GRADUATE EDUCATION
With the exception of programs conducted by the College of Medicine for the training of medical professionals, the Dean of Graduate Studies administers graduate education in accordance with academic policies established by the University of California, the Irvine Division of the Academic Senate, and the UCI Graduate Council, a standing committee of the Irvine Division of the Academic Senate. There is no separate graduate faculty at UCI; all graduate work is supervised by academic units and faculties which have concurrent responsibility for undergraduate education.
Information about graduate education at UCI is published here in the UCI General Catalogue, on the Office of Graduate Studies Web site, and in individual graduate program publications. The staff of the Office of Graduate Studies and departmental academic advisors are prepared to answer questions about admission, academic policies and procedures, graduate programs and degrees, financial assistance, student services, and other matters of concern to applicants or graduate students. The Office of Graduate Studies is located in 120 Administration Building; telephone (949) 824-4611; World Wide Web: http://www.rgs.uci.edu/grad.
The University of California believes that a diverse student and faculty population is integral to academic excellence. It is critical to promoting the lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives that are essential to advanced scholarly research. The University remains committed to expand outreach, recruitment, and retention efforts. Through the Office of Graduate Studies' diversity programs, steps are taken to increase the participation of diverse groups of Americans who have been disadvantaged in obtaining graduate education.
It is the goal of UCI's Office of Graduate Studies to award fellowships to many admitted students based upon merit or financial need. In addition, diversity fellowships for new and continuing graduate students are based on demonstrated scholastic achievement, full-time status, U.S. citizenship, and socioeconomic and educational limitations. Each academic department identifies those students whose scholarship, background, and life experiences can enhance the level of diversity within a department or discipline.
Admission to Graduate Standing
Applicants for admission to graduate study at UCI must apply for acceptance into a specific graduate program to work toward an advanced degree. An applicant can be considered for only one program during the application process. A general requirement for admission is that the applicant hold the degree of Bachelor of Arts, Letters, Philosophy, or Science (or an acceptable equivalent) from an accredited academic institution. A minimum grade point average of at least B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) is required.
Each applicant's file is comprehensively evaluated by the admissions committee of the applicant's specific graduate program on the basis of such factors as academic subject preparation, scholarship, letters of recommendation, test scores, and examples of previous work. One critical question is whether the applicant's academic objectives can reasonably be satisfied by a graduate program on this campus. Please note that the University of California does not have the capacity to accommodate all applicants who meet the minimum admission requirements.
Application Procedures
HOW TO APPLY
Prospective students should apply online using the Application for Graduate Study available at http://www.rgs.uci.edu/grad/. (Although a paper application may be obtained by contacting the specific academic department or program of interest, applicants are discouraged from submitting paper applications.)
The mandatory application fee is $60 and is not refundable under any circumstances. (Please note, however, that the application fee for the Graduate School of Management is $90.) Payment instructions are provided in both the electronic and paper versions of the application. Financial-need-based application fee waivers are available only for a few domestic students.
Detailed instructions for both the electronic and paper applications are included in their respective formats. For additional information, call (949) 824-4611 or send e-mail to ogs@uci.edu.
WHEN TO APPLY
For all graduate programs, applications should be completed and submitted by January 15 to receive full consideration for fellowship and assistantship awards. Some academic units will accept applications for winter or spring quarter admission for which deadlines are October 15 and January 15, respectively. In order to process applications in time for the applicant to receive full consideration, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and official test scores must be received before the published deadlines. Some schools and departments have earlier or later deadlines for filing the application. Applicants should consult their prospective department or school for detailed information. Contact information for the schools and departments may be obtained by visiting the online directory at http://www.rgs.uci.edu/grad/contact/prgm_dir.htm.
Required Supporting Documents
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Applicants should arrange to have three letters of recommendation forwarded directly to their prospective academic department or program. Recommendation forms are available for downloading at http://www.rgs.uci.edu/grad/. Only one set of three recommendation letters needs to be submitted in support of an application for admission and fellowship or assistantship consideration. It is important that letters of recommendation be completed by professors or instructors in disciplines related to the proposed course of study who are in a position to analyze an applicant's abilities and academic promise.
GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION (GRE) SCORES
All applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test, with the following exceptions: (1) the Graduate School of Management requires that M.B.A. applicants take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and (2) no standardized tests are required of those who seek the M.F.A. degree or the M.A.T. in Spanish degree. Several programs also require, or strongly recommend, that an applicant report the score of a GRE Subject Test. There is no minimum GRE score. Applicants should register for either the October or December test dates to ensure the timely receipt of their score results for admission consideration. A computerized version of the GRE is now offered year-round. The standard written GRE is administered in 96 countries. In addition, several administrative service tests are given each year in major U.S. cities (dates vary). Applications for the GRE, as well as information about computerized GRE test center locations, is available from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000, or online at http://www.gre.org/.
DOMESTIC ACADEMIC RECORDS
Domestic applicants should request that official transcripts be forwarded directly to their prospective academic department or program. Two complete sets of official records covering all postsecondary academic work attempted, regardless of length of attendance, are required. Two official sets of transcripts must also be submitted by applicants who attended or graduated from any University of California campus, including UC Irvine. Applicants with academic work in progress must expect to complete their undergraduate degree programs before the intended date of enrollment at UCI and must submit evidence of degree conferral before officially enrolling.
FOREIGN ACADEMIC RECORDS
Official records from overseas institutions should be sent directly to the prospective academic department or program at UCI. Records of academic study from foreign institutions must be official, bearing the original signature of the registrar and the seal of the issuing institution. Applicants should not send the original of an academic record which cannot be replaced; they should obtain instead properly certified copies. Unless academic records and diplomas are issued in English by the institution, the official records in their original language must be submitted with an authorized, complete, and exact English translation. Foreign academic records must be in duplicate and include all subjects or courses taken on a yearly basis, together with the units of credit or time allotted to each subject each term or year and the marks or ratings in each subject or examination passed. In all cases the institutional grading scale or other standard of evaluation, including maximal passing and failing marks and definition of grades between them, should appear on official records or as an official attachment. Official evidence of degree conferral must also be supplied, together with evidence of rank in class if available.
TEST OF ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (TOEFL)
Applicants whose primary language is not English are required to submit TOEFL scores for admission consideration. However, the TOEFL requirement will be automatically waived for applicants who have received an advanced degree (i.e., higher than a bachelor's degree) from a U.S. college or university.
In addition to the paper-based TOEFL test, a computer-based TOEFL test is now available. Please note that the scales used for scores for the two tests are significantly different. For the paper-based test, a score of 550 or better is required for admission consideration. For the computer-based test, a score of 213 or better is required. (The Graduate School of Management requires a minimum paper-based test score of 600, or 250 for the computer-based test.)
The paper-based TOEFL test should be taken at the earliest available date to allow scores to be reported in time to meet application deadlines. Score results from the computer-based test are available much more quickly. Results of institutional administrations of the TOEFL or test results which are more than two years old are not acceptable. Applicants must ask the Educational Testing Service to forward scores directly to the UCI Office of Graduate Studies (Code #4859).
Information about the TOEFL is available from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA; World Wide Web: http://www.toefl.org/.
ORAL ENGLISH PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION
All international and permanent resident applicants who are not citizens of countries where English is either the primary or dominant language as approved by the UCI Graduate Council, and who expect to serve as a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Associate, must pass either the Test of Spoken English (TSE), administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), or the UCI Campus SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) examination administered by the UCI Humanities Instructional Resources Center (HIRC) as the institutional alternative to the TSE. A minimum score of 50 on either test is required in order to be appointed. Graduate students are responsible for ensuring that the UCI Office of Graduate Studies is notified directly by ETS or HIRC of their passing score prior to beginning their appointment as a Teaching Assistant or Teaching Associate. There is no exception to this requirement. Please note that many UCI degree programs require students to serve as a Teaching Assistant for training purposes as a graduation requirement. UCI encourages prospective students to take the TSE, if possible, prior to application/admission.
The TSE is given 12 times per year at test centers around the world. Information is available from TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O. Box 6157, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6151, or online at http://www.toefl.org/. Detailed information on all English proficiency tests is available on the Office of Graduate Studies Web site at: http://www.rgs.uci.edu/grad/students/esl_tests.htm.
SPECIAL NOTE TO FOREIGN APPLICANTS
If admitted, foreign applicants will be required to certify that they possess sufficient funds to cover all fees, transportation, and living expenses for the first year of their studies at UCI. A Confidential International Applicant Questionnaire for the purpose of verifying the amount and source of funds available for graduate study will be forwarded to foreign applicants upon admission to graduate study. The required financial verification must be provided before visa forms can be issued.
Admission and Registration
A formal notice of the admission decision is sent to each applicant as soon as possible after the application and complete records are received, and after the department has made a recommendation. The official notification will be mailed well in advance of the beginning of the quarter for which application has been made.
Admission to graduate standing does not constitute registration for classes. A student is not officially registered for classes until the entire registration procedure is completed each quarter, including payment of registration and other fees and enrollment in courses. Information on registration dates and procedures will be mailed to new applicants prior to the registration cycle. Extensive information for newly admitted students is available online at http://www.rgs.uci.edu/grad/newadmits/index.htm.
If an applicant wishes to defer admission to a later academic quarter (up to a maximum of three quarters after the original quarter of admission), the Office of Graduate Studies must be notified of the request in writing. After formal admission has been offered, the request for deferral must also be approved by the academic program to which the applicant was admitted.
Limited Status
Applicants who wish to undertake graduate study at UCI after the award of the bachelor's degree, but whose proposed study is not within a graduate degree program, are ordinarily admitted under Limited Status. University of California academic regulations provide for the admission of students to Limited Status for two purposes: (1) to pursue a specific academic program which does not lead to an advanced degree; or (2) to prepare for admission to a graduate or professional program by enrolling for a prescribed set of courses (usually undergraduate courses).
The general requirements for admission to Limited Status are the same as those for graduate admission, with the exception that Graduate Record Examination scores are not required.
The Dean of Graduate Studies may offer admission to Limited Status upon the recommendation of an academic unit, which has agreed to oversee the student's program. Limited Status students may enroll in graduate courses, but courses taken while in Limited Status will not satisfy residency or minimum graduate-level course requirements for any UC graduate degree program to which the student may eventually be admitted. Admission to Limited Status is ordinarily for a period of no more than three quarters (one academic year) and does not imply admission to graduate study at some later date.
The Application for Admission to Limited Status includes a nonrefundable Application Fee of $60. The application deadline for Limited Status is the same as the deadline for application to graduate study. Persons who wish to apply directly for Limited Status should first consult the Academic Dean, Director, or Chair of the academic program with which the applicant wishes to affiliate. An academic unit must recommend admission, define the prescribed course of study, and provide academic advising.
Academic Advising
In each academic unit with an advanced degree program, there is at least one formally appointed faculty graduate advisor or director of graduate studies. The graduate advisor is a regular faculty member responsible for supervising graduate study in that unit, for monitoring the academic progress of graduate students, and for seeing that each graduate student is assigned a faculty advisor. The graduate advisor plays a key role in the academic lives of graduate students, advising students and other faculty members about program requirements and the academic policies pertaining to graduate students, approving study lists, and evaluating academic petitions. In many academic units the graduate advisor is instrumental in the nomination of students for fellowship support, the selection of students for assistantship and fellowship appointments, and in the supervision of graduate student teachers. In most schools there also is an associate dean for graduate studies who coordinates many of the functions which affect graduate students within that school. Both graduate advisors and deans are important links between the student and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Most graduate students also will have an individual faculty advisor or advising committee after the first year of graduate study. When a student is advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D., the doctoral committee becomes the primary source of academic guidance; however, student academic petitions still must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.
Academic Policies
The academic policies described here apply to students enrolled in study leading to graduate degrees and California education credentials. Other regulations and procedures are covered in the Academic Regulations and Enrollment and Other Procedures sections, and in the description of each graduate program.
SCHOLASTIC REQUIREMENTS
A graduate student is expected to make satisfactory progress toward an approved academic objective, as defined by the faculty of the program in accordance with policies of the Graduate Council, and to maintain a satisfactory grade point average for all work undertaken while enrolled in graduate study. Satisfactory progress is determined on the basis of both the recent academic record and overall performance. A graduate student normally is expected to complete satisfactorily at least eight units of academic credit applicable to the graduate program in each regular academic session (unless on an approved leave of absence), and satisfy all requirements of the academic program according to an approved schedule. For a graduate student, only the grades A+, A, A-, B+, B, and S represent satisfactory scholarship and may be applied toward advanced degree requirements. However, a UCI course in which a grade of B- is earned may be accepted, via a formal petition process, in partial satisfaction of the degree requirements if the student has a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all courses applicable to the degree. Graduate students may not apply courses graded Pass/Not Pass toward any degree or satisfactory progress requirements. A grade point average below the B level (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) is not satisfactory, and a student whose grade point average is below that level is subject to academic disqualification.
A student's academic progress ordinarily is evaluated on the basis of the academic record. A few weeks after the end of a quarter, an updated copy of each enrolled student's permanent academic record is available from the Registrar. This record lists all UCI courses for which a graduate student was enrolled (including courses taken through the Intercampus Exchange Program), the grades assigned, and the cumulative grade point average. This record also includes formal candidacy for an advanced degree, degrees conferred, certain examinations passed, unit credit accepted from other institutions, and other important academic information.
A graduate student who has not demonstrated satisfactory academic progress is not eligible for any academic appointment such as Reader, Tutor, Graduate Student Researcher, Teaching Associate, or Teaching Assistant, and may not hold a fellowship or other award which is based upon academic merit.
SATISFACTION OF DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
To graduate, students must satisfy the degree requirements outlined in the Catalogue that is in effect at the time they are admitted to a graduate program. If the degree requirements are subsequently revised, the academic unit may, where appropriate, give students the option to meet the new requirements instead. A student who withdraws from a program, or loses student status for other reasons for more than three quarters, will be bound by the degree requirements in effect at the time of readmission unless otherwise stipulated and agreed to in writing by the academic unit and approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. A student who defers admission or who changes to another program will be held to the requirements in effect at the time of first registration.
GRADING
With the consent of the academic units involved, and upon approval by the Graduate Council, individual study and research courses at the graduate level may be graded Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory (S/U). Also, with the approval of the Graduate Council certain graduate courses are graded S/U only. A grade of S is assumed equivalent to a grade of B (3.0) or better. No course credit is given to a student for a course in which a grade of U is received.
Graduate students may take one undergraduate course (up to four units) per quarter on a Pass/Not Pass basis. However, such courses are not considered part of the student's graduate program and are not applied toward the requirements for an advanced degree.
The grade of Incomplete (I) may be assigned by an instructor when the student's work is of passing quality but is incomplete because of circumstances beyond the student's control. Although Incomplete grades do not affect a graduate student's grade point average, they are an important factor in evaluating academic progress. The maximum amount of time that an instructor may allow for making up incomplete work is three quarters of enrollment but stricter limits may be applied. When work is completed within the time allowed, the student should ask the instructor to submit a change-of-grade notice to the Registrar, through the dean of the school in which the course was offered. If not made up within the time allowed, an I grade is recorded permanently. (Students who have not been continuously enrolled should contact their graduate advisor for information about completion of incomplete grades.)
IP (In Progress) is a transcript notation restricted to sequential courses extending over two or more quarters for which use of the IP notation has been approved. When the last quarter of the sequence is completed, the grade for the final quarter is assigned for all quarters of the sequence. No credit is given until the student has completed the entire sequence.
A student who received an NR (No Report) transcript notation must immediately contact the instructor and arrange for the removal or replacement of the NR. If no action is taken by the end of the first quarter following the quarter in which the NR was assigned, or by the end of the quarter immediately preceding award of the degree, whichever comes first, the NR becomes an F, U, or NP and will remain permanently on the student's record.
A graduate student may repeat once a course in which a grade below B (3.0) or a grade of U was received. Only the most recently earned grade is used in computing the student's grade point average for the first eight units of repeated work; thereafter both the earlier and the later grades are used.
Additional information about grading may be found in the Academic Regulations section.
LANGUAGE POLICY FOR EXAMINATIONS AND THESES/DISSERTATIONS
English is to be the language of instruction and examination for graduate courses at UCI, unless the subject matter includes foreign language content. Similarly, examinations that satisfy specific degree requirements, such as qualifying/candidacy examinations and thesis/dissertation defenses will be conducted in English, except for the portions of the examination where the subject matter makes a different language specifically appropriate. (Examples include foreign language literature, linguistics, etc.)
Students must seek permission to write their thesis/dissertation in a language other than English. To do so, immediately after advancement to candidacy, the candidate must submit to the Dean of Graduate Studies a letter approved by the thesis/dissertation chair, committee, and department chair. All members of the candidate's thesis/dissertation committee must have a reading knowledge of the language presented in the thesis/dissertation. There must be legitimate reasons for substituting English with a foreign language such as subject matter, special primary audience, publication arrangements, academic position in a foreign country, historical or literary value, or principal language(s) used in the documents to be analyzed and interpreted. Inability to write in English is not a valid reason. If the thesis or dissertation is approved to be written in a foreign language, the candidate must submit two abstracts. One must be in English. The other must be written in the language of the thesis or dissertation. Moreover, the thesis/dissertation defense will be conducted in English, except as determined by subject matter. See the UCI Thesis and Dissertation Manual for information about the preparation of manuscripts (http://www.lib.uci.edu/libraries/collections/special/thesis/tdmanual.html).
ACADEMIC DISQUALIFICATION
After consultation with the student's academic unit, the Dean of Graduate Studies may disqualify a student who has a grade point average in graduate and upper-division courses below 3.0 for two or more successive quarters; or fails to pass (or does not take) a required examination or course within the time specified for that graduate program; or does not maintain satisfactory academic progress toward completion of an approved program of study.
Unsatisfactory academic progress may be determined on the basis of explicit requirements, but the professional judgment of the faculty upon review of all graduate work undertaken by the student is paramount. Ordinarily, a student whose work does not meet academic standards will be given written notice and a reasonable period of time in which to make up all deficiencies.
Prior to taking final action to disqualify, the Dean of Graduate Studies ordinarily will notify a student who is subject to academic disqualification and will provide reasonable opportunity for the student to correct erroneous or outdated academic records, to submit other information or comments in writing, or to request a second review of his or her academic performance.
Upon written notice of academic disqualification by the Dean of Graduate Studies, disqualification will be noted on the formal academic record of that student. Following the formal notice of disqualification, the student may appeal to the Dean of Graduate Studies only on the basis of procedural error.
ACADEMIC RESIDENCE
A graduate student is considered to be in residence during an academic quarter if at least four units of academic credit are earned in regular upper-division or graduate courses. Credit for one academic quarter of residence may also be earned by completing at least two units of credit in approved courses in each of two six-week summer sessions, or four units of credit in an eight- or ten-week summer session. In the case of Ph.D. students, these must be consecutive sessions.
ENROLLMENT POLICY
Full-time academic enrollment is expected of graduate students at the University of California. Study for the Ph.D. requires a full-time commitment from the doctoral student. Full-time study is defined as enrollment in at least 12 units of upper-division or graduate academic credit per quarter, including credit for supervised research or teaching. Graduate students may enroll in lower-division courses with the approval of their academic advisors, but such courses are not considered to be part of any graduate program.
Graduate students ordinarily may not receive credit for more than 12 units per quarter in graduate courses, or 16 units in upper-division courses, or a proportionate number in combination. Course loads in excess of 16 units must be approved in advance by the student's Graduate Advisor and the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Although in most instances completion of an advanced degree at UCI requires full-time study, the University recognizes the legitimate need for part-time study opportunities and is committed to providing those opportunities wherever possible. Graduate degree programs may be opened to part-time students wherever good educational reasons exist for so doing. In general, part-time status is available in master's and credential programs where part-time study has been judged academically feasible by faculty and approved by the Graduate Council. The only doctoral program approved for part-time status is the Ed.D. degree program in Educational Administration and Leadership. However, on the recommendation of the academic unit, students admitted to a Ph.D. program may be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies for part-time status on an ad hoc basis. Under this policy, part-time enrollment at the graduate level is defined as enrollment for eight units or less. Within the guidelines and limitations on the application form available in the Office of Graduate Studies or the Registrar's Office, graduate students may petition for part-time status for a maximum of three consecutive quarters and, if the petition is approved, shall pay the full University Registration Fee and student activities fees, one-half the Educational Fee, and if applicable, one-half the Nonresident Tuition Fee and one-half the Professional School Student Fee.
CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION
A graduate student is expected to register for each regular academic session (fall, winter, and spring quarters) until all requirements for an advanced degree or credential have been completed, including final examinations and the submission of an approved thesis or dissertation. Registration is not official or complete until all required fees have been paid and the student has enrolled in classes. Students are responsible for ensuring that their course enrollment is correct.
A student engaged in study or research outside the State of California for an entire quarter ordinarily will be required to register in absentia. Unless an official leave of absence has been granted, or a petition to pay the Filing Fee in lieu of registration has been approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies, a student who does not register by the final deadline for any regular quarter will lose graduate standing (i.e., the individual's status as a graduate student will lapse), and candidacy for any advanced degree will lapse. Prior to resuming graduate study in the University, a former student must successfully apply for readmission. If readmitted, the student must satisfy the academic requirements in effect at the time of readmission and may be required to satisfy certain requirements a second time, including those for formal advancement to candidacy. A readmitted student must register and then be advanced to candidacy at least one quarter before receiving an advanced degree. A degree cannot be conferred earlier than the second quarter following readmission.
A graduate student who decides to leave the University after enrolling and paying fees for a quarter must file an official Notice of Withdrawal or Cancellation with the Dean of Graduate Studies. A graduate student in good academic standing who withdraws from graduate study and intends to return within one year may submit an application for a leave of absence. If the leave is approved, the student remains in good standing and need not apply for readmission in order to enroll at the expiration of the leave period.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
A graduate student who withdraws from the University with the intention of returning within one year and wishes to avoid a lapse of student status should request a leave of absence. A leave of absence of up to one year's duration may be granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies upon the recommendation of the student's academic unit, subject to the following guidelines:
1. The student must have completed satisfactorily at least one quarter in residence and be in good academic standing. The leave must be consistent with the student's academic objectives.
2. Leave ordinarily is approved in cases of serious illness or other temporary disability, or temporary interruption of the student's academic program for other appropriate reasons.
3. A student on leave is not eligible for assistance from a University fellowship, research grant, or financial aid program, and may not hold an academic appointment or be employed by the University in any capacity. During a period of leave, a student may not take comprehensive or qualifying examinations or earn academic credit (except by a transfer of credit from another institution approved in advance by the Dean of Graduate Studies). University resources and facilities, including housing, are ordinarily unavailable to students on leave.
4. A student failing to register for the next regular academic session following the expiration of leave will lose graduate standing and will be subject to the following readmission policy.
READMISSION
A student who previously withdrew from the University, or whose student status has lapsed, may request readmission to graduate study by submitting a new Application for Graduate Study with the nonrefundable $60 fee. The Dean of Graduate Studies may grant readmission when recommended by the academic unit. If readmitted, a student's previous academic work will be applied toward the requirements for an advanced degree only with the approval of the graduate advisor and the Dean of Graduate Studies. A readmitted student must satisfy the academic requirements in effect at the time of readmission and may be required to satisfy certain requirements a second time, including those for formal advancement to candidacy. A readmitted student must register and then be advanced or reinstated to candidacy at least one quarter before receiving an advanced degree, which will be conferred no earlier than the second quarter following readmission.
INTERCAMPUS EXCHANGE PROGRAM
A graduate student in good standing who wishes to take advantage of educational opportunities available only at another campus of the University of California may do so through the Intercampus Exchange Program. Ordinarily, an exchange student will have demonstrated a high level of scholarship during at least one quarter of graduate study at the home campus and will have well-defined academic objectives. Approval of the faculty advisor, the host department(s), and the respective Deans of Graduate Studies is required. Direct arrangements between faculty members on the two campuses are encouraged so as to ensure that courses, seminars, or facilities will be available to meet the participating student's needs. Students may take courses on more than one campus of the University in the same academic session.
The exchange student enrolls and pays fees on the home campus and then enrolls at the host campus, following the procedures of that Registrar's Office. A report of academic work completed will be transferred to the student's academic record on the home campus after the term has ended. Although eligible for all normal student services, the exchange student is a visitor and is not formally admitted to graduate study at the host campus. Application forms for the Intercampus Exchange Program may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Studies and should be filed with the Office at least four weeks before the beginning of the quarter in order to avoid penalties.
TRANSFERS OF CREDIT
At least one-half of the course requirement for a master's degree must be completed while in residence as a graduate student at UCI. Credit for up to one-fifth of the minimum number of units required for a master's degree may be allowed for graduate-level work completed at another institution or through University Extension prior to first graduate enrollment at UCI. Such courses do not count toward the required number of units in 200-series courses. Up to one-half the units required may be accepted from another graduate division of the University of California. After enrollment, the student must initiate a formal petition for such credit and submit an original transcript. The acceptance of unit credit earned in another program must be recommended by the academic unit to which the student has been admitted and be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies. No units of transfer credit will be given for any course in which a grade below B (3.0) or equivalent was assigned. Under no circumstances will grade credit be transferred.
A student currently enrolled in a master's degree program or on a leave of absence may receive unit credit (not grade credit) for graduate-level work completed at another institution or through University Extension only with the prior approval of the departmental graduate advisor and the Dean of Graduate Studies. No transfer credit will be given for any course in which a grade below B or equivalent is received.
A student who begins graduate study at UCI in the fall quarter will receive appropriate credit for courses taken in preceding UCI summer sessions, provided that the formal date of admission precedes summer session enrollment. Continuing graduate students will receive credit for courses taken in intervening UCI summer sessions.
Graduate Degrees
MASTER'S DEGREES
The master's degree is conferred at the end of the academic quarter in which all requirements have been satisfied, subject to the final approval of the Graduate Council. The student must be advanced to candidacy for the degree prior to the beginning of the final quarter of enrollment. Therefore, an application for advancement to candidacy, initiated by the student and approved by the academic unit, should be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies at least 30 days before the opening of the quarter in which the degree is expected.
The Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Science (M.S.) degree normally is attained by one of two routes: Plan I, the thesis option; or Plan II, the comprehensive examination option. Both require a minimum of one year in residence, satisfactory completion of prescribed course work, and an appropriate demonstration of achievement. Plan I includes a minimum of seven courses (28 units), 20 units or more of which must be at the graduate level; a thesis; and a general examination. Plan II requires at least nine courses (36 units), including 24 units or more at the graduate level, and a comprehensive examination covering a broad range of subject matter in the discipline. Only approved 200-series courses completed while in residence at the University satisfy the minimum graduate course requirement. Some programs will have course requirements exceeding the minimums cited above and may have additional or alternative degree requirements. Please refer to the description of the specific program for more information.
Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) degrees are awarded by the Claire Trevor School of the Arts (M.F.A. in Dance, Drama, Fine Arts, Music, or Studio Art) and by the Program in Creative Writing (M.F.A. in English) upon successful completion of the equivalent of two years or more of full-time study with an emphasis upon creative expression and professional development. Special thesis or comprehensive examination requirements are established for these programs.
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degrees are awarded upon successful completion of programs designed for the professional development of elementary and secondary school teachers. A minimum of one year in residence is required, usually including summer session course work. A thesis project or other comparable evidence of professional attainment is part of each M.A.T. program.
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degrees are awarded by the Graduate School of Management upon successful completion of the equivalent of two years of full-time study in the development of professional managerial skills.
Master of Advanced Study (M.A.S.) degrees are awarded by the School of Social Ecology in Criminology, Law and Society upon successful completion of 52 units of course work in the broad areas of criminal justice, including corrections, probation, criminal prosecution, defense, and civil law. The program is fully online with the exception of a required one-week in-residence course during the first summer.
Master of Urban and Regional Planning (M.U.R.P.) degrees are awarded by the School of Social Ecology upon successful completion of the equivalent of two years of full-time study in contemporary methods of planning and policy analysis.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE
The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is awarded on the basis of evidence that the recipient possesses knowledge of a broad field of learning and expert mastery of a particular area of concentration within it. The research dissertation is expected to demonstrate critical judgment, intellectual synthesis, creativity, and skill in written communication.
The candidate for the Ph.D. is expected to be in full-time residence for at least six regular academic quarters. Four to six years of full-time academic work beyond the bachelor's degree typically is required to complete the degree. At the end of the first year or so of full-time study, many programs administer a preliminary examination on the student's mastery of fundamental knowledge in the discipline. Upon successfully demonstrating a high level of scholarship on this examination and after further study, the student will continue to a series of qualifying examinations which lead to formal advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D.
Graduate students ordinarily attain candidacy status for the Ph.D. degree when all preparatory work has been completed, when qualifying examinations have been passed, and when they are ready for the dissertation phase. Students are recommended for advancement to candidacy by unanimous vote of the candidacy committee appointed by the academic unit on behalf of the Graduate Council. The Report of the Ph.D. Candidacy Committee (Form I) must be signed by the committee at the time the candidacy examination is concluded and submitted to the Dean of Graduate Studies. Following a unanimous favorable vote of the committee, the student will be advanced to candidacy upon payment of the $65 Candidacy Fee. Candidacy for the Ph.D. will lapse automatically if the student loses graduate standing by academic disqualification or failure to comply with the University policy on continuous registration. A readmitted student who was a candidate for the Ph.D. must again advance to candidacy and thereafter enroll as a candidate for at least one academic quarter before the Ph.D. may be conferred.
Following advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D., a doctoral committee appointed by the academic unit chair (on behalf of the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Council) supervises the student's program, approves the dissertation, and conducts the final oral examination if required. The chair of the doctoral committee is the member of the faculty responsible for providing primary guidance of the student's dissertation. Ordinarily, the final examination will be given just prior to completion of the dissertation and while the student is in residence during a regular academic session, and will be open to all members of the academic community. All student committees must conform to policy approved by the Graduate Council in effect at the time of examination. Ph.D. degrees are conferred, subject to the final approval of the Graduate Council, as of the last day of the regular academic quarter in which all requirements have been satisfied.
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION DEGREE
The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree is awarded by UCI in conjunction with several California State University campuses. Refer to the Department of Education section of this Catalogue for more information.
THESES AND DISSERTATIONS
Candidates for the Ph.D., Ed.D., and certain master's degrees must conduct an extensive research project and submit a dissertation or thesis in order to fulfill degree requirements. Research expenses are not supported by the University, and the cost of preparing the dissertation or thesis ordinarily ranges from $200 to $1,000, but may be considerably more.
After approval by the doctoral or thesis committee appointed for each candidate by the academic unit, on behalf of the Graduate Council, two copies of the dissertation or thesis must be filed for placement in the UCI Library and automatically become available for public access. The final copy must meet the University's requirements for style, format, and appearance before the degree can be conferred. A thesis and dissertation manuscript preparation manual is available online at http://www.lib.uci.edu/libraries/collections/special/thesis/tdmanual.html. All doctoral students are required to submit an Exit Survey and a Survey of Earned Doctorates prior to the awarding of their degree.
Dissertations and theses must be filed by the deadline published in the quarterly Schedule of Classes in order for them to be reviewed and accepted in time for the degree to be conferred in that quarter.
Those students who complete requirements and submit theses/dissertations after the end of the tenth week of classes and prior to the start of the subsequent quarter will earn a degree for the following quarter, but will not be required to pay fees for that quarter. Please note that in order to avoid payment of fees, manuscripts, all forms, and degree paperwork must be submitted prior to the first day of the quarter in which the degree is to be earned.
THE FILING FEE
Under certain circumstances, a student who has advanced to candidacy for a graduate degree may be eligible to pay a Filing Fee equal to half of the Registration Fee in lieu of registration, subject to the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies. International students who wish to go on Filing Fee status must, in addition, secure approval to do so from UCI's International Center. In general, all requirements for a degree must have been satisfied prior to the start of the quarter, except for the submission of the final version of the dissertation or thesis, or the completion of a final oral or comprehensive examination. A student on Filing Fee status may not make use of any University resource, hold any academic appointment, or receive any student service for which official registration and payment of regular fees is a requirement. A Filing Fee will not be accepted immediately following readmission nor immediately following a leave of absence except under exceptional circumstances. The date for payment of the Filing Fee is the same as that for the payment of other student fees. If all degree requirements are not completed during the quarter in which the Filing Fee is paid, the student must subsequently register and pay all applicable fees.
NONRESIDENT TUITION
Nonresident doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy are eligible for a 75 percent reduction in the annual nonresident tuition fee for a maximum of three consecutive calendar years including time on leave of absence. Reduced nonresident tuition begins with the first academic term following advancement to candidacy, and is based on the prevailing tuition rate for the year it is applied. Any nonresident student who continues to be enrolled, or who re-enrolls following the three-year maximum allowance, will be charged the full nonresident tuition rate that is in effect at that time of enrollment.
CONFERRAL OF GRADUATE DEGREES
Prior to the beginning of the quarter in which an advanced degree is to be conferred, the student must have advanced to candidacy for that degree and should have received formal notice confirming candidacy from the Dean of Graduate Studies. The student should consult the departmental faculty graduate advisor to determine which degree requirements, if any, have not yet been satisfied.
Students are advised by mail when their diplomas are available, which is approximately six months after the quarter in which the degrees are awarded.
Financial Assistance for Graduate Students
Several types of financial assistance are available to graduate students at UCI. These include fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, tuition fellowships for nonresident students, grants-in-aid, and student loans.
All American graduate students are encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to access state and federal grants and loans. It is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov or in the Office of Graduate Studies and in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships after January 1, with a submission deadline of March 2 each year. The Financial Aid section in this Catalogue and the Financial Aid Handbook (http://www.fao.uci.edu/) contain information about assistance based upon financial need that is administered by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Applicants interested in assistantships or fellowships should so indicate on their application when applying for admission. Applications for graduate admissions should be completed by January 15 to receive full consideration for fellowship and assistantship awards. Continuing students interested in an assistantship or fellowship should contact the Graduate Advisor for their academic program. The awarding of fellowships to incoming students for the following academic year begins in the winter quarter.
UCI subscribes to the agreement of the Council of Graduate Schools of the United States, under which successful applicants for awards of financial support are given until April 15 to accept or decline such awards. An award accepted from one of the member universities may be resigned at any time through April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after that date commits the student to not accepting another appointment without first obtaining formal release for that purpose from the awarding institution.
Regents', UCI Chancellor's Fellowships, and other merit-based fellowships are awarded by some schools to a number of promising students entering graduate study at UCI leading to the Doctor of Philosophy or Master of Fine Arts degree. Awards may include a stipend, all required student fees, and, if applicable, Nonresident Tuition. Other fellowships are offered, including tuition awards for outstanding applicants who are not residents of California. In many cases, fellowship stipends may be supplemented by partial assistantship appointments. Fellowship awards are typically made by the student's academic unit.
Entering or continuing graduate students may be awarded research or teaching assistantships for all or part of the academic year. The types of assistantships, number available, and required duties vary according to the activities of the academic unit. A graduate assistant who is not a California resident also may receive a tuition fellowship. While enrolled as a graduate student at UCI, students are limited in their employment with the University to no more than 50 percent time.
Through the Office of Graduate Studies' diversity programs, a number of diversity fellowships are awarded to entering and continuing American graduate students who may have been disadvantaged in higher education. Departments nominate candidates on the basis of their merit and contribution to the diversity of the department or discipline, as well as demonstrated scholastic achievement, full-time status, and U.S. citizenship. Individuals from diverse cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply to UCI's graduate programs. In conformance with State law, applicants may not be given preferential treatment on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or national origin.
