UCLA Computer Science Department

UCLA Academic Frequently Asked Questions


UCLA 101: BASIC UCLA PROBLEM SOLVING

What sources of wisdom about UCLA are there?

It depends on the question, but here are a few great sources:

Nature of Questions A Source of Wisdom
I am totally confused The CSD's inspiring Orientation page, and UCLA Graduate Division's excellent Orientation Guide and FAQ for graduate students.
I have academic questions CSD's comprehensive Academic Links page
I have non-academic questions MyUCLA -- portal to UCLA
I tried those, but couldn't find what I need Google queries that include site:ucla.edu
Sample query:   "filing fee" site:ucla.edu
I need perspective on UCLA Verra Morgan in the Graduate Student Affairs Office
I need advice on courses and/or research your Advisor
I need advice on professors Faculty web pages and/or the CSD Mentors and/or subjective sources like BruinWalk...



Any general advice on graduate study in Computer Science?

A few suggestions:


ADVISORS


How do I choose an initial advisor?

Your initial advisor is supposed to help get you started in the Computer Science graduate program. Your affiliation with this advisor is not necessarily a long-term one; it is just a starting point.

It is common to meet with your advisor near the start of your first quarter to discuss degree requirements, classes, and research goals. You can use email or telephone to contact faculty to make appointments. Faculty also post office hours outside their office doors, and are available at those times. If you do not know who your advisor is, talk to Verra Morgan.

If you have not been assigned to an initial advisor, you can choose your own advisor (without approval). It often does not hurt to pick someone that you think has research interests similar to yours; however, on the other hand, it often does not hurt to take courses before committing yourself to a specific research field.

You can change advisors at any time, so the initial choice is not crucial. Find an advisor who fits your interests and goals. Also, never worry about offending an initial advisor! It is your career, and your life.


How do I change advisors?

Changes of advisor require signatures of both the old and the new advisor on a Change of Advisor form.

The protocol for doing this is a two-phase commit process:
  1. make certain your prospective New Advisor and Current Advisor are aware of the change and agree to it (prepare to commit);
  2. have the Current Advisor and New Advisor both sign the form (commit);
  3. return the form to the graduate office (end of transaction).
Before you start this two-phase process, it is essential to be sure that the prospective New Advisor is willing to be your Advisor. After this, it is politically correct to get the signature of your Current Advisor on the form before you get the signature of the New Advisor.

Changing Advisors is a nontrivial step, and not to be done hastily. However, do not avoid it because you are worrying about hurting your Current Advisor's feelings. The Advisor-Student association should be mutually beneficial. Furthermore: it is your life.


What is the difference between initial and research advisors?

There is a big difference between an initial advisor and a research advisor, particularly for Ph.D. students. All faculty view orientation advising as a minor commitment, and research advising as a major commitment. Research advisors are crucial for Ph.D. students, while less crucial for M.S. students: a research advisor is supposed to help you identify research problems, develop and publish results, and complete your degree here at UCLA. Faculty will often not accept you as a research advisee until they have had an opportunity to actually work with you on research (e.g., in a course, or on a research project).


What research do the faculty here do?

A rough answer to this question is in the official Faculty Areas of Thesis Guidance descriptions. The sources mentioned above are also good for getting a sense of what faculty do, especially the faculty web pages.


Which fields of research are represented in the department?

The official Computer Science Fields of Study descriptions give a picture of research in the department. Each department at UCLA is required to register a set of fields in which the department has expertise and supervises research. These fields are of enduring value and fundamental in nature. Although Computer Science is very dynamic, the fields represent core questions that drive Computer Science research. At UCLA the following seven fields are represented:

Field Courses Field Chair email
Networks CS11x, CS21x Mario Gerla gerla@cs.ucla.edu
Programming Languages & Systems CS13x, CS23x Jens Palsberg palsberg@cs.ucla.edu
Information & Data Management CS14x, CS24x Stott Parker stott@cs.ucla.edu
Computer Systems Architecture CS15x, CS25x Dave Rennels rennels@cs.ucla.edu
Artificial Intelligence CS16x, CS26x Michael Dyer dyer@cs.ucla.edu
Vision & Computer Graphics CS17x, CS27x Petros Faloutsos pfal@cs.ucla.edu
Computer Science Theory CS18x, CS28x Eli Gafni eli@cs.ucla.edu
Computational Systems Biology/Scientific Computing CS19x, CS29x Joe DiStefano joed@cs.ucla.edu


M.S. PROGRAM


How do I get a M.S. in Computer Science?

There is no single answer to this question, but the following table shows the right order of steps and approximate times at which they should be done. Completion of the M.S. program takes 5 to 6 quarters on average. (Your times may vary; see your advisor.)

Time (approximate) M.S. Milestone
1st quarter take CS201; establish intent to become a California Resident; get oriented
2nd quarter take CS201; submit Program Letter (course-taking plan)
3rd quarter take CS201; submit completed Breadth Requirement Form
4th quarter complete the required 9 courses (keeping GPA above 3.25)
5th quarter early: appoint M.S. Committee and Advance to Candidacy.
later: submit M.S. Comprehensive or file M.S. Thesis
See: Computer Science Program Requirements
Standards & Procedures for Graduate Study (PDF).


For the M.S., how many courses must I take?

Basically: 9. At least five of these nine must be graduate courses (Computer Science courses numbered 2xx), and the other four must be either graduate courses or upper-division undergraduate courses (Computer Science courses numbered 1xx).

These nine courses do not include CS201. That is, in addition to these nine courses, you also must complete the CS201 seminar for 3 quarters. Graduate students usually take CS201 during their first three quarters.

If you opt to do the M.S. Thesis, two of your nine courses should be CS598 (Independent Study for the M.S. Thesis), at 4 units each, taken during different quarters. At least four of the remaining seven must be graduate courses.


Can I take any courses outside of Computer Science?

Yes -- you can take up to two courses outside of Computer Science toward your M.S. degree, but in order to count towards your degree they must be related to Computer Science. That is, although you are permitted to take "fun" courses outside of Computer Science -- Dancing or Italian or anything you like -- you generally cannot count these toward your M.S. degree


What is the M.S. Thesis?

The thesis is a well-written report, giving the results of your research on some topic, under the supervision of the thesis committee. The committee (particularly the advisor) approves your topic and plan of the thesis, and reads and approves the completed manuscript.

One way to think of a M.S. Thesis is that it is roughly equivalent to a high-quality journal article. It must contain some original research contribution. Generally, a M.S. Thesis is about 50 to 70 pages long (when formatted with macros and templates like those used for filing a thesis with the librarian).

It is probably easiest to understand what a M.S. Thesis is by looking at a few of them. There are many at the CS Department Technical Report Archives.


What is the M.S. Comprehensive? (also known as: "the M.S. Project")

The Comprehensive is similar to the M.S. Thesis in concept: it is also a well-written report, giving the results of your work on a topic (again under the supervision of a 3-faculty member committee). Your advisor approves your topic and then reads and approves the completed manuscript.

However, the Comprehensive is usually much less ambitious in scope than a M.S. Thesis, and it does not have to contain a research contribution. The original intent of the Comprehensive was that it would allow students to "synthesize" all of the material they had learned in courses in the M.S. program; hence its name.

One way to think of a Comprehensive is that it is -- in most cases -- roughly equivalent to a term project, and perhaps to a conference paper. Comprehensive writeups are usually something like 20 pages long. Popular topics include:
  • a survey paper (for an emerging area of research)
  • a critical evaluation of a system architecture
  • an experiment using a simulator
  • a useful software tool.
For comparison, past Comprehensives can be found at the CS Department Technical Report Archives.


Can I take the WQE instead of doing the M.S. Thesis or Comprehensive?

Only Ph.D. students can use passing of the WQE (Written Qualifying Examination) as equivalent to the M.S. Comprehensive. For these students, the answer is yes.


Should I choose the Comprehensive, or the Thesis?

Some arguments for choosing the Comprehensive:
  • The Comprehensive is chosen by more than 90% of M.S. students.
  • The Comprehensive usually takes less "work" than the Thesis (although it does require you to take 9 courses).
  • The Comprehensive is more straightforward to complete under time constraints.
  • The Comprehensive is a good way to get credit for some kinds of projects (like a software tool or conference paper).


Some arguments for choosing the M.S. Thesis:
  • The M.S. Thesis is an excellent way for independent, highly-motivated students to pursue a research problem in depth.
  • The M.S. Thesis is good practice for technical writing (especially for a dissertation).
  • The M.S. Thesis is a natural way to develop a dissertation prospectus.
  • The M.S. Thesis is a way to produce a journal publication or two.
  • The M.S. Thesis is a good thing to do if you want to switch from the M.S. to the Ph.D. program, since it gives you an opportunity to show your research ability (to a greater extent than a typical Comprehensive) to the Ph.D. admissions committee.


How do I choose a M.S. Committee?

You are required to form a committee of three Computer Science faculty members to review your M.S. Thesis or Comprehensive. Your advisor must be one of these three, and is the chair of your committee. It is your right (and responsibility) to invite these faculty members to participate on your committee.

For the M.S. Comprehensive, you formalize the committee when you are finished (with the Comprehensive), and are ready to graduate. You do this by submitting a copy of the Result of the M.S. Comprehensive Examination form (which you can obtain from the Graduate Student Affairs Office in 4403 Boelter) that is signed by all three committee members.

For the M.S. Thesis, you formalize the committee about one quarter before you are finished (with the Thesis). To formalize the M.S. Thesis Committee, you should fill out the Nomination of Master's Committee form, and submit it to the Graduate Student Affairs Office in 4403 Boelter. This form must state the title of your Thesis.

After you complete your M.S. Thesis, your committee reviews it and -- upon completion -- they sign your Thesis signature page. You include this signature page in the filed Thesis. Since the library requires two copies, you should ask your committee to sign at least two copies of the signature page. It is common for students to ask for as many as five copies, so that they have original signatures in their own copies of the Thesis.


How do I reconstitute a M.S. Committee?

If a faculty member is unavailable to sign your Thesis, you may replace them with another faculty member by submitting the form "Recommendation for Reconstitution of Master's Thesis Committee" (PDF) from the reconstitution information at Graduate Division. Before the reconstituted committee can be approved, you will need to obtain the signatures of the faculty member leaving the committee, their replacement, your advisor, and the Vice Chair.


What is Advancement to Candidacy?

Advancing to candidacy for a degree means completing all the prerequisites for doing research toward the degree. For the M.S. degree, these prerequisites you must complete consist of all course requirements, including the Breadth Requirement. In addition, all of your graduate (200-level) course grades should be B or better.

You must file for Advancement to Candidacy for the M.S. degree at the beginning of your last quarter of UCLA residence as a M.S. candidate. After this, your primary remaining obligation is to do great research.


What is the M.S. Program Study form (Program Letter)?

The M.S. Program Study form declares your planned sequence of courses. This form outlines the nine courses proposed for the degree and the expected dates of completion of each course. Students are required to declare their planned courses before the end of the second quarter of residence.

All regular Computer Science courses are described in the Registrar's Official Computer Science Course Listings. To see when specific courses will be offered, check the online Class Schedules, which list times in the past, present, and future.

The plan of study should be designed with your advisor to maximize the breadth and depth of your Computer Science background for thesis research. It is a good idea if this plan identifies research interests and a thesis topic as soon as possible.

The Program Letter can be amended anytime, and as many times as necessary. The idea behind it is to require you to focus on your plan of study.


What is the Breadth Requirement?

All students seeking the M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science are required to show breadth in Computer Science by demonstrating competence in several core courses. You are expected to complete the breadth requirement by your third quarter in graduate residence at UCLA, and you must complete this requirement by the end of your fourth quarter in residence.

The breadth requirement is satisfied by mastering the content of six undergraduate courses, plus taking CS201:
  • Group I: Four courses from CS M51A, (143 or 180), M151B, 181.
  • Group II: Two courses from CS 111, (112 or 118), (131 or 132), (161 or 163), (171 or 174), 170A.
  • Three quarters of Computer Science 201 with grades of Satisfactory.
These courses are all described in the Official Course Listings. Competence in these courses may be demonstrated in one of three ways:
  • Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B- or better.
  • Satisfactory completion of a final examination in the course at UCLA.
  • Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.

If you have completed a course at UCLA, you can simply indicate this on the Breadth Requirement form.

If you have completed an equivalent course elsewhere, you can get it signed off by visiting the Instructor in Charge of the course, using something like the following procedure:
  • Make an appointment with the Instructor in Charge (see list below).
  • Take the following items to the appointment:

    • your Breadth Requirement form
    • your Transcript, showing your grade in the equivalent course
    • the Syllabus from the equivalent course
    • the Textbook from the equivalent course.

  • The Instructor in Charge may ask you questions to make sure you have mastered the material in the course, and to determine whether your course is really equivalent. If satisfied, they will sign your Breadth Requirement Form.


Who are the "Instructors in Charge" of Breadth Requirement Courses?

The following faculty are currently in charge of Breadth Requirement courses:

Course
Instructor in Charge
email
Office
CS 51A
4731 BH
CS 111
4532 BH
CS 112
3277 BH
CS 118
3732 BH
CS 131
4532 BH
CS 132
4532 BH
CS 143
3532 BH
CS 151B (A to L)
4731 BH
CS 151B (M to Z)

Yuval Tamir

CS 161
4532 BH
CS 163
4532 BH
CS 170A
3532 BH
CS 174
4531 BH
CS 180
3731 BH
CS 181
3731 BH



How much course credit can I transfer for equivalents of Breadth Requirement courses?

If the question is "how much UCLA course credit can I get toward my graduate degree for courses I took as an undergraduate?", the answer is: none.

To explain: although you can get "Breadth Requirement credit" for these courses (which excuses you from having to take similar courses here), you cannot use them to get "course credit" (units) towards your degree. In other words, these courses do not count towards the required 9 courses for the M.S. or 12 courses for the Ph.D..

However, it is possible to transfer course credit for courses you have taken elsewhere as a graduate student.



How do I declare a Major Field for the M.S. degree?

This is another common misunderstanding. You do not declare a Major Field for the M.S.; this is a requirement only for the Ph.D.


Why/How/When should I become a California Resident?

If you are not a California resident, you must pay Non-Resident Tuition (NRT) fees. This is expensive, to say the least.

To become a California resident, you must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. You should start this process as soon as possible after arriving at UCLA.

The Registrar's Office can help you submit the right forms to establish residence for tuition purposes.

For more information, see the CSD Orientation page, in particular its description of California Residency applications.


How do I switch from the M.S. to the Ph.D. program?

If you are in the M.S. program, you must formally apply for admission to the Ph.D. program. This is a nontrivial thing; it is like re-applying for graduate school. All applicants for the Ph.D. program, external and internal, are judged by the same standards; admission to the Ph.D. program is highly selective.

This application is made within the department -- that is, you do do not apply through Graduate Division, but through the Computer Science Department. You can get forms for this from the Graduate Student Office, in 4403 Boelter. Application requires a Statement of Purpose and three Letters of Recommendation from UCLA faculty, one of whom should be your (research) advisor. A great deal of weight is placed on these letters and on your academic performance in the M.S. program.


How do I submit a completed Comprehensive?

To submit a Comprehensive, you need only get the completed signature page to Verra in the Computer Science Department Graduate Office by Thursday of Finals week (at the very latest; after this no guarantees).


How do I file a Thesis? (M.S. Thesis or Ph.D. Thesis/Dissertation)

At UCLA, each student must "file" their completed M.S. Thesis (or Dissertation/Ph.D. Thesis) with the librarian in 330 Powell Library, so it can then be archived --- microfilmed, sent off to thesis clearing houses, and included in the UCLA library. They must also submit a form for Master's Thesis & Doctoral Dissertation Approval. See the librarian's information on filing, including official UCLA Policies and Procedures for Thesis and Dissertation Preparation and Filing.

This sounds straightforward, but it can be difficult. Four common unpleasant surprises:
  • Thesis text is not permitted to go outside specific margins. There are other constraints on formatting also; microfilming apparently imposes rigid constraints on page format. When the librarians get your thesis, they actually go through it carefully looking for constraint violations, and they can demand changes. It can take several visits to the librarian to eliminate these violations and get the thesis filed.

    You can avoid most constraint violations by using a properly defined template or macros like the UCLA Thesis Style for LaTeX.

  • The librarian requires you to submit two copies of your thesis on high-quality paper. The Policies and Procedures says:
    The two manuscript copies submitted to the Theses and Dissertations Office may be either photocopies or printouts. The paper used for the copies must be at least 20-pound, 25% cotton bond. This is not special or unusual paper, it is available at all campus bookstores. ... Standard xerographic bond is not acceptable.
    In other words, you have to buy this high-quality paper at the bookstore, and then, for example, put it in the printer paper tray when you print your Thesis (and Signature page).

  • The filing deadline for a thesis is early! And, if you do not submit your thesis by the deadline, you will not officially graduate until the following quarter. Generally, theses must be filed by the start of the 10th week of each quarter. (As a rule of thumb, for example, in Fall quarter the M.S. Thesis is due around December 1, while the Comprehensive is due by Finals week.) See the Academic Calendar (for 2004-2005), or the library's Thesis orientation information, which give the exact dates.

  • Many people wait until the last day to file their thesis. So, on the deadline day, there is usually a line of tired and nervous students (nervous since the librarians may not let them file because of some constraint violation). It is a good idea to file at least one day earlier.


What is "Going on Filing Fee", and when & how do I apply?

"Filing Fee" is the amount needed to register for a quarter in which you will do nothing other than file your thesis or submit your Comprehensive. It is half of the usual registration fee. In order to go on filing fee you must have been registered the previous quarter.

In other words, when you are finished with all your courses, and only need to complete your Thesis or Comprehensive, you can go on "filing fee" for the last quarter. See the Master's & Doctoral Filing Fee Applications.

Warning: if you go on filing fee but fail to actually file that quarter, you will run into difficulties.


PH.D. PROGRAM


How do I get a Ph.D. in Computer Science?

Again, there is no single answer to this question, but the following table shows the right order of steps and approximate times at which they should be done. Completion of the Ph.D. program takes 5 to 6 years on average. (Your times may vary; see your advisor.)

Time (approximate) Ph.D. Milestone
Year 1 [as in the M.S. program]
Year 2 [as in the M.S. program:
  exceptthe M.S. Thesis or Comprehensive is not required]
pass the Written Qualifying Examination (WQE)
Year 3 complete 12 courses (keeping GPA above 3.5)
  and the Major Field Requirement.
pass the Oral Qualifying Exam (Ph.D. Prospectus)
  and advance to Doctoral Candidacy.
Year 4 complete the TA requirement; do great research
Year 5 pass the Final Oral Exam (Ph.D. Defense)
and then file your Dissertation (Ph.D. Thesis)
See: Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees
and Standards & Procedures for Graduate Study (2004-2005 (PDF)).



For the Ph.D., how many courses must I take?

Basically: 12, which comprise a Major Field (6 courses) and two Minor Fields (3 courses each). These 12 courses can include the 9 you took for the M.S. degree.

These twelve courses do not include CS201. you also must complete the CS201 seminar for 3 quarters, even if you already did this for the M.S. degree. In other words, you must take CS201 for 6 quarters in order to receive both the M.S. and Ph.D. at UCLA.


How many of these courses can be outside of Computer Science?

You can take up to three courses outside of Computer Science, but in order to count towards your degree they must be related to Computer Science. For example, you can take 3 courses (a minor) in Linguistics, or 2 courses in Electrical Engineering and 1 in Statistics.

Also, you can certainly take "fun" courses outside of Computer Science, such as Dancing or Italian. However, you generally cannot count these toward your Ph.D.


What is a Major Field?

Studies in the UCLA Computer Science Department cover the seven broad Fields mentioned earlier. The basic program of study for the Ph.D. degree is built around the Written Qualifying Exam, the Major Field, and two Minor Fields. The Major Field and at least one Minor must be in Computer Science.

To satisfy the Major Field Requirement, you are expected to master a Field. This requires both completing courses and being familiar with current literature in the field. The coursework requires a minimum of four graduate courses within any guidelines of the major field. Grades of B or better are required in each course, with a grade-point average of at least 3.33 over the set of courses used to satisfy the Minor Field Requirement.

You are required to satisfy the Major Field Requirement within the first nine quarters after enrolling in the graduate program. Competence in any or all courses may be demonstrated in one of three ways:
  • Satisfactory completion of the course at UCLA with a grade of B or better.
  • Satisfactory completion of a final examination in the course at UCLA.
  • Satisfactory completion of an equivalent course at another university with a grade of B- or better.
To complete this requirement, you must submit a Fields of Study form to the graduate office.


What is a Minor Field?

Each Minor Field normally covers a body of knowledge equivalent to three courses, at least two of which are graduate courses. Grades of B or better, with a grade-point average of at least 3.33 in all courses included in the minor field, are required. Again, to complete this requirement, you must submit a Fields of Study form to the graduate office.

Students entering the Ph.D. program with a Master's degree from another university can transfer this Master's degree as the equivalent of a Minor Field.


What is the WQE?

The University Written Qualifying Examination (WQE) is known as the "Wookie" in the Computer Science Department. A description of the WQE and other information in http://www.cs.ucla.edu/classes/exams/ describes the exam structure. The syllabus describes what the exam covers:

  • by specific topics;
  • by references (chapters or sections in texts; key papers)
  • by related CSD courses.
Also, in this directory there are some sample past WQE questions (access restricted to ucla.edu domain).

After mastering the knowledge defined by the syllabus, you take the WQE, which is normally offered twice a year --- in late November and in mid-May. Normally students pass the WQE within the first six quarters. Students may take the WQE three times and must pass within the first nine quarters.


By passing the WQE, do I complete the requirements for the M.S.?

Yes --- provided you are a Ph.D. student and you have completed all other requirements.

Currently, Ph.D. students who pass the WQE are deemed to have completed the equivalent of the M.S. Comprehensive, and in this way passing the WQE is sufficient to obtain the M.S. degree.


If I fail the WQE three times, can I still get a M.S.?

Absolutely. Like any M.S. student, you can still submit a Comprehensive or file a M.S.Thesis.


How do I switch from the Ph.D. to the M.S. program?

Verra can give you the paperwork to do this in the Graduate Student Office, in 4403 Boelter. (Actually, you can still officially remain in the Ph.D. program if you wish, as long as you don't interrupt your registration.)


How do I form a Doctoral Committee?

After passing the preliminary examinations, and coursework for the major and minor fields, you should form a doctoral committee and prepare to take the Oral Qualifying Exam (Prospectus exam). The doctoral committee consists of a minimum of four faculty members. The chair of the committee is your advisor. Three members, including the chair, are "inside" members and must hold appointments at in the Computer Science Department. One is an "outside" member, who must be a UCLA faculty member from outside the Computer Science Department.

Adjunct faculty members may serve on your Ph.D. committee, but they do not count towards the required number of committee members.

You should discuss with your advisor about which faculty might make the most positive contributions to your committee. Ultimately, however, you have the freedom (and responsibility) to select which faculty you prefer, and you then invite them to be on your committee. Faculty members who accept this invitation will review their research, so it is normal to select inside members that are knowledgeable in related areas. The outside member also can provide perspective on the thesis topic. Select faculty with whom you wish to interact both during and after your dissertation research -- keeping in mind that, after graduation, you will get asked about who was on your dissertation committee.

Students should fill out the Nomination of Doctoral Committee form, specifying their committee members, and submit it to the Graduate Student Affairs Office in 4403 Boelter.


How do I reconstitute a Doctoral Committee?

If a faculty member is unavailable to sign your Thesis or to be present during your Oral Qualifying Exam or Final Defense, you may replace them with another faculty member. You must submit the form titled "Recommendation for Reconstitution of Doctoral Committee, Certifying Members, or Change in Final Oral Examination Requirement" (PDF) from the reconstitution information at Graduate Division in order for the reconstituted committee to be approved. To complete this form, you will need to obtain the signatures of the faculty member leaving the committee, their replacement, your advisor, and the Vice Chair.


What is the Oral Qualifying Examination? (Prospectus exam)

To take the Oral Qualifying Exam, you must have finished all your Ph.D. coursework, and completed your Major Field and Minor Fields requirements (with a 3.33 GPA in all minors). Also, you should provide your Ph.D. Committee with a copy of your Prospectus. Optimally, this could happen at the end of your second year, but most often it takes places during the third year.

A prospectus is a document summarizing outlining what you plan to do in your doctoral research. You put the prospectus together with your advisor; it generally contains something like:
  • a description of your general dissertation topic
  • a thorough literature review (showing that your topic is original)
  • whatever preliminary results/publications you have produced (showing your ability to do research on the topic).
In the Oral Qualifying Examination, you make a presentation of your prospectus to the committee.

All Oral Qualifying Exam scheduling is done through the Graduate Student Affairs Office. Important: you must submit the paperwork for the Oral Qualifying Exam at least 10 days before the Exam, so that it can be processed by Graduate Division. Approval from Graduate Division is needed for the Exam to take place.

The nature of the examination is up to your committee, but ordinarily it is an investigation of your preparation and ability to do the research. The committee also often looks at your prospectus as something like a contract that you are making with them --- the idea being that, if you complete the proposed research as promised, you will have fulfilled the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science.


What is Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy?

Advancing to candidacy for a degree means completing all the prerequisites for doing research toward the degree. For the Ph.D., the main prerequisites are the completion of both the Written Qualifying Exam and Oral Qualifying Exam. After completing these, you are Advanced to (Doctoral) Candidacy, and your primary remaining obligation is to do great research.

Advancement to doctoral candidacy is important: it makes non-resident students eligible for a 75% reduction in Non-Resident Tuition (!).


What is the Final Oral Examination? (Dissertation defense)

At the Final Oral Exam, you make a presentation and defense of your dissertation. Final approval of your dissertation then rests with the Ph.D. Doctoral Committee. Generally the Committee's questioning is focused on technical aspects of the research, since the broad outline should have been approved in the Oral Qualifying Exam (Prospectus exam).

To take the Final Oral Exam, you must have completed the TA requirement.

This Exam is like the Qualifying Oral Exam in many respects, except of course that you have now completed the research. Also the exam is public (announced in advance, and open to everyone).

There is a difference between defending your thesis and filing your thesis. At the defense, your committee members can require changes or additions to your thesis. It is not that unusual for this revision to take several weeks, or even months. So filing can occur long after the defense.

After you have completed any required revisions to your Dissertation (Ph.D. Thesis), and your committee members approve, they sign your Thesis signature page -- which you include in the filed Thesis. Since the library requires two copies, you should ask your committee to sign at least two copies of the signature page. Again, it is common for students to ask for as many as five copies, so that they have original signatures in their own copies of the Thesis.


What is the TA requirement?

The TA Requirement is a new regulation, started in 2000. Students must serve as TA for at least one quarter to fulfill this requirement for the Ph.D. In addition, students must complete the CS495 TA Seminar to learn elements of good teaching.

Note: If you have transferred from another university, and have TA'd in this previous program, or have some other significant prior teaching experience, you can be excused from the TA requirement.


TAKING COURSES


What courses should I take?

Here are some basic things to keep in mind when you sign up for Computer Science courses:

With these things in mind, a good strategy is to shop around: at the beginning of each quarter, go to several courses for the first few lectures and then decide which to take.


What is CS201?

CS201 is the Computer Science graduate seminar that is graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis. It includes presentations by speakers from industry, other universities, and the UCLA Computer Science Department faculty. There is also a Distinguished Lecturer Program, in which an eminent Computer Science researcher is invited to visit UCLA.

Why must you take CS201? It is good for everyone: it is good for you to get exposed to new ideas, and it is good for the speakers to have an audience...

For each graduate degree earned (M.S. and/or Ph.D.), a student must complete at least three quarters of CS 201 with grades of Satisfactory. For the M.S. program, this requirement is checked on the Computer Science Breadth Requirement form. For the Ph.D. program, this requirement is checked when the student advances to doctoral candidacy.


I can't get into an upper-division course I need; what should I do?

As you are probably aware, the Engineering school gives undergraduates priority for enrolling in upper-division courses; graduate students are not permitted to enroll before the beginning of the quarter. Also, graduate students must contend with increasing demand for these courses and the modest size of UCLA classrooms, which were designed for a different world. Furthermore, legal restrictions prevent actual class enrollment from going higher than the seating capacity of the scheduled classroom -- even if there are always empty seats available.

Apart from pleading with the instructor for a PTE (Permit to Enroll) in the class, as a graduate student there is not much you can do to get in. However:
  • upper-division course enrollment problems often disappear during the second week of class. Generally students "shop" for courses the first week, and will often leave open positions during the second week, when they "drop".

  • upper-division courses are offered frequently, sometimes every quarter, and graduate courses are not. New graduate students sometimes try to complete all their upper-division coursework first, but this "greedy algorithm" may be suboptimal: It may be better to take graduate courses that are offered more rarely -- many are offered only once a year. By following an "upper-division-first" strategy, you may need to stay an additional quarter or two to complete your M.S. coursework.

If at all possible, get on the wait list for the course. This puts you first in line for enrollment if students drop, and enrollment is automatic that way. Your only other option is to get a PTE number for the class.


How do I get a PTE (Permit To Enroll) number for a class?

A PTE number is a 5-digit numeric code that, when given to URSA, will allow you to enroll in a class.

Every quarter, during the first week of class, instructors for each class are given a set of PTE numbers that they can then give to students that they wish to allow to enroll in that class.

You must persuade the instructor of the class to give you a PTE number. Keep in mind that many other students may be competing with you for this; be nice!


What is the deadline for adding/dropping a class?

With URSA, you can add up to the end of the second week without any penalty. After this, you can add with a financial penalty. Up to the fourth week of classes, any drop will not show on your transcript. After this, it may show on your transcript.

Be warned, though: the Dean really does NOT like drops. Students are strongly advised not to drop after the fourth week.


Is retroactive dropping OK?

After the quarter is over --- NO, under no circumstances, don't even think about it.

During the quarter -- yes, but with both a fee and possible traces left on your transcript, and possibly letters from the dean.


What is an "I" Grade?

An "I" grade is an "incomplete". At UCLA it is generally given to students in good academic standing and only for medical reasons, or for other circumstances beyond a student's or the instructor's control. An "I" grade is removed when the instructor submits a form indicating that the student has completed the requirements of the course, and that the "I" should be replaced by a specified letter grade.

The dangerous aspect of an "I" grade is that it lapses into an "F" if it is not removed within one quarter (ignoring Summer quarter). With all the other commitments they have in the following quarter, students who take "I"s in courses often find the work hard to complete, and thus it is common that an "I" lapses into an "F". So: rather than try to obtain an "I", it is often safer to drop the course. (As Verra says: an "I" is like borrowing money on very high interest; don't do it.)


What are CS2x9 courses?

CS2x9 courses (219, 239, 249, 259, 269, 279) are placeholders for not-yet-official graduate courses. When a faculty member introduces a new course, they first offer it under a CS2x9 number. After the course becomes more established it is given a regular number.

The CS2x9 courses have strange course titles (like "Current Topics in Data Structures") because they were designed as catchalls for new courses. It would be nice if the university allowed instructors to create more descriptive titles for these courses, but (as part of its mission for uniformity and high standards) it does not. Creating a new title requires following a formal procedure, such as creating a new course.

Because of the problems stated above, there is a webpage set up every quarter with information on each CS2x9 class (title, description, prerequsites, grading, workload, etc...). Should this information not be sufficient, please contact the instructor for that course to find out more. This website may be found at:
http://www.cs.ucla.edu/classes/ quarter YY /grad2x9.html
where quarter is the quarter and YY is the year. So, if you wanted the grad2x9 page for the Fall quarter of 2004, you would have the following link: http://www.cs.ucla.edu/classes/fall04/grad2x9.html. Some links for past and future quarters are: W'04 S'04 F'04 W'05 S'05


What are the TA courses CS375 and CS495 for?

CS495: TA Training Seminar
This seminar covers elements of good teaching. It is required of new TAs. It has classroom meetings and requires attendance.

To fulfill the TA requirement, you must take CS495.

Currently CS495 is offered only in Fall quarter; normally it is best to take CS495 during Fall quarter of the year in which you are a TA. It is OK to take CS495 in the same quarter that you do this.


CS375: Teaching Apprentice Practicum
Enrolling in this course formally records that you are working as a TA in a given quarter. CS375 does not have classroom meetings or require attendance.


What are CS298, CS596, CS597, CS598, and CS599 about?

A general answer to this question can be found in the Registrar's Official Course Listings. However:
  • These courses are used to formalize research sessions between you and your advisor.

  • Since the expectations of the instructor about these courses do vary, it is important that you talk to your advisor about what is expected if you take these courses.

  • Each faculty member (advisor) has his/her own sections of these courses, and each section has its own course ID number.

  • A benefit of formalizing research meetings in this way is that it allows the faculty member to obtain a classroom.

  • Another benefit is that it makes it clearer to the administrators what faculty members are doing.

  • You can also use the CS298 and the CS59x courses to make your schedule total at least 12 units. This is important, since if your study list drops below 12 units, sirens go off at Murphy Hall and bad things happen.


CS298: Research Seminar in Computer Science
research with a specific faculty member (your advisor), often with group meetings. May be repeated for credit. (S/U grading, 2 - 4 units).
Every quarter, you should sign up for your advisor's CS298 section:
F'04 W'05 S'05   F'05 W'06 S'06   F'06 W'07 S'07


The CS59x courses formalize specific research relationships between a student and his/her advisor:

  • CS599: Research for and Preparation of the Ph.D. Dissertation
    working towards your Ph.D. Final Oral Exam (Dissertation Defense) (S/U grading, 2 - 16 units).


  • CS598: Research for the M.S. Thesis
    supervised independent research on your M.S. Thesis (S/U grading, 2 - 12 units).


  • CS597A: Preparation for the M.S. Comprehensive Exam
    working on your M.S. Comprehensive (S/U grading, 2 - 12 units).

  • CS597B: Preparation for the Ph.D. Preliminary Exam
    preparing for the WQE (Written Qualifying Exam) (S/U grading, 2 - 16 units).

  • CS597C: Preparation for Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Examination
    working towards your Ph.D. Oral Qualifying Exam (Prospectus exam), including preliminary research on your dissertation (S/U grading, 2 - 16 units).


  • CS596: Directed Individual Study
    working with your advisor: "supervised investigation of advanced technical problems" (S/U grading, 2 - 8 units).

    This formalizes situations where you are working with your advisor, but the other CS59x courses above do not apply. For example, if you are working on the M.S. Thesis but have already taken CS598 twice, you can take CS596 instead.

Details about specific offerings of the courses are at the Registrar's schedule for CS 596, 597[A:B,C], 598, 599 in the following quarters:
F'04 W'05 S'05   F'05 W'06 S'06   F'06 W'07 S'07


Can I transfer credit to UCLA for courses taken at another university?

To be clear: let's assume you are asking whether you can get UCLA course credit (units) toward your M.S. or Ph.D. degree for courses you took elsewhere.

(This is different from asking if you can satisfy the Breadth Requirement with these courses, which just requires the Instructor in Charge to sign your form, saying that you know the course material --- and has nothing directly to do with getting units.)

Then, if the question is "can I use courses I took as an undergraduate to get UCLA graduate program credit?", the answer is: no. However, you can transfer course credit for courses you took elsewhere as a graduate student.

If you are a entering the Ph.D. program with a Master's from another university (outside the University of California system), you can transfer this Master's degree as a Minor Field, i.e., as the equivalent of three UCLA courses. See Verra.

If you are entering the M.S. program, you may petition to transfer credit to UCLA for at most two courses you completed as a graduate student at another university (outside the University of California system), provided:
  • the courses were taken while you were a regularly enrolled graduate student.
  • the courses were not used to satisfy any other degree requirement.
  • the courses were each the equivalent of 4 quarter units or 3 semester units.
  • you received a grade of "B" or better in the courses.
  • an official transcript in duplicate of the grades is on file with the Graduate Division.
Transfers within the UC system are more complex; see Verra.


How can I find out in what quarter a course will be offered?

There are several heuristics people use for doing this:


Why do I have to sign up for 12 units each quarter?

This satisfies university regulations, and also to encourage you to develop your relationship with your advisor. Below 12 units, you are not here "full-time", and the university worries that you might be a slacker (misusing university resources that more serious students could be using), or that you might be somehow taking advantage of your UCLA student status (e.g., presenting yourself officially as a student while actually doing something else).

NOTE: you do not have to take three 4-unit classes! You can use the CS59x courses or the CS375 TA course to extend your study list to 12 units.


How many courses should I take?

Suggestion: do not overdo it in your first quarter at UCLA. Taking two courses plus CS201 leaves time to adapt to the new Los Angeles environment.

A common mistake made by incoming students is to take too many courses in their first quarter. Sometimes they do this in an effort to finish the grad program quickly, and sometimes in an effort to prove something. In either case the result is problems: the student may go on probation for getting a low initial GPA, and then spend several quarters working out of this.

After your initial quarter here, you can gauge better how much work your courses will be, and determine how best to meet the 12-unit requirement and also complete your coursework.

It may be wiser to ask: what are the best courses for you to take?


What are the best courses? Who are the best instructors?

The answer to this question depends on your goals and taste. Talk to your advisor, the CSD Mentors, other students, and Verra. Also check out the Faculty web pages and/or subjective sources like BruinWalk...


UCLA Computer Science Department
Graduate Student Affairs Office
Verra Morgan (verra@cs.ucla.edu)
(310) 825-6830, (310) 825-2273 [UCL-ACSD] fax
Thu Sep 30 17:51:35 PDT 2004