Graduate & Professional Degrees

The goal of the PhD program in Development, Stem Cells, and Regenerative Medicine is to train the next generation of investigators in the history and practice of developmental and stem cell biology. The ultimate aim is to understand how the genomes of animals are translated into complex morphological forms, and to apply this basic knowledge to the emerging field of regenerative medicine. Close and regular contact between participating faculty of different disciplines and students is expected to facilitate the application of multidisciplinary approaches toward regenerative medicine.

Development, Stem Cells, and Regenerative Medicine students are required to complete DSR 542 and at least 2 units from the following: DSR 610, DSR 620, INTD 504 or other courses approved by the faculty adviser. In the second and subsequent years, students are required to register in DSR 574 every fall and spring semester. In addition, students are required to complete at least 4 units of DSR 794a Doctoral Dissertation,  DSR 794b Doctoral Dissertation.

PhD students must supplement course work by registering for DSR 790 Research during the fall, spring and summer semesters as needed to complete the minimum 60 units required for the PhD program.

As part of the requirements for the PhD degree in Development, Stem Cells, and Regenerative Medicine, students must adhere to the unit/course requirements, guidance committee and dissertation committee guidelines and must complete the qualifying examination, annual research appraisal, and dissertation and oral defense as outlined in the sections following the descriptions of the PhD programs.

Molecular, cellular, developmental biology and epidemiology are the foundations of the joint USC-CHLA master's program. Students complete 32 credits of graduate-level courses and gain hands-on experience in the lab and clinical setting. Students have the opportunity for interdisciplinary studies taught by world-renowned faculty jointly hosted by a children's hospital and a major research university. The DOOHD program provides outstanding preparation for future work in academic, medical and bioscience industry settings.

Students will be provided with:

• An excellent educational and research experience.
• An opportunity to interact with faculty on a broad range of cutting-edge research topics in Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOOHD).
• Hands-on training to learn techniques for conducting research in the lab of a DOOHD faculty member.
• Exposure to the national and international Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine research community through seminars and symposia.

Students pursuing the Master of Science in Developmental Origins of Health and Disease are subject to the following requirements: (1)  at least 32 units are required; (2) courses outside the lists presented below require approval from the program adviser; (3) at least 22 units must be taken at the 500- or 600-level and no courses below the 400-level may be applied; (4) with prior permission from the program adviser, up to 10 units of 400-level course work in a BISC seminar series, bioethics, developmental biology, epigenetics, health policy, nutrition or science writing may be counted toward the DOOHD MS degree program.

Contemporary scholarship is undergoing profound shifts as new technologies alter how scholars interact, conduct research, author and visualize their work, as well as how they teach. The certificate program in digital media and culture explores the shifting nature of scholarly expression, pedagogical practice and research in the 21st century, combining seminars with hands-on, lab-based workshops in order to facilitate sophisticated critical thinking and practice in and through multimedia.

Open to graduate students interested in emerging modes of creative, networked and media-rich scholarship, the program seeks to provide participants with a sophisticated conceptual framework for considering the emerging landscape of scholarship in the digital age, as well as a broad overview of contemporary scholarly multimedia as it intersects with media art, information design, interactive media and communication studies.

The acceleration of worldwide mobile internet access has made digital media indispensable to commerce, culture, and human connection. Digital media platforms and content are driving growth across industries, with sectors such as streaming video, music, games and online publishing experiencing an unprecedented increase in global revenues. Envisioning and deploying the digital media products of the future will involve collaboration between culturally diverse and geographically dispersed teams. The Master of Science in Digital Media Management (MSDMM) program is designed to prepare professionals to better understand the evolving media landscape, to make data-driven and ethical decisions, and to build a more equitable future by leading diverse teams with the technical, artistic, analytical and production skills needed to create engaging content and technologies for the global marketplace.

Meeting the demands of diverse markets starts with digital media leaders who can effectively advance an inclusive and equitable culture within their own organizations. MSDMM students will learn professional practices needed for the strategic management of their teams, including: recruiting and onboarding an optimal mix of talent, promoting anti-racist and non-discriminatory policies, and cultivating a work environment where each person thrives. Additionally, by analyzing how organizations use digital platforms to aggregate and empower users, students will explore how to support diverse perspectives in storytelling and content-creation, delivering a user experience that balances organizational needs with the ethical imperatives to foster inclusivity, equity and access.

Through an examination of the intersecting relationships between digital media practices, consumer culture and society, students will also acquire a holistic understanding of digital media culture and business practices, and develop a critically-oriented foundation that prepares them for their roles as future leaders. Students will use real-world case studies as a springboard to ideate, create and evaluate the cutting-edge techniques, data collection methodologies and creative guidelines that can be used to implement long-range strategies for ethical media management. The program encourages immediate application of key concepts to industry challenges and opportunities with consideration of emerging technologies. Strategies for effectively communicating complex ideas to a variety of audiences and stakeholders are incorporated throughout the program.

A Master of Science degree in Digital Media Management requires 24 units of course work offered in the fall, spring and summer semesters. The program may be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Students attending the program on a full-time basis can earn a degree within 12 months, and those on a part-time basis can complete the program in two years or less.

All master's degree candidates in the Annenberg School of Communication are required to complete the Managing Complexity in Diverse Organizations training during their enrollment at USC. This non-credit, professional skills training is offered online by USC Annenberg every fall, spring and summer term and is designed to foster students' ability to create, sustain and thrive within diverse work environments. Modules include: fostering connection and inclusive cultures; managing implicit biases and power; understanding the impact of technology on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA); creating representative and inclusive content; and developing habits and strategies to effect lasting change. To learn more about this training please visit our website.

A STEM-designated degree program, the Master of Science in Digital Social Media (DSM) aims to equip students with the practical skills, critical knowledge and state-of-the-art strategies to succeed in a cutting-edge career in the digital and social media sectors. Beyond learning the fundamentals of digital and social media industries theories and methods, students pursue a customized curriculum toward the design, incubation, and execution of a rigorous, portfolio-building capstone project.

The 32-unit degree program may be completed in three consecutive semesters (fall/spring/summer) or over two academic years (fall/spring/fall/spring).

Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the program to graduate.

All master's degree candidates in the Annenberg School of Communication are required to complete the Managing Complexity in Diverse Organizations training during their enrollment at USC. This non-credit, professional skills training is offered online by USC Annenberg every fall, spring and summer term and is designed to foster students' ability to create, sustain and thrive within diverse work environments. Modules include: fostering connection and inclusive cultures; managing implicit biases and power; understanding the impact of technology on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA); creating representative and inclusive content; and developing habits and strategies to effect lasting change. To learn more about this training please visit our website.

More information about STEM designation can be found here. 

Graduate admissions requirements for the Annenberg School of Communication can be found here.

This online program provides students with tools and resources to meaningfully participate in dispute resolution matters benefiting their careers and across multiple areas of employment. At least 12 units are required.

The Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) is designed to prepare high caliber students who plan to practice Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the context of the U.S. legal system. The program offers both part-time and full-time options for students, and those who wish to carry full academic loads may complete the program within one academic year.

To obtain a Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR), students must take a total of at least 24 units of the core curriculum and elective courses listed below.  

In response to the ongoing reorganization of health care delivery systems, and the growing awareness of the impact of business decisions on health care, the Keck School of Medicine and the USC Marshall School of Business jointly offer an innovative program for individuals seeking knowledge in both medicine and business administration. The program is designed to prepare its graduates to assume leadership in the design and management of health care systems.

The MD/MBA program spans five years. Interested students apply during their second or third year of medical school, and begin required MBA courses following successful completion of the first two or first three years of medical school. The remaining time is devoted to the clinical clerkships of the Keck School of Medicine and completion of graduate business elective courses. At the conclusion of the program, students will have completed 48 units in the Marshall School of Business, including required and elective courses, and four years of courses in the Keck School of Medicine. Dual degree students may not count courses taken outside the Marshall School of Business toward the 48 units.

First and Second Years: Required medicine courses.

Third or Fourth Year: Required MBA courses and graduate business electives.

Remaining Years: Keck School of Medicine core, selective and elective clerkships and graduate business electives.

Admission Requirements

Students who have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and have successfully completed at least two years in the Keck School of Medicine will be considered for admission to the Marshall School of Business. Requirements for admission to the regular MBA Program (with the exception of the GMAT) must be fulfilled by the medical student for admission to the Marshall School.

The MD and the MBA degrees are awarded simultaneously upon completion of their requirements by the Keck School of Medicine and the Marshall School of Business.

The joint MD/MPH program at the Keck School of Medicine is designed for individuals who envision a medical career that combines public health and medical disciplines. Many individuals entering careers as medical doctors or public health practitioners wish to acquire not only medical practice competencies, but also an understanding of the history, organization, goals and philosophy of public health. The joint MD/MPH program offers a broadbased orientation to public health while the student completes medical school requirements. The Master of Public Health degree provides increased knowledge of and sensitivity to the political, historical, economic and social environments of health promotion and health services delivery.

The MD/MPH program can be completed in five years. After the successful completion of at least the first two years of medical school, students take one year off from medical school to complete the MPH program in one year. Upon completion of the MPH program, students will return to medical school. The remainder of the program is devoted to clinical clerkships of the School of Medicine.

Students who are enrolled in the Keck School of Medicine must apply to the Master of Public Health program no later than January of their third year. All requirements for admission to the regular MPH program must also be fulfilled by dual degree applicants.

All students in the MD/MPH program must meet course requirements, grade point average requirements and program proficiency requirements of both programs. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 in the MPH curriculum to meet graduation requirements.

The MD and the MPH degrees are awarded simultaneously upon completion of the Keck School of Medicine and the Master of Public Health program requirements. For more information, contact the MPH Program Office at (323) 442-7257.

The USC Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice offers a concentrated academic and comprehensive clinical curriculum. Nurse Anesthesia Trainees develop their clinical acumen and advanced skills through mandatory and specialty rotations in general surgery, cardiothoracic, neurosurgical, genitourinary, gynecologic, head and neck, plastic, orthopedic, trauma, obstetrics, pediatric and ambulatory outpatient procedures as well as experience in regional anesthesia, pain management, trauma, emergency airway response, and independent practice settings. The program aims to graduate full-service anesthesia professionals who competently provide expert care across diverse populations and to underserved communities. The program consists of 80 units and is completed in 36 months of continuous enrollment (nine semesters).

This professional doctoral program includes the essentials for doctoral education from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Core science courses in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and principles of nurse anesthesia complement the clinical nurse anesthesia residency. In addition, the student will discuss and synthesize current policies of the complex health care ecosystem, review principles of population health, explore health technology advances, and complete an extensive research project inclusive of translating science into practice. High fidelity simulation is incorporated into the curriculum to enhance student learning and clinical assimilation through skills workshops and communication, leadership, and critical thinking.