Physiological Science

Students are required to complete nine courses (36 units), including a second level statistics or research design course approved by the department, a four-unit graduate-level didactic course in molecular biology, Integrative Biology and Physiology 289A-289B, and Integrative Biology and Physiology 270A-270B. Prior completion of Integrative Biology and Physiology 111A-111B (or equivalent) is highly recommended. Should students elect not to take 111A-111B, students must satisfy the physiology course requirement by taking two upper division electives from the pre-approved course list. Consult the department’s SAO for a detailed course list. A minimum of six (24 units) of the nine courses must be graduate level (200-series) courses, toward which two letter-graded 596 courses may be applied. Elective course work is selected by the student and the student's research mentor, with approval by the graduate affairs committee. All course work must be completed by the end of the second year. Integrative Biology and Physiology 598 may not be applied toward any of the course requirements for the degree. There is no limit on the number of times a master's student may enroll in course 598.

Teaching Experience

Not required.

Field Experience

Not required.

Capstone Plan

None.

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.

Successful completion of the thesis plan requires completion of the required course work, selected by the student and the student's research mentor, with approval of the student's advisory (thesis) committee and the graduate affairs committee, and a master's thesis. The student advisory (thesis) committee is formed by the end of the first quarter following matriculation and consists of the student's research mentor from the department and two or more regular series faculty, at least one of whom must hold an appointment in the department.

Students complete a master's thesis based on original laboratory research in a specific area of physiology. If students have made a good faith effort to complete a laboratory research project but are unable to do so because of circumstances beyond their control, they may petition the Graduate Affairs Committee for approval to submit a non-laboratory research thesis. Approval is granted only under exceptional circumstances. Non-laboratory theses are based on the study of the primary research literature in a current question in modern physiology. Students who are granted approval to submit a non-laboratory thesis are required to make an oral presentation of the thesis topic to the advisory (thesis) committee.

With advisory (thesis) committee approval, students may submit either a thesis or a thesis based on a manuscript that is suitable for publication.

Time-to-Degree

Normal progress from graduate admission to completion of the required course work, is three to four quarters plus an additional one to three quarters for completion of the thesis. If preparation course work is necessary, as much as three additional quarters may be required. Students are normally expected to complete all requirements for the master's degree within seven quarters.

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

The Graduate Affairs Committee reviews the records of probationary students and may recommend termination, continuation on contract, or continuation on warning. A student may appeal a recommendation for termination to the Graduate Affairs Committee only with the support of a faculty adviser.

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.