When the basic content of the dissertation has been accepted, the Doctoral Committee supervises the final examination, which consists of a public seminar and a closed conference between the candidate and the Doctoral Committee. Students are expected to complete all requirements for the Ph.D. within five full academic years if they entered with a Bachelor's degree or within three years if they entered with a Master's degree. The Department is located in modern facilities with laboratories in close proximity to each other, which facilitates interaction and sharing of major pieces of equipment. The Department has a common-use electrophoretic facility. Centralized media preparation also is available.
Microcomputers are available in a centralized location as well as in individual laboratories.
The School of Biological Sciences provides animal facilities, an Electron microscope facility, and sophisticated capabilities for elemental and biochemical analysis as well as photographic and image analysis processing. Modern greenhouse facilities staffed by two full-time employees are available for research use, as is a wild animal vivarium. Southern California is endowed with a remarkable diversity of natural habitats where graduate students and faculty carry out research. These habitats span an altitudinal gradient ranging from sea level to high montane settings in the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains. Coastal Southern California has a Mediterranean climate with moist winters and dry summers.