Keck School of Medicine

Degrees and Requirements

Graduate Degree Programs

In conjunction with the Graduate School, the Keck School of Medicine offers graduate curricula on the Health Sciences Campus leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in two interdisciplinary programs: Genetic, Molecular and Cellular Biology (GMCB) and Integrative Biology of Disease (IBD) with participating faculty from biochemistry and molecular biology, cell and neurobiology, molecular microbiology and immunology, physiology and biophysics and preventive medicine. In addition, individual departments offer degrees in biochemistry and molecular biology, cell and neurobiology, molecular microbiology and immunology, physiology and biophysics.

The Department of Preventive Medicine along with the USC Price School of Public Policy offer the Master in Public Health with concentrated study in one of four tracks: health promotion and disease prevention, biostatistics/epidemiology, nutrition, and health communication.

The Department of Preventive Medicine also offers graduate curricula leading to Ph.D. degrees in biostatistics, epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, statistical genetics and genetic epidemiology or health behavior research.

Graduate credit is provided for some courses included in the Years I and II curriculum of the medical school.

The following sections provide an overview of the departmental graduate studies programs. The requirements listed are those of the individual departments and must be taken in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School. For further information regarding graduate studies in the medical sciences, consult the specific departments or contact: Office of Graduate Affairs, Keck School of Medicine, 1975 Zonal Avenue (KAM B-16), Los Angeles, CA 90089-9023; (323) 442-1607, FAX: (323) 442-1199.

Doctor of Philosophy in Genetic, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Director: Wei Li, Ph.D.

Participating faculty: School of Medicine faculty from both basic and clinical departments who perform research. Interested faculty from other schools including Pharmacy, Dentistry, Engineering and USC College are encouraged to request to become participating faculty.

The goal of the Ph.D. program in Genetic, Molecular and Cellular Biology (GMCB) is to train investigators to develop multidisciplinary strategies to elucidate the basic molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for the ability of cells and organisms to reproduce, differentiate, communicate with each other, and respond to internal and external stimuli. Such studies will also logically facilitate our understanding of disease processes and the ability of organisms to defend themselves against disease.

Major advances in biological and biomedical sciences frequently involve the bridging of ideas and technology from diverse disciplines. The Ph.D. program in genetic, molecular and cellular biology will emphasize breadth of research training fostered by the broad range of research interests and technological emphasis among participating faculty members from a variety of academic departments and disciplines. Close interactions among faculty and students provide an ideal environment for learning not only the skills required to conduct experiments but also the skills required to form new liaisons and collaborations with other scientists in diverse fields.

Admission Requirements

A baccalaureate degree in life sciences or sufficient courses in mathematics and the life sciences is required to provide a strong background for studies in biomedical research. Appropriate undergraduate degrees would be biology, physiology, engineering, chemistry or computer science. Successful applicants must have satisfactory performance on the general and advanced portions of the GREs and three letters of recommendation. Previous research experience in a related field is expected but not required. Applicants who are accepted with minor deficiencies are expected to correct these during the first year.

In general (although not exclusively), new graduate students apply for admission to USC through the Ph.D. Programs in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (PIBBS), and become enrolled in the genetic, molecular and cellular biology graduate program after having completed the first year’s course work and rotations. Application forms and information are available online at pibbs.usc.edu, or can be obtained from the PIBBS program, Office of Graduate Affairs, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, KAM B-16, 1975 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089-9031; email pibbs@usc.edu.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are awarded under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Advisory Committee

The student will be advised during the first year by the genetic, molecular and cellular biology executive committee. The purpose of the executive committee is to help the student in the selection of courses, selection of research rotations and, ultimately, a mentor and laboratory, to monitor the student’s progress, and to ensure preparation for the screening procedure at the end of the first year.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 60 units is required, consisting of formal courses, seminars and research credits. At least 24 of the 60 units are to be formal graduate course work (lecture or seminar courses). Students must complete 16 units of course work before they are considered for the screening procedure. Additional course work relevant to the research interests of the student may be required by the student’s qualifying exam committee or by the student’s academic adviser in addition to the required 24 units.

Lab Rotations

During the first year, students sign up for BIOC 790 Research (4 units each semester) and rotate through the labs of three mentor members of the program (potential research advisers). By the first summer of graduate study, but no later than after 18 months in the program, each student is expected to have selected a research adviser.

In the first year, in addition to lab rotations, students are also required to take two 4-unit graduate-level courses each semester. In the second year, courses are selected with the approval of the student’s qualifying exam committee with reference to the research area in which the student is working. The GMCB program requires students to take courses in biochemistry, cell biology and molecular genetics; a list of recommended/suggested courses that will satisfy these requirements is distributed to all students at the beginning of each academic year. During the first summer term, all students take an ethics class (INTD 500 Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Research). Within the first two years, each student must take a statistics course (PM 510L Principles of Biostatistics (4) or equivalent); students who have previously taken an undergraduate or graduate course in statistics or one in which statistical methods were emphasized should petition to request permission to waive this requirement. In the second and subsequent years, students are required to take BIOC 573 Optimal Research Presentations by Ph.D. Students. For these required courses, opting out, delaying or substituting a class requires the approval of the advisory committee of the program.

Screening Procedures

At the end of the first year, each student is required to pass a screening procedure based on the first year’s required courses submitted by reports from the genetic, molecular, and cellular biology faculty to the executive committee, which is intended to expose any weaknesses in the student’s abilities. Progress must be judged satisfactory in two areas: maintenance of satisfactory performance in course work and satisfactory completion of all research rotations.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination, administered by the qualifying exam committee, should demonstrate a conceptual grasp of the major area of interest chosen and an understanding of the general framework and approaches of hypothesis-driven research.

Annual Research Appraisal

After advancing to candidacy, progress on dissertation research by each student is evaluated annually with an Annual Research Appraisal (ARA).

Dissertation

At the last ARA before the defense of the dissertation, the student submits an outline draft to the dissertation committee.

Defense

An acceptable dissertation based upon completion of an original investigation is required. The candidate must defend an approved draft of the dissertation in a public oral defense. The dissertation committee will then meet with the student in a closed session and complete the oral examination.

Doctor of Philosophy in Integrative Biology of Disease

Director: W. Martin Kast, Ph.D.

Participating Faculty: School of Medicine faculty from both basic and clinical departments with research programs. Interested faculty from other schools including Pharmacy, Dentistry, Engineering and USC College are encouraged to petition to join participating faculty.

The goal of the Ph.D. program in Integrative Biology of Disease (IBD) is to train investigators to develop strategies to implement and integrate the detailed information gained from cellular, molecular and genetic advances into studies of normal system function as well as studies of how and why systems are disrupted in disease.

The program applies a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the human organism as a whole. Breadth of interests and training are major features of this track and wide and varied skills in many research areas characterize the faculty. To facilitate application of multidisciplinary approaches, close and regular contact between participating faculty and students is a major theme of the Ph.D. track.

Admission Requirements

Students routinely enter the IBD program after completing their first year in the interdisciplinary Ph.D. Programs in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (PIBBS) year 1 program (instructions to apply below), through the M.D./Ph.D. program or after completing one year in a related basic science department. A baccalaureate degree in life sciences or sufficient courses in mathematics and the life sciences is required to provide a strong background for studies in biomedical research. Appropriate undergraduate degrees would be biology, physiology, engineering, chemistry or computer science. Successful applicants must have satisfactory performance on the general and advanced portions of the GREs and three letters of recommendation. Previous research experience in a related field is expected but not required. Applicants who are accepted with minor deficiencies are expected to correct these during the first year.

Students enter the Integrative Biology of Disease program only after being accepted into a laboratory for graduate work, usually in their second year through the PIBBS program after completing research rotations, through the M.D./Ph.D. program or through a department-based program. Students may petition the integrative biology of disease program executive committee for entrance before the second year if they have been accepted into a lab.

Online application to PIBBS is available at: pibbs.usc.edu. Additional information can be obtained from the PIBBS program, Office of Graduate Affairs, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, KAM B-16, 1975 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089-9031; email pibbs@usc.edu.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are awarded under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Advisory Committee

Students will be advised before their qualifying exam by the PIBBS program director and the integrative biology of disease mentor. The purpose of the executive committee is to help students in the selection of courses, selection of research rotations and, ultimately, a mentor and laboratory, to monitor students’ progress, and to ensure preparation for the screening procedure at the end of the first year.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 60 units is required, consisting of formal courses, seminars and research credits. At least 24 of the 60 units are to be formal graduate course work (lecture or seminar courses). Students must complete 16 units of course work before they are considered for the screening procedure. Additional course work relevant to the research interests of the student may be required by the student’s qualifying exam committee or by the student’s academic adviser in addition to the required 24 units.

Lab Rotations

During the first year in PIBBS, students sign up for BIOC 790 Research (4 units each semester), and rotate through the labs of three mentor members of the program (potential research advisers). By the first summer of graduate study, but no later than after 18 months in the program, each student is expected to have selected a research adviser.

In the first year, students are also required to take two, four-unit graduate-level courses each semester. Substitutions are possible, with approval of the executive committee if a student has already completed advanced course work in one or more of these areas. Suggested courses are provided in the list below. During summer term all students take an ethics class: INTD 500 Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Research. For these required courses, opting out, delaying or substituting a class requires the approval of the advisory committee of the program.

In the second year, courses are selected with the approval of the student’s qualifying exam committee with reference to the research area in which the student is working. By the end of the second year all students are required to complete both INTD 572 Systems Physiology and Disease I and INTD 573 Systems Physiology and Disease II. Completion of both INTD 550 (4) and INTD 551 (4) can be substituted for either INTD 572 or INTD 573. In the second and subsequent years, students are required to take INTD 574 Systems Biology and Disease Seminar. Participation in an organized journal club or working group recognized by the executive committee is required each year. Within the first two years, each student must take a statistics course: PM 510L Principles of Biostatistics or equivalent.

Screening Procedures

At the end of the first year, each student is required to pass a screening procedure based on the first year’s required courses submitted by reports from the Integrative Biology of Disease faculty to the executive committee. This is intended to expose any weaknesses in the student’s abilities. Progress must be judged satisfactory in two areas: maintain satisfactory performance in course work, and satisfactory completion of all research rotations.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination, taken at the end of the second year, is administered by the qualifying exam committee and should demonstrate a conceptual grasp of the major area of interest chosen and an understanding of the general framework and approaches of hypothesis-driven research.

Annual Research Appraisal

After advancing to candidacy, progress on dissertation research by each student is evaluated annually with an Annual Research Appraisal (ARA).

Dissertation

At the last ARA before the defense of the dissertation, the student submits an outline draft to the dissertation committee.

Defense

An acceptable dissertation based upon completion of an original investigation is required. The candidate must defend an approved draft of the dissertation in a public oral defense. The dissertation committee will then meet with the student in a closed session and complete the oral examination.