Candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in pharmacy, chemistry, biology or other related disciplines are invited 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 and are evaluated primarily on the basis of academic excellence.
GRE scores are not required for admission to this program.
How to Apply
Please complete the graduate application online and pay the non-refundable application fee. Fee waivers are available to prospective students who meet the eligibility requirements.
To learn more about the application process, please refer to the step-by-step application guide for domestic applicants (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) and international applicants.
The application portal becomes available on Sept. 1, and we admit for the fall semester only. Applicants selected by the admission committee will be notified of acceptance after the application review is complete. Admissions decisions will continue to be made until the class is filled.
Admissions Criteria
The admissions committee will consider applications based on the following factors:
Accordion Content
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).
Three letters from faculty members knowledgeable about the student’s abilities and capabilities are required. These letters should provide a thorough assessment of the student’s experience in laboratory research, ability to communicate in both verbal and written English, motivation, creativity and other qualities that contribute to the student’s academic performance.
International graduate applicants are expected to demonstrate their proficiency in English as part of the application process and should carefully review the test score guidelines. USC accepts TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge and PTE Academic. Learn more
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 evaluate the candidate’s background and preparation for success in the MS program.
From all institutions attended. Upload copies of the official transcripts to your online application. If you already have official transcripts on hand, you may scan and upload them directly to the “Academic History” section of the online application. Do not upload unofficial print-outs from student portals.
Submit official transcripts to the USC Office of Graduate Admission. Learn more
International applicants: When listing undergraduate or graduate GPAs on the application, please use the system of your university. If you received a percentage grade, provide the average percentage. If you were graded on a scale other than 4.0 (with 4.0 equal to an “A”), please indicate the average grade and indicate the scale (for example, 8.5/10).
If you completed your previous studies outside the United States, other guidelines may apply. Learn more
Tuition and Financial Aid
For information on graduate and professional financial aid, tuition and fees, visit the USC Cost of Attendance page.
The Graduate School and the Office of Academic Honors and Fellowships oversee a number of opportunities for master’s and professional doctorate students. Learn more about fellowships