Graduate & Professional Degrees

The Doctor of Pharmacy/Doctor of Philosophy (PharmD/PhD) program is designed to permit qualified PharmD 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 PharmD, as well as the requirements for the PhD in the pharmaceutical sciences or toxicology sections listed in this catalogue. A maximum of 20 units from the PharmD program may be credited toward the PhD. Up to 12 units of these PharmD courses may, at the discretion of the student's PhD adviser, be counted toward the required 24 units of core course work.

Admission Procedure

Students applying for the dual degree program must meet the respective admission requirements for each program. This includes completing a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GRE score of 297. Students will not be given special consideration for admission to either program because they are applying for the dual degree. Students may apply to the dual PharmD/PhD degree program in two ways. First, they may apply at the time they submit their PharmD application by concurrently submitting applications to both programs. Students who elect this approach must identify themselves as potential dual degree students on both applications. Students who are admitted to both programs will be offered admission to the PharmD and will be offered admission to the dual degree program contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the PharmD with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students who are accepted by only one program may choose to attend that program but will not be eligible for the dual degree. Second, students can apply to the dual degree by submitting an application to one of the PhD programs in the School of Pharmacy during their first two years of enrollment in the PharmD prior to the respective published application deadlines for the PhD programs. Students who elect this approach must apply through the PharmD program. Students admitted to the PhD program using this approach will be offered admission to the dual degree contingent on them maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA in the PharmD program.

This integrated program in pharmacy and gerontology prepares students with an interest in geriatric pharmacy to assume leadership roles at academic, administrative or policy levels within the profession.

The program involves the completion of 16 units of core courses in physiology, psychology, sociology and social policy aspects of aging offered by the School of Gerontology. In addition, students are required to complete 8 units of approved elective courses in gerontology or geriatric pharmacy to be credited toward the requirements for the PharmD and the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the dual Doctor of Pharmacy/Juris Doctor (PharmD/JD) program is competitive, and involves meeting admission requirements and gaining acceptance to both the School of Pharmacy and the USC Gould School of Law. Students will not be given special consideration for admission to either program because they are applying for the dual degree. Students who have a baccalaureate degree may apply to the dual PharmD/JD degree program in two ways.

First, they may apply at the time they submit their PharmD application by concurrently submitting applications to both schools. Students who elect this approach must identify themselves on their PharmD applications as potential dual PharmD/JD degree students. Students who are admitted to both schools will be offered admission to the dual degree contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the PharmD with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students pursuing the dual PharmD/JD degree must notify the law school in a timely fashion that they will be enrolling in the dual PharmD/JD degree program and will not matriculate at the law school until the following year. Students who are accepted by only one school may choose to attend that school but will not be eligible for the dual degree.

Second, students can apply to the dual degree by submitting an application to the Gould School of Law during their first year of enrollment in the PharmD program prior to the law school's published application deadline. Students who elect this approach must apply through the School of Pharmacy. Students who are admitted to the law school using this approach would be offered admission to the dual degree contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the PharmD with a minimum 3.0 GPA. See the admissions section of the School of Pharmacy and the Gould School of Law for specific requirements.

PharmD Requirements

Dual degree students should graduate with their PharmD degrees at the completion of the first semester of the sixth academic year of the dual degree program. Students will be eligible to sit for the Pharmacy Board Exams after completion of the PharmD degree requirements. However, dual degree students will not actually be awarded their PharmD degrees until they complete requirements for both degrees. The PharmD requires 136 units.

Juris Doctor Requirements

Dual degree students must complete their JD course work during the second to sixth years of the dual degree program. Students cannot receive the JD degree under the requirements of the dual degree program without prior or simultaneous completion of the PharmD degree.

Both professions require passing a state board or bar exam to practice the respective professions. Neither of these professional doctoral degrees requires a thesis or comprehensive final exam. The JD requires 76 units.

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 Doctor of Pharmacy/Master of Business Administration (PharmD/MBA) dual degree program is offered cooperatively by the School of Pharmacy and the USC Marshall School of Business. 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 Marshall School of Business, and then completion of the balance of both degrees during the third through fifth years. A total of 48 units must be completed in the Marshall School of Business.

First Year: Required Pharmacy School courses.

Second Year: Required MBA courses and graduate business electives.

Third to Fifth Years: remaining Pharmacy courses and graduate business electives sufficient to bring the total units completed in the Marshall School of Business to at least 48. Dual degree students may not count courses taken outside the Marshall School of Business toward the 48 units. The PharmD and the MBA are awarded simultaneously upon completion of the School of Pharmacy and the Marshall School of Business requirements.

MBA Admission Requirements

Applicants to this program must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and should apply during their first year of pharmacy studies. Only students who have successfully completed one year in the School of Pharmacy will be considered for admission to the Marshall School of Business. See the Marshall School of Business for admission requirements.

The School of Pharmacy and the Master of Public Health program, in recognition of the rapidly changing health care environment, and in response to the growing demand for pharmacists who are knowledgeable in both pharmacy and population-based health care issues, have developed a dual degree program. The joint PharmD/MPH degree will enable graduates to be more responsive to today's health care needs and will provide training for pharmacists who seek to be agents of change within the profession and to assume leadership roles in the pharmacy field and in public health at the local, state and national levels.

The PharmD and the MPH degrees are awarded simultaneously upon completion of the School of Pharmacy and the Master of Public Health requirements.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Students applying for the dual degree program must meet the respective admission requirements for each program. This includes having completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and having acceptable GRE and TOEFL or IELTS scores as applicable. Students will not be given special consideration for admission to either program because they are applying for the dual degree. Students may apply to the dual PharmD/MPH degree program in two ways. First, they may apply at the time they submit their PharmD application by concurrently submitting applications to both programs. Students who elect this approach must identify themselves on both applications as potential dual degree students. Students who are admitted to both programs will be offered admission to the PharmD and will be offered admission to the dual degree program contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the PharmD with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students who are accepted by only one program may choose to attend that program, but will not be eligible for the dual degree. Second, students can apply to the dual degree by submitting an application to the MPH program during their first year of enrollment in the PharmD prior to the MPH published application deadline. Students who elect this approach must apply through the School of Pharmacy. 

The emerging impact of the elderly on the health care system has created a need for health care providers who understand the unique needs of the elderly. As drug therapy remains the primary therapeutic option for chronic disease, the demand for prescription drugs will continue to rise. There is a demand for pharmacists who are equipped to meet the pharmaceutical care needs of this population. Geriatric pharmacy is recognized as a specialty, with board certification through the Commission for Certification in Geriatric Pharmacy. The PharmD/MS, Gerontology program will provide extensive education and training in the unique health care needs of older adults. It will allow student pharmacists with a career interest in geriatrics or gerontology to work with health care planning or delivery organizations to develop and implement progressive pharmaceutical care programs for the elderly.

Application and Admission Requirements

Students who intend to pursue the dual PharmD/MSG degree must be accepted by both programs. This includes having completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a minimum equivalent GRE score of 297. Students will not be given special consideration for admission to either program because they are applying for the dual degree. Students may apply to the dual PharmD/MS degree program in two ways. First, they may apply at the time they submit their PharmD application by concurrently submitting applications to both programs. Students who elect this approach must identify themselves on both applications as potential dual degree students. Students who are admitted to both programs will be offered admission to the PharmD and will be offered admission to the dual degree program. Second, students can apply to the dual degree by submitting an application to the MS program during their first year of enrollment in the PharmD prior to the MS published application deadline. Students who elect this approach must apply through the School of Pharmacy. Students admitted to the MS program using this approach will be offered admission to the dual degree contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the PharmD with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students accepted to the dual degree program must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in their Gerontology and PharmD courses.

Recommended Program

Graduation Requirements

Students must complete all requirements for the PharmD (see the Professional Degrees page) and MS, Gerontology degrees as listed in the current catalogue with a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. The specific MS course requirements for the dual PharmD/MS degree are listed on the School of Gerontology Dual Degree Programs page.

The dual degree in Pharmacy and Global Medicine is designed for students who are interested in providing pharmaceutical care to underserved populations around the world. Students enrolled in this dual degree program will benefit from an advanced understanding of the role of, and issues surrounding, modern medicine in developing countries.

Requirements

Students must gain admission to and fulfill the degree requirements for both programs, which include 136 units for the Doctor of Pharmacy and 24 units for the MS in Global Medicine.

Program Adaptation

Because MEDS 503 and MEDS 504, core requirements for the MS in Global Medicine program, cover the same material as PHRD 503 and PHRD 504, the PharmD/MS, Global Medicine dual degree program substitutes PHRD 503 and PHRD 504 for MEDS 503 and MEDS 504 as core requirements for the dual degree.

Regulatory science is the branch of knowledge that relates the regulatory and legal requirements of biomedical product development to the scientific testing and oversight needed to ensure product safety and efficacy. The program provides an opportunity for advanced preparation in the fields of regulatory affairs, quality assurance and clinical research. Students must complete concurrently all of the requirements established for the respective degrees. The program alternates the courses required for the PharmD program during the fall and spring terms with courses required in summer terms for the MS program. Students will typically take courses in the summers of years two to four. Up to 12 appropriate units of course work from the PharmD program can be applied toward the MS degree. The PharmD and the MS, Regulatory Science degrees will be awarded simultaneously upon completion of requirements for the two programs.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Students applying for the dual degree program must meet the respective admission requirements for each program and must have a baccalaureate degree. Students will not be given special consideration for admission to either program because they are applying for the dual degree. Students may apply to the dual PharmD/MS, Regulatory Science degree program in two ways. First, they may apply at the time they submit their PharmD application by concurrently submitting applications to both programs. Students who elect this approach must identify themselves on both applications as potential dual degree students. Students who are admitted to both programs will be offered admission to the PharmD and will be offered admission to the dual degree program contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the PharmD with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students who are accepted by only one program may choose to attend that program but will not be eligible for the dual degree. Second, students can apply to the dual degree by submitting an application to the MS in Regulatory Science program during their first or second year of enrollment in the PharmD prior to the MS in Regulatory Science published application deadline. Students who elect this approach must apply through the School of Pharmacy. Students admitted to the MS in Regulatory Science using this approach will be offered admission to the dual degree contingent on passing all courses in their PharmD studies with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Application deadline (for PhD): December 1

The Political Science and International Relations program and the USC Gould School of Law jointly offer a dual degree program leading to the PhD/JD degree. Applicants must apply to the Political Science and International Relations program and the law school and meet the requirements for admission to both.

In the first year students take 30 units of course work in the law school exclusively. To earn the JD, all students (including dual degree students) must complete 37 numerically graded law units at USC after the first year. The second and third years include a total of 40 units of courses in political science and international relations and 46 units of law. Students must complete a five-course core theory and methodology sequence. They must include a classics-oriented, two-semester political, social, comparative and international theory sequence (currently POIR 600), a multivariate statistics course (such as POIR 611) and a philosophies/methodologies in social inquiry course (POIR 610). Finally in their second, third or fourth year, they must take an approved advanced research methods course.

To obtain a PhD in Political Science and International Relations, students must pass the screening process. After the completion of required field course work with a grade of B or better, a substantive paper or USC MA thesis relevant to the program, students must take a PhD qualifying examination in two of their three fields of concentration. The third field will be completed by taking at least three courses and passing each with a grade of B or better. The final requirement, following successful completion of the qualifying examination, is a doctoral dissertation.

The PhD/MPH dual degree combines knowledge of clinical psychology research and practice with an understanding of health from a population perspective. The student enrolls primarily in the clinical science doctoral program, while taking additional course work for the MPH. During the second and subsequent years, course work is taken in both programs. The dissertation is undertaken through the Department of Psychology.