Keck School of Medicine
Undergraduate Minor Program
Minor in Health Care Studies
The USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the Keck School of Medicine offer an interdisciplinary minor in health care studies. This minor is targeted to those undergraduates who wish to pursue a postgraduate career in health care or health care related fields. The minor brings together a background in fundamental science necessary to understand the biological basis of medicine with course work that explores health care both in classroom and clinical settings. The minor requires a minimum of 28 units, at least 16 of which must be at the upper-division level. If the core required courses listed below are already included in a student’s major, then other lower division courses may be selected from the electives list.
Students should consult their advisers in selecting courses. Depending on the major, prerequisites may increase total units required to complete this minor.
| REQUIRED COURSES (12 units) | units | |
|---|---|---|
| BISC 220L | General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology, or | |
| BISC 221L | Advanced General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology | 4 |
| CHEM 103Lx | General Chemistry for the Environment and Life, or | |
| CHEM 105aL | General Chemistry | 4 |
| MDA 110 | Contemporary Issues and Cases in Health Care | 2 |
| MEDS 220 | Preparation for the Clinical Experience | 2 |
| Electives: Students must choose a minimum of 16 upper division units from the following lists. |
Introduction to Human Health I
| ANTH 101 | Body, Mind and Healing | 4 |
| BISC 150Lx | The Nature of Human Health and Disease | 4 |
| PSYC 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 360* | Abnormal Psychology | 4 |
Introduction to Human Health II
| BISC 320L* | Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BISC 421* | Neurobiology | 4 |
| BISC 450L* | Principles of Immunology | 4 |
| MEDS 260 | Challenges in the Forefront of Biomedical Ethics | 2 |
| MEDS 280 | The History of Medicine: A Doctor’s Perspective | 2 |
| MEDS 300 | Statistical Methods for Biomedical Research | 4 |
| PSYC 336L* | Developmental Psychology | 4 |
The Biological Bases for Disease Processes
| BISC 300L* | Introduction to Microbiology | 4 |
| BISC 307L* | General Physiology | 4 |
| BISC 330L* | Biochemistry | 4 |
| MEDS 320* | Clinical Perspectives on Human Anatomy | 4 |
| MEDS 335* | Human Development: From Stem to Sternum | 2 |
| MEDS 340L* | The Brain in Health and Disease | 4 |
| MEDS 350* | Drugs and the Brain | 2 |
| MEDS 360* | Current Research Approaches to Biomedical Problems | 2 |
| MEDS 370* | Organ Failure: Non-Communicable Chronic Disease | 2 |
| MEDS 380* | Stem Cells: Fact, Fiction and the Future of Mankind | 2 |
Clinical and Biomedical Experience
| BISC 423* | Epilepsy to Ecstasy: Biological Basis of Neurological Disorders | 4 |
| MEDS 425* | Medical Examiner-Coroner: Investigating Death | 2 |
| MEDS 440* | Introduction to Surgical Principles | 3 |
| MEDS 445* | Cancer: Introduction to Oncology in the Modern Era | 2 |
| MEDS 450* | OB/GYN: The Medicine and Surgery of Reproduction | 2 |
| MEDS 460* | Emergency Health Care | 2 |
| MEDS 465* | Wilderness and Survival Medicine | 4 |
| MEDS 490* | Directed Research in Biomedical Science | 2-8 |
Courses of Instruction
medical Sciences (meds)
The terms indicated are expected but are not guaranteed. For the courses offered during any given term, consult the Schedule of Classes.
MEDS 220 Preparation for the Clinical Experience (2, FaSpSm) Discussion and exercises in clinically relevant topics (professional behavior, patient privacy, medical ethics, cultural competency, teamwork, etc.) in preparation for experience in the clinical setting.
MEDS 260 Challenges in the Forefront of Biomedical Ethics (2, Sp) Examination of fundamental ethical concepts and principles in clinical health care and biomedical research. Use of film, case studies and discussion. Recommended preparation: MDA 110 or MEDS 220.
MEDS 280 The History of Medicine: a Doctor’s Perspective (2, Fa) Explores the role of medicine/surgery in society, whose ideas about health and disease have undergone enormous changes from antiquity to the present day.
MEDS 300 Statistical Methods for Biomedical Research (4, Fa) Fundamental basis for various statistical tests, underlying assumptions, and statistical analyses used in biomedical and clinical research.
MEDS 320 Clinical Perspectives on Human Anatomy (4, FaSp) Anatomical structure and function of the major regions of the human body as related to health and disease, using clinical cases, lectures and cadaveric demonstrations. Prerequisite: BISC 220L or BISC 221L.
MEDS 335 Human Development: From Stem to Sternum (2, Fa) An introduction to transformation of a single cell into a mature organism. Prerequisite: BISC 220L or BISC 221L. Recommended preparation: BISC 320L.
MEDS 340 The Brain in Health and Disease (4, Fa) Study of the human brain with emphasis on structure-functional relationships, illustrative case studies, current imaging techniques, with illustrative laboratory exercises using specimens and slides. Prerequisite: BISC 220L or BISC 221L; CHEM 103 or CHEM 105a or CHEM 115a.
MEDS 350 Drugs and the Brain (2, Sp) Effects of legal and illegal drugs on human brain function. Introduction to common prescribed drugs, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and brain pathways utilized by common drug classes. Prerequisite: BISC 220L or BISC 221L; and CHEM 103Lx or CHEM 105aL or CHEM 115aL; recommended preparation: BISC 320L or BISC 330L.
MEDS 360 Current Research Approaches to Biomedical Problems (2, Fa) A theoretical basis of laboratory approaches that help the biomedical or physician scientist in understanding the etiology of disease and targeting disease processes. Prerequisite: BISC 220L or BISC 221L; and CHEM 103Lx or CHEM 105aL or CHEM 115aL; recommended preparation: BISC 320L or BISC 330L.
MEDS 370 Organ Failure: Non-Communicable Chronic Disease (2, Sp) An examination of frequently treated diseases with the greatest impact on society. Involvement of medical specialists and actual patients as guests. Prerequisite: MEDS 220 and BISC 220L or BISC 221L; and CHEM 103Lx or CHEM 105aL or CHEM 115aL; recommended preparation: MEDS 320 or EXSC 301L.
MEDS 380 Stem Cells: Fact, Fiction and The Future of Mankind (2, Sp) Exploring how stem cells and regenerative medicine are portrayed in culture, the scientific underpinnings of what is currently possible, and visions into the future. Prerequisite: BISC 220L or BISC 221L.
MEDS 425 Medical Examiner-Coroner: Investigating Death (2, Fa) Emphasizes the team-based approach used by forensic scientists, medical examiners and coroners to investigate the circumstances and determine the cause/manner of death. Prerequisite: BISC 220 or BISC 221 and MEDS 220. Open only to juniors and seniors.
MEDS 440 Introduction to Surgical Principles (2, Sp) Introduction to the spectrum of surgical care, taught by surgeons, with the goal of developing an appreciation of the role that surgery plays in society. Prerequisite: BISC 220 or BISC 221; and CHEM 103 or CHEM 105a or CHEM 115a; and MEDS 220. Open only to juniors and seniors.
MEDS 445 Cancer: Introduction to Oncology in the Modern Era (2, Fa) Introduction to the spectrum of clinical and scientific issues surrounding contemporary cancer care – molecular diagnostics, genomic medicine, modern therapeutics, and community/patient engagement. Prerequisite: BISC 220 or BISC 221 and MEDS 220. Open only to juniors and seniors.
MEDS 450 OB/GYN: The Medicine and Surgery of Reproduction (2, Fa) An introduction to the practical realities of modern obstetric and gynecology practice from the point of view of practicing surgeon scientists at USC. Prerequisite: BISC 220 or BISC 221 and MEDS 220.
MEDS 460 Emergency Health Care (2, FaSp) Principles of emergency medical services, ranging from pre-hospital care and advanced life-saving, to minor injuries and illnesses. Interactive experience with ER physicians/emergency health care providers. Prerequisite: BISC 220 or BISC 221; and MEDS 220. Recommended preparation: MEDS 260.
MEDS 465 Wilderness and Survival Medicine (4, Sp) Medical physiology principles of people under “extreme” wilderness conditions, factors affecting remote medical care, and basic survival strategies, led by Emergency Medicine physicians. Prerequisite: BISC 220 or BISC 221; and MEDS 220.
MEDS 490x Directed Research in Biomedical Science (2-8, max 8, FaSpSm) Individual research and readings. Not available for graduate credit. Prerequisite: BISC 220L or BISC 221L and CHEM 103L or CHEM 105aL or CHEM 115aL; recommended preparation: MEDS 300, MEDS 360.