Graduate & Professional Degrees

Application deadline: January 1

Course Requirements

The minimum number of course credits required for the PhD is 60 units. No more than 8 of these units may be from 590 courses and no more than 8 of these units may be from 400-level courses in the School of Philosophy. PHIL 450 or PHIL 452 do not count toward this maximum of 8 units of 400-level courses in the School of Philosophy. No more than 8 of these units may be earned in 794 Doctoral Dissertation. Each student must pass PHIL 450 or PHIL 452 with a grade of B or better and must pass both PHIL 500 and PHIL 503 with a grade of B+ or better. PHIL 450 or PHIL 452 and both PHIL 500 and PHIL 503 must be satisfactorily completed by the end of the second year.

The student may take up to two courses in a field of study related to philosophy. The PhD dissertation may be written in any area of philosophy for which adequate supervision is available from within the university. PhD students are also required to show evidence of practical or editorial training, or their equivalent.

Foreign Language/Research Tool Requirement

A foreign language examination, specified by the school, in French, German, Latin or classical Greek is required. The faculty may approve a replacement of the language requirement by a research tool requirement, consisting of an approved course or examination in a subject essential to the student's research program. The course or examination must be passed before the qualifying examination is attempted.

There are three levels of evaluation in the PhD program prior to the dissertation:

Distribution Requirement

There is a distribution requirement of six courses at the 500 level in the School of Philosophy, two each representing breadth within each of the following three areas: (1) metaphysics and epistemology (broadly construed, including philosophical logic; philosophy of science; philosophy of math, mind, and language), (2) value theory (broadly construed, including aesthetics, political philosophy, and the philosophy of law), and (3) pre-1879 history of philosophy. PHIL 500, PHIL 503 and PHIL 590 courses cannot count toward this requirement. Up to two 400-level courses may count by petition toward this requirement, provided that the departmental standards for graduate-level course work are met. For courses straddling two areas (for example, history of ancient philosophy and metaphysics; history of modern philosophy and ethics), instructors will indicate on the syllabus which requirement the course will satisfy. Courses dealing with subject matter within more than one of the areas listed may be used to satisfy any of the areas encompassed by the course although no single course may be used to satisfy two requirements at once. The two courses within each distribution area must represent breadth, as determined in advance by the graduate adviser and in accordance with departmental guidelines. All distribution requirements must be completed by the end of the fifth semester.

Screening Procedure

Students in the PhD program must pass a screening procedure before undertaking their 25th unit (seventh course) of graduate credit. This will be based on a review of the student's work to date, and will take into account not only information acquired but also those intellectual qualities and capacities that are essential for good work in philosophy: the capacity to think and write on philosophical issues with clarity, consistency and thoroughness; the ability to understand in detail what is involved in the meaning and justification of philosophical claims or positions; the ability to recognize and to draw out fine conceptual distinctions and to perceive their logical relationships; and strong intellectual curiosity and independence of thought.

Student Reviews

Graduate student progress is reviewed on a regular basis each term. In addition, apart from the screening procedure, there are more formal reviews conducted at the end of the fourth and sixth semesters of study, as described below.

In the fourth semester of study, normally the spring of the second year, each student shall submit a journal-length paper in philosophy. The choice of papers should be made in consultation with the graduate adviser. The second year evaluation will be made on the basis of faculty review of the submitted paper and consideration of the student's total record.

For the review following the sixth semester of study, students are to select one from a list of pre-designated areas in philosophy and master the material on a pre-assigned reading list of important works in that area. At the beginning of the sixth semester, each student will take a written examination, designed by the faculty of the School of Philosophy, on the materials covered in the relevant reading list followed by an oral examination exploring their knowledge of the field. This examination must be passed by the end of the sixth semester. The examining committee for each student will consist of faculty conversant with the field and appointed by the school.

Qualifying Examination

This examination consists of a written prospectus of the proposed dissertation and an in-depth oral examination on the form and subject matter of the proposed dissertation. All faculty members may inspect the prospectus and be present at the oral, but evaluation of the qualifying examination is the responsibility of the student's qualifying exam committee. The examination is not passed if two or more members of the qualifying exam committee find it unsatisfactory.

The qualifying examination is not offered in the summer. Those who intend to take this examination must meet all the conditions specified in the section on general requirements for the PhD Students are expected to pass the qualifying exam by the end of the eighth semester. Students who have not passed the qualifying exam by the end of the eighth semester will be subject to faculty review, and may not be allowed to continue in the program.

Doctoral Dissertation

When the student passes the qualifying examination, a dissertation committee (see Graduate Advisement), replacing the qualifying exam committee, is appointed by the director of the school in consultation with the student and the philosophy faculty. Normally, the qualifying exam committee simply becomes the dissertation committee. This committee and the candidate will then agree upon how the dissertation is to be developed and written. The dissertation must be an original contribution to some well-defined area in philosophy, and must give evidence of the student's ability to do respectable, large-scale research, thinking, and writing in the field. The school requires the defense oral when the research and writing of the dissertation is substantially complete. Attendance at this oral examination is open to all members of the university faculty, but the examination is conducted and evaluated by the candidate's dissertation committee. The faculty normally works with the dissertations only in the fall and spring semesters, and the student should plan accordingly.

The Master's Program in Physical Biology is designed for students who have backgrounds in physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and engineering, and who are motivated to pursue training in biophysical research that emphasizes theoretical, computational, and experimental methods. The training faculty in the  program includes faculty members from multiple departments at USC who have research programs in areas including structural biology, neuroscience, membrane biophysics, cellular biophysics and theoretical biophysics. Students are usually admitted to the program on the research-based thesis track; however, in special circumstances applications to the non-thesis track will be considered.

Admission

Applicants to the program will normally have earned a bachelor's degree and completed course work in mathematics (including calculus), physics, chemistry and biology. To be considered, applicants must complete a USC Graduate Admissions application and submit either GRE or MCAT test scores, a brief personal statement explaining the reasons for applying to the program, a brief statement regarding previous laboratory experience, official transcripts from all academic institutions previously attended, and three letters of recommendation. Foreign applicants are required to submit results from a TOEFL or IELTS examination. In the personal statement, applicants must specify whether they are applying to the thesis- or non-thesis track and the reasons for that choice. Normally, admission will be in the thesis track and a recommendation to admit an applicant will require Executive Committee approval of an agreement between an applicant and a faculty member who will serve as mentor of the thesis project. The agreement shall specify the general research area of the thesis. Prior to submission of a formal application, applicants may submit basic documentary information to determine how their credentials compare to expectations for admission.  

The Physical Biology Master's program participates in Progressive Master's Degree Programs and seeks applications from qualified students (undergrad.usc.edu/programs/progressive/).

Continued enrollment

Continued enrollment in the program requires an average GPA of at least 3.0, and a "Pass" or "Credit" in all non-graded courses. At any time, after evaluating a student's progress, the MBPH Executive Committee, at its discretion, may require a student to pass a screening examination to be eligible to progress to the third or later semester of graduate study. If a student fails to achieve these metrics or pass a screening examination, the Executive Committee will make a recommendation as to whether or not to place the student on probationary enrollment with a defined remediation sufficient to remedy the deficiency or to recommend the student withdraw or be dismissed from the program.

Thesis track:

A three-member Guidance Committee will advise each student and monitor the progress of thesis work of each student in the thesis track. The Guidance Committee shall consist of at least:

1. the student's adviser who shall chair the committee and be a tenure-track member of the Graduate Committee;
2. the student's thesis mentor, if not the same faculty member as the adviser;
3. one (or two) additional members of the Graduate Committee.

Final examination

Passing the final examination requires: 1) submission of an acceptable thesis document describing the work of the thesis, and 2) an oral defense of the thesis. The Thesis Committee will administer the final examination. The composition of the Thesis Committee and the Guidance Committee may be the same. The thesis document shall be distributed to the student's Master's Thesis Committee and a copy provided to the Graduate Program Office at least two weeks prior to the oral examination. If the document is not provided by that date, then the oral examination shall be rescheduled to accommodate this requirement. Final acceptance of the document and passage of the oral examination requires the unanimous recommendation of all members of the Thesis Committee. If the student does not pass the examination on the first attempt, at its discretion the Executive Committee may grant a second opportunity to pass the examination according to policies in the USC Catalogue.

Non-thesis track:

Final Examination. A comprehensive examination replaces the thesis defense. The Executive Committee shall appoint a member of the Graduate Committee to supervise the final examination process (the "Examination Supervisor"). The examination shall be on a topic approved by the Examination Supervisor and shall consist of: 1) a document discussing the topic in sufficient detail, and 2) passing an oral examination on the substance of the topic. The document shall be submitted to the Examination Supervisor at least two weeks prior to the oral examination. If the document is not provided by that date, then the oral examination shall be rescheduled to accommodate this requirement. To qualify as the final examination, all the faculty of the Graduate Committee shall be invited to attend the presentation with notice given at least two weeks in advance and at least three members of the Graduate Committee or alternates selected by the program director shall attend.

During and following the presentation, faculty members may pose questions relevant to the presentation to determine if the student has mastered an appropriate breadth and depth of knowledge of biophysics. The Examination Supervisor shall then receive reports from faculty attending the presentation, usually within a week, and make a recommendation to the Graduate Committee as to whether or not the student passed the examination. Unless a member of the Graduate Committee objects, the recommendation shall be considered accepted. If an objection is received a decision shall be made by a secret ballot vote with two thirds of those voting in favor of passage required for passage of the examination. If the student does not pass the examination on the first attempt, at its discretion the Graduate Committee may grant a second opportunity to pass the examination according to policies in the USC Catalogue.

The interface between physics and biology is experiencing a revolution much like the one experienced by 17th century astronomers. Then, like now, new quantitative techniques allowed unprecedented observations, which in turn demanded quantitative reasoning. Galileo's approach subjected the laws of motion to a unique blend of experiment and theory, before finally being placed in a predictive mathematical context. This style of inquiry, long favored by physicists, is now being applied to the biological sciences with increasing frequency. New experimental tools are elucidating phenomena ranging from the forces experienced by single biomolecules to the complex regulatory networks of gene expression, and the target biophysical problems range from the metabolism of individual cells to the dynamics of entire populations. The power of this physics-based approach is now widely recognized as essential for approaching all grand challenges in the biological sciences, from combating cancer to unraveling the mysteries of the brain.

Motivated by the promise of this approach at the physics/biology interface, the PhD program in Physical Biology integrates biophysical research experience leading to a dissertation with state-of-the art curriculum that (i) introduces molecular and cell biology to quantitatively minded students; (ii) presents a rigorous treatment of the physical principles underlying biological phenomena; and (iii) emphasizes the emerging physical methods that has transformed the biological sciences into a quantitative discipline. While distinct in its intellectual focus from existing graduate programs at USC, this program harnesses the critical mass of research-active biophysicists in multiple departments (physics, biological sciences, chemistry, multiple engineering departments, and the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

The Physical Biology (PBIO) PhD program is designed for graduate students who seek a quantitative framework for understanding the physical principles of biological organization and function. These students may have backgrounds from physics, engineering, mathematics and chemistry, but seek to wield their quantitative skills in the basic or applied life sciences. The program is also for students with training in the biological sciences looking for training and research opportunities grounded the physical sciences. and who seek a fundamental understanding of biological systems not emphasized in PhD programs associated with departments of biology, medicine, bioinformatics, or engineering. Graduates will likely move onto careers including medicine, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, as well as career opportunities open to graduates with training in the physical sciences. Graduates may also pursue academic positions in the growing area of biophysics.

Admission Requirements:

Admission decisions will be made by the Department of Physics and Astronomy's Graduate Admissions Committee, which will be advised by the PBIO Program Committee (including representatives from other departments). The prerequisite for admission to the Physical Biology (PBIO) PhD program is a bachelor's (or master's) degree in physics, chemistry, biological sciences, engineering or a related field that stresses quantitative training. Successful applicants will have completed undergraduate course work in mathematics (including calculus), physics, chemistry and biological sciences. All applicants for admission must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Transcripts of undergraduate records as well as transcripts of any graduate-level courses are required. The TOEFL or IELTS is required of international students applying for a teaching assistantship as well as for those applying for admission only. Applicants may be admitted to the program at the beginning of the fall or spring semester.

Potential applicants are encouraged to inquire about the program by contacting one or more members of the PBIO Program Committee prior to submitting the online application. In addition to the required test scores, as appropriate, applicants will submit a detailed personal statement explaining the reasons for applying to the PBIO Program, description of previous or ongoing research, and three letters of recommendation. Applicants who are deficient in some areas may be required to remedy the deficiencies as a condition of admittance to the program.

A minimum of 60 units is required.

Admission Requirements and Procedures

Application to the Physician Assistant Program requires completion of a bachelor's degree (in any discipline) from a regionally accredited four-year institution and completion of academic prerequisite requirements.

Admission to the program is for the fall semester only. Admission is granted by the physician assistant selections committee after careful review of all eligible applications. Selections are made on the basis of a formal interview (for competitive applicants) and consideration of a variety of factors, which include: academic record, amount of clinical experience, multicultural sensitivity, community service experience and knowledge of the profession.

Applicants are required to submit an application through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) as well as a USC Supplemental Application by November 1 of each year. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Further details regarding admission procedures including those for international student applicants are provided online at usc.edu/pa. The program will not waive any aspect of the application or deadline. 

Transfer Students or Advanced Placement

The Physician Assistant Program does not accept transfer students, nor do we allow advanced placement based on prior education or clinical experience. Each applicant who is admitted is required to complete the full Master of Physician Assistant Practice curriculum in residence at USC. No waivers or substitutions are permitted.

Registration

Students receive information regarding registration in the summer prior to enrollment.

Advisement

Virtual advisement appointments are available for prospective students who would like to receive more information regarding the program. For information, please call (626) 457-4240 or email uscpa@usc.edu.

Degree Prerequisites

A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and completion of all prerequisite course work are required for admission to the Physician Assistant Program. 

Applicants are expected to have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (on a scale in which A = 4.0).

All science prerequisites are expected to be completed by the end of the fall term in the year prior to matriculation. All non-science prerequisites must be finished by the end of the spring term just before the matriculating fall semester. A maximum of two non-science prerequisite courses can be in-progress during the spring term prior to matriculation.

All prerequisite courses must be completed for letter grades with at least a grade of C (2.0) earned.

Science Prerequisites

One (1) year sequential course work (two semesters or three quarters) for biological-based science majors in each of the following:

Biology

Option (1):

General Biology or Human Biology*: One year sequential course work (equivalent to two semesters or three quarters**)

**Applicants from an institution on the quarter system: If your institution does not offer three (3) quarters of General Biology or Human Biology, you may elect to take two (2) quarters of General Biology and one (1) quarter of one of the following – Genetics, Molecular Biology, Immunology or Cell Biology.

- OR -

Option (2):

One (1) semester/quarter of General Biology or Human Biology and;

One (1) semester or two (2) quarters of an additional Biology course(s) from the list below:

Option 2 biology courses must be designed for biological-based science majors.

• Cell Biology
• Endocrinology
• Histology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology
• Embryology
• Genetics
• Immunology
• Neuroscience

Chemistry with Lab

Option (1):

General Chemistry with lab: One (1) year sequential course work (equivalent to two semesters or three quarters*)

If your institution does not offer a General Chemistry with Lab series, then you must provide proof of completing the introductory chemistry with lab series for biological-based science majors. Applicants from an institution on the quarter system: If your institution does not offer three (3) quarters of General Chemistry with Lab, you may elect to take two (2) quarters of General Chemistry with Lab and one (1) quarter of one of the following: Organic Chemistry with Lab, Biochemistry with Lab, or Inorganic Chemistry with Lab.

- OR -

Option (2):

One (1) semester/quarter of General Chemistry with lab and;

One (1) semester or two (2) quarters of an additional Chemistry course(s) with a lab in the following:

• Organic Chemistry w/lab
• Biochemistry w/lab
• Quantitative Analysis w/lab
• Analytical Chemistry w/lab
• Inorganic Chemistry w/lab

One semester (3 units) or quarter (4 units) of each of the following:

Microbiology with Lab

May be in the following:

• Microbiology with lab
• General Microbiology w/lab
• Introductory Microbiology w/lab
• Medical Microbiology w/lab

Human Anatomy with lab*

Human Physiology*

A combined Human Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) with Lab series can fulfill the Human Anatomy with Lab and Human Physiology prerequisites. If completing an A&P series, then you must complete one (1) year of sequential course work (two semesters or three quarters). For example, if your regionally accredited institution offers a three-quarter A&P series, then you must complete all three courses.

Non-Science Prerequisites:

A minimum of one (1) semester/quarter unit at a regionally accredited institution or submit a medical terminology certificate of completion from a regionally accredited institution or vocational program:

• Medical Terminology

One semester (3 units) or quarter (4 units) of each of the following:

• Statistics

• Introduction/General Psychology

One (1) year for each of the following:

• Beginning Spanish language (Must be college-level credit earned either through course work or by placement examination. There is no language substitution.)

• English – International applicants only

AP Credit

For applicants that received AP credit in prerequisites

Advanced Placement (AP) credit for science prerequisites will not be accepted. If an applicant has received one semester or quarter of AP credit (or equivalent) for Biology or Chemistry with Lab, then the applicant may elect to satisfy the prerequisite(s) in one of two ways:

1. Complete the specific course sequence as outlined above (i.e. complete two semesters or three quarters of the general science course series), or
2. Complete a minimum of two semesters (6 units) or three quarters (9 units) of upper-division course work for biological-based science majors.

For example, if you received AP credit for one term of general biology, then you may satisfy the Biology prerequisite in one of two ways:

1. Complete a one-year (two semesters or three quarters) general biology course sequence for biological-based science majors, or
2. Complete a minimum of two semesters (6 units) or three quarters (9 units) of upper-division course work for biological-based science majors (e.g. cell biology, genetics, histology, etc.).

Upper-division courses for non-majors will not be accepted.

Students who intend to apply to the Physician Assistant Program should contact the admission office for evaluation of previous baccalaureate and/or post-baccalaureate course work.

10-Year Exemption

All prerequisite science courses must be completed within 10 years of the application submission year. Exceptions to the 10-year science prerequisite time frame may be granted on an individual basis to individuals who have completed one of the following:

1. A minimum of 8 semester units of graduate credit in a medically related natural science discipline, with at least a 3.0 GPA, completed within seven years of the application deadline, or
2. Received an advanced degree in the natural sciences, clinical sciences or other appropriate disciplines within 10 years of the application deadline.

In either case, all course work completed and degrees conferred must be from institutions of higher education, which are accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Requests for this 10-year exemption should be directed to uscpa@usc.edu.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit all requested documents in support of this request and to ensure that these documents were received. The Chair of Admissions will review all submitted documents and render a decision to the applicant within two weeks of document receipt. All decisions are final. If an exemption is not granted and the applicant wishes to continue the application process, then the applicant will need to complete the prerequisites as specified.

Requests to waive the 10-year requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Chair of Admissions, and a strong history of continued scientific contributions in the applicant's career will be considered. Applicants should provide evidence of their continuation in a scientific or health-related field as part of their 10-year extension request.

Distance Learning 

Distance learning and remote courses are acceptable provided they are equivalent in all dimensions (including laboratory requirements) to courses taught in "traditional" or in-person educational settings. All distance learning course credit must be provided by regionally accredited institutions of higher education.

Clinical Experience

Hands-on, paid, patient care clinical experience is preferred. Please refer to our list of common clinical experiences. Other health care experience is equally acceptable as long as the clinical experience is hands-on in nature. It is important that PA applicants are familiar with medical care environments and the role of a physician assistant, and have experience working with patients. Volunteer clinical experience is also considered in the application process and should be entered into the CASPA application, as well; the applicant is encouraged to describe their hands-on experience, whether it is paid or volunteer

Shadowing Experiences

Shadowing a Physician Assistant (PA) is preferred in the admissions application process. The selections committee defines shadowing as observing a PA in the care of patients, working alongside a PA on a day-to-day basis or attending virtual shadowing opportunities. Virtual shadowing experiences can include telehealth, provider platforms, and websites that offer case studies provided by a PA. The goal of shadowing is to help an applicant articulate the role of a PA.

Community Service Activities

Applicants are expected to demonstrate a commitment to community service. Service that benefits underserved or disadvantaged groups is highly desirable as the program has a commitment to training its students as primary care providers with these populations. This can include experiences with Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, tutoring, soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

Curriculum Requirements

The completion of the 33-month professional curriculum is required to earn the Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree. Students do not have choices of courses to take nor are they permitted to drop any course or courses during the semester. Progress is permitted only when the prior semester is successfully completed. Students should view the curriculum outlined here as advisory only and subject to modification.

Summative Evaluation

A summative evaluation, using standardized clinical cases and a written examination, is completed during the final semester to assess each student's preparedness to graduate, and enter clinical practice.

Health Requirements and Technical Standards

All accepted candidates are required to meet the PA program's technical standards (physical and psychological competencies of performance) prior to entering the program and throughout training. Upon acceptance, students will be required to submit and maintain evidence of current health status and immunizations. Students are also required to maintain university-approved health care insurance coverage while enrolled in the program. Specific details outlining these technical standards are located at usc.edu/pa.

Employment

The Primary Care Physician Assistant Program at USC is a full-time program. Students are strongly discouraged to accept or continue outside employment while enrolled in the program. Students are not permitted to work for the program.

Background Check

In 2020, California became the fifth state to prohibit the use of criminal background checks in admissions considerations for graduate schools when the California Education Code 66024p was updated following the passage of the "Ban the Box" bill. While this legislation prohibits schools from process background considering criminal backgrounds in the admissions process, it does not prohibit criminal background checks for matriculated students. These background checks are required to work with minors and to participate in clinical training activities with health care partners throughout the state. Students who matriculate with a history of a criminal conviction may not be able to successfully complete the curriculum due to these requirements, and therefore, should check with the program prior to matriculation. In addition, criminal background checks including LiveScan are required for state licensure in California and a history of a criminal conviction may be considered by the California Physician Assistant Board as well as other state medical boards and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants in the licensure application. Applicants/matriculants should consult with these entities prior to matriculation to ensure they will be eligible for licensure upon completion of their degree.

Degree Requirements

All students in the Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree program must meet course and grade point average requirements. All students must complete each semester with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater. Failure to achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade point average will result in automatic academic probation and a subsequent semester below a 3.0 cumulative grade point average will result in academic dismissal. The degree will not be conferred until the student has successfully completed all degree requirements. Students are subject to the degree requirements in the catalogue current for the semester of their admission into the program.

Physician assistant students are enrolled in a standard curriculum during their 33 months in the program. The following courses must be successfully completed in order to earn the Master of Physician Assistant Practice degree. Only physician assistant students may enroll in these courses. Departmental clearance is required to enroll.

Application deadline: January 1

Admission Requirements

The prerequisite for admission to the doctoral program in the Department of Physics and Astronomy is a bachelor's (or master's) degree in physics or related field. Transcripts of undergraduate records as well as transcripts of any graduate-level courses are required. The TOEFL or IELTS is required of international students applying for a teaching assistantship as well as for those applying for admission only. Applicants may be admitted to the program at the beginning of the fall or spring semester.

Residence

PhD students in physics normally complete the 5 required courses and one elective in the first two semesters in graduate school. A total of 60 units of credit is required for graduation. Students admitted to the PhD program may transfer a maximum of 30 units of credit to apply toward degree requirements. For students admitted with Advanced Standing (entry with an appropriate completed graduate degree from an accredited institution), a minimum of 36 units of course work beyond that graduate degree, exclusive of PHYS 794a and PHYS 794b, will be required.

Foreign Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement for the PhD.

Course Requirements

The student is expected to have prepared for understanding all branches of physics. The required courses for the PhD are (1) the following five core courses: PHYS 504, PHYS 508a, PHYS 510, PHYS 518, and  PHYS 558a; (2) a minimum of four additional/elective courses, summing to at least 12 units. These additional/elective courses would be graduate-level or 400-level courses in Physics and Astronomy that are not core courses. Graduate courses offered by other departments at USC could also be taken to meet this requirement, but prior approval of each course by the department is required; (3) four semesters of PHYS 500 or three semesters of PHYS 500 and one semester of PHYS 650; and (4) PHYS 794a and PHYS 794b.  All required physics courses (except PHYS 500 and PHYS 794a, PHYS 794b, PHYS 794c, PHYS 794d, and PHYS 794z) must be passed with a grade of B- or better. After passing the qualifying examination the student must register for PHYS 794a, PHYS 794b, PHYS 794c, PHYS 794d, or PHYS 794z Doctoral Dissertation each fall and spring semester.

Screening Procedure

Any student proceeding toward the PhD in physics must pass the departmental screening examination at a superior level. The exam must be taken not later than during the second year in the department. New advanced students who have passed an equivalent comprehensive examination at a well-recognized research university with superior grades may apply to the departmental examination committee for an oral interview in order to be exempted from the written screening examination. A faculty member who supervises the research of such a student in the department must support this application.

Qualifying Exam Committee

The graduate adviser serves as adviser to incoming students and assists in the appointment of the qualifying exam committee, which is formed after the screening examination has been passed. After the student passes the qualifying examination and a dissertation topic is approved, the five-member qualifying exam committee becomes the dissertation committee and is responsible for monitoring the candidate's progress and for approving the final content and form of the dissertation.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination must be attempted not later than during the seventh semester (or in the case of advanced students, the fifth semester) in the department (excluding summer). The PhD qualifying examination contains a written part and an oral part. The written part consists of a critical review by the student of a published work selected by the qualifying exam committee and of a research proposal prepared by the student on the area in which the student intends to do a doctoral dissertation. The oral part expands on the written part.

Dissertation

A doctoral dissertation in physics is expected to be an extensive description of original research carried out by the student. A complete discussion of reported research in relation to previous work by others is essential.

Defense of the Dissertation

The dissertation must be defended in a final oral examination. The candidate must be prepared to answer general questions in the field as well as specific questions regarding the dissertation.

The Master of Planning and Development Studies degree is designed for mid-career professionals in planning, development or related disciplines who desire to update and/or redirect their professional skills and careers. The program is very flexible, allowing students to pursue areas of expertise that they find valuable in their present or future careers. Entering students must have a minimum of five years of planning, development or related professional work experience.

This online graduate certificate in Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation for Global Health and Development provides training in key aspects and methodologies for program planning, monitoring and evaluation for global health and development. This training is aimed at professionals in or seeking program planning and evaluation positions in global health and/or development, in both private non-profit and public institutions, such as ministries of health, United Nations agencies, and non-government organizations. Courses are taken online through the Keck School of Medicine for a total of 12 units. The program can be completed in as few as three semesters or over the course of three years.

Applicants for the certificate must make a formal application for admission to the certificate program and provide transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (if applicable), a resume and a statement of purpose. The GRE is not required. 

This certificate program can serve as a possible “stepping stone” toward the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program. Up to 12 units may be applied toward both the certificate and the core or electives in the MPH. Note that students must apply and be admitted to the MPH program and must earn a grade of “B” or better in a course to be eligible to transfer that course toward the degree program. Completion of the certificate does not automatically guarantee admission to the MPH program.

The certificate in Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation for Global Health and Development is also open to students who are currently enrolled in another graduate program at USC and are in good standing with a 3.0 GPA. These students only need to submit the appropriate paperwork, which may be obtained from the student services adviser, and pay associated tuition costs for adding the certificate program.

The USC Price Doctor of Policy, Planning, and Development offers established professionals in the public, private and nonprofit sectors a high level academic experience to enhance their leadership capabilities, to develop their capacities in social change and innovation, and to extend their knowledge of policy, administration, planning and development.  Through their interaction with Price faculty and advanced practitioners, including members of their cohort, participants in the program will become more adaptive agents of change as they address the most complex and challenging governance problems of our times.

The goals of the DPPD are: to create a unique educational environment that will forge advanced professionals into a cadre for effective social, political and economic change; to develop professionals who can apply new policy, planning and administrative tools to design and implement new and integrative public policies; to establish and impart a new set of problem-solving paradigms for examining and altering decision making; and to equip professionals with sophisticated analytical tools and a sharper global and cultural awareness.

The DPPD offers a rigorous curriculum, an applied approach and an interdisciplinary course of study that provides knowledge, practice-based skills, and research capabilities for today's leaders. Moreover, the program prepares advanced professionals to provide change leadership in social innovation, particularly in urban communities. Doctoral candidates will specialize in a particular domain, one often cutting across disciplinary boundaries, that enables students to align their research and doctoral thesis with their professional and intellectual interests.

Applicants are expected to hold a master's degree in planning, public policy, public administration, leadership, real estate development or a closely related field. Applicants without master's degrees in other fields will be expected to complete foundation courses prior to entering the degree core courses in consultation with the appropriate degree director.  Those admitted without advanced standing complete a total of 60 units.

Prerequisite

Applicants are required to have a basic competence in descriptive and inferential statistics. This prerequisite may be met in one of two ways: (1) entering students must have passed a college level inferential statistics class, with a grade of "B" or better, at an approved university within three years of matriculation or (2) take PPD 502 Statistical Foundations for Public Management and Policy and complete with a grade of "B" or better. If students select to take PPD 502, the units associated with this class may not be used toward the DPPD degree.

Professional Advisory Committee

By the end of the second year of study, the student will form a three-member Professional Advisory Committee consisting of three persons. The chair of the committee will be a full-time USC Price faculty member (tenured, tenure-track or full-time teaching or research faculty member). However, other committee members may include either faculty or professionals in the field of the student's area of interest. This committee will oversee the student's program to its conclusion. One member of the committee needs to be a tenure-track or tenured professor at USC.