Departmental Scholar
Accelerate Your Education. Earn Your Bachelors & Masters Degree Simultaneously
The Departmental Scholar Program (DSP) allows exceptionally accomplished juniors and seniors who are nominated by faculty in their major department to pursue their bachelor’s and master’s degrees simultaneously. The program offers advanced undergraduates in selected fields of study access to graduate level classes and an opportunity to do graduate-level research under the direct supervision of faculty. Under selected circumstances, DSP students may also serve as teaching assistants.
Important: Not all departments elect to offer this option to their students. Please send a message to Honors counselor Lorena Rivera for clarification on which departments currently participate.
WANT TO BE A DEPARTMENTAL SCHOLAR?
The Departmental Scholar Program (DSP) enables exceptional students to pursue a bachelor’s and master’s degree simultaneously at UCLA.
To be considered, you must be nominated by your department and meet key eligibility criteria, including:
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Cumulative UC GPA of 3.5 or higher
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Undergraduate major GPA (in upper division major courses only) of 3.5 or higher
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Completion of 96 undergraduate units at UCLA or the equivalent at a similar institution
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Two letters of recommendation from faculty – tenured, lecturers, or adjunct. At least one recommendation from tenured faculty is strongly encouraged.
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Completion of the Writing II requirement
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For transfer students: at least one year of coursework completed at UCLA
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If you want to be nominated, discuss your intent with your department’s academic advisor or Chair. Students must submit a brief Statement of Purpose, a transcript, and arrange for their recommendation letters. Once the department completes the nomination form, materials are sent to the Honors Programs office for approval by the Assistant Vice Provost and the Graduate Division.
To learn more and begin the process, please review the full DSP Guidelines and Nomination Form (PDF). FAQs are listed below, as well as a pdf for download.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are DSP students considered graduate students?
No–DSP students are considered undergraduate students and must abide by all undergraduate rules and regulations.
How can I pay for the additional year to complete DSP?
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- Students are responsible for finding additional funding sources if needed.
- The student pays undergraduate fees/tuition.
Can I extend my time at UCLA to complete DSP?
Yes– students are granted an additional year to complete their DSP requirements, as long as their department advisor approves the request.
I was accepted into another graduate program, can I withdraw from DSP?
Yes–students can withdraw from DSP at any point. They must follow the withdrawal process and notify the DSP coordinator, department advisor, and the registrar’s office. Please be sure to speak with the appropriate individuals to discuss this process.
Who do I meet with to discuss master’s program requirements, and course enrollment?
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- Students will work closely with their department advisor to get support with master program-related questions.
- Any questions regarding undergraduate coursework or general DSP questions, they can meet with the DSP coordinator. Students will be working with the Honors
Programs counseling unit if they are accepted into DSP.
Who do I meet with to discuss the Master’s Advancement to Candidacy Form (M-ATC)?
Students must meet with their department advisor to fill out the M-ATC. The DSP coordinator cannot complete the M-ATC.
How many college commencements can I participate in as a DSP student?
Students can only participate in one college commencement.
Can I use my graduate-level coursework to count for other requirements?
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- No– DSP coursework cannot count towards your undergraduate requirements.
- If you took graduate-level coursework before joining DSP, it may not count towards your master’s program requirements. Graduate-level coursework starts counting towards DSP based on the effective term listed on the student’s nomination form.
Meet the Departmental Scholar Counselor
Honors Counselor Lorena Rivera coordinates the Departmental Scholar Program. For questions or to schedule an appointment, please submit a request through Message Center. DSP students who have been working with Belen Bazan-Delgado or Angel may continue to request them.