Molecular Toxicology

First year students take Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology 252A and 252B (Fall) and Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology 262A and 262B (Winter). In spring quarter, students take Environmental Health Sciences C240 and Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics C234 (or an equivalent ethics course). In all quarters of the first year, students take a three-unit seminar (Molecular Toxicology 211A in Fall, 211B in Winter, and 211C in Spring), and a six-unit laboratory rotation Molecular Toxicology 596 within the department of a faculty sponsor.

In the second or subsequent year, students take Molecular and Medical Pharmacology 237; and in winter quarter of their second or third year, students take Molecular Toxicology M242. Also, starting with the second year, students spend most of their time on dissertation research. Students must attain a grade of B- or better in all the above core courses and must pass all core courses (excluding courses offered every other year) within two years of entering the program, unless there are mitigating circumstances that prevent this; such cases are reviewed by the Faculty Advisory Committee.

All students are required to take one epidemiology course, unless the student has passed a course in epidemiology while an undergraduate or Master's student. This course can be Epidemiology 100 or another epidemiology course that is relevant to the student's area of research interest, and may be taken for S/U grading.

Students are required to complete Public Health 150 (letter graded), unless the student graduated from a Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accredited school or previously took and passed a course that covers the material of Public Health 150.

In addition to the course requirements listed here, students are expected to complete Molecular Toxicology 596, 597, and/or 599 during quarters in which research (596, 599) or study for written or oral examinations (597) is part of the program. Molecular Toxicology 596 is for students who have not passed their oral examinations; 599 is for those who have passed their oral examinations.

Teaching Experience

All students obtain instruction in teaching skills by serving as teaching assistants or readers for one quarter, typically during their second or third year. Exceptions to the timing of teaching are considered by the program's Steering Committee. Assignments are influenced by student preference and expertise.

Written and Oral Qualifying Examinations

Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass university written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Also, under Senate regulations, the University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to the student and appointed members of the doctoral committee. In addition to university requirements, some graduate programs have other pre-candidacy examination requirements. What follows in this section is how students are required to fulfill all of these requirements for this doctoral program.

All committee nominations and reconstitutions adhere to the Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution.

Both a written and oral qualifying examination are required. The format for the written qualifying examination consists of a research proposal on a topic that is approved by members of the doctoral committee. The doctoral committee consists of four faculty members, including the student's adviser who serves as chair. The adviser recommends the composition of the committee, which is appointed by the Graduate Division. The research proposal topic must be approved by the doctoral committee.

The University Oral Qualifying Examination is organized to question the candidate regarding the written proposal, and also to query the candidate in a more general way regarding scientific topics that should be common knowledge to a doctoral-level toxicologist. Two attempts are allowed to pass both the written and oral qualifying examinations.

Advancement to Candidacy

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

Doctoral Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student's ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

As a general guideline, the dissertation should consist of research equivalent to at least two peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals in the field.

Final Oral Examination (Defense of the Dissertation)

Required for all students in the program.

Time-to-Degree

The normative time for the degree is eighteen academic quarters. Students who fail to complete the dissertation in a timely manner are placed on probation within the program.

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.

Special Departmental or Program Policy

If a student should fail to find a faculty adviser within the Molecular Toxicology IDP by the end of four quarters in residence, or to maintain their faculty adviser, they will not be allowed to continue in the program. A recommendation for academic disqualification for a student who is not advanced to candidacy is made by the Faculty Advisory Committee. A recommendation for academic disqualification for a student who is advanced to candidacy is made by the doctoral committee. A student may appeal a recommendation for academic disqualification to the interdepartmental committee.

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.