Graduate & Professional Degrees

Research Tool Requirements

To be determined by qualifying exam committee.

Course Requirements

The PhD degree in Ocean Sciences requires at least 27 units of formal course work (including seminars) of the 60 total units needed. Two core courses are required (OS 512, OS 582). No more than 15 units of 400-level course work may be applied. A maximum of 30 units may be transferred from an accredited graduate school.

Students are required to maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 in all graduate work.

Students may request permission to take the PhD qualifying examination on completion of 24 units of course work, including two core courses in Ocean Sciences.

Screening Procedure

Students in the PhD program must pass the screening procedure before their 25th unit of graduate credit. Screening consists of a review of the student's progress and is usually done by the GPOS Review Committee following a written recommendation by the student's adviser(s). Screening occurs at the end of each semester.

Qualifying Exam Committee

The doctoral qualifying exam committee is formed after the student has passed the screening procedure. The committee is appointed by the department with the advice of the student's research adviser. The five-member committee consists of the adviser, a minimum of three other members from the GPOS faculty, and one additional tenure-track faculty member. The committee must include faculty members from more than one academic department. A tenure-track faculty member must serve as research adviser or co-adviser. The committee consults with the student, recommends an appropriate program of study and administers written and oral qualifying examinations.

Qualifying Examination

The student may request permission to take the PhD qualifying examination upon completion of 24 units of course work, including two core courses in ocean sciences. The qualifying examination consists of a written and an oral part, both parts prepared, conducted and evaluated by the student's examination committee. The written examination will consist of a number of questions given on two consecutive days. Questions will be comprehensive in scope with respect to the student's chosen area of specialization and will be designed to test the student's conceptual, analytical and integrative ability and preparation.

The written part of the qualifying examination must be taken before the oral examination. The oral examination will be in the area of the student's intended research and will be based on a research project selected and developed by the student into a written proposition. The oral examination will be conducted and evaluated by the student's examination committee. The oral examination must be taken within one month of the written examination.

Defense of the Dissertation

After the student has passed the qualifying examination, the qualifying exam committee recommends to the Graduate School that the student be admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree. Following admission to candidacy the student must register for OS 794 Dissertation every semester, except summers, until the degree is awarded.

Once the qualifying examination is passed, the student is required, as soon as possible, to appoint a dissertation committee, using an appointment of committee form which can be found on the Graduate School Website (usc.edu/schools/GraduateSchool). All or some of the qualifying exam committee may be nominated. Until a dissertation committee is appointed, the qualifying exam committee will have responsibility for the student's program of study. The student must undertake an original investigation of a problem in ocean sciences. The topic must be approved by the student's dissertation committee and will usually be based on the written proposition presented in the qualifying examination.

A dissertation based on the student's research must be approved by the student's dissertation committee. The student must then defend the dissertation. The process for submission of the dissertation to the Graduate School can be found on the Graduate School Website under "Current Students — Thesis and Dissertations." This process should be started approximately one month before the defense, and the student must allow adequate time after the defense for final copy preparation.

The dissertation must conform to the general regulations described in Regulations for Format and Presentation of Theses and Dissertations, also available from the Graduate School Website, Additional regulations and information on the organization and preparation of the dissertation are provided in Directions for Preparation of Dissertations and Research Reports as Required by the Graduate Program in Ocean Sciences/University of Southern California, available in the GPOS office.

The Online MBA (OMBA) program is structured for students who are currently employed and wish to remain within the labor force while earning a degree. The OMBA Program offers an integrative approach to core business disciplines including accounting, finance, data sciences, marketing, management, operations and entrepreneurship. The program is delivered by full-time faculty from different disciplines teaching in a team format to integrate understanding of business fundamentals, internal and external operations, business environments and leadership. The program capitalizes on the unique opportunities inherent in online delivery to maximize student engagement through critical thinking, analytics and communication.

Application

The program accepts applicants for fall and spring semesters. Applications are submitted online through the USC Graduate Admissions website at gradadm.usc.edu. International applicants are advised to read the instructions for international students (gradadm.usc.edu/apply/international-students).

The certificate program is open to PhD students engaged in research at the interface of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Operations Research. Students enroll in courses that teach a blend of AI and OR technologies, plus their applications to the design of decision-making/support tools, in an integrated and uniform way. Each course integrates technical and ethics material, to prevent the many issues that have plagued the fielding of decision-making/support systems in the past, and involve projects with use cases provided by several USC centers. The program is supported by workshops that teach students important non-technical skills such as communication, teamwork, team leadership, mentoring, project management and entrepreneurship; a weekly seminar with research talks by the students and invited speakers; and an annual research symposium. The program is designed to encourage interdisciplinary interactions among student peers and between students and faculty members to bridge the gap in research culture between AI and OR.

Ethel Percy Andrus

Gerontology Center 240

(213) 740-4891

Program Director: Maged Dessouky, Ph.D.

Master of Science in Operations Research Engineering

The Master of Science in Operations Research Engineering is conferred upon candidates who hold bachelor's degrees in engineering, mathematics, science or related fields who successfully complete an integrated program (with departmental approval in advance) of not less than 28 units. The program must include not less than 20 units of industrial and systems engineering courses related to operations research and 4 units of approved electives. Students who select a 3-unit elective course will be required to complete a minimum of 1 unit directed research or internship. Students will be required to make up deficiencies in mathematics and statistics. Additional courses or examinations may be required at the discretion of the department before full admission to the program. The General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) is required. Additional information is available from the department. This program is available via distance education.

The Graduate Certificate in Optimization and Supply Chain Management is offered by the Marshall School of Business in partnership with the Viterbi School of Engineering. The program offers admitted USC graduate students opportunities to expand their knowledge of the rapidly expanding uses of technology in the management of global supply chains.

The certificate may be completed on either a full- or part-time basis. Most classes applicable to the program are offered during both daytime and evening hours. Many of the courses included in the curriculum are available online.

Admission

Applicants should have a foundational knowledge (academic or experiential) of statistics and operations management.

Prospective students may apply to begin the programs in the fall, spring or summer term. For more information regarding how to apply, visit students.marshall.usc.edu/graduate-certificate-admissions-usc-students.

For more information about the program, visit marshall.usc.edu/oscm.

The graduate certificate requires successful completion of 15 units with a minimum GPA of at least 3.0 for all units (combined) applied to the certificate.

The Hybrid-Online Certificate in Oral Pathology and Radiology is a program with a total of eight courses (12 academic units), specifically designed for the practicing professional who wants the knowledge to improve skills and gain expertise to in the field of Oral Pathology and Radiology.  The certificate curriculum is designed with a series of didactic courses in which students will gain knowledge about the diagnosis, pathobiology and treatment of different oral diseases in the field of Oral Pathology and confidence in Oral Radiology and the use of conventional and advanced imaging studies for the diagnostic process. The goal of this postdoctoral one-year certificate program is to give practicing dentist or physician advanced didactic and evidence-based education in the field of oral diagnostics, specifically oral pathology and radiology. With the onset of new diseases to dentistry and advancements in diagnostics and therapeutics in the last few decades, many clinicians may feel ill-prepared to comprehensively manage patients with oral lesions or patients with oral manifestations of complex medical conditions. Therefore, this program taught by expert USC Ostrow School of Dentistry faculty is designed to provide clinicians with the knowledge and confidence necessary for patient care.  

The students participate in weekly live online sessions with faculty and other program residents, ensuring a collaborative and social learning experience. There are two to three courses per trimester, with 2-4 streaming video lectures for viewing each week. After each video lecture students complete an associated online quiz (composed of multiple choice, short answer or fill-in questions). The program is primarily online but also includes a 10-day practical training conducted on-campus at USC, with skills development and competence evaluation.

The Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership equips leaders with evidence-based strategies and tools required to lead organizational change initiatives that are equity-minded and center the human experience. The program prepares current leaders to create conditions that foster continuous improvement in themselves and their organizations. Students are individuals who currently hold leadership positions within colleges/universities, traditional and non-traditional K-12 environments, human resources and talent development departments, corporations, non-profits, philanthropic organizations and governmental institutions. The degree requires a minimum of 60 units. Students with a prior master’s may enter with Advanced Standing, reducing their units to at least 43. It is delivered only online. In order to apply for the program, students must:

• Have a bachelor’s degree (60-unit track) or master's degree (43-unit track), or equivalent, from a college or university that is regionally accredited or recognized by a ministry of education. The institution must have been accredited at the time your degree was conferred
• Have a minimum of six years of proven leadership experience

The School of Education does not accept applicants for the Master of Arts in Organizational Change and Leadership degree; the program is intended only as a transitional degree in the process of completing requirements for the Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership degree, or for students in the EdD program who cannot complete the EdD degree requirements for personal or medical reasons. A minimum of 38 units is required.

The Certificate in Orofacial Pain is a hybrid program (face-to-face and online classes) with a total of nine courses (12.5 academic units), specifically designed for the practicing dentist who wants to improve skills and gain expertise to deliver the best care for patients with complex conditions. The certificate curriculum is designed with a series of didactic courses in which students will gain knowledge about the diagnosis, pathobiology and treatment of different oral diseases in the field of orofacial pain, including masticatory musculoskeletal pain, neurogenic orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders, headaches, orofacial motor disorders including orofacial dystonias and bruxism, intraoral, intracranial, extracranial and systemic disorders that cause orofacial pain.

Students will participate in weekly live webinar sessions with the faculty and other residents, ensuring a collaborative and social learning experience. There are two-three courses per trimester, with two-four streaming video lectures for viewing each week. After each video lecture students complete an associated online quiz (comprising multiple choice, short answer or fill-in questions). The program is primarily online but also includes a 10-day practical training program conducted at the USC campus, with skills development and competence evaluation. At the end of the program, the students present and defend a case portfolio.

This program is consistent with the global vision of the University of Southern California, and looks for a worldwide presence. All students will need English language proficiency, but we will provide support for our Spanish speaking students. This is achieved by providing lectures with the option of closed captioning in Spanish and live-webinars both in English and Spanish.

The online Certificate in Pain Medicine is a program with a total seven courses (12 academic units), specifically designed for the practicing professional who wants to improve skills and gain expertise to deliver the best care for patients with complex pain conditions. The curriculum is designed with a series of didactic courses in which students will gain knowledge about the diagnosis, pathobiology and management of pain conditions. The goal of this one-year certificate program is to give practicing health care providers didactic, and evidence-based education in the field of Pain Medicine.  

The students participate in weekly live online sessions with faculty and other program students, ensuring a collaborative and social learning experience. There are two-three courses per trimester, with two-four streaming video lectures for viewing each week. After each video lecture students complete an associated online quiz (comprising multiple choice, short answer or fill-in questions).