First Years           

• *Complete Core Courses
• Specialty Courses
• Select an Advisor
• Join a Research Laboratory

Second Years

• Complete Required and Additional Courses
• Begin Laboratory Research
• *Written Qualifying Exam (end of second year)

Third Years

• Continue Laboratory Research
• Investigate Dissertation Topic
• Conference Presentation

Fourth Years

• Conference Presentation
• Continue Laboratory Research
• Peer-Review Paper
• Select Dissertation Topic
• *First Oral (Advance to Candidacy)

Fifth Years

• Continue Laboratory Research
• Peer-Review Paper
• Final Oral and File Dissertation (See UCLA Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines.)