Physics: PhD degree

Program Overview

The Physics and Astronomy PhD programs at UCLA offer rigorous coursework, research opportunities, and teaching assistantships. Students in the Physics program complete core courses, a written comprehensive exam, and an oral qualifying exam before advancing to candidacy and writing a dissertation. Astronomy students take core courses, pass a comprehensive exam, and present a dissertation proposal before advancing to candidacy and completing their dissertation. Both programs emphasize original research and prepare graduates for careers in academia, research, and industry.

Program Outline

Outline:

Physics: PhD degree

• Course Requirements: Students are required to complete 36 units.
This includes six core courses (24 units), two required non-core courses (4 units), and two elective courses (8 units). No more than eight units may be chosen from Physics 596 and/or seminar courses. Physics 597 and 598 may not be applied toward course requirements for the M.S. degree.
• Written Comprehensive Examination: The written comprehensive exam is described in the program requirements.
For more information, please contact the department's graduate affairs office.
• Doctoral Committee: Doctoral committees are arranged by the student before the oral qualifying examination.
Students are encouraged to consult with their advisor for recommendations on committee members. To nominate a doctoral committee, please consult the minimum standards for doctoral committees and complete the nomination of doctoral committee form. The doctoral committee must be approved by Graduate Division before the oral qualifying examination.
• Oral Qualifying Examination: The oral qualifying examination is an oral presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation problem.
To schedule the oral qualifying exam, contact your advisor’s administrative assistant to book a room and time for the exam. After you have scheduled the exam, complete the preparation for oral qualifying exam link (http://www.pa.ucla.edu/content/preparation-qualifying-or-final-exam) at least two weeks prior to the date of the actual exam. Upon the successful completion of their oral qualifying examination, students are advanced to candidacy. Full-time students are expected to advance to candidacy by their 9th quarter in residence.
• 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.
• Final Oral Examination: A final oral examination (i.e.
defense) is required for all students in the program. Full-time students are expected to defend and submit their Ph.D. dissertations by their 18th quarter in residence. To schedule your defense, consult and complete the preparation for final oral exam form.

Astronomy: PhD degree

• Course Requirements: Students are required to take seven core courses (Astronomy 270, Astronomy 271, Astronomy 272, Astronomy 273, Astronomy 274, Astronomy 280, and Astronomy 281) and two elective courses from the following course options: Astronomy 275, Astronomy 276, Astronomy 282, Astronomy 283, and Astronomy 286.
Students are also strongly encouraged to take Astronomy 284 in each of their first two years of the program. Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 units per quarter and maintain a 3.0 GPA.
• Comprehensive Examination: The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to train students to perform research at the Ph.D. level and is designed to assess both research ability and general knowledge of astronomy and physics at the graduate level.
The comprehensive examination itself is comprised of a written component and an oral component. The written component is the culmination of the second-year research project. The oral component is the presentation of the second-year research project. During the oral presentation, students are expected to respond to questions on their research and to solve basic problems from all core areas of astrophysics. The oral presentation is conducted in the Spring quarter of students’ 2nd year by the comprehensive examination committee, appointed by the vice chair and consisting of three members.
• Doctoral Committee: Doctoral committees are arranged by the student before the oral qualifying examination.
Students are encouraged to consult with their advisor for recommendations on committee members. To nominate a doctoral committee, please consult the minimum standards for doctoral committees and complete the nomination of doctoral committee form. The doctoral committee must be approved by Graduate Division before the oral qualifying examination.
• Oral Qualifying Examination: The oral qualifying examination, the main purpose of which is to discuss and evaluate the student’s proposed dissertation problem, consists of a written component and an oral component.
The written component is a written proposal of a proposed dissertation topic. The oral component is the presentation of the written proposal. To schedule the oral qualifying exam, contact your advisor’s administrative assistant to book a room and time for the exam. After you have scheduled the exam, complete the preparation for oral qualifying exam form at least two weeks prior to the date of the actual exam. Upon the successful completion of their oral qualifying examination, students are advanced to candidacy. Full-time students are expected to advance to candidacy within 10 quarters.
• 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.
• Final Oral Examination: A final oral examination (i.e.
defense) is required for all students in the program. Full-time students are expected to defend and submit their Ph.D. dissertations by their 18th quarter in residence. To schedule your defense, consult and complete the preparation for final oral exam form.

Assessment:

• Physics: PhD degree
• Written Comprehensive Examination:
Assesses student's understanding of physics at the graduate level.
• Oral Qualifying Examination: Assesses student's proposed dissertation problem, their ability to present their research and defend it.
• Dissertation: Evaluated based on originality, independence of research, and contribution to knowledge in the field of study.
• Final Oral Examination: Evaluates student's research and their ability to defend it.
• Astronomy: PhD degree
• Comprehensive Examination (Written and Oral):
Assesses student's research ability and knowledge of astronomy and physics at the graduate level.
• Oral Qualifying Examination (Written and Oral): Assesses student's proposed dissertation problem and their ability to present and defend it.
• Dissertation: Evaluated based on originality, independence of research, and contribution to knowledge in the field of study.
• Final Oral Examination: Evaluates student's research and their ability to defend it.

Teaching:

• Faculty: The department has a diverse faculty with expertise in various fields within physics and astronomy.
• Teaching Assistantships: Typically, graduate students are awarded at least a Teaching Assistantship for up to 12 quarters.
International students are eligible for a Teaching Assistantship after they pass the Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) administered by UCLA's Office of Instructional Development.

Other:

• General Guidelines for the Oral Qualifying Exam (Physics): Provides detailed guidance on the format and content of the oral qualifying exam, including advice on presentation, slide design, and practice talks.
• Average Class Size (Astronomy & Astrophysics PhD): The average Astronomy and Astrophysics PhD program class size is 6 domestic and 1 international.
• Funding for International Students (Astronomy & Astrophysics PhD): Graduate students from overseas in the Astronomy and Astrophysics PhD program are primarily funded by research grants and teaching assistant positions.
Applicants from overseas interested in applying to the Astronomy and Astrophysics PhD program are urged to contact specific faculty members whose research is of interest to see whether research assistant positions are available.
• Application Deadlines: The deadline to submit an application is December 15.
Scores and letters should reach the department by the first week in January.

Note:

The context primarily focuses on admissions requirements and the program structure. It lacks details about potential career paths, teaching methods, or specific program objectives, making these sections incomplete.