For information on graduate admission, see Graduate Programs on page 25.
The following introductory information is based on 2018-19 program requirements for UCLA graduate degrees. Complete program requirements are available on the graduate program requirements website. Students are subject to the detailed degree requirements as published in program requirements for the year in which they enter the program.
The Bioengineering Department offers Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Bioengineering.
A minimum of 13 courses (44 units) is required.
For the comprehensive plan, at least 11 courses must be from the 200 series, three of which must be Bioengineering 299 courses. Students must also take one 495 course. One 100-series course may be applied toward the total course and unit requirement. No units of 500-series courses may be applied toward the minimum course requirements except for the field of medical imaging informatics where 2 units of course 597A are required.
For the thesis plan, at least 10 of the 13 courses must be from the 200 series, three of which must be Bioengineering 299 courses. Students must also take two 598 courses involving work on the thesis and one 495 course.
To remain in good academic standing, M.S. students must maintain an overall grade-point average of 3.0 and a grade-point average of 3.0 in graduate courses.
The comprehensive examination plan is available in all fields, and requirements vary for each field. Specific details are available from the graduate adviser. Students who fail the examination may repeat it once only, subject to the approval of the faculty examination committee. Students who fail the examination twice are not permitted to submit a thesis and are subject to termination. The oral component of the Ph.D. preliminary examination is not required for the M.S. degree.
Every master's degree thesis plan requires the completion of an approved thesis that demonstrates student ability to perform original independent research. New students who select this plan are expected to submit the name of the thesis adviser to the graduate adviser by the end of their first term in residence. The thesis adviser serves as chair of the thesis committee.
A research thesis (8 units of Bioengineering 598) is to be written on a bioengineering topic approved by the thesis adviser. The thesis committee consists of the thesis adviser and two other qualified faculty members who are selected from a current list of designated members for the graduate program.
To complete the Ph.D. degree, all students must fulfill minimum University requirements. Students must pass the Ph.D. preliminary examination, University Oral Qualifying Examination, and final oral examination, and complete the courses in Group I, Group II, and Group III under Fields of Study below. Also see Course Requirements under Bioengineering M.S. Students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.25 or better in all courses.
Academic Senate regulations require all doctoral students to complete and pass University written and oral qualifying examinations prior to doctoral advancement to candidacy. Under Senate regulations the University Oral Qualifying Examination is open only to students and appointed members of their doctoral committees. In addition to University requirements, some graduate programs have other precandidacy examination requirements. What follows are the requirements for this doctoral program.
The Ph.D. preliminary examination tests a core body of knowledge, and requirements vary for each field. Specific details are available from the graduate adviser. Students who fail the examination may repeat it once only, subject to the approval of the faculty examination committee. Students who fail the examination twice are subject to a recommendation for termination.
Within three terms after passing the Ph.D. preliminary examination, students are strongly encouraged to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. The nature and content of the examination are at the discretion of the doctoral committee, but ordinarily include a broad inquiry into student preparation for research. The doctoral committee also reviews the prospectus of the dissertation at the oral qualifying examination.
A doctoral committee consists of a minimum of four qualified UCLA faculty members. Three members, including the chair, are selected from a current list of designated inside members for the graduate program. The outside member must be a qualified UCLA faculty member who does not appear on this list.
A final oral examination (defense of the dissertation) is required of all students.