The graduate and professional departments offer a Pharm.D./Ph.D. joint degree program administered by the School of Pharmacy. This program integrates the professional pharmacy school curriculum with the graduate curricula in the sciences (molecular pharmacology and toxicology; pharmaceutical economics and policy; pharmaceutical sciences) to develop an accelerated course of study leading to both the Pharm.D. and Ph.D. degrees.

The purpose of the program is to prepare "clinical scientists" for careers in academia, government, or industrial settings. The integrated training of the Pharm.D./Ph.D. joint degree program enables students to compress their total academic effort by applying some coursework toward the requirements of both degrees and by getting a head start on their research. The joint degree program is designed for highly motivated students with Bachelor's degrees and provides an opportunity to obtain both degrees at a substantial saving of time.

Admission Requirements and Application Process
Students who would like to pursue the dual Pharm.D./Ph.D. degree must be accepted by both programs and meet the respective admission requirements for each program. This includes having completed a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GRE score of 1000. 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 Pharm.D./Ph.D. degree program in two ways:

1. Students may apply at the time they submit their Pharm.D. application by concurrently submitting applications to both programs. Students, who elect this approach, must identify themselves on both applications as potential dual degree students. Students who are admitted to both programs will be offered admission to the Pharm.D. and will be offered admission to the dual degree program, contingent on passing all courses in their first year of the Pharm.D. with a minimum 3.0 G.P.A. Students who are accepted only by one program may choose to attend that program, but will not be eligible for the dual degree.

2. Students may apply to the dual degree by submitting an application to one of the School of Pharmacy’s Ph.D. programs their first two years of enrollment in the Pharm.D., prior to the application deadline for the Ph.D. program they’ve selected. Students, who elect this approach, must apply through the Pharm.D. program. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program will be offered admission to the dual degree if they have maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA in the Pharm.D. program.

Contact Information
For more information please contact the Office of Graduate Affairs at (323) 442-1474 or at pharmgrd@hsc.usc.edu.