The Path to your PhD degree

Year 1

 

Attend graduate program orientation

Coursework (foundation core plus other related courses)

Lab rotations (one per semester, with the option of a third, if necessary)

Identify research advisor

Complete Individual Development Plan

Annual progress evaluation

 

Year
2

 

Choose discipline track

Coursework (track-specific core courses, electives)

Research

Appoint qualifying guidance committee

Complete Individual Development Plan

Annual progress evaluation

Complete written qualifying exam (late June)

 

Year
3

 

Research

Complete oral qualifying exam (by end of Fall semester)

Appoint dissertation committee

Annual presentation in Graduate Student Seminar series

Complete Individual Development Plan

Annual evaluation of progress by dissertation committee

 

Year
4

 

Research
Publish results and present at conferences
Annual presentation in weekly student seminar series
Complete Individual Development Plan
Annual evaluation of progress by dissertation committee

 

Year
5

 

Research
Publish results and present at conferences
Annual presentation in weekly student seminar series
Complete Individual Development Plan
Annual evaluation of progress by dissertation committee
Complete thesis
Defend thesis/Exit seminar
PhD awarded

USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.