Majors & Minors

The Designing for Digital Experiences minor provides students in all fields of study an opportunity to gain essential knowledge and skills in interaction design. Courses focus on the tools required to implement powerful interactive visual and touch experiences, as well as the conceptual and theoretical knowledge necessary to apply universal standards for human-centered design. The minor is of particular interest to students wishing to further develop highly sought-after specializations such as interaction design, data visualization, app design, social media marketing and digital art direction.

Additional electives, including in other schools at USC, will be considered through student advisement.

Information on how to apply for the minor can be found at:

iovine-young.usc.edu

Entrepreneurs, content creators and experience designers in today's tech- and visuals-rich market environments must understand how multimedia platforms interconnect. Facility with state-of-the-art 2D, 3D and immersive visual and audio tools, and the ability to combine and integrate them successfully to create compelling and persuasive experiences, is essential. The learning approach in this minor combines design-driven, user-focused theory with hands-on, practical tools and production skills that include photo, video, audio, graphics, motion graphics, motion capture and more. Within a studio critique model, technology and visual design fundamentals are combined with entrepreneurial and design thinking perspectives. These skills and techniques will augment and enhance the knowledge students learn in their USC majors, allowing them to excel in virtually any future field of endeavor.

Additional electives, including in other schools at USC, will be considered through student advisement.

Information on how to apply to the minor can be found at: iovine-young.usc.edu

The minor in Designing Products provides a deeper understanding of the design process leading to the creation of consumer products and services, including the fundamentals of design strategy and human-centered design as they relate to successful ideation and launch of new ideas. Students will learn the methods by which professional product design decisions are made through an intense studio-based curriculum, and will be guided through hands-on application of acquired knowledge and skills in the areas of user research, market opportunity, consumer insights, competitive analysis, prototyping, ideation, 3D form development, production methodologies, branding, packaging, marketing and distribution.

Utilizing state-of-the-art physical and digital production facilities in Iovine and Young Hall, the Designing Products minor course of study focuses not just on the process of refining a product's function and aesthetic qualities, but also on determining its relevance to society, and its desirability, feasibility and viability as a potential solution to problems facing for- or non-profit market environments.

Beyond the required core, students will have the discretion to specialize their focus on digital modeling and / or physical materials.

Information on how to apply for the minor can be found at: iovine-young.usc.edu.

The Digital Forensics Minor combines both theoretical concepts and practical skills to prepare students for a career in digital forensics and incident response (DFIR). Students will study various areas of cyber forensics, including forensic methodologies and processes, digital evidence gathering and preservation, investigations and examinations, threat hunting and court presentation. Electives are available depending on the students' academic and professional goals.

The minor in digital studies explores the rich potential of digital media for critical analysis and creative discovery. Learning the exciting and dynamic potential of a broad array of tools and technologies, students create innovative projects, from photo essays to web-based documentaries, from interactive videos to sophisticated websites, and from typography in motion to 3-D visualizations. Elective courses explore media for social change, tangible computing, transmedia expression and more, allowing students to use media in pursuit of their own interests and to enhance their majors.

All digital studies courses combine theory and practice in lab-based seminars featuring hands-on tutorials to support students in producing sophisticated media-rich work. Participants in this minor gain powerful skills useful in future endeavors within or beyond academia, where the ability to work effectively with media is a crucial job skill.

Information about courses and other program offerings can be obtained by emailing the Media Arts and Practice program at map@cinema.usc.edu.

The Disruptive Innovation minor provides students with the skills to launch resilient ventures at the intersection of business, technology and creative practice. From ideation and development to branding, fundraising and market expansion, students learn hands-on techniques to create business advantage and lead teams.

In an era where industries evolve at lightning speed, a minor in Disruptive Innovation positions students at the forefront of global change. This specialized program goes beyond traditional academic confines, delving into business strategy, technology integration, human-centered design and new methodologies to harness unexpected market shifts. It empowers students to not just navigate but also pioneer change, turning groundbreaking ideas into tangible advancements that can upend and redefine industries. Graduates emerge as leaders, equipped with a unique skill set that blends critical thinking, technology application, and an entrepreneurial spirit to capitalize on opportunities that others see as challenges. This minor is more than just an education; it will allow students to influence the future, transform uncertainties into prospects, and drive progress with innovation that disrupts and reshapes the world of business.

Additional electives, including in other schools at USC, will be considered through student advisement.

Information on how to apply for the minor can be found at:

iovine-young.usc.edu

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 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.

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.