Download Master of Science Program in Physiology and Biophysics

Ph.D. Program in Physiology and Biophysics
Department of Physiology and Biophysics -- USC School of Medicine
September 9, 2003
Program Administration:
Oversight of the Ph.D. program is provided by the Graduate Committee of the department.
Chair of the Committee: Harvey Kaslow, Associate Professor
100 RMR. Phone = 323-442-1244. Email = [email protected].
Administrative questions should be directed to: Ms. Elena Camerena
619 MMR. Phone = 323-442-1039. Email = [email protected].
Admission requirements:
Admission requirements are in the USC Catalogue (available on-line). Under unusual
circumstances, conditional acceptance can be offered by the Physiology and Biophysics Graduate
Committee to applicants not meeting these requirements.
Course work pertinent to the program:
A total of 60 units of graduate study is required for the Ph.D. degree. All students are
required to take PHBI 552, PHBI 562, and PHBI 608ab; INTD 531, INTD 561, and INTD 571; and
PMT 510L. A one-semester course in Neuroscience is also required. The balance of the 60 unit
requirement is drawn from advanced physiology courses and seminars, courses from other
departments, research, and the dissertation. A representative program for the first two years is
below, and the USC Catalogue course descriptions can be viewed on-line.
The following criteria are the minimum standards for satisfactory performance and continued
enrollment:
 An overall GPA of 3.0 or better
 A minimum grade of B (3.0) in all courses given by the Department and INTD 531
At the end of the first year of graduate study, following satisfactory performance in the
required course work, the Graduate Committee will consider each student for continuation in the
Ph.D. program (screening procedure). At its discretion, the Graduate Committee may require a
screening examination, or may make exceptions to the above requirements. All Ph.D. candidates
must pass the screening procedure before beginning their thesis research.
A qualifying examination, administered by the student’s advisory committee is taken by each
student before completion of the fifth semester of graduate work. Upon satisfactory completion of
the qualifying examination the student is admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. The qualifying
examination is divided into two parts:
1. A research proposal consisting of both a review of the literature pertinent to the
candidate’s area of research interest and an experimental section that addresses a
specific research problem in this area, and
2. An oral examination on the substance of the proposal.
Upon completion of the research project, and with the consent of the thesis advisory
committee, the Ph.D. candidate prepares the dissertation. After the dissertation has been read by
the advisory committee the candidate must make an oral defense of the work.
A combined MD/Ph.D. degree is offered by the Department of Physiology and Biophysics to
students who gain acceptance to the University of Southern California Medical School, and who
also meet the admission requirements of this Department. The total MD/Ph.D. program requires
6-7 years of study.
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Recommended Program for Ph.D study, Years 1 and 2
The Ph.D. Program requires a total of 60 units of graduate study. In most cases four to five
years will be needed to complete the program. Listed below is a general program that may be
modified to complement the undergraduate record of each student. Throughout the graduate
program students also attend the weekly Departmental seminars series.
Year 1, Fall term:
Cell Biology
Biochemistry
Advanced Physiological Methods (Lab rotation)
INTD 531
INTD 571
PHBI 552
4 units
4 units
4 units
Year 1, Spring term:
Systems and Integrative Physiology
Molecular Genetics
Advanced Physiological Methods (Lab rotation)
PHBI 562
INTD 561
PHBI 552
4 units
4 units
4 units
Year 1, Summer term:
Biometry Principles (1 month)
PMT 510L
4 units
Year 2, Fall term:
Advanced Neuroscience
Advanced Physiology Topics2
Directed Research
BISC 524
PHBI 608a
PHBI 590
4 units
2-4 units
4 units
Year 2, Spring term:
Advanced Physiology Topics2
Directed Research
PHBI 608b
PHBI 590
2-4 units
4 units
In addition, students must take 2 additional courses from the graduate course menu in the
medical school before graduation.
Students are encouraged to select a graduate research advisor at the completion of the first
year of study. The summer between the first and second year is usually spent in the laboratory of
that faculty member.
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