USC School of Pharmacy Graduate Programs

Admission

MS in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics

Candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in pharmacy, chemistry, biology or other related disciplines are invited to apply. Additionally, pharmacy students and practicing pharmacists interested deepening their understanding in translational science and drug development are also encouraged to apply. Applicants must have demonstrated proficiency in verbal and written English and in fundamental scientific areas such as organic and physical chemistry, biochemistry, biology, mathematics, statistics and computer science.

Applications for admission are reviewed by the Graduate Admissions Committee of the School of Pharmacy and are evaluated primarily on the basis of academic excellence.

Application Deadline

Applications and all supporting materials may be submitted anytime between September 1 and January 15 for consideration for admission for the following Fall semester.

The application deadline for the Fall semester is January 15.  Program deadline expires on January 15 at 11:59:59 pm PST. Applicants selected by the admission committee will be notified of acceptance shortly thereafter. Admissions decisions will continue to be made until the class is filled.

Apply Online

Graduate Program Application

Admission Criteria

The Admissions Committee will consider applications based on the following factors:

1. Overall Grade Point Average (GPA)
A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Special attention is given to the grades achieved in science courses relevant to the program (e.g., chemistry, biology, biochemistry, pharmacology and mathematics).

2. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Score
GRE scores of 153 Quantitative and 144 Verbal (new exam) or a combined Verbal and Quantitative GRE score of 1000 (old exam) are required.

3. Letters of Recommendation
Three letters from faculty knowledgeable about the student’s ability and capability are required. These letters should provide a thorough assessment of the student’s experience in laboratory research, ability to communicate in verbal and written English, motivation and creativity, and other qualities in the student’s academic performance.

4. TOEFL Scores for International Applicants
A minimum TOEFL (computer based) score of 213 is required. An IELTS score of 6.5 is competitive, with no less than 6 on each band score; an IBT minimum score of 90, with at least 20 in each section, is required.

5. Research and Professional Experience
The student’s research and professional experience should be well described within the application. A personal statement summarizing career objectives and research interests, published manuscripts and letters of reference should be included. These documents will help the admissions committee in their evaluation of the candidate’s background preparation for success in the MS program.

Financial Aid

Students accepted into the USC School of Pharmacy Master of Science program are not eligible for institutional financial aid. Students are not permitted to be paid for working in a lab while enrolled in research or thesis units. During the summer, faculty advisors may provide a stipend, arranged on an individual basis.

For available external fellowships, please visit the Graduate School website.

For information on tuition and fees, please visit the Financial Aid website.