Curriculum

Curriculum & Program Summary

Our Master of Science in Cancer Biology and Molecular Medicine requires 34 units of graduate study, planned together with each student’s advisory committee. We designed our first-year curriculum to give every student a strong, shared foundation in biochemistry and molecular biology before moving into independent research.

Students complete 16 units of required coursework in year one, including a course in biostatistics. Our second year offers more flexibility where students take up to 8 units of additional coursework within or outside the department while completing a minimum of 10 units of directed research toward their thesis.

We require students to maintain a 3.0 minimum grade point average throughout the program. Full course descriptions and prerequisites are available in the USC Course Catalogue.

Courses

Course #	Course Title	Units	Semester	Year
BIOC 581	Toolbox for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	4	Fall	1
BIOC 511	Foundations for Molecular Medicine	4	Fall	1
BIOC 000	Faculty Research Presentations	0	Fall	1

BIOC 515	Logic and Design of Disease Mechanism Studies	4	Spring	1
BIOC 599	Special Topics	4	Spring	1
BIOC 590	Directed Research	2	Spring	1

INTD 500	Ethics and Accountability in Biomedical Research	0	Summer	1

BIOC 590	Directed Research	2-6	Fall	2
BIOC 594A	Master’s Thesis	2	Fall	2
Elective	Elective courses up to 4 units	0-4	Fall	2

BIOC 573	Optimal Research Presentation	0	Spring	2
BIOC 590	Directed Research	2-6	Spring	2
BIOC 594B	Master’s Thesis	2	Spring	2