Graduate & Professional Degrees

The certificate program in global medicine is for students who do not wish to pursue a Master of Science degree in global medicine, but hope to pursue or expand careers in global health care. Students will study current topics in global health and health care, and will have a strong grounding in cultural competence, specific diseases and creating and implementing health interventions in developing countries.

Students take 16 units of graduate course work that may not be used or have been used for any other degree or certificate program. These units include one core class and 12 units of electives, as follows:

1333 San Pablo Street
McKibben Hall, MCH 144
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 442-3141

msgm.usc.edu

Program Director: Navid Pour-Ghasemi, MD, MS

The Master of Science in Global Medicine (MSGM) is offered by the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences of the Keck School of Medicine. The program prepares those planning to pursue degrees in the health professions to analyze and address critical issues in global medicine. The program provides a solid foundation in basic science while also exposing students to a broad scope of pertinent issues in global medicine. The program offers an advanced standing option for physicians, dentists, current medical/dental students and applicants with a PharmD degree from accredited institutions. Students admitted to the advanced standing option may use previous equivalent course work for 8 units of credit toward MEDS 503L Core Principles System I and MEDS 504L Core Principles System II course requirements. The advanced standing option allows students to bypass the foundation course work and focus on globally oriented course work.

By providing the knowledge and training necessary to address current and future global medical challenges, the MS in Global Medicine program responds to the Institute of Medicine's recommendation that the education of health professionals include course work that promotes literacy in global medicine. In addition to gaining a strong medical science foundation, students are immersed in course work that examines methods used to create innovative programming, solutions, and responses to global health challenges, thereby furnishing them with the problem-solving skills and analytical frameworks essential to their future career paths. Through partnerships with the Marshall School of Business and the Viterbi School of Engineering, the MS in Global Medicine also includes a Management Track for students who intend to pursue international health management. The MS in Global Medicine also offers the Interprofessional Health Track for students seeking an understanding of the interplay of various clinical specialties in providing comprehensive and integrated care to patients and the resultant impacts on healthcare administration. Upon completion of the MS in Global Medicine, students will be equipped to serve as leaders within the health field, including, but not limited to: medicine, pharmacy, dentistry and nursing. In addition, graduates will be prepared to collaborate with, or seek employment from, a variety of international aid, nonprofit and global health organizations.

Admission

Applicants for admission to the program must have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution and have earned a GPA of 3.0 (A = 4.0) in undergraduate work. Prerequisite undergraduate course work for Clinical Track applicants must include one year of general biology, one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry and one semester of either calculus or statistics. Applicants to the Management and Interprofessional Tracks must have prerequisite undergraduate course work that includes one year of general biology, one year of general chemistry, and one semester of either calculus or statistics. Organic chemistry courses are recommended but not required for Management and Interprofessional Health Track applicants.

Applicants must supply three letters of recommendation from evaluators qualified to assess their potential for graduate work. If applying for the advanced standing option, U.S. applicants must have successfully completed their first year of an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) program or earned a PharmD degree from a U.S.- accredited institute; international applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree in medicine and surgery or a degree equivalent of DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or a PharmD degree from an accredited institute. Applicants must supply a completed application for graduate studies including transcripts from all institutions previously attended and three letters of recommendation. Applications are considered for enrollment in both fall and spring semesters. For further information contact: Master of Science in Global Medicine Program, (323) 442-3141, email: msgm@med.usc.edu.

Advisement

The program recommends that students meet with an academic adviser of the program each semester prior to registration.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

A graduate GPA of at least 3.0 is required at all times. Any student whose graduate GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation who do not raise their GPA to 3.0 after two semesters of written notification of academic probation will be academically disqualified. A minimum of 32 units of graduate level course work is required for graduation from the clinical, interprofessional health, and management tracks. A minimum of 24 units of graduate-level course work is required for graduation from the advanced standing option.

The Master of Arts in Global Security Studies is an innovative two-year program designed to prepare individuals for careers in public service, the private sector or the non-governmental organization (NGO) arena to contribute in the ever-expanding global civil society. The Global Security Studies program leverages the interdisciplinary strengths of four world-class entities: the School of International Relations in the USC Department of Political Science and International Relations, the USC Shoah Foundation, the USC Spatial Sciences Institute and the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies.

Building upon a substantial undergraduate background in social sciences or relevant professional experience in domains such as international relations, political science, public policy, environmental science and geographic information science, the Global Security Studies program provides the background for professions in areas requiring an understanding of human conflict and threats to peace and security. Global security issues can arise from natural disasters, humanitarian crises, environmental vulnerability, public health issues, terrorist attacks, political violence, genocide, food/resource accessibility challenges and other natural and manmade occurrences.

The overarching goal of the curriculum is to provide students with the abilities to develop a deep, comprehensive understanding of the human impacts from socio-political and environmental crises, combined with cutting-edge analytical methodologies and technologies that support policy research, analysis and recommendations. Students delve more deeply into one of three concentration areas: Intelligence and Security, Global Security and Intervention or Environmental Security.

Hallmarks of this program include developing competencies to:

• effectively identify, acquire and analyze data, especially geo-referenced data;
• formulate policy strategies that support stability in contemporary global settings;
• capture testimonies through real-time interviewing techniques and use the power of testimonial narrative in support of policy goals; and
• develop briefing and presentation skills necessary for professionals at the forefront of policy change.

The program curriculum also emphasizes experiential learning approaches. During the summer semester bridging the first and second year of the program, students participate in a practicum that includes a problems-based learning (PBL) policy exercise, followed by a multi-week full-time internship. The internship options are identified by the program faculty and staff, and include organizations with long-standing relationships with the USC Shoah Foundation, the USC Dornsife Washington, DC Program and the Vrije Universiteit Brussels.

In the second year of the program, students apply policy skills mastered in their first-year courses, the PBL workshop and internship experience to identify a human security policy issue, provide a comprehensive review of related existing literature and current research and offer possible policy prescriptions aimed at mitigating the impact of the problem explored.

Throughout the program, students will work with faculty and advisers from the faculty program board, which includes individuals with distinguished careers in international relations, national security, geospatial intelligence and policy.

The online Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management program is designed to facilitate the needs of professionals and executives in the United States and around the world who wish to expand their knowledge of the rapidly changing world of global supply chain management.

Courses are synchronous but can be accessed from anywhere. All classes are taught in English. Students are required to work in teams and are encouraged to interact with the instructors and their classmates virtually outside of the class.

Two international travel experiences to global distribution hubs are included in the program. Participation in both trips is required for graduation. Some elective courses offered by non-Marshall departments may require in-person midterm and final examinations. These exams will be administered in cities near student population concentrations, requiring that students travel to reach these locations.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general Marshall admission requirements, applicants should have at least three years of full-time work experience. Admission decisions are based on consideration of the applicant's previous academic record, résumé, letters of recommendation, responses to several essay questions and an interview video presentation. TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores and GMAT or GRE test scores are not required for this program. 

Application Procedure

Submit an online application to the program through the USC graduate admissions website at gradadm.usc.edu. International applicants are advised to view the information for international students published at gradadm.usc.edu/apply/international-students/.

Deadlines and other application details can be found at marshall.usc.edu/msgscm/admissions.

• Current USC students and USC alumni are not required to submit an application fee or transcripts to verify degrees earned prior to their attendance at USC.
• Individuals who have applied for admission to a USC graduate program before but were not admitted may not have to submit new test scores or original transcripts.
• All other applicants must submit all documentation identified in the online application instructions including the application fee and copies of transcripts.

For additional information, visit marshall.usc.edu/msgscm or email MS.GSCM@marshall.usc.edu.

The residential Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management provides individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to become experts in the area of supply chain management and thus advance their careers. The program focuses on topics like strategic procurement, outsourcing, logistics and distribution, the role of information technology in managing global supply chains and how these impact the process of developing new products. The aim is to provide the students with a framework that integrates different topics and an understanding of the trade-offs and relationships between these topics. Two experiential courses provide natural settings to study, understand and appreciate the complex nature of this field.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to this program are required to satisfy the general Marshall admission requirements. Admission decisions are based on consideration of the applicant's previous academic record, résumé, letters of recommendation, responses to several essay questions and an interview video presentation. A few years of work experience is preferred, but not required. GMAT or GRE scores are not required for this program. For international applicants TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores are required.

Application Procedure

Prospective students may apply to begin the program in the fall semester only. Applications are submitted online through the USC Graduate Admissions website at gradadm.usc.edu/. International applicants are advised to also consult the instructions for international students published in the USC Graduate Admissions Application website (gradadm.usc.edu/apply/international-students/).

A complete application includes the online application form, an application fee, test scores, responses to several short-answer questions, two letters of recommendation and transcripts from all institutions of higher education attended.

• Current USC students and USC alumni are not required to submit an application fee, new test scores (if previously submitted) or transcripts to verify degrees earned prior to their attendance at USC.
• Individuals who have applied for admission to a USC graduate program before but were not admitted may not have to submit new test scores or original transcripts.
• All other applicants must submit all documentation identified in the online application instructions.

For additional information, email MS.GSCM@marshall.usc.edu.

Green Technologies is a highly interdisciplinary degree program that emphasizes green systems and the environment, energy technology and efficiency, and sustainability and society. The discipline seeks opportunities for alternative sourcing, conservation, efficiency and repurposing through an understanding of product life cycles from origins to recycling or inevitable disposal. Green technologists will design products, processes and complex infrastructure systems to promote sustainable attributes of importance to the environment and the global community.

The Green Technologies program requires a minimum of 27 units (typically nine courses). At least 18 units must be at the 500-level or above, and at least 18 units must be completed in the Viterbi School of Engineering. These 18 units may reflect courses offered by other schools if cross-listed in a department in the Viterbi School. Students with BS degrees in engineering and science disciplines can be accepted into the program.

The Executive MHA Program offers clinical and management professionals an opportunity to advance their careers in health care and to more effectively improve health services within their communities. Mid- to senior-level professionals who have the ambition and potential to serve as industry leaders in the highly dynamic and competitive health care environment are encouraged to consider the Executive MHA degree. The Executive MHA is geared to those who have demonstrated capabilities, yet who will benefit from expanded skills and competencies that will enable them to lead.

Participants sharpen their business acumen by gaining exposure to and in-depth knowledge of the latest theories and the best in contemporary health management practice. A practical, problem-solving approach ensures that skills can immediately be applied on the job.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants for the Executive Master of Health Administration apply directly to the program. A minimum of five years of experience with progressively greater levels of responsibility in health care or a related field is required for entry into the Executive MHA program. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in undergraduate course work is required. Allowances may be made when justified by exceptional work experience and letters of recommendation.

Prerequisites

Accounting

A basic competence in accounting is required for the Executive MHA program. The accounting prerequisite must be satisfied before enrolling in HMGT 565 Managing the Organization's Financial Health. This prerequisite may be met in one of three ways: (1) completing the non-credit Executive MHA accounting workshop with a passing score; (2) demonstrating prior work experience or (3) completing prior course work at an accredited academic institution in accounting and finance.

The issues surrounding the delivery and financing of health services have an enormous impact on individuals and the communities in which we live. The health care industry now accounts for more than 15 percent of the U.S. economy. Fast-moving developments in technology, economics, ethics, finance, policy, management and globalization are driving changes in the health sector. Effective health leadership requires an understanding of governance systems and the complex interplay between the public, private and nonprofit sectors as well as the dual imperatives of both the clinical and business facets of health care delivery. As the health care system changes, career opportunities abound. The field has a tremendous need for leaders, managers and analysts — in hospitals, health plans, physician practices, health-related enterprises, community health organizations, social advocacy groups, and regulatory and legislative agencies.

The Price School of Public Policy's multidisciplinary nature, with degree programs in public policy, public administration, urban planning and international policy, adds breadth that distinguishes USC's MHA degree, providing students with an understanding of the larger social context in which the health sector is embedded and how it intersects and interacts with other social policy issues.

The Price School programs in health management and policy offer two degree options — the Master of Health Administration and the Executive Master of Health Administration. These degrees position the student to acquire the knowledge, skills and applied experience to shape health policy and lead health organizations. Requirements for the Executive MHA differ from those of the traditional MHA and are found on the program page.

The Master of Health Administration builds a solid foundation emphasizing managerial, analytical, and public policy skills for those entering the health field, while the Executive Master of Health Administration deepens professional skills and permits those already working in the health field to advance to higher levels of leadership.

The MHA curriculum incorporates five major areas of competence: management/operations/leadership; health policy analysis; health finance; health information technology; and, health care quality. Each student will be exposed to these core areas and will specialize in two of them. The program prepares students for management positions in hospitals; managed care systems; physician groups; ambulatory care systems, government agencies concerned with health care policy, planning, quality assurance and regulation; and private firms involved in health care consulting, finance, performance assessment and evaluation.

Requirements for Admission

General

Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants may take courses on limited standing pending formal admission to the master's degree program.

Applicants with bachelor's degrees must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in their undergraduate course work and a score of at least 500 on the verbal and at least 500 on the quantitative sections of the GRE. Deviations from these minimums will be allowed when justified by exceptional work experience, letters of recommendation or improvement in academic performance during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study.

Prerequisites

Statistics

A basic competence in descriptive and inferential statistics is also required for the MHA program. The statistics prerequisite must be satisfied prior to enrollment. This prerequisite may be met in one of two ways: (1) entering students must have passed an undergraduate inferential statistics class, with a grade of "B" or better, at an approved university within three years of matriculation, or (2) completing PPD 504 Essential Statistics for Public Management with a grade of "C" or better (this course credit may not count toward the MHA degree).

Limited Status Students (Preadmission)

Students taking courses who have not been admitted to the school are designated limited status students. These students may be waiting for part of their application package materials to arrive; or they may be investigating whether an MHA may be right for them.

To be considered for limited status reenrollment, interested students need to complete the Price School of Public Policy Limited Student Application for Enrollment form and submit official or unofficial copies of their transcripts from their bachelor's degree granting institution. Students with a 3.0 grade point average (A = 4.0) may enroll in up to 8 units of graduate courses in the Price School of Public Policy.

Price School of Public Policy Limited Student Application for Enrollment forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office, USC Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, RGL 111, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0626, telephone (213) 740-6842. Limited students may only enroll during the in-person registration period (the week before classes begin).

Limited status students may apply only 8 units of appropriate graduate work toward the MHA after admission. Units beyond these first 8 must be petitioned for through the school. Students on limited status are encouraged to complete the application and admission process before completing those first 8 units.

Certificate Program

Information regarding the Certificate Program in Health Management and Policy Programs can be found on the Graduate Certificates page.

The Department of Department of Population and Public Health Sciences offers a degree program in Health Behavior Research, leading to attainment of the PhD. 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 four to five year course of study for students entering with a bachelor's degree. Time requirements are subject to review and approval by the division's Graduate Program Committee and the Graduate School.

A total of 60 units of graduate study is required for the PhD in health behavior research. Students are required to complete nine core courses: PM 500, PM 511a, PM 511b, PM 515, PM 530, PM 601, PM 604, PM 615 and PM 756 (total of 37 units). Other requirements include: two elective PM courses, one not offered by health behavior faculty (minimum of 7 units); and a minimum of 4 units each in PM 590, PM 690 series (PM 690a, PM 690b, PM 690c, PM 690d, PM 690z), PM 790 and the PM 794 series (PM 794a, PM 794b, PM 794c, PM 794d, PM 794z).

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 the PM 794 Doctoral Dissertation series (PM 794a, PM 794b, PM 794c, PM 794d, PM 794z).

Screening Procedure

The progress of each student is reviewed at the end of every academic year. At the end of the second 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.

Qualifying Exam Committee

Each student's qualifying exam 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. 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 qualifying exam 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.

The online Health Care Compliance Certificate program is offered to enrolled online LLM or online MSL students, as well as on a stand-alone basis. The program is structured especially for working professionals who wish to take one or two courses per term in an online format. Students are expected to enroll each semester until the program is completed.

The online Health Care Compliance Certificate requires 12 units, including the following required and elective courses.

Admissions

Applicants to the certificate program must have earned an undergraduate degree, which can be in any field of study, prior to the time they begin the certificate program. Prior exposure to or experience in law is not required. The Admissions Committee will consider applicants' grades, course work, work experience, and reasons for pursuing the certificate program when determining admission.