Majors & Minors

Application deadline: December 1

The Department of Economics and the Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (USC School of Pharmacy) jointly offer a program of study leading to the PhD degree and to the MA degree in the process of work toward the PhD degree.

Required courses include both core requirements and area requirements. Core requirements include courses in economic theory, econometrics, and research methods. Area requirements include courses in health economics, pharmaceutical economics, welfare theory and applied econometrics.

For a detailed description of this program, see the School of Pharmacy section of this catalogue.

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development (PDD) provides a well-defined pathway for science and non-science majors to gain significant knowledge in pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, toxicology and medical product development, regulation, marketing and use.

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development is a cooperative degree program involving the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the USC School of Pharmacy. Students complete 128 units, including at least 70 units of coursework in USC Dornsife and at least 36 units of coursework in USC School of Pharmacy.

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development offers a unique interdisciplinary approach designed to provide in-depth training in the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products and their role in health care industries. Courses focus on sub disciplines of pharmaceutical sciences including the study of the chemical and physical properties of drugs and their biological effects, and will link these systems to the discovery, development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals for the advancement of human health. Courses will also focus on the business and marketing aspects of the pharmaceutical industry.  

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development will be a springboard to diverse careers in industrial, academic or other research environments within the areas of drug discovery, development, and commercialization. It will prepare students for professional or graduate studies in graduate education in pharmaceutical, medical and basic sciences and post-baccalaureate professional education in biomedical engineering, business, finance and law. 

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development requires the completion of a minimum of 128 units that include:

1. General Education, Foreign Language and Writing Requirements
2. Foundational courses designed to prepare students for the major
3. An introductory 4-unit lower-division (200 level) course in Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS)
4. A minimum number of 32 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS) and Biopharmaceutical Sciences (BPSI)
5. A minimum of 8 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Biological Sciences (BISC) unique to the major

The Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacology and Drug Development is conferred by USC Dornsife.

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Drug Development (PDD) provides a well-defined pathway for science and non-science majors to gain significant knowledge in pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, toxicology and medical product development, marketing and use.  

Pharmacology is the science of drugs including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic uses and toxicology. Drug development is the discipline that deals with the process of turning a new chemical entity (NCE) into a safe and effective medication for the advancement of human health. Completion of the PDD major will significantly prepare USC undergraduates for advanced training in health related fields including pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, occupational therapy and other clinical specialties. The PDD major is also uniquely suited to provide coursework applicable for undergraduates interested in drug discovery/development training that will lead to careers in biotech, pharmaceutical and biomedical industries ranging from private companies to governmental careers.

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Drug Development requires the completion of a minimum of 128 units that include:

1. General Education and Writing Requirements
2. Foundational courses designed to prepare students for the major
3. An introductory 4-unit lower-division (200 level) course in Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS)
4. A minimum number of 32 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Science (RXRS)
5. A minimum of 8 units of upper-division (300 level and above) courses in Biological Sciences (BISC) unique to the major

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Drug Development provides a novel path for science and non-science undergraduates at USC to gain significant knowledge in the disciplines of pharmacology and drug development. Pharmacology is the science of drugs including their origin, composition, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, therapeutic uses and toxicology. Drug development is the discipline that deals with the process of turning a new chemical entity (NCE) into a safe and effective medication for the advancement of human health. Completion of the major will prepare students for advanced clinical training in health-related fields including pharmacy, medicine and dentistry. It will also provide foundational education that can lead to new opportunities for students considering careers in biotech, pharmaceutics and biomedical industries.

The Bachelor of Science in Pharmacology and Drug Development is conferred by the USC School of Pharmacy.

The major in philosophy is designed to acquaint students with the fundamental problems that are debated within western philosophical thought, and to introduce them to the concepts and techniques necessary for independent philosophical thinking. It is equally intended to provide a broadening perspective for the various areas of specialization in the natural and social sciences and in literature and the arts. 

The major in philosophy requires eight courses in philosophy; six of these must be at the upper-division level.

Total units for degree: 128

The minor in philosophy requires the completion of five philosophy courses, at least four of which must be upper-division courses. All minors must take a gateway course — PHIL 315, PHIL 320, PHIL 336, PHIL 337, PHIL 340, PHIL 360 or PHIL 385.

The Philosophy of Law, Politics and Economics minor requires a minimum of five courses, at least three of which must be philosophy courses, and at least four of which must be upper-division. Students must complete one course in Logic, and at least one course from each of the following three categories: Philosophy and Economics, Philosophy and Politics, Philosophy and Law. 

This demanding major trains students in political economy, grounding their study in the historical, conceptual and moral foundations of our shared political and economic lives. The interdisciplinary major allows students to trace interconnections between political, economic and legal issues within a range of broader humanistic concerns. It also fosters the development of logical, quantitative and analytic skills needed for clear thinking and effective communication, leaving students with a wide range of options for further, more specialized study or careers in law, politics or economics. 

The major requires 11 courses including an introductory lower-division course, a final capstone seminar and a range of further courses in the three disciplines. 

This interdisciplinary major combines, in a systematic and structured way, basic education in philosophy, political theory and elements of law. An interdisciplinary approach to the combination of these three disciplines may be of particular interest to students contemplating post-graduate work in law; those interested in a career in public service or politics; and those attracted by the rigor of philosophy and its attention to foundational issues, who are also interested in politics and law. Students are exposed to a wider range of conceptual and methodological approaches than they would in any single discipline, while learning enough philosophy and political science to leave a choice of options for graduate schools.

The major requires nine classes, one of which must be a gateway course — PHIL 315, PHIL 320, PHIL 336, PHIL 337, PHIL 340, PHIL 360, PHIL 362, PHIL 363 or PHIL 385 — distributed as follows.

This minor explores the potential of photography as an instrument of social change that allows individuals to document their circumstances, share their stories and change their lives. Students have the opportunity to examine the impact of images and the power of storytelling both in the classroom and in the field and study the issues raised by this kind of social exploration and commentary.

Students learn techniques of digital photography and theories of culture to help them understand diverse cultural phenomena and navigate their own cultural biases. In the field, students apply these techniques and theories by developing their own body of work. In addition, students can mentor individuals in the community to use photography and digital media to share their personal narratives, thus empowering community members to reflect critically upon their circumstances and to participate in their visual representation.

This interdisciplinary minor brings together students from schools and majors across the USC campus, allowing them to interact with one another and with scholars, artists and professionals associated with key organizations such as the Institute for Photographic Empowerment and Venice Arts.

The photography minor provides an in-depth experience in all aspects of photography. The well-equipped darkrooms allow individual hands-on exploration of black and white and color processes, camera types, historical and traditional printing methods, lighting and film processing as well as digital technologies and issues. It also includes a foundation in photo theory and criticism. This minor is appropriate for students interested in an intense experiential exploration of the medium of photography. The total number of units required for the minor is 20.