Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Students should also refer to the Requirements for Graduation 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.

Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences

A Master of Science degree in the pharmaceutical sciences will be granted on the basis of completion of at least 24 units of formal course work and presentation of an acceptable thesis (PSCI 594ab, 4 units) based on the results of an original investigation.

Master of Science in Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology

A minimum of 32 units is required including BIOC 551 or 561; MPTX 500, 501, 602; 603 or 605 or 606; MPTX 700 (4 units) and MPTX 594ab (4 units); PM 510; PSCI 661L. An acceptable thesis based on laboratory investigation is required. The candidate will defend an approved draft of the thesis in an oral examination.

Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy

The Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (School of Pharmacy) offers a program of study leading to the M.S. degree. Applicants must apply to the Graduate School and meet the admissions requirements of the program. This program requires students to demonstrate skills in the analysis of pharmaceutical and health technology innovations, as well as an understanding of contemporary health policy issues. A minimum of 35 units of graduate level courses is required.

Grade Point Average

A grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) must be achieved on graduate course work at USC.

Course Requirements

The student is required to complete the following 35 units of graduate level course work: ECON 414 (4 units) or 511 (4 units), ECON 500 (4 units) or PUAD 512 (4 units), PM 512 (3 units), PUAD 559 (4 units), PUAD 570 (4 units), PUAD 572 (4 units), PMEP 538 (4 units), PMEP 539 (4 units), and PMEP 540 (4 units).

Students must complete all requirements for the degree within five years of entry into the program.

Additional Degree Requirements

The student must satisfactorily complete the specified courses in economics, preventive medicine and public administration prior to enrolling in PMEP 538 or 539. Upon successful completion of all other course work, the student may enroll in PMEP 540. The student is also required to complete a research/policy paper on a topic relevant to pharmaceutical economics and policy while completing PMEP 540.

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, immunology 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

Upon admission, the student will be assigned to a member of the graduate faculty who will serve as his or her temporary advisor until a permanent advisor has been identified. 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.

Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology

A minimum of 60 units is required. At least 24 units must be in formal course work and include BIOC 551 or 561; MPTX 500, 501, 602; 603 or 605 or 606; PM 510; PSCI 661L. The remaining 36 units may be fulfilled with other courses, directed research and the dissertation. Other courses selected from graduate courses (500 level or above) in pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, molecular biology, neurosciences, pathology and physiology will be arranged by students in consultation with their guidance committee. All students will be expected to participate in the departmental seminar series (MPTX 700) during each year of residency.

Screening Procedure

The progress of all students accepted into the program is evaluated on an annual basis by the graduate advisor and the student's guidance committee.

Language Requirement

There are no formal foreign language or computer language requirements. The guidance committee may, however, require competence in a foreign language or computer language if such competence is relevant to the student's research interests.

Qualifying Examination

Following the successful completion of all formal course work (usually two to three years), students must demonstrate excellence in general pharmacology and toxicology as well as their area(s) of research specialization. General and specialist knowledge are tested in both written and oral qualifying examinations, which also involve the presentation of a research proposal.

Dissertation

After passing the Ph.D. qualifying examinations, students begin work on their dissertation research, which typically requires two to three years of full-time effort. The dissertation research must involve original investigation in a relevant scientific area and must demonstrate the student's ability to plan, conduct and evaluate laboratory experiments. The dissertation research must represent a significant contribution to knowledge and must be successfully defended in an oral examination. The final written dissertation must be of publishable quality, and must be approved by the graduate advisor and the dissertation committee.

Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy

The Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (School of Pharmacy) and the Department of Economics (College of Letters, Arts and Sciences) jointly offer a program of study leading to the Ph.D. degree and to the M.A. degree in the process of work toward the Ph.D. degree. Applicants must apply to the Graduate School and meet the admissions requirements of both academic units. This program focuses on economic assessment of pharmaceuticals and medical technology and research into the finance and delivery of pharmaceuticals and pharmacy services. A minimum of 64 units of graduate level courses numbered 500 or higher (excluding 794) and a minimum of four units of 794 is required.

Foreign Language Requirement

There is no formal foreign language requirement. However, competence in the use of one computer programming language is required for the graduate degrees. Such competence can be demonstrated either by course work or examination.

Grade Point Average

A grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) must have been achieved on graduate course work at USC. ECON 586 or a higher level course in econometrics must be completed with a grade of B or higher.

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 should consult the pharmaceutical economics and policy director of graduate studies on the appointment of a Ph.D. guidance committee after taking the core theory examination. The chairman of the student's Ph.D. guidance committee advises the student on matters of curriculum and graduate opportunities. The guidance committee comprises three to five members, at least one of whom must be from outside the department; at least two members must specialize in the student's area of emphasis, and at least three of the members must be suitable for service on the student's dissertation committee. The composition of all Ph.D. guidance committees must be approved by the PEP director of graduate studies. The student must form his or her guidance committee within one month after passing the departmental screening procedure.

Screening Procedure

The placement examinations in basic economics, mathematics and statistics must be completed and deficiency requirements completed in these areas. Depending on the results of these examinations, the student may require some preparation for his or her graduate program by taking some appropriate courses in economic theory (ECON 500 and/or 501), mathematics (ECON 482) or statistics (ECON 483). The student's progress will be reviewed after each semester and before registration for any additional course work to determine if progress has been satisfactory.

Core Theory Examination

Before completing three years of full-time graduate study or its part-time equivalent and prior to taking the qualifying examination, the student must pass the Department of Economics written core examination in general economic theory including applications.

Seminar Requirements

Every student is required to take and satisfactorily complete three two-unit research seminars chosen from PMEP 698 or the equivalent. At least one of these seminars must be related to the student's major field and the same seminar may be taken more than once. Before completing the dissertation, the student must present at least one original research paper in a seminar of his or her choice. This paper should typically consist of original results contained in the student's dissertation. It becomes part of the student's permanent file.

Dissertation Proposal Preparation

The student is required to register for two units of PMEP 790 and write a research paper on a topic suitable for a dissertation. Typically, the chair of the student's guidance committee directs this work. The resulting essay becomes part of the student's written dissertation proposal which is presented and critiqued during the oral portion of the qualifying examination.

Qualifying Examination

Upon successful completion of course and grade requirements, the student takes a written and oral examination on the chosen area of research emphasis and presents a detailed written dissertation proposal. After passing this examination, the student is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

Dissertation

After admission to candidacy, the student forms a dissertation committee comprising three faculty members, one of whom must be from an outside department. The chair of this committee is the dissertation supervisor. The student must register for PMEP 794 each semester, excluding summer sessions, until the dissertation and all other degree requirements are completed.

The student is expected to complete a dissertation based on original investigation. The dissertation must represent a significant contribution to knowledge and must be defended in an oral examination administered by the dissertation committee. The final written dissertation must be of publishable quality and must be approved by all members of the dissertation committee (see the section on Graduate School policies and requirements).

Pharm.D./M.B.A. Dual Degree Program

Responding to the growing demand on pharmacists to be knowledgeable in both science and business administration, the USC School of Pharmacy in 1988 helped pioneer an innovation in pharmaceutical education by offering this unique five-year dual degree program.

The Pharm.D./M.B.A. dual degree program is offered cooperatively by the School of Pharmacy and the Graduate School of Business Administration. Students must complete concurrently all requirements established by both schools for their respective degrees.

The program involves completion of the first year in the School of Pharmacy, the second in the Graduate School of Business Administration, and then completion of the balance of the Pharmacy program in the School of Pharmacy. A total of 48 units must be completed in the Graduate School of Business Administration.

First Year: Required Pharmacy School courses

Second Year: Required GSBA core courses (Except GSBA 529)

Third to Fifth Years: 108 units of Pharmacy courses and nine units of School of Business Administration courses and three units GSBA 585.

The Pharm.D. and the M.B.A. are awarded simultaneously upon completion of the requirements by the School of Pharmacy and the Graduate School of Business Administration.

Admission Requirements

Students who have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and have been admitted and have successfully completed one year in the School of Pharmacy will be considered for admission to the Graduate School of Business Administration. All requirements for admission to the regular M.B.A. program (GPA average, GMAT score, etc.) must be fulfilled by the pharmacy student for admission to the Graduate School of Business Administration.

Doctor of Pharmacy/Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Pharmacy/Doctor of Philosophy (Pharm.D./Ph.D.) program is designed to permit qualified Pharm.D. students with a Bachelor of Science or equivalent degree to pursue research training in the pharmaceutical sciences and toxicology. A student accepted into the joint program must meet all requirements for the Pharm.D., as well as the requirements for the Ph.D. in the pharmaceutical sciences or toxicology sections listed in this catalogue. A maximum of 20 units from the Pharm.D. program may be credited toward the Ph.D. These units cannot, however, be substituted for the required 24 units of core course work.

Post-Pharm.D. Graduate Studies

Qualified students who wish to continue graduate studies within the School of Pharmacy upon completion of the Pharm.D. may, with permission of the dean, substitute certain Pharm.D. courses with courses necessary for the graduate degree so that the graduate program will not be delayed. These units cannot, however, be substituted for the 24 units of core course work.

Pharm.D./Graduate Certificate in Gerontology

The Pharm.D./Graduate Certificate in Gerontology is a program developed in 1990 by the School of Pharmacy and the Andrus Gerontology Center. This integrated program in pharmacy and gerontology prepares students with an interest in geriatric pharmacy to assume leadership roles in academic, administrative or policy levels within the profession.

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