Graduate & Professional Degrees

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The objective of the Doctor of Philosophy is to produce independent investigators who can make original scholarly contributions and apply advanced engineering concepts and techniques to the understanding and solution of biomedical problems. This program is intended to prepare the student for a career in academic research and teaching, or as an independent investigator in industrial or government laboratories.

The requirements listed are special to this department and must be read in conjunction with the general requirements of the Graduate School.

This program is designed to be normally completed in four years of full-time work beyond the Bachelor of Science degree (including summers). The first two years are devoted primarily to formal course work and the last two to research. In view of the flexible program, each student is assigned an adviser who will guide him or her in the selection of courses. By the end of the third semester of graduate study the student must have completed the PhD screening examination. Subsequently, he or she is required to make a tentative major field selection (e.g., biomedical imaging, signal processing, neural engineering) and pass a qualifying examination. In accordance with the requirements of the Graduate School, at least 60 units of credit beyond the Bachelor of Science degree are required, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Students are required to take BME 533, the graduate biomedical engineering seminar course, for three semesters during their studies.

Requirements for Admission

Bachelor of Science degree in engineering or a natural science, and satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examinations. Undergraduate work should include a basic course in biology, physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry, differential equations and digital computation. Students lacking any of these will be required to make up the deficiency during the first two years of graduate work.

Students who have completed all requirements for the Master of Science degree offered in this department may apply for admission to the PhD program. In this case, all courses taken in the MS program may be applied toward the requirements of the doctoral degree.

Screening Examination Process

By the end of the third semester of graduate study, all students must have completed the screening examination process to determine whether or not they will be allowed to continue in the Doctor of Philosophy program. Those who fail will be dropped from the program, although they may be permitted to complete the additional requirements necessary to obtain the Master of Science degree.

Qualifying Exam Committee

During the third semester, the student must make a tentative major field selection as described above and form a qualifying exam committee. The latter administers the qualifying examination.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination will normally be taken during the fourth semester of full-time academic study. The examination requires the preparation of a comprehensive written research proposal that presents a research question, critically reviews the pertinent literature and outlines the proposed experimental, analytical and computational procedures required to answer the question. The proposal must be defended in an oral examination.

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The Master of Science in “Biomedical Implants and Tissue Engineering (BITE)” is an intense academic program designed to enhance the knowledge and critical thinking skills of graduate students interested in biological and clinical aspects of osseointegration and clinical applications of tissue engineering sciences. Through rigorous review of the scientific literature, graduate students are expected to gain advanced knowledge of clinical and scientific studies involving dental implants and related procedures required to regenerate oral and craniofacial tissues. These studies are intended to form the fundamental basis to pursue evidence-based practice for clinicians, as well as conduct scientific studies for clinical researchers. This academic degree is suitable for those, who are interested to gain expertise in dental implant therapeutics and regenerative sciences. In addition to the didactic courses and gaining comprehensive understanding with relevant scientific literature, graduate students are required to design and complete a scientific research project, under the supervision of an academic committee, composed of mentors with relevant expertise. The resulting data from the scientific study is expected to be prepared in manuscript format and submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. 

The BITE MS program is 6 trimesters (24 months) in length. The program is a purely academic program and there is no clinical patient care component to this program. 

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The Master of Science degree program in Biomedical Sciences is a terminal degree for students admitted into the PIBBS PhD program who cannot complete the PhD program for personal or medical reasons. The department does not accept applicants for this MS degree. Enrollment of graduate students as master’s degree candidates is not encouraged and is reserved for special circumstances that must be approved by the PIBBS director, relevant KSOM PhD program director and the associate dean of Graduate Affairs. Under such circumstances, a student admitted to the PIBBS program may submit a formal request to complete a terminal MS degree. If approved to pursue the MS as a terminal degree, the student must submit a research capstone paper within two months of approval or at the end of the current semester enrolled, whichever comes first.

The master’s curriculum includes all course work required of PhD students for a minimum of 35 units with an accumulated GPA of at least 3.0, comprehensive examination and submission of the written portion of the qualifying exam. Submission of a research capstone paper and an associated oral presentation will serve as the comprehensive examination for the master’s degree.

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The BPMK Certificate is ideal for professionals across the healthcare industry, working clinical professionals, and those in fields allied to healthcare delivery and systems. Specifically, the BPMK certificate seeks students who want to pursue a related career in the biopharmaceutical industry or simply those who wish to expand their current understanding of industry business practices as part of expanding their overall learning experiences such as Medicine, Law and Consulting. Students are required to complete 12 total units to be eligible for the BPMK Certificate, selected in consultation with an adviser. 

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Master of Science in Biopharmaceutical Marketing

The Master’s Program in Biopharmaceutical Marketing (BPMK) is an intensive, industry focused and uniquely targeted program designed to produce graduates whose undergraduate and graduate backgrounds in marketing, communication, biological and pharmaceutical, related sales and advertising, drug management and other healthcare-involved business are enhanced by knowledge and skills appropriate for a highly regulated environment, specifically in the application and practice of biopharmaceutical marketing. Biopharmaceutical marketing is a uniquely emerging branch of drug product development, management, market placement, access and insurance coverage, outcomes and value determinations that functions at the intersection of audience segmented product marketing, healthcare industry and government regulatory issues and treatment efficiency, including value and reimbursement. This program will provide the opportunity for mid-career professionals as well has highly motivated new graduates to enter a field in which public and private payers, biopharmaceutical industry and government cannot find sufficient qualified individuals and technically skilled managers to meet demand.

The Biopharmaceutical Marketing Master of Science (BPMK) program will require 27 academic units of formal course work, selected in consultation with an adviser. Course requirements normally include a minimum of seven courses and may include a capstone (21 units total) from the BPMK program with emphasis on biopharmaceutical marketing, market research and analytics, business intelligence, and applied health care policy. Recommended course work and electives include some courses available in other departments of the university. These courses will be selected in consultation with program advisers according to the areas of intended specialization of the participant in order to meet the credit requirements of the program. Students should develop a specific plan of study in consultation with the graduate advisers before beginning the program.  

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The MS in Biostatistics degree program consists of at least 39 units from courses in Biostatistics and Epidemiology and will prepare students for a professional or academic career in biostatistical and biomedical research. Students will learn the foundations and theory behind biostatistics; how to apply statistical methods to draw conclusions from the data; to program in various statistical software packages; adapt existing methodologies to use in emerging fields such as clinical trials or genetics and publish a body of independent research. This program may be used as a foundation for a PhD in Biostatistics, Statistics, Epidemiology or Data Science.

Student in the MS Biostatistics program must attend at least 15 biostatistics seminars during the first year of their degree program. These seminars foster an environment of collegiality, providing students with exposure to diverse topics and innovative ideas within biostatistics, and will prepare them for a career in which the exchange of ideas is critical for success. General information about the seminars will be provided at the beginning of each semester, and specific seminar topics will be announced weekly.

The department encourages applicants with undergraduate degrees in mathematics, statistics or biostatistics, or other related fields. Applicants are encouraged to have preparation in differential and integral calculus, introduction to mathematical statistics and basic computer programming.

Admissions requirements can be found on the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences website: pphs.usc.edu/admissions/admission-requirements-master-of-science-in-biostatistics.

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The department offers a degree program leading to the PhD in Biostatistics. The program is designed to produce biostatisticians who will have in-depth knowledge of statistical theory and methodology and the ability to apply this knowledge creatively to statistical problems in the biological and health sciences. All students will enroll in a set of core courses that cover both biostatistical theory and applications. Students will then choose from one of four tracks that will allow them to develop expertise in a specific area. The available tracks are: (1) biostatistics theory; (2) statistical genetics; (3) environmental statistics; (4) clinical trials.

Course Requirements

A minimum of 60 units of graduate study is required for the PhD degree; a maximum of 19 of these units may be from research and dissertation. In preparation for the qualifying examination, students are required to take all remaining core and track-specific courses.

Screening Procedure

In preparation for the screening examination, all students must take four core courses: PM 511a, PM 511b and PM 522a, PM 522b. A student failing the screening examination will either terminate or will terminate with the MS degree upon completion of an acceptable thesis.

Qualifying Exam Committee

A formal qualifying exam committee will consist of at least five faculty members. The committee chair and at least two additional members must be affiliated with the student’s program. At least three members of the committee must be tenured or tenure track.

Qualifying Examination

The written portion of the qualifying examination will comprise testing on track-specific course content and focus on the student’s dissertation topic. An oral examination will ascertain the student’s competence in orally communicating this knowledge. Students must pass the written portions and the oral portions in order to pass the qualifying examination.

Annual Research Appraisal (ARA)

Beginning in the second year, each student must register for PM 610 (1 unit) and present an annual progress report to the program oversight committee. Once a dissertation topic has been selected, the annual progress report is presented to the student’s qualifying exam committee. Once the student has passed the qualifying examination and is appointed to candidacy, the annual progress report is presented to the student’s dissertation committee. The student will meet annually with the dissertation committee, until he or she graduates from the program. The oral portion of the screening examination as well as the qualifying examination and the defense examination will count as ARAs.

Dissertation and Oral Defense

Upon passing the qualifying examination the PhD candidate and his or her chair will recommend a three-member dissertation committee. The dissertation should be completed within two years and should be oriented toward a theoretical-methodological application to a problem area in the biological or health sciences. The oral defense is based on a rough draft or final version of the dissertation. The defense is administered by the dissertation committee, with other faculty invited to attend.

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Nothing in architecture combines attributes of performance and appearance as does the building skin. As the nexus of myriad, often competing, variables, the façade system is the linchpin to resilience and sustainability pursuits in buildings and urban habitat. This certificate program empowers students in their academic and professional pursuits, opens doors for the young practitioner, and provides a foundation for excellence that can be built upon over the course of a career.

The Graduate Certificate program in Building Façade Art Science and Technology is designed to provide students with the deep knowledge and skills necessary for careers in the increasingly technical field of façade system design, fabrication, delivery and operation. Study areas include design, fabrication and construction processes, an expanding materials palette, energy and carbon performance, resilience and sustainability considerations, health, comfort and wellness attributes, computational analytics and digital workflows and the aesthetics of the building skin.

Applicants for the Graduate Certificate Program in Building Façade Art Science and Technology who are currently enrolled in a master’s program at USC and are in good standing with a 3.0 GPA only need to submit the appropriate paperwork to add the certificate program, which may be obtained from the student services adviser.

Applicants for the Graduate Certificate Program in Building Façade Art Science and Technology who are not matriculated in a master’s-level program at USC must submit a formal application for admission to the certificate program, provide transcripts of all college work, a résumé and one letter of recommendation.

The Graduate Certificate Program in Building Façade Art Science and Technology requires a minimum of 14 units.

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Building science at USC recognizes that exemplary architecture requires a creative response to natural forces, based on informed good judgment in the areas of architectural technology. The Certificate in Building Science is intended as a supplement for students enrolled in graduate course work in architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation, urban planning or related disciplines.

Course Requirements

Completion of the certificate requires a minimum of 14 units. Students must take three core courses. Electives in building science may be taken to complete the program requirements.

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The Chase L. Leavitt Graduate Building Science program in the USC School of Architecture is leading the transition to carbon neutral, equitable and resilient design practice while simultaneously raising the bar for design excellence. It creates leaders in architectural technology – the intricacies of structure, environmental controls, sustainability, materials and methods, façade design, wellness, indoor environmental quality (IEQ), BIM, and digital technologies. Students are strongly encouraged through classwork or thesis to participate in zero energy building design and learning about strategies of building decarbonization. Our students have participated in summer internships at noted firms, won design competitions, and published papers in prestigious journals and peer-reviewed conference proceedings. Our graduates go on to become building science consultants, specialists in architecture firms, government advisors, owners of their own companies, and PhD students for those wishing to continue into teaching.

Some of the great innovators of our field are either graduates or faculty associated with our program. The confluence of an outstanding faculty, dedicated students, an exceptional curricular structure, good facilities and a long history of collaborative scholarly achievement creates an unparalleled academic home for those interested in cutting-edge research and technological innovation. We are a global leader in architectural technology education – the intricacies of structure, environmental controls, sustainability, materials and methods, and computing, with a special strength in façade research.

The Master of Building Science curriculum encourages “breadth with depth,” providing students with a solid platform of core knowledge that they can then amplify through their individual research and thesis projects. Electives allow students to stretch in a variety of directions, both within the field and beyond into the related disciplines of heritage conservation, landscape architecture, and architecture and overall to achieve a mastery of topics related to building science. We also encourage innovative student studies such as machine learning, robotics and artificial intelligence. The final achievement of the program is a thesis research project that is based on the student’s interests and is crafted with the advice of a faculty committee that mentors the work.