This program is designed to train the participants intensively in the concepts and experimental methodologies of molecular biology and biochemistry. The subject matter is organized in an integrated fashion (lectures, seminars and laboratory) to present fundamental information on the biochemistry, biophysics, genetics and development of cells from a variety of different organisms. Primary emphasis is on the relationship between structure and function at different integrative and functional levels. Applications may be obtained from: Graduate Program in Molecular Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA 90089-1340.
Applicants are expected to have a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a cognate area such as biology, chemistry, physics, engineering or bacteriology. Undergraduate work should include a basic course in biology, basic physics, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and calculus. Students who are deficient in any of these may be required to correct the deficiency during the first two years of graduate study. Courses taken to correct these deficiencies are usually not credited toward the degree. The student must submit letters of recommendation from at least three faculty members who can evaluate the promise of the student for graduate work and independent research. The applicant must take the GRE General Test prior to acceptance.
These degrees are awarded under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Graduate Students 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.
The study of molecular biology places so many demands upon the student that it is difficult to attain any satisfactory level of competence in the time generally taken for a master's degree. Therefore, enrollment of graduate students as master's degree applicants is not encouraged and is reserved for special circumstances. The curriculum of the master's student is patterned after that of the doctorate up to and including the qualifying examination, but not including thesis research. The qualifying examination will serve as the comprehensive master's examination.
During the first year, the student's program is under the direction of an initial guidance committee composed of members of the committee on admissions to the program. Before the end of the second semester a permanent guidance committee, chaired by the student's research director, is established. Thereafter, the student's program of studies and dissertation is under the direction of the permanent guidance committee and the dissertation committee.
In the third semester the student's progress is discussed and evaluated by the guidance committee. The purpose of this evaluation is to determine competence to continue graduate study, and to point out deficiencies to be remedied prior to the qualifying examination.
A minimum of 24 of the 60 units required for the Ph.D. degree must be in formal course work, exclusive of research. These must include the core courses, BISC 402, 403, 506, 507, and 508, to be completed with a B average and preferably in the first year. The remainder of the courses should be chosen, in consultation with the program chair, from the graduate offerings of this and other departments and should include four semesters of BISC 537 or equivalent seminar, and no more than six units of 400 level courses. All students are expected to participate in departmental research seminars and journal clubs.
Students in the graduate program in molecular biology are not required to pass a foreign language examination.
The examinations qualifying the student for candidacy for the Ph.D. in molecular biology must be initiated by October of the first semester of the third year. The first part is written and consists of comprehensive questions covering the student's knowledge of molecular biology, cell physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, and biophysics. The second part is an oral examination. It consists of general questions and the presentation and defense of a proposition outlining a research program, which must be in a field other than that of the student's immediate research interest. This examination sequence will be completed by the end of the fifth semester of the program.
The dissertation is based on original, publishable, and significant research conducted independently by the student under the guidance of the dissertation committee.
The defense of the dissertation is either a defense oral or a final oral. In most cases a defense oral will suffice if approved by the dissertation committee.
Since most graduates in biological sciences will spend some part of their careers in academic work, teaching experience is considered an important part of graduate training. Each graduate student in the program is therefore required to assist in the teaching program of the Department of Biological Sciences.
Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995