Resources and guidance for UCLA Luskin Social Welfare PhD students, including degree requirements, academic milestones, dissertation preparation, and student support services.
Academic Requirements & Coursework
Coursework
- Required coursework information
- Course planning resources
- SW 599 information
(If SW 599 is a key requirement, give it its own subsection rather than listing it alone.)
Coursework
Fall Quarter: SW 229A, SW 249A, SW 284A, Statistics course
Winter Quarter: SW 229B, SW 249B, SW 284B, Statistics course
Spring Quarter: SW 229C, SW 249C, SW 284C, Outside course (Statistics or other), oral comprehensive exam preparation (independent study) if desired
Milestones
File Individualized Development Plan by May 30
File annual Progress Report by May 30
Participate in the End of the Year Consultation in June (scheduled in Spring quarter)
Coursework
Fall Quarter: Social & Behavioral Science course, SW 286C, advanced statistics or advanced research methods
Winter Quarter: Social & Behavioral Science course, SW 286C, advanced statistics or advanced research methods
Spring Quarter: Social & Behavioral Science course, SW 286C, advanced statistics or advanced research methods
Milestones
The first deadline to submit your written exam (publishable paper) is September 15.
Note: Faculty evaluate the publishable paper using this form.
File Mentored Research Project Plan by October 15.
File Study Plan by December 1.
File annual Progress Report by May 30.
File Mentored Research Project Report by June 1.
Coursework
Fall Quarter: SW 596B
Winter and Spring Quarters: SW 596B, SW 258
Milestones
The last deadline to submit your written exam (publishable paper) is December 15.
Note: Faculty evaluate the publishable paper using this form.
File annual Progress Report by May 30.
Coursework
SW 599
Milestones
File annual Progress Report by May 30.
TBA: Constitute Dissertation Committee
TBA: Defend Dissertation Proposal/File Advancement to Candidacy Form
TBA: Schedule and Defend Dissertation
Forms and Resources
- Preparing for Your PhD Dissertation
- PhD Curriculum
- Graduate Writing Center
- Written Comprehensive Exam Submission Form
- Written Comprehensive Exam Submission Form (for faculty)
- Anonymous Comment Form
- Conference Travel Funding Request Form
- Student Accomplishments Form
- Study Plan Form
- Mentored Research Plan
- Mentored Research Project – Final Report
- Annual Progress Report
Student Handbook
- Doctoral Student Handbook (2025-2026)
- Doctoral Student Handbook (2024-2025)
- Doctoral Student Handbook (2023-2024)
- Doctoral Student Handbook (2022-2023)
- Doctoral Student Handbook (2021-2022)
- Doctoral Student Handbook (2020-2021)
Contacts
Doctoral Committee Chair
Laura Wray-Lake
Doctoral Commmittee Faculty Members (2025—2026)
Director of Student Services
Tanya Youssephzadeh