MS in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy

The Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Economics offers a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy. Our master’s students receive rigorous, multidisciplinary training in all aspects of pharmacoeconomics, including cost-effectiveness analysis, econometrics, and health technology assessment. Our graduates are highly sought after for their research skills and ability to apply economic concepts in practical decision-making environments such as managed-care pharmacies, third-party payers, and government agencies.

A distinguishing characteristic of the USC Master’s Program in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy is the degree to which students are actively engaged in publishable research, either as the lead author or as a secondary author in collaboration with a faculty member.

photo courtesy of USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Requirements for Degree Completion

Academic Content

The program requires basic coursework in economics, epidemiology, research design and data analysis, and policy analysis. Upon the completion of this foundation, candidates then continue with coursework in health economics, pharmaceutical economics and pharmaceutical policy. Courses in each of these areas encourage students to develop projects in which pharmaceutical economics and policy skills can be applied. In many cases, candidates will be expected to work closely with faculty by participating in collaborative research projects.

MS Requirements

The MS in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy requires 36 units of graduate-level courses. This program has been designed to allow a full-time student to complete the degree within two years, although part-time students can take as long as five years. Normally, a full-time graduate student course load is three full courses or their equivalent per semester, with a four-course maximum.

Grade Requirements

A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) must have been achieved in all graduate work, as required by the USC Graduate School.

Recommended Courses

The following courses are recommended for completion of the MS in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy. In order to satisfy the econometrics requirement, students should pass ECON 414 or a more advanced course in econometrics, depending on their background in econometrics.

Economics:

• ECON 414 Introduction to Econometrics (4 units)
• ECON 500 Microeconomics Analysis of Policy OR PPD 501 Public Sector Economics (4 units)

Epidemiology:

• PM 512 (elective) Introduction to Epidemiology and Demographic Methods (4 units)

Research and Methods Policy Analysis:

• PMEP 509 Research Design (4 units)
• PM 511A Data Analysis (4 units)

Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy:

• PMEP 519 Survey Research and Quality of Life (4 units)
• PMEP 529 Probability and Preferences (4 units)
• PMEP 538 Pharmaceutical Economics (4 units)
• PMEP 539 Economic Assessment of Medical Care (4 units)

Total Credits Required: 36

Research Paper Preparation

The student is required to complete a research paper that demonstrates the candidate’s ability to apply pharmaceutical economics and policy analysis skills in a challenging topic area. The topic for the paper will be negotiated with the student’s faculty advisor during the first year of study.