Patient and Product Safety Certificate

The graduate certificate in patient and product safety is a 12-unit program that educates students in the emerging field of safety and risk management in the health care environment. It is designed to produce graduates who have a particular expertise in the evaluation and mitigation of medical errors and health-care product problems. Course work is typically delivered in nontraditional formats such as intensive weekend sessions and will use distance learning tools, Webcast lectures and study materials. Courses can be taken on site, by distance or as a blended combination. Students should confirm their specific course work plan in consultation with the graduate advisers before beginning the program. Students who have bachelor’s degrees from accredited colleges or universities must submit an application for graduate study through the regulatory science program of the School of Pharmacy. GRE scores are not required for admission to the certificate program. Students are expected to enroll each semester until the program is completed.

Students must complete 12 units of specified course work, that normally will include an introductory course in the basic principles of risk management, a second course in the use of risk management tools, and two additional courses in patient and product safety respectively as listed below. In addition, a course in medical ethics is recommended. Most students will take the courses that are listed in the sample student program below, but if students have already strong previous experience in risk management or safety, other statistical or quality courses taught in graduate programs at USC may be substituted with the permission of the program director. The certificate can be completed on a part-time basis but must be finished within five years.

Courses may be selected from the following recommended course list.