Clinical Research

Master’s degree candidates, in both MSCR Track A and MSCR Track B, must complete a minimum of 48 units, including 32 units of required upper division and graduate courses; at least five of the courses must be graduate level (200 series).

The nine required courses for MSCR Track A are Biomathematics 170A, 259, M260A, M260B, M260C, M261, 266A, 266B, and either Biomath 265A or Statistics 102A. The nine required courses for MSCR Track B are Biomathematics 170A, M260C, M261, 266A, 266B, Bioengineering 220, M226, M227, and either Biomathematics 265A or Statistics 102A. Eight (8) units of elective courses are required and selected in consultation with and approval by assigned advisors. Eight (8) units of Biomath 596 are required for thesis research.

With the graduate program advisor’s approval, equivalent courses may be substituted to meet the program’s coursework requirements.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

Students may choose between a Capstone Plan II (capstone: research report) or a Thesis Plan. For the Capstone Plan, a Master’s Report Committee will be constituted for each student. The Committee will have a chair and at least two other faculty members. Subject to approval of the committee, the capstone report can take on a variety of forms including a research article or a grant proposal. However, in all cases, the committee expects each Master’s Research Report would add to the body of knowledge in the student's clinical specialty. The Committee will supervise the preparation of the report and will meet with the student regularly to review progress. The final research report will be presented orally to the committee and the final written research report must be approved by the full committee.

Thesis Plan

Students may choose between a Capstone Plan II (capstone: research report) or a Thesis Plan.

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

A master's thesis committee consisting of a minimum of three faculty is nominated by the department and appointed by the Graduate Division. Students discuss with their adviser(s) their choice for the chair of the thesis committee (which must be a faculty within the Department of Biomathematics). The committee composition must be approved by the Executive Committee. The completed thesis is presented to the thesis committee for approval.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time to degree is 7 quarters. The maximum time to degree is 11 quarters. Exceptions require approval of the Executive Committee.

MAXIMUM TTD

Termination of Graduate Study and Appeal of Termination

University Policy

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

UCLA is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and by numerous special agencies. Information regarding the University's accreditation may be obtained from the Office of Academic Planning and Budget, 2107 Murphy Hall.