Certificate Programs in Healthcare & Biopharmaceutical Business

The Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Decision Analysis requires the completion of 12 units, including two required courses (HCDA 500 & HCDA 507) and two electives with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for all units applied to the certificate.

Who Should Attend?

The program is oriented to those seeking to gain practical tools, strategic insights, and a fundamental working proficiency in the innovative field of healthcare decision analysis without completing the full master of science program.

The certificate program is structured to easily integrate individual HCDA courses with other graduate programs, while also meeting the needs of full-time working students.

Program Benefits

  • Engage in a collaborative learning environment representing a cross-section of the highly innovative healthcare sector.
  • Each course is scheduled and delivered over two weekends and select weeknight webcasts.
  • Individual students are allowed to progress at their own pace without pre-requisites or a required sequence.
  • Most students should be able to complete the certificate program requirements in as few as two semesters.

Certificate Requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Decision Analysis requires completion of 12 units including two required courses (HCDA 500 & 507) and two electives with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for all units applied to the certificate.

Core Courses (Required)
HCDA 500 U.S. Health Systems: Healthcare Access and Delivery (3 units)
HCDA 507 Foundations of Product Development and Commercialization (3 units)

Elective Courses (Choose two)
HCDA 502 Comparative International Healthcare Systems (3 units)
HCDA 503 Competitive Healthcare Intelligence (3 units)
HCDA 510 Business Implications of Healthcare Policy (3 units)
HCDA 515 Healthcare Decision Analysis and Modeling (3 units)
HCDA 520 Health Economics and Outcomes Methodology (3 units)
HCDA 525 Healthcare Literature Analysis & Applications (3 units)
HCDA 540 Healthcare Organization Management and Leadership (3 units)
HCDA 550 Healthcare Innovation: Creativity to Value (3 units)
HCDA 553 Advanced Pricing Strategies (3 units)
HCDA 560 Managing Effective Partnerships and Mergers (3 units)

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply to the HCDA Graduate Certificate program on a rolling basis and begin the program in either the Fall or Spring semester.

To qualify for admission to the program:

  • Earned bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Two years of full-time work experience is preferred
  • Past work experience will be considered for each applicant
  • No GMAT/GRE required
  • TOEFL (min. 90) or IELTS (min. 6.5) or PTE (min. 61) for international applicants
  • Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended

The graduate certificate in Biopharmaceutical Marketing is a 12-unit program that provides critical concepts supporting direct entry into careers in: biopharmaceutical product strategy, brand management, market access and reimbursement, pricing, competitive intelligence, product development and marketing.

Who Should Attend?

The certificate is oriented to those seeking to gain practical tools, insights, and fundamental working proficiency in biopharmacuetical marketing without completing the full Master of Science in Biopharmaceutical Marketing (BPMK) Program.  The certificate program is available to those who have earned a bachelor’s degree.

Program Benefits

  • Intensive and targeted instruction on how to evaluate and market biopharmaceuticals and other innovative healthcare products, showcase product attributes and value stories, and gain healthcare coverage and reimbursement
  • Knowledge to become experts in growth sectors beyond the current healthcare and global biopharmaceutical industry, including newly emerging diagnostics and medical technology devices

  • Innovative tools and skills to assess and maximize a product’s commercial opportunities by conducting market research and developing marketing strategies

  • Learning-by-doing through team collaborations and scenario-based learning problem solving representing current real-world situations and critical decision pathways

  • Lectures from industry executives offered across biopharmaceutical marketing courses, offering unique access to insights and critical skills from experts in the respective fields

  • Professional development through dedicated support from program staff and networking opportunities

Certificate Requirements

Students are required to complete 12-total units to be eligible for the BPMK Certificate. Eligible students may select from any BPMK course, in consultation with their advisor, to complete the 12-unit requirement. Most students should be able to complete the BPMK Certificate in as few as 2 semesters.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply to the BPMK Graduate Certificate program on a rolling-admission basis and begin the program in either the Fall or Spring semester.

To qualify for admission to the program:

  • Earned bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • No GRE/GMAT required
  • Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended

The Healthcare Analytics and Operations (HAO) Certificate is an intensive, interdisciplinary program designed to train students seeking to improve their technical skills and analytical abilities.  The certificate is focused on providing applied learning in data analytics with an emphasis on  health system management, programmatic development and implementation, and financial planning.

Who Should Attend?

The program provides critical skill development to support direct entry into careers in: health system management and operations, pharmacy management, managed care operations, pricing & competitive intelligence, business development, and global access and reimbursement knowledge.

Professionals across various healthcare industries, working clinical professionals, and those working in fields allied with healthcare delivery are encouraged to apply.  In addition, those who wish to expand their current understanding of health system operations, healthcare planning, and the role of data analytics within healthcare as part of expanding their overall learning experiences in Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, Law and Consulting will gain vital insight to enhance their working knowledge in healthcare analytics and operations.

Program Benefits

  • Engage in a collaborative learning environment representing a cross-section of the highly innovative healthcare sector
  • Each course is scheduled and delivered over two weekends and select weeknight webcasts.
  • Individual students are allowed to progress at their own pace without pre-requisites or a required sequence
  • Most students should be able to complete the certificate program requirements in as few as two semesters

Certificate Requirements

Students are required to complete 12-total units (4 classroom-based courses) to be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in HAO. Students are required to complete HCDA 500 (3 units), HCDA 515 (3 units) and HCDA 572 (3 units) (unless otherwise approved by the Program Director) as a core set of courses. The fourth course may be an approved elective taken from within the HCDA program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply to the HAO Graduate Certificate program on a rolling-admission basis and begin the program in either the Fall or Spring semester.

To qualify for admission to the program:

  • Earned bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Two years of full-time work experience is preferred
  • Past work experience will be considered for each application
  • No GRE/GMAT required
  • Submit official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended

Application Deadline

The Certificate in Healthcare Business program admits students in the Fall or Spring semester. The priority review deadline (one month before each final deadline) is particularly suggested for international students to ensure visa requirements are met for the expected start date.
Domestic Students Application Deadline Semester Start Date
Spring October 1 USC Academic Calendar 
Fall June 1 USC Academic Calendar
International Students Application Deadline Semester Start Date
Fall May 1 USC Academic Calendar