Welcome to Graduate Studies at the University of Western California (UWC)!

Our graduate programs provide an immersive, engaging, and flexible pathway for you to:

• Deepen your expertise in your chosen field.

• Expand your academic and professional knowledge.

• Contribute to leading-edge research that shapes the future.

At UWC, we are committed to preparing you for a successful career while also developing you as a well-rounded, creative, and ethical individual. Through your graduate journey, you will gain the tools, values, and experiences needed to make meaningful contributions to your profession and to society at large.

Your success begins here — at the Faculty of Graduate Studies, UWC.

• Thesis Supervision & Research Approval

  • Approval for Thesis Supervision

  • Approval for Thesis Research Proposal

  • Changing Thesis Supervisor

  • Withdrawal from Thesis Supervision

• Thesis Processing & Submission

  • Thesis Processing Assessment

  • Submission to Turnitin

  • Request to Restrict the Circulation of Thesis

  • Thesis and Major Research Paper Copyright License (original copy required)

• Thesis Defense & Evaluation

  • Thesis Defense Approval

  • Formation of Thesis Defense Committee

  • Non-Disclosure of Thesis Defense Deliberations

  • Thesis Title and Approval

  • Thesis Title Change Form

  • Thesis Defense Evaluation

  • PhD Defense External Examiner

  • Thesis Re-examination

• • All UWC Faculty members, as well as non-UWC Faculty in federated departments and joint graduate degree programs, are automatically recognized as members of the UWC Graduate Faculty.

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  Appointment of Instructional Staff

  • Instructional staff (e.g., research professors, university lecturers, visiting professors, professors of practice, adjunct faculty) may be appointed to the Graduate Faculty for renewable terms of five years.

  • Appointment is made by the Dean of Graduate Studies, upon the recommendation of the Graduate Faculty members of the relevant department, academic unit, or interdisciplinary graduate program.

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  Qualifications for Appointment

  Candidates must hold a doctoral degree or another accepted terminal degree in their field, along with evidence of ongoing scholarly and professional achievement, such as:

  • Peer-reviewed journal publications.

  • Publication of scholarly books or book chapters.

  • Recognized editorial activities.

  • Securing externally funded research grants.

  • Or an equivalent record of scholarly contribution.

• • The Graduate Faculty at the University of Western California (UWC) play a vital role in ensuring academic excellence and scholarly advancement. Their privileges and responsibilities are defined as follows:

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    Full UWC Faculty Members

    • Eligible to serve as primary advisors for:

      • Ph.D. dissertations

      • Master’s theses

    • Eligible to serve as chairpersons of Ph.D. dissertation committees.

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    Other Graduate Faculty Members

    • May have primary responsibility for teaching graduate courses.

    • May serve on Ph.D. dissertation committees and master’s thesis committees.

    • May serve as co-advisors for master’s theses.

     However, they are not eligible to:

    • Serve as primary advisors or co-advisors for Ph.D. dissertations, OR

    • Serve as primary advisors for master’s theses, OR

    • Chair doctoral dissertation committees

     Unless they receive special approval by the Graduate Faculty of the relevant department, academic unit, or interdisciplinary graduate program.

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    This structure ensures that graduate students receive guidance from faculty with the highest academic qualifications, while also allowing other Graduate Faculty to contribute meaningfully to graduate education

    Graduate Faculty Roles & Eligibility

    Role / Responsibility	UWC Full Faculty Members	Other Graduate Faculty Members
    Serve as Primary Advisor – Ph.D. Dissertation	Allowed	Not allowed (unless approved)
    Serve as Primary Advisor – Master’s Thesis	Allowed	Not allowed (unless approved)
    Serve as Chairperson – Ph.D. Dissertation Committee	Allowed	Not allowed (unless approved)
    Serve as Co-Advisor – Master’s Thesis	Allowed	Allowed
    Serve as Member – Ph.D. Dissertation Committee	Allowed	Allowed
    Serve as Member – Master’s Thesis Committee	Allowed	Allowed
    Deliver Graduate Courses	Allowed	Allowed

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