Doctoral Studies | UCLA Graduate Programs (2024)

THE DOCTORAL EXPERIENCE

We offer six types of doctoral degrees in over eighty fields of study. Most of our doctoral degrees are PhDs;we also offer a Doctor of Education, Doctor of Environmental Science and Engineering, Doctor of Public Health, Doctor of Musical Arts, and Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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A Doctoraldegree at UCLA averages 5 years to complete. The first year tends to be foundational—with coursework designed to immerse yourincoming cohort into the field. During subsequent years, youwill complete coursework, take examinations, assemble a DoctoralCommittee chosen from faculty, advance to candidacy, and write a dissertation. It is also a time open to myriad research and professional development opportunities. Beloware the UCLA-wide steps. Details willvary by program.

COMPLETE COURSEWORK AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Doctoral programs vary widely in the number of required courses as well as additional requirements. Most programs use the first year to prepare students for their chosen field. Some programs conduct an end-of-the-year exam for each first-year cohort, while others evaluate student by courses, papers, and projects completed in that first year. In addition to being assigned a Student Affairs Officer (SAO) by your program, you’ll also mutually choose your Faculty Advisor. Generally this is a natural process where a student’s and a faculty member’s interests and areas of specialization align. This relationship is an important one, which lasts well beyond a student’s tenure at UCLA. In your first year, you’ll take courses with a wide variety of faculty and make lasting friendships with your cohort.

FINDFORMS FOR DOCTORALSTUDENTS

We’ve assembled all UCLA-wide forms that may be useful to a graduate student on a Master’s trackin one place:Forms for UCLA DoctoralStudents. Your specific program may provide additional forms for your use. Here are some of the most common.

  • Language Petition
  • Nomination of DoctoralCommittee
  • Reconstitution of DoctoralCommittee
  • Graduate Degree Petition
  • Leave of Absence
  • In Absentia
  • Filing Fee

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KNOW YOURPROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

To keep on track, a Doctoralstudent must meetspecific requirements for a student’sprogram.

Type the name of your program to jump straight to itsrequirements:

Your Program Requirements cover most things acurrent student needs to know in order to graduate on time.Our FAQsanswers a few common questions about program requirements. Any outstanding questions can be answered by your programthrough their website or from your Student AffairsOfficer (SAO).

If your programoffersa Master’s Degree along the path toward a Doctorate, you’ll berequired to initiate a specialized process and meet criteriaspecific to your program.

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NOMINATE YOUR DOCTORAL COMMITTEE

During your second or third year, you’ll begin assembling (nominating) your Doctoral Committee. Your committee is comprised of 4 or more faculty members (3 or more faculty members for professional (non-Ph.D.) doctoral committees) who are experts in your field who can guide you in your research. Some committee members will be on-campus while a few may be located at another academic institution. All committee members will be responsible for reviewing your work periodically, advising you on your direction and independent research, assessing your university oral qualifying exam, and approving your dissertation.

On occasion, your committee will fall out of compliance, in which case you’ll be required toreconstitute your Doctoralcommittee. Common reasons include when one of your committee members leaves her or his post at UCLA or when you or a current committee member decides that you’ll benefit more by working with a different faculty member.

For more about your doctoral committee, see the Graduate Council’s guideGraduate Student Academic Rights and ResponsibilitiesandStandards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA.

  • Minimum Standards for Doctoral Committee Constitution
  • Professional (Non-Ph.D.) Doctoral Committee Policy
  • Nomination of Doctoral Committee
  • Reconstitution of the Doctoral Committee and/or Change in Final Oral Examination Requirement

ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY

Becoming a doctoraldegree candidate is not a given. The first phase of your doctoral program is supervised by a faculty advisor or guidance committee. Your program will administer the written, and in some cases the program’s oral qualifying, exam after you complete courses and other preparatory work recommended or required by your program

Your doctoral committee may also require additional written exams. Only upon satisfactory completion of the written and oral qualifying requirements may you advance to candidacy. A student must also have met language requirements for advancement. This accomplishment generally happens between your second and fourth year.

  • Language Petition

CONTINUE PROGRESS TOWARD YOUR DOCTORAL DEGREE

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With the guidance of your Doctoral Committee, you’ll conduct fieldwork, research, writing, and independent study all the way up through your dissertation.

While you’re completing your degree,keep an eye on your future. Be sure to participate in the great career and professional development events and resources at UCLA.

DEFENDING YOUR DISSERTATION

Some programs require you to present your dissertation to your doctoral committee in a time-honored event called the final oral examination (or final defense). To find out if your program has this requirement,consultyour program requirements for the year you were admitted (see KNOW YOUR PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS above).

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FILE YOUR DISSERTATION

You will complete an approved doctoral dissertation that demonstrates your ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in your principal field of study.

CELEBRATE YOUR GRADUATION

Doctoral Degrees are awarded four times a year, and are integrated into a single commencement—called the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony—held once each year at the beginning of June.UCLA Graduate Commencement for DoctoralStudentsis where you’ll find info about tickets, locations, schedule, parking, and dress code (including caps and gowns). For information on commencement ceremonies hosted by various graduate departments and programs, search for your program on this year’s schedule.

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YOUR FUTURE

Once you graduate, our support continues. You’ll find great resources, guidance, career support, and opportunities to network with fellow graduates throughUCLA’sAlumni Association.

To network with fellow alumni and learn about meetups and events, like our UCLA Alumni Facebook page. and follow UCLA Alumnion Twitter.

Doctoral Studies | UCLA Graduate Programs (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between graduate studies and doctoral studies? ›

The focus of master's degrees and doctorate degrees is different. A master's degree is designed to deepen career-oriented knowledge and skills. A doctorate degree is a heavily research-based degree, designed to develop critical research,analytical and writing skills in an effort to fill industry knowledge gaps.

Is a doctoral program a graduate program? ›

Many fall into one of two camps: doctorates and master's degrees. Both graduate degrees offer a narrower educational focus than the undergraduate experience. The higher the degree, the longer it takes to earn and the more specialized is its focus.

How many years is a doctoral degree? ›

A doctorate degree typically takes four to six years to complete—however, this timing depends on the program design, the subject area you're studying, and the institution offering the program.

Does a PhD count as a graduate degree? ›

Graduate schools offer master's and doctoral degree programs, which often require original research. There are also graduate certificates and other qualifications you can get after your bachelors that are considered graduate courses. The various types of graduate degrees available are: PhDs.

What is the difference between PhD and doctoral studies? ›

A PhD is an academic degree focused on original research, data analysis, and the evaluation of theory. A professional doctorate focuses on applying research to practical problems, formulating solutions to complex issues, and designing effective professional practices within your field.

Can you get a PhD without a dissertation? ›

You can also earn a doctorate without completing a dissertation, depending on the program. Many professional doctorates do not require a dissertation. In fields such as business, psychology, and education, you can choose between a practice-focused doctorate with no dissertation or a Ph.

Can I skip Masters and go straight to PhD? ›

The short answer is that it is possible to do a PhD without a Masters. The long answer is that it is dependent on your personal experience, your subject area, the duration of your PhD programme and the location, as requirements can vary by country.

Is a PhD harder than a Masters? ›

However, generally speaking, many find PhDs harder due to the time and effort required in addition to the research focus in place of the emphasis on coursework. The prospect of undertaking a three to four-year commitment (or six to seven years if you are studying part-time) can also take its toll on doctoral students.

Does a doctorate make you a doctor? ›

A doctoral degree (PhD) is a degree that one earns after a master's degree. A PhD entitles a person to use the title doctor.

How much does it cost to get a doctorate degree? ›

According to the Education Data Initiative, the cost of a doctorate depends on the institution and the state it's in, the field of study (type of degree), the length of the program, and whether or not financial assistance is available. However, the average cost of a Ph. D. is estimated to be around $106,860.

How fast can you get a doctorate? ›

A PhD program typically takes four to seven years, but a variety of factors can impact that timeline. A PhD, or doctorate degree, is the highest degree you can earn in certain disciplines, such as psychology, engineering, education, and mathematics.

Is there a 2 year PhD? ›

While one-year doctoral programs are quite rare, there are a few colleges and universities that offer two-year doctoral programs in select academic areas with varying requirements.

Do PhDs make more money than Masters? ›

D. can be $30,000 higher per year than those with just a master's degree. This is largely due to the level of knowledge that is required to take on high-paying roles in these fields.

Which is higher a PhD or a doctorate? ›

The PhD, also known as the Doctor of Philosophy, is a research degree, which is one of the most common types of doctoral degrees, and is awarded to graduates in many different fields. For those asking, “Is a PhD higher than a doctorate?” the answer is simple: no.

Is PhD cheaper than Masters? ›

Also, many people assume that a PhD is more expensive than a master's. However, neither of these assumptions are accurate. A PhD can lead to high-level positions in almost any non-academic industry and many PhD programs offer full scholarships, typically referred to as “full funding.”

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