested in such programs should consult the associate dean for Student Affairs, School of Medicine.

Joint Doctoral Programs

Certain departments of the University of California cooperate with similar departments on several campuses in the California State University System to offer joint programs of study leading to the doctoral degree. At UC San Diego, joint doctoral programs in audiology, biology, chemistry, clinical psychology, engineering sciences, geophysics, interdisciplinary research on substance use, language and communicative disorders, mathematics and science education, and public health (in epidemiology, global health, or health behavior) are currently offered in conjunction with San Diego State University, and in educational leadership in conjunction with California State University, San Marcos. A PhD in drama and theatre is offered in conjunction with University of California, Irvine. Applicants interested in these joint programs should consult the UC San Diego Departments of Bioengineering, Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Education Studies, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Medicine, the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, Structural Engineering, Surgery, or Theatre and Dance; or the San Diego State University Office of the Dean, College of Engineering; the Department of Psychology; the Center for Research in Mathematics and Science Education; the School of Public Health; or the School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Joint doctoral students meet the UC San Diego academic residency requirement by successfully completing a minimum of thirty-six units of course work at UC San Diego.

Special Programs

Intercampus Exchange Program for Graduate Students

A graduate student registered on any campus of the University of California, who wishes to take advantage of educational opportunities for study and research available on another campus in the UC system, must apply to become an intercampus exchange student on that UC campus. UC San Diego students must have completed at least one quarter of study and be in good standing prior to beginning an exchange.

Informal arrangements between departmental faculty on the two campuses must be undertaken prior to submission of a student’s application to ensure that space in desired courses, seminars, or facilities will be available.

NO LATER THAN FOUR WEEKS PRIOR to the opening of the term on the host campus, a student must complete the UC Intercampus Exchange Program Application, available online. This application, approved by the student’s departmental graduate adviser and the graduate dean of the home campus, is forwarded for approval by the department and the graduate dean on the host campus.

Students participating in an intercampus exchange must pay all required fees and enroll as appropriate at the home campus. Evidence of fee payment, at the home campus, must be presented to enroll in classes at the host campus.

An exchange student is not admitted to graduate standing at the host campus but is considered a graduate student in residence at the home campus. Grades obtained in courses taken by the student enrolled in the intercampus graduate student exchange program are transferred to the home campus for entry on the student’s official record. Library, health center, and other student privileges are extended by the host campus.

Education Abroad Program and the Opportunities Abroad Program

Graduate students may apply to study at most Education Abroad Program (EAP) host institutions, provided that they meet EAP requirements and have completed at least one year of graduate work prior to departure, are in good standing, and have the support of their academic department and graduate dean. Students pay fees to the University of California and are enrolled at UC San Diego while abroad. Full academic credit is received for courses satisfactorily completed.

For a detailed list of the countries with EAP study centers and for study abroad information, see Education Abroad Program.

At UC San Diego, complete information and application forms for the various overseas campuses may be obtained from the Study Abroad UC San Diego Office, Global Initiatives, University Center. (See Study Abroad UC San Diego Office.) In addition, the Study Abroad UC San Diego Office also offers information and advisory services to graduate and undergraduate students interested in pursuing other activities involving study, research, work, or travel abroad.

In Absentia Registration

(Other than Intercampus Exchange Program)

If the research and study program of a graduate student requires being outside the state of California or outside the designated local campus region for an extended period of a minimum of one quarter, the student may apply for in absentia registration (the research location must be outside of California or outside the following counties in California: San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Imperial, and San Bernardino). During such periods, a student is required to remain a registered student at UC San Diego and to carry twelve units of course work or research. Fifteen percent of the combined tuition and student services fee will be assessed. All required tuition and fees including, but not limited to the campus-based fees, health insurance fee, and nonresident supplemental tuition, if applicable, must be paid.

A graduate student who holds a fellowship, traineeship, or a research assistantship and desires to register in absentia may do so under the following circumstances: The student must obtain the approvals of the academic department and the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs and agree to comply with the rules and regulations governing the award or appointment.

Regulations concerning accepting additional awards or compensation for appointments as outlined under the financial assistance section apply to in absentia registration.

UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies

Students wishing to use UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies course work taken prior to admission at UC San Diego as a graduate student in partial satisfaction of requirements for a master’s degree must file a Transfer Credit Request with the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. Acceptance of such course work is subject to the regulations on transferring credit (which are described elsewhere in this catalog), the recommendation of the major department, and approval of the graduate dean, and will be considered upon satisfactory completion of course work in a regular session.

Postdoctoral Education

Postdoctoral education emphasizes scholarship and continued research training for individuals who have recently completed a doctoral degree. The postdoctoral scholar conducts research under the general oversight of a faculty mentor in preparation for a career position in academe, industry, government, or the nonprofit sector.

The Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs has responsibility for the administrative management of the postdoctoral scholar program. Interested candidates should directly contact the department, research unit, or faculty member for information on available positions or training opportunities. The department or research unit initiates all appointments.

Postdoctoral scholars are eligible for the UC postdoctoral scholar benefits program, academic photo identification card, and access to campus resources (library, recreation facilities, etc.).

Registration Requirements and Procedures

Standards of Scholarship

Only upper-division, graduate, and professional courses in which grades of A, B, C (including plus [+] or minus [–]), D, or S (Satisfactory) are earned can be counted in satisfaction of the requirements for a higher degree. An Incomplete grade, as well as a blank grade, will automatically lapse to an F or U if it has not been changed by the end of the following quarter. Students should regularly examine their transcript and consult with instructors and the department to clarify any discrepancies.

A student’s grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the total number of grade points earned by the total unit value of graded courses undertaken at UC San Diego with the exception of those undertaken in UC San Diego Extension (see Grading).

Grades of S, U, I, IP, NR, and W are excluded in computing a grade point average. Lower-division course work units are not used in satisfying program requirements for a higher degree, with the exception of language courses taken by students in the MIA program.

Each department or group prepares, not later than the second week of each spring quarter, a detailed, written evaluation of each of its doctoral or MFA students. These evaluations are designed to inform students of their progress and to improve communications between faculty and graduate students. Evaluations are discussed with students who may elect to add written comments before signing the evaluation, which is submitted to the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. A student’s signature on the evaluation indicates knowledge of the assessment but does not necessarily signify agreement.

To be in good standing academically a graduate student must meet university and departmental standards including:

maintain a GPA of 3.0 or the equivalent in upper-division, graduate, and professional course work, and must not have accumulated more than a total of eight units of F and/or U grades overall, unless departmental standards specify more stringent grade requirements
a satisfactory annual spring evaluation (doctoral and MFA students only)
maintain satisfactory progress toward completion of degree requirements, as defined by the graduate program, the student’s faculty adviser, and/or the student’s committee (if applicable)
satisfy examination and other program requirements, as defined by the student’s graduate program
identify an eligible faculty member who agrees to guide the student’s research and to serve as chair of the dissertation/thesis committee, according to the time period specified by the student’s graduate program
advance to candidacy (if applicable) and complete the degree, within the established time limits specified by the student’s graduate program
comply with conditions set at the time of admission to the student’s graduate degree program

Some requirements may only be applicable to doctoral, MFA, and master’s thesis students. Students should check with their graduate program to confirm all applicable policies to be in good academic standing.

Good standing is a requirement for

holding academic appointments (e.g., GSR, IA)
holding fellowship, scholarship, or traineeship appointments
participating in the Education Abroad Program (EAP) or UC Intercampus Exchange program
advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
going on a leave of absence
receiving a graduate degree from UC San Diego

Graduate students who are not in good standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or disqualification from further graduate study.

Enrollment

All students must enroll and pay tuition and fees on or before the deadline dates established by the Office of the Registrar for each quarter. Enrollment materials are obtained at the major department. See Schedule of Classes for current deadlines.

Full-Time Student

A full-time student is required to be registered for twelve units each quarter of each academic year until the completion of all requirements for the degree, including the filing of the thesis or dissertation.

Part-Time Student

A part-time student is enrolled in fewer than twelve units a quarter but is admitted as a regular student. A part-time student must pay full tuition and fees unless approved by the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs to enroll in half-time status for six units or fewer. A student must file the petition for half-time study with the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs no later than the last day of the second week of the quarter to be eligible for reduced tuition and fees. See Part-Time Study, Including Half-Time.

Schedule of Classes

Detailed information on registration and enrollment procedures is contained in the quarterly Schedule of Classes, found on the Office of Admissions and Records homepage. (See Schedule of Classes.) It is the responsibility of each graduate student to keep informed of and meet all enrollment and registration (tuition and fee payment) deadlines.

Registration Procedures

Students are considered enrolled when they have requested at least one course and space in it has been reserved. Every effort will be made to enroll students in their preferred class sections. Students are not considered registered until they have both enrolled in classes and paid registration fees.

Continuous Registration

All graduate students are required to be registered each quarter until all degree requirements have been completed, including filing of the thesis or dissertation and the final examination, or to be on an approved leave of absence.

A student who fails to register or to file an approved Leave of Absence form by the registrar’s deadline date (no later than the end of the second week each quarter) will be assumed to be withdrawn from UC San Diego and will be dropped from the official register of graduate students. In addition, all outstanding Incomplete grades, and NRs assigned by the registrar, will lapse to Fs or Us unless cleared by the end of the current quarter. A student who is on leave of absence or who has withdrawn from the university is not entitled to withdraw books from the library or to use other university facilities or faculty time. A student who is withdrawn must petition for readmission to resume study at a later date, pay the nonrefundable readmission fee, and be considered for readmission with all others requesting admission to that quarter.

Payment of Registration Fees

Please refer to the Payment of Fees section in the Undergraduate and Graduate Registration portion of this catalog or the quarterly Schedule of Classes, which outlines procedures for payment of registration fees.

Doctoral degree candidacy may lapse for graduate students who fail to register and are not granted a formal leave of absence. To be reinstated to candidacy, a graduate student must be readmitted, enroll and register, be re-advanced to candidacy, and pay the candidacy fee.

Changes in Course Selection

Add/drop changes in class enrollment must be filed with the Office of the Registrar in order for the student to receive credit for added courses and be relieved of responsibility for dropped courses. Please refer to the Enrolling in Classes portion of the registrar’s website for additional information.

Enrollment Limits

A full-time graduate student in a regular quarter is expected to enroll in twelve units of upper-division or graduate course work with the exception that in the School of Global Policy and Strategy the normal course load is sixteen units. A student who wishes to take units in excess of these limits must obtain the approval of the graduate adviser or department chair.

Graduate students holding appointments above 25 percent as graduate student researchers, teaching assistants, language assistants, readers, or other employment titles, or who receive support from traineeships, fellowships, or scholarships paid through the university or directly to the student, must enroll and register for twelve units of upper-division and/or graduate course work and research each quarter.

Teaching units (500 series) above the full-time program of twelve units are not considered an overload.

Graduate students approved for half-time study are limited to a maximum of six units of upper-division or graduate course work each quarter.

Changes of Name or Address

Students must file official change of name with the Office of the Registrar. (See Changing Your Name in University Records.) Students update their current or permanent address on their own TritonLink account.

Leave of Absence/Extension

A student who discontinues graduate study with the intention of resuming during a later quarter, with department approval, files a formal Leave of Absence/Extension form prior to leaving the campus. Graduate students must have completed at least one quarter of academic residence and be in good standing (GPA 3.0 minimum or equivalent and no more than eight units of U or F) to be granted a leave. All graduate students are limited to a maximum of three quarters of leave.

Prior to the end of the second week of instruction of the quarter in which the leave is to begin, a student must complete a Leave of Absence form and obtain required signatures as listed under the clearance section of the form, and the approvals of the graduate adviser or chair of the (major) department, group, or school, and dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. Tuition and fee refund will be subject to the refund schedule. (See Schedule of Refunds.) A graduate student who enrolled in classes before requesting a leave of absence must also request a withdrawal from course work for the quarter of leave to avoid paying tuition and fees for that quarter. Graduate students may request an extension of an approved leave prior to the expiration of the leave, up to the maximum of three quarters in all degree programs. For an extension of an approved leave, the student must complete a new Leave of Absence form and obtain the signatures of the graduate adviser or chair of (major) department, and dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Parenting Leave

During the quarter in which childbirth or adoption occurs, a graduate student may choose one of the following registration options:

Continue registering as a full-time graduate student and retain eligibility for support.
Reduce to part-time status (less than twelve units) and be eligible for up to 25 percent time employment on campus.
Take a leave of absence.

During or after the quarter in which childbirth or adoption occurs, a graduate student who has primary responsibility for caring for a child up to the age of five will be granted, on request, a leave of absence for the purpose of caring for the child for a maximum of three quarters.

The total amount of time for which graduate students may receive extensions of time limits for parenting or childbearing may not exceed three quarters in a graduate student’s career at UC San Diego. Approved leaves for childbearing and parenting will not count in the three-quarter leave limit available to all graduate students.

In all types of approved leaves of absence, a student who has a long-term loan is considered to be out of school while on a leave of absence and must set up an exit interview with the Loan Records Office before leaving the campus. Since rules and regulations pertaining to such loans are complex, it is to the student’s advantage to determine loan requirements prior to seeking a leave of absence.

A student on leave of absence may not (1) be employed by UC San Diego, UC San Diego Medical Center, or UC Extension, or hold a fellowship, traineeship, or similar appointment administered by the university, (2) use university facilities, (3) complete a qualifying examination for advancement to candidacy, or (4) place demands on faculty, including discussion of thesis or dissertation work, either directly or by correspondence, during the period of leave.

A student may remain in student housing while on an approved leave of absence providing he or she has been a full-time student (twelve units or more) for three consecutive quarters immediately prior to the leave of absence and is eligible for university housing.

Students must return all borrowed library material if requesting a leave of absence or withdrawing.

Any student on an approved leave of absence must contact his or her major department to be reinstated and cleared for enrollment and registration.

A new statement of legal residence is required for all graduate students returning from a leave of absence of two quarters or more.

Withdrawal

Students withdrawing from the university must complete a Withdrawal form and obtain required signatures as listed under the clearance section of the form. The approved form must be filed with the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs.

Tuition and fee refund will be subject to the refund schedule. (See Schedule of Refunds.)

A registered student who stops attending classes and fails to file a Leave of Absence, Extension, and/or Withdrawal form will receive a grade of F or U in each course, thus jeopardizing eligibility for readmission.

Bar from Registration/Nonacademic

After suitable warning, a student may be barred from further registration for a variety of nonacademic reasons, including failure to comply with official notices, to settle financial obligations when due, to provide final undergraduate transcripts, or other related matters.

Bar from Registration/Academic

Academic disqualification is determined by the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs in consultation with the student’s department, and normally relates to: unsatisfactory academic performance, e.g., failure to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better; failure to meet departmental criteria of performance; failure to advance to candidacy or complete the degree within established time limits; accumulation of more than eight units of F or U grades; or failure to comply with conditions set at the time of admission to a graduate degree program.

General Policies and Requirements

Integrity of Scholarship

See UC San Diego Policy on Integrity of Scholarship.

Student Conduct

Graduate students enrolling in the university assume an obligation to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the university’s function as an educational institution. Rules concerning student conduct, student organizations, use of university facilities, and related matters are set forth in UC San Diego campus regulations applying to campus activities, organizations, and students. These are available online on the Center for Student Accountability, Growth, and Education website.

Student Appeals

Academic Appeals

The faculty of a department or program has primary responsibility for maintaining the excellence of graduate programs, and it is in the best position to judge its students’ academic performance. Consequently, a graduate student appeal of an academic decision should first be made to the individual faculty member who made the decision. If this does not result in a resolution that is satisfactory to the student, he or she may appeal to the department or program chair. Graduate students may appeal a course grade or doctoral or master’s qualifying or final exam result only if he or she believes that nonacademic criteria were applied in determining the course or exam grade. A student who wishes to appeal a course grade or exam result should follow the procedure described in Grade Appeals.

Nonacademic Appeals

Graduate students may appeal actions of departments, programs, individual faculty members, or administrators relating to a student’s academic standing or financial support if they believe and can provide evidence indicating that

due process was not followed in arriving at a decision, or
personal prejudice affected the judgment rendered.

A nonacademic appeal may be submitted to the department or program chair, individual faculty member, or administrator within one month of the date of learning of the action or the date that the student should have reasonably known of the action.

If an appeal to an individual faculty member or administrator is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, he or she may then submit a written appeal to the department or program chair, who shall attempt to adjudicate the case with the faculty member or administrator and the student within two weeks.

If the appeal is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction at the department or program level, he or she may then attempt to resolve the matter through written appeal to the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs.

The student’s request for the dean’s review should include a written statement describing the nature of the grievance, along with copies of any and all documents in the student's possession supporting the grievance. Students are encouraged to contact the assistant dean for Student Affairs in the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs for assistance with the appeal process.

The graduate dean will undertake a review of the appeal. The dean may take the appeal to the Graduate Council for review, which may extend the time required to reach a final resolution. The graduate dean shall communicate the decision on the appeal to the student in writing. The decision will be final and will conclude the appeal procedure.

Employment Appeals

Appeals by graduate student researchers, teaching assistants, readers, and tutors are covered by collective bargaining agreements that may be viewed at the UCOP Human Resources and Benefits website.

Other Appeals

Grievances concerning violations of student rights are covered by the Student Grievance Procedures. Examples of violations of students’ rights include those affecting rights to privacy or protection from discrimination. These grievances are handled by the Center for Student Accountability, Growth, and Education, (858) 534-6225.

Students who disagree with an instructor’s response to his or her request for disability accommodation may appeal the faculty decision or action to the Educational Policy Committee, as provided in the Academic Senate Bylaws and Regulations.

A student’s appeal of a grade based on disability discrimination follows the grade appeal process for resolution. A student’s challenge of any other action based on an alleged disability discrimination, must be lodged in accordance with student grievance procedures in the student conduct code.

Student rights grievances should be made promptly to the decision maker, if known to the student. If an appeal to an individual faculty member or administrator is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, he or she may submit a written appeal to the appropriate committee, governmental body, unit manager, supervisor, or designated representative for review and disposition. Such appeal must be made not later than one hundred calendar days from the date of the incident causing the grievance. If the appeal at this level is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the appeal may be continued as described in the Student Grievance Procedures.

Appeal and other rights for students accused of violating UC San Diego policies and procedures are outlined in the student conduct code.

Exceptions

A student may request an exception to the normal procedures and requirements governing graduate studies by submitting a General Petition, available from the department. The petition must state clearly the reasons for requesting the exception and bear all required approvals before being submitted to the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. All requests for exceptions supported by the graduate dean will be submitted to the Educational Policy Committee of the UC San Diego Academic Senate for consideration.

Requests for exceptions to time limits require a letter of explanation and support from the student’s research adviser, and support and justification from the program’s graduate adviser, and endorsement by the department or group chair. Such requests are submitted to the Graduate Council through the dean of the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. Exceptions to the time limits policy are granted only in the case of truly exceptional and unavoidable circumstances.