Between June 1 of the second year and, no later than September 30 (beginning of third year), the student must complete the selection of a doctoral committee. The Doctoral Committee conducts the University Oral Qualifying Examination and guides the student in the preparation and defense of the dissertation. The committee is made up of at least four graduate faculty; the thesis advisor, who serves as Chair of the Committee, two additional Pathology members, and one member from outside the Department but holding a graduate faculty appointment on the UCLA campus (a University requirement). Alternatively, according to the regulations of the UCLA Graduate Division, a student may petition to have a faculty member from another UC campus serve as an “outside” member. At least two of the four committee members must be tenured (that is, at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor). At least one member of the four-member doctoral committee should be an expert in the proposed orals topic.
When all invited committee members have agreed to serve, the student should email the Student Affairs Coordinator the names of the selected committee members and she will complete the Nomination of Doctoral Committee form, have it approved by the CMP Graduate Advisor and submit it to the Graduate Division for final approval. A copy of this document will be kept in the student’s file.
From the point at which the paperwork is received by the Graduate Division, a minimum of two weeks is required for approval of the Committee. Graduate Division approval must be obtained before scheduling the Oral Qualifying Examination.
A doctoral committee must be reconstituted if the student wishes to make any changes to the membership after the initial nomination has been approved by the Graduate Division. A request -Reconstitution of Doctoral Committee form must be completed by the student (see Instructions for details) and approved by the Department Chair and the Committee Chair. The student should return the completed form to the Graduate Student Affairs Coordinator for final submission to the Graduate Division. A committee would be reconstituted for a variety of reasons, including; if the student wishes to add additional members, or if a member cannot fulfill his/her responsibilities (sabbatical, transfer, etc.) and must be replaced. Rules governing the constitution and reconstitution of the doctoral committee are in accord with regulations established by the UCLA Graduate Council and the graduate Division. These regulations are available in the Graduate Division publication, Standards & Procedures for Graduate Study.
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