Graduate Degrees, page 2

Graduate Degrees, page 2
School of Pharmacy

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Sciences

This program emphasizes basic as well as applied research in drug delivery and targeting, utilizing medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacodynamics, molecular pharmacology, and cell biology.

A minimum of 60 units is required for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. At least 24 units of course work are required at the 500-level or above, exclusive of seminar and directed research. The guidance committee may require more than 24 units of course work. A minimum of 12 units is to be taken in courses in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and a minimum of eight units must be taken in various related disciplines outside the department. The remaining 36 units may be fulfilled with other courses, directed research and dissertation.

Foreign Language Requirement

There is no formal foreign language requirement. However, an individual guidance committee can require competency in a foreign language or some other research tool such as computer language, if this is relevant for the student's area of research.

Guidance Committee

The student will be assigned to a member of the graduate faculty who will serve as his or her temporary advisor until the formation of a guidance committee. The student's program of study will be under the direction of a guidance committee composed of at least five members, one of whom must be from outside the department granting the degree. The student should select a graduate advisor and guidance committee no later than the third semester in residence.

Screening Procedure

The performance of each student will be evaluated no later than the end of the second semester of enrollment in the graduate program. This screening procedure is conducted by the student's guidance committee or, if a student has not selected his or her research advisor at that time, by the Graduate Review Committee of the department. The committee reviews thoroughly the student's progress up to that point in various areas including course work, research interests and laboratory performance on his or her research project or laboratory rotations. If a performance deficiency is detected at that point by the committee, the student will be recommended to either take additional course work or transfer to the Master of Science program. Passing this screening procedure is prerequisite to continuation in the Ph.D. program.

Qualifying Examination

Students will be required to pass a comprehensive qualifying examination in major areas of the pharmaceutical sciences. The examination is administered by the guidance committee and consists of two parts: a written examination and a written proposition outlining a research project, followed by an oral examination based on the proposition and questions dealing with the written examination.

All course and qualifying examination requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy must be completed within two and one half years after admission.

Dissertation

A dissertation based on original investigation is required. The research should make a contribution to science and should demonstrate the candidate's scholarly advancement and competence to undertake independent research. An oral defense of the dissertation will be held after the candidate submits the final draft of the dissertation to the dissertation committee (see Graduate School policies and requirements).

Student Teaching

Teaching experience is considered an integral part of the training of graduate students. Thus, as part of the general requirements for the Ph.D., each student is required to participate in the teaching program of the School of Pharmacy.

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