Mar 29, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2018-2019 
    
USC Catalogue 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics (MS)


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The students will develop expertise in therapeutics, pharmacology, translational science and regulatory sciences through course work offered under the CXPT, PSCI RSCI and RXRS designations. A total of 24 units of course work is required, with an additional 12 units from research and dissertation courses. CXPT 609  and CXPT 664  would be core courses in experimental design and drug development and disease-focused experience. Relevant courses for this program are listed below and may be taken as determined by the guidance committee. Courses recently developed for the undergraduate minor (Science and Management of Biomedical Therapeutics) and major (Pharmacology and Drug Development) would also be courses available to the students (up to 6 units). Additional basic science courses from Keck School of Medicine will be identified for course work electives based upon the interest of the student.  

The goal of the Master’s program in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics (CXPT) is to develop a scientist who is engaged in team science through interdisciplinary education. The graduate will be competent in conducting research across clinical and basic science disciplines and integrating basic investigations and clinical observations in applied research to better understand disease processes, advance drug development and evaluate efficacy and toxicity of therapeutic regimens. The goal is to provide the safe, effective and economical use of therapeutic modalities by patients. This program aims to train pharmacy students, medical students, fellows and graduate students in translational applications of research, either from the bench to the bedside or the bedside back into the research arena. The goal of this program is to provide individuals with a solid biology, chemistry of clinical background with expertise in biomedical research, pharmaceutical research or clinical research. Specifically, this program will provide a career track and degree-granting masters mechanism to train individuals to undertake translational and clinical research.

The program applies an interdisciplinary approach focusing the graduate studies directly toward translational, bridging basic and clinical sciences, aiming to educate students with the perspective and skillset to identify important connections between fundamental biomedical research and human disease. This program emphasizes cross-training between clinical and basic sciences focusing on the investigation of disease processes, drug development and investigation of clinically related outcomes. Course requirements and research opportunities for graduate students enrolled in the program provide both experimental (basic), disease-focused and clinical experiences that complement the graduate’s research focus.

The program is intended to attract individual from a broad background in biological, physical and clinical sciences and is flexible to provide focused training in areas of concentration or interest within an interdisciplinary team. As there is a need for a workforce within the biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences with interdisciplinary training that allows an understanding of both the basic, translational and clinical sciences, this master’s program will fill a current gap as well as prepare individuals for the future. The School of Pharmacy is currently positioned to fill parts of this gap with undergraduate, basic and regulatory science training, however at the master’s level, there is a need for training of students in the sciences that translate between basic and and clinical sciences.

Core Courses (11 units)


*For students enrolled in PharmD curriculum, advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) units can be used to substitute (in consultation with an adviser).  

Research and Dissertation Courses (12 units)


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