USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
MS in Regulatory Science
Los Angeles, USA
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
USD 66,640 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus, Distance Learning
* flat-rate graduate: estimated tuition for 2 semesters
Key Summary
About: MS in Regulatory Science at USC offers on-site and distance study in Los Angeles with weekend classes. Students set their own pace; lectures run live or recorded. The programme covers regulatory policy, drug and device development, safety science, and healthcare decision analysis, taught by faculty with industry and government experience. Students receive academic and career support, networking, and events.
Career Outcomes: Graduates work in industry, government, consulting, academia. Job tracks include quality systems, good manufacturing practices (GMP), regulatory affairs, risk management, clinical trials, preclinical science, pharmaceuticals, devices, and food safety. Career support includes recruitment events, fairs, and job postings.
The biomedical industry has grown rapidly, and this has fueled a large — and largely unmet — demand for regulatory professionals, both nationally and internationally. The USC Master’s in Regulatory Science program arose to meet this growing need.
As one of the nation’s oldest and largest regulatory science programs, graduates are in great demand and are employed in industry, government, consulting, and academia. Our alumni are leaders in a field designed to meet industry and governmental challenges in speeding up the delivery of medical advances to people who need them while ensuring that safety standards are met.
Courses are offered on weekends to accommodate working professionals. Students set their own pace, taking as many courses as they wish to take each semester. Career support is offered to all students and alumni, including recruitment events, career fairs, and regular distribution of job postings from companies nationally and internationally.
On-site/Distance Program
On-site Program: Get to know more about the Regulatory Science on-site program
Courses can be taken onsite and our program offices and classrooms are located on the USC Health Sciences Campus in downtown Los Angeles, California. Onsite courses are typically held on the weekends so that working professionals can attend courses while working full-time during weekdays. Students attending class onsite have the chance to interact with the speakers, faculty, and fellow students. Coming to class is a great networking experience which allows the formation of important relationships with those with similar backgrounds in the field of Regulatory Science. Breakfast and lunch are served each day.
Distance Program
USC Distance Courses were created for busy professionals who wish to further their education but cannot travel to traditional classrooms. We have successfully delivered programs to students across the US for more than fifteen years.
Our online courses are taught by the same academic experts who teach in the traditional classroom and students participate in the same classes as students who attend onsite. Online coursework allows students to work independently and absorb new concepts at their own pace. At the same time, there is a great deal of personal contact with fellow classmates and with professors. Lectures can be viewed in “real-time” or at another time that may be more convenient.
Online students receive administrative support, academic and career services from the Regulatory Science staff and faculty.
A Breadth of Courses for All Interests and Demands
Regulatory Science includes a broad array of subjects. Whether you want to brush up on basic science principles, focus on a particular product area, or diversify your knowledge base, we would love to help you with your planning.
RegSci Symposiums
Nearly every semester we conduct a Symposium for current students, alumni, and limited students who can attend for course credit. The course to enroll in is RSCI 521, titled Seminars in Regulatory Science, which is one unit of credit. This is a credit/no credit course and may be taken up to three times.
Current students will receive announcements about seminars by email.
For Students interested in details regarding current seminars, please contact Desirae Hernandez, Program Administrator.
Curriculum and Requirements
The USC MS in Regulatory Science degree requires satisfactory completion of 36 units beyond the baccalaureate degree. The core curriculum includes courses that focus on basic regulatory frameworks, advanced regulatory frameworks, quality assurance, clinical research, statistics, medical product law, and project management, as well as elective options. Hands-on experience is encouraged through participation in academic and industry internships, or the TRAQS program.
Required Courses
All of the courses offered by the Department of Regulatory and Quality Science can be taken either in-person or online (within the United States). Upon admission, we will work with you to develop a course plan that fits your needs. You can find all course descriptions here.
Introductory Regulatory
- MPTX 511: Introduction to Medical Product Regulation
Advanced Regulatory (Choose at least 2)
- MPTX 512: Regulation of Pharmaceutical & Biologic Products
- MPTX 513: Regulation of Medical Devices & Diagnostics
- MPTX 514: Regulation of Food & Dietary Supplements
- MPTX 524: Introduction to Food Science & Toxicology
Quality Assurance (Choose 1)
- RSCI 508: Quality Assurance for Drugs and Biologics
- RSCI 509: Quality Assurance for Medical Devices & Combination Products
- MPTX 515: Quality Systems & Standards
Clinical Research
- MPTX 517: Structure & Management of Clinical Trials
Statistics (Choose at least 1)
- RSCI 507: Quality Systems & Statistical Process Control
- MPTX 522: Introduction to Clinical Trial Design & Statistics
Medical Product Law
- MPTX 516: Medical Products & the Law
Business
- RSCI 601: Biomedical Commerce
Electives
- Any remaining units can be filled with elective coursework chosen from the courses offered by the Department of Regulatory and Quality Sciences.
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate with a Master of Science degree in Regulatory Science you must have completed:
- At least 36 units of required and elective courses
- Obtained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
- Maintain continuous enrollment during all fall and spring semesters
- Complete the degree within five years
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and Dean Papadopoulos, the Department of Regulatory and Quality Sciences offers multiple scholarships based on financial need, scholastic achievement, and leadership qualities.
Scholarships do not have to be repaid and are awarded in varying amounts to students who meet special criteria and qualifications outlined by a selection committee or donor. Unless otherwise indicated, all scholarships and merit awards can only be used toward tuition expenses.
If you are receiving financial aid, due to federal financial aid guidelines your award package may be affected through a reduction in your overall award amount. If you have any questions about the impact on your financial aid, please contact the School of Pharmacy Financial Aid Office.
Eligibility and Application Process
All students will be offered the opportunity to apply for all available scholarships once specific eligibility requirements are met. International students are eligible for all departmental scholarships and are strongly encouraged to apply.
Scholarship applications will open June 15, 2023, and are due by June 29, 2023, at 11:30 pm PST.
- Recipients are selected by a committee of reviewers comprised of faculty and staff.
- Candidates may submit one (1) essay application per scholarship demonstrating how they meet that specific criterion.
- Candidates that do not fulfill the following criteria will be disqualified:
- An up-to-date Resume/CV must be provided in addition to the essay.
- Essay must include the candidate’s program/major and why the program is relevant to the chosen scholarship.
- Essay must be no more than one (1) page in length.
- Essay must follow the formatting guidelines typical to Regulatory Science (i.e.: 12pt font in Times New Roman or Arial, 1.5 spacings, 1-inch margins).
Notification of Scholarship Award
Final decisions on awards are contingent upon acceptance into the program. We do not send notifications to those applicants not selected.
Please note, scholarship awards may be impacted due to a change in program length or a leave of absence. We encourage you to submit a scholarship web contact form to confirm how your award may be impacted.
Not all scholarships may be awarded during the academic year.
Our programs are uniquely designed to produce graduates who can meet the growing need for a new generation of regulatory scientists working in the pharmaceutical, medical device, and food safety industries. Job tracks include: quality systems and good manufacturing practices, regulatory affairs, risk management, clinical trials, preclinical science, and more.