Biometry Division
Center for Health Professions 218
1540 Alcazar, Los Angeles 90033

Director: Stanley P. Azen
(213) 342-1810
FAX: (213) 342-2993

Health Behavior Research Division
Center for Health Professions 207
1540 Alcazar, Los Angeles 90033
(213) 342-2605
FAX: (213) 342-2601

Director: C. Anderson Johnson
(213) 342-2628

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Division
Center for Health Professions 236
1540 Alcazar, Los Angeles 90033

Director: John M. Peters
(213) 342-1096
FAX: (213) 342-3272

Faculty

Malcolm C. Pike, Chair and Professor

John M. Peters, Vice Chair and Professor

Sidney R. Garfield Chair in Health Sciences: C. Anderson Johnson

Flora L. Thornton Chair in Preventive Medicine: Malcolm Pike, Ph.D.

Professors: S.P. Azen (Biomedical Engineering); L. Bernstein; P. Clark (Communication); D. Grimes (Obstetrics and Gynecology); B.E. Henderson; C.A. Johnson; T.M. Mack (Pathology); J.M. Peters; B. Portnoy (Pediatrics); S. Preston-Martin; Jean Richardson; R.K. Ross; D.C. Thomas; M.C. Yu

Associate Professors: Jacque Barth (Cardiology); J. Dwyer; G.S. Marks; W.C. Navidi; M.A. Pentz; H.N. Sather; S. Sussman

Assistant Professors: D. Bregman; H. Hodis (Medicine); M.B.F. Lee; W. Mack; Teresa Seeman (Gerontology); D. Stram

Professor of Clinical: R.K. Peters

Associate Professor of Clinical: D. Deapen

Clinical Professors: R.T. Schmidt; J.B. Weisbuch

Clinical Associate Professors: J.T. Casagrande; R.L. Goldberg; J.C. Hisserich; R.J. Krebsbach; R.A. Shakman

Clinical Assistant Professors: M.D. Finn; G. Gray (Psychiatry); P. Greany; I.H. Monosson; K.K. Phillips; P. Wald

Clinical Instructor: P.M. Rideout

Professors of Research: S. Groshen; A. Paganini Hill; G. Sobel

Associate Professors of Research: J.D. Buckley; C.W. Dent; M. Krailo; B. Langholz (Co-Director, Biometry); R. Sposto

Assistant Professor of Research: C.-P. Chou

Research Associate Professors: S.J. London; A. Stacy; A.H. Wu-Williams

Research Assistant Professors: Wendy Cozen; W.J. Gauderman; Ann Hamilton; Sue Ingles; L. Rohrbach; Lisa Shames; Gilke Ursin

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Research: S. Donaldson

Adjunct Research Assistant Professor: S. Montgomery

The Department of Preventive Medicine is responsible for training medical and graduate students in the areas of biometry, epidemiology, health behavior research, and occupational and preventive medicine. Faculty from the department also preform research in the areas of biostatistics, epidemiology of acute and chronic diseases, and occupational health.

The graduate programs offered by the department are noteworthy for the extensive opportunities offered to the students for involvement in faculty research. It is not uncommon for students to begin working closely with faculty members on research projects as early as their first or second year of study.

The Department of Preventive Medicine offers a master's program in biometry which is intended for individuals with a strong quantitative background (mathematics, statistics or computer science) and leads to an M.S. in Biometry. The master's program in applied biometry/epidemiology is intended for individuals with a clinical background (psychology, public health, allied health or medicine) and leads to an M.S. in Applied Biometry/Epidemiology. The department also offers courses of graduate study leading to a Ph.D. in biometry, epidemiology, or health behavior research.

Graduate Programs-Admissions

Master of Science in Applied Biometry and Epidemiology

The department encourages applicants with undergraduate degrees in allied health, pharmacology, public health, medicine, biological and clinical sciences or other related fields. Undergraduate preparation should have included applied statistics, college algebra, an introductory course in calculus and basic computer programming. Applicants should also meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate School. Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is essential. With approval of the Graduate School, applicants not meeting these requirements may be conditionally admitted contingent upon maintaining a GPA of 3.5 for the first 12 units of graduate study.

Master of Science in Biometry

The department encourages applicants with undergraduate degrees in mathematics, statistics or biostatistics, computer science or other related fields. Undergraduate preparation should have included differential and integral calculus, introduction to mathematical statistics, and basic computer programming. Applicants should also meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate School. Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is essential. With approval of the Graduate School, applicants not meeting these requirements may be conditionally admitted contingent upon maintaining a GPA of 3.5 for the first 12 units of graduate study.

Doctor of Philosophy in Biometry

The department encourages applicants with undergraduate degrees in mathematics, statistics or biostatistics, or other related fields. Undergraduate preparation should have included differential and integral calculus, introduction to mathematical statistics and basic computer programming. Applicants should also meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate School. Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is essential. With approval of the Graduate School, applicants not meeting these requirements may be conditionally admitted contingent upon maintaining a GPA of 3.5 for the first 12 units of graduate study.

Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology

The department encourages applicants who have undergraduate degrees in allied health, public health, biological sciences or other related fields. Applicants not meeting these requirements may, with approval of the Graduate School, be conditionally admitted contingent upon maintaining a GPA of 3.50 in the first 12 units of graduate studies. Applicants should also meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate School. An MCAT score of 30 may be substituted for the GRE requirement.

A student in either of the division's two master's programs may be considered for either the Ph.D. in biometry or the Ph.D. in epidemiology prior to completing the M.S. degree, providing he or she has met the requirements for admission to the Ph.D. program, obtained approval of the department's Graduate Committee, demonstrated research and writing ability, and passed the doctoral-level screening examination. For further information contact: Stanley P. Azen, Director of Biometry Programs, USC School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Biometry, Center for Health Professions 218, 1540 Alcazar, Los Angeles, CA 90033, (213) 342-1810, FAX: (213) 342-2993.

Doctor of Philosophy in Preventive Medicine (Health Behavior Research)

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; students entering with an advanced degree may be eligible to transfer course credit. Applicants should also meet the minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate School.

Applicants must supply a completed application to the Graduate School, including transcripts from all institutions previously attended, a curriculum vitae (if available), a statement of interest, and three letters of recommendation. For further information contact: Director for Graduate Studies, USC Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, Center for Health Professions 207, 1540 Alcazar, Los Angeles, CA 90033, (213) 342-2605, FAX: (213) 342-2601.

Master of Science in Applied Biometry and Epidemiology

Course Requirements

General requirements include at least 33 units of required courses as follows: 21 units of core courses and at least 12 units of elective courses. In addition, each student must register for four units of 594ab Thesis and write a master's thesis.

Each student is required to take the following six core courses (21 units): PM 510L, 511abL, 512, 518a, and 523. In addition, each student is required to take at least 12 elective units. Electives are: PM 513, 516ab, 517ab, 520, 522ab, 527 and 611ab. Electives will be determined by the student's needs and interests and will be approved by the student's advisor. When appropriate, courses not listed above may be chosen with approval of the student's advisor. Sufficient familiarity in computer languages to operate major software packages for data management and analysis is required.

Thesis Requirement

A master's thesis is required of all students. This thesis consists of a research project approved by the faculty and chosen from problems encountered within the department, in other departments of the School of Medicine or university or elsewhere in the community.

Master of Science in Biometry

Course Requirements

The M.S. degree program in biometry requires a minimum of 33 units of required and elective graduate study. Core requirements include the following 10 courses (28 units): PM 511abL, 512, 513, (or MATH 542L), 516ab, 518ab, 522ab (or MATH 505a and 541a). In addition, each student must take at least five units from the following elective courses: PM 510L, 515, 520, 523, 527, 546, 547, 550, 590, 603; MATH 506, 542, 545L, 547, 548, 549, 551L. Each student must also register for four units of 594ab Thesis and write a master's thesis.

The student's choice of elective courses will be directed by needs and interests and must be approved by the student's graduate advisor. When appropriate, elective courses not listed above may be substituted with approval of the advisor. Sufficient familiarity in computer languages to operate major software packages for data management and analysis is required.

Thesis Requirement

A master's thesis is required of all students. This thesis consists of a research project approved by the faculty and chosen from problems encountered within the department, in other departments of the School of Medicine or university or elsewhere in the community.

Doctor of Philosophy in Biometry

The department offers a degree program leading to the Ph.D. in biometry. The program is designed to produce biometricians who will have in-depth knowledge of statistical theory and methodology and the ability to apply this knowledge creatively to statistical problems in the biological and health sciences.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 60 units of graduate study is required for the Ph.D. degree; a maximum of 19 of these units may be from research and dissertation. In preparation for the screening examination, all students must take the required and elective courses for the M.S. in Biometry (33 units, see above). In preparation for the qualifying examination, all students are required to take PM 610 (at least two semesters). The student is also required to take at least six units from the following sequence: PM 543L, 544L, 550, 552.

Screening Procedure

A student failing the screening examination will either terminate or will terminate with the M.S. degree upon completion of an acceptable thesis.

Guidance Committee

A formal guidance committee consisting of five faculty members - four from within the department (one of whom is designated as chair), and one from an outside department offering the Ph.D. degree - will recommend courses in preparation for the qualifying examination.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination will test the student's integration of knowledge in biometry, mathematical statistics and the health sciences. An oral examination will ascertain the student's competence in orally communicating this knowledge. Students must pass all written portions and the oral portion in order to pass the qualifying examination.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

Upon passing the qualifying examination the Ph.D. candidate and his or her chair will recommend a three-member dissertation committee. The dissertation should be completed within two years and should be oriented toward a theoretical-methodological application to a problem area in the biological or health sciences. The oral defense is based on a rough draft or final version of the dissertation. The defense is administered by the dissertation committee, with other faculty invited to attend.

Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology

The department offers a degree leading to the Ph.D. in epidemiology. This program may be an extension of the applied biometry and epidemiology M.S. program and is especially aimed at persons with a strong background in medicine: in particular, students enrolled in the M.D. program of the School of Medicine who wish to interrupt their M.D. studies after two years to complete a Ph.D. degree. This program is designed to produce an epidemiologist with in-depth statistical skills. The program requires a solid core of courses in methodological aspects of statistics and in statistical thinking as applied to medicine, as well as a solid grounding in epidemiological methods and in certain medical disciplines.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 60 course units with a maximum of 20 units of research and dissertation; passing of screening and qualifying examinations; and completion of dissertation and final oral are required. In preparation for the screening examination the student must take the required and elective 33 units of master's level applied biometry and epidemiology courses. A student failing the screening examination will either terminate or terminate with the M.S. degree upon satisfactory completion of a master's thesis. In preparation for the qualifying examination, the student is required to join an on-going research project under the direction of the chair of the guidance committee and directly participate in the conduct of that project. Credit will be given as PM 790 (4 units, two semesters). In addition, the student is expected to take PM 610 (at least two semesters) and PM 611ab. Electives may be selected with the approval of the chair of the guidance committee from courses in the biological sciences or from the medical school. For students in the M.D./Ph.D. program in epidemiology, satisfactory completion of the first two years of the M.D. program will be considered to provide 20 units toward the Ph.D. degree.

Guidance Committee

A formal guidance committee, consisting of five faculty members, with at least three from the Department of Preventive Medicine (one designated as chair) and one from a department offering a Ph.D. outside of the Department of Preventive Medicine, will recommend courses in preparation for the qualifying examination.

Qualifying Examination

The written portion of the qualifying examination will test the student's integration of knowledge in biometry and medicine. In general, the qualifying examination will present plans for implementation and completion of three components: an independent and complete data analysis arising from on-going epidemiological study, a "review" paper on an area of epidemiological research, and a grant application for a new epidemiological study.

Dissertation

Upon passing the qualifying examination, the Ph.D. candidate and his or her chair will recommend a three-member dissertation committee. The dissertation should be completed within two years and should be oriented toward a methodological application to a problem area in the biological or health sciences.

The Oral Defense

This examination is based on a draft or final version of the dissertation and will be administered by the dissertation committee with other faculty invited to attend.

Language and Other Requirements

Proficiency in the English language is essential.

Doctor of Philosophy in Preventive Medicine (Health Behavior Research)

The Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Health Behavior Research, offers a degree program in preventive medicine (health behavior), leading to attainment of the Ph.D. The program is designed to train exceptional researchers and scholars in the multidisciplinary field of health behavior research. Students receive a thorough grounding in academic and research experience, encompassing theoretical and methodological training in such allied fields as communication, psychology, preventive medicine, biostatistics, public health and epidemiology. Students receive research experience by participating in projects conducted through the USC Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research (IPR). The doctoral program is full-time: students are expected to enroll for fall, spring and summer semesters.

Assistantships

Financial and educational support is provided to qualified doctoral students in health behavior research. Graduate (research and/or teaching) assistantships are half-time (20 hours per week) and provide tuition remission as well as a monthly stipend.

Computer Language Requirement

Sufficient familiarity in computer languages to operate major software packages for data management and analysis is required.

Course Requirements

The doctoral program in health behavior research is structured as a five-year course of study for students entering with a bachelor's degree. Students entering with an advanced degree may complete the doctorate in four years. Time requirements are subject to review and approval by the division's Graduate Program Committee and the Graduate School.

A total of 67 units of graduate study is required for the Ph.D. in health behavior research. Students are required to complete seven core courses: PM 500, 511aL, 515, 601, 602, 604 and 756 (total of 29 units). Other requirements include: one PM course not offered by health behavior faculty (minimum of 3 units); three substantive courses in a minor field (9 units); PM 524abc Practicum (6 units); and a minimum of four units each in PM 590, 690, 790 and 794ab.

For students entering with a bachelor's degree, one of the directed research projects will be equivalent in scope to a master's thesis. All research experiences/projects must be completed before registering for 794ab Doctoral Dissertation.

Screening Procedure

The progress of each student is reviewed at the end of every academic year. At the end of the first year of study, students who have not made satisfactory progress are advised that they will be dropped from the program unless their progress improves during their second year.

Guidance Committee

Each student's guidance committee consists of five members, including: no more than three health behavior faculty members; one other member from the Department of Preventive Medicine; and one member from a doctorate-granting program outside the Department of Preventive Medicine, representing the student's minor field.

Qualifying Examination

Following course work and prior to beginning the dissertation, students must demonstrate written and oral mastery of the general field of health behavior research as well as of their chosen area of specialization (including the minor). The qualifying process includes a written examination on theory and literature relevant to a selected content area; the examination is administered by the student's guidance committee.

In addition to the qualifying examination, each student is expected to produce the following as evidence of qualification to conduct dissertation research: an academic dossier consisting of a summary of the student's academic record, teaching and research experience, and professional presentations and publications; at least one original empirical research paper of publishable quality, produced in connection with one of the student's courses or research experiences or developed independently; a dissertation proposal; and an oral defense of all the preceding materials.

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