Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, page 3

Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, page 3
School of Medicine

Doctor of Philosophy

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology offers graduate degree courses directed toward the Ph.D. degree in this discipline. The objective of this program is to prepare students for careers as independent investigators and instructors in biochemistry, molecular biology and related fields. The program consists of both course work and research and is intended to provide students with a broad conceptual background as well as focused research training. The flexibility of the program is designed to meet the interests of individual students and to prepare them for specialization in any of the major subdivisions of biochemistry.

Course Requirements

A total of 60 units of graduate credit is required for the Ph.D., including course work, research and dissertation units. At least 24 of these units must be from courses numbered 500 or higher; at least 12 of these units must be taken in biochemistry, while the remaining 12 units may be taken in various related disciplines. Students are expected to take the three seminar courses and additional courses may be required by the Graduate Advisory Committee or by the student's guidance committee. Students must complete all courses with a cumulative GPA of not less than 3.0 and must maintain this average in order to remain in the graduate program. Students are expected to spend full time during the academic year and summer on course work or research.

Screening Procedure

The department's Graduate Advisory Committee, consisting of four faculty members, assesses the educational objectives and research interests of each student admitted to the graduate program. The committee then recommends a program of graduate courses and research suited to the individual student. The advisory committee evaluates the student's performance throughout the first year and must approve the student's progress prior to his or her selection of a research advisor.

Guidance Committee

To assist students in selecting their research advisors, students rotate through four research laboratories during their first year in the graduate program. By the first summer of graduate study, each student is expected to have selected a research advisor. Shortly afterward the student should form a five-member guidance committee. Members of the committee must include the student's research advisor, at least three faculty members from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and at least one member from outside the department.

Qualifying Examination

Students in the Ph.D. program must pass both the written and oral portions of a comprehensive qualifying examination on the major areas of biochemistry. The written portion consists of a comprehensive examination, usually given twice a year, which must be passed before the oral portion can be taken. The oral portion, which must be scheduled within three months of the successful completion of the written examination, comprises two propositions which the student is required to defend. The first of the propositions consists of an original research proposal outside of the student's own thesis research, which the student must submit in written form one week before the oral defense. The second proposition will be focused on the student's dissertation research and is intended to test the student's depth and breadth of knowledge in his or her area of research. The student will be asked to prepare a short summary of the dissertation research proposal and submit it within one week of the oral defense. The oral examination consists of a defense of both propositions and can include questions dealing with the written examination and other areas of biochemistry. The oral examination will give applicants the opportunity to unravel complex problems and will also test their overall knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Recommendations for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree are made on the basis of the successful completion of these requirements and the student's maintenance of at least a 3.0 GPA in courses other than research. A student who has not been recommended for advancement to candidacy at the end of two and a half years will be terminated unless given permission to terminate graduate work with an M.S. degree.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

The student's dissertation committee consists of the research advisor, one other member from the department and one member from outside the department. The dissertation must represent an original contribution to biochemistry and should indicate the ability of the student to undertake independent investigation. Students normally defend a rough draft of the dissertation. Any interested faculty member in the department may attend the defense. After the dissertation has been completed, the student normally presents a seminar to the entire department.

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
David Henriquez
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu