USC’s regulatory science classes coming to Bay Area
Starting this fall, the USC School of Pharmacy will offer core regulatory science courses in San Francisco.
USC Regulatory Science North will enable Bay Area residents to take master’s degree and graduate certificate classes from global leaders in this increasingly vital field at a location in Mountain View, Calif. The courses will provide insight into regulatory and legal issues facing the life sciences in the 21st century. Courses will be offered on weekends to accommodate the busy professional schedules of students.
According to a USC official, the biomedical industry has grown rapidly, which has generated a largely unmet demand for regulatory professionals on a national and international level.
“The structure of the pharmaceutical industry is globalizing, and fast,” said Frances J.R. Richmond, director of the Regulatory Science program and the International Center for Regulatory Science at the School of Pharmacy. “Meanwhile, each country can require that a company satisfy a regionally specific set of tests, which greatly complicates global marketing.”
The USC program in regulatory sciences was created to meet this growing need. It serves both full- and part-time students interested in enhancing their knowledge of regulatory affairs, clinical research and quality systems.
“We desperately need a new generation of regulatory scientists, formulation engineers, [good manufacturing practice] experts and reimbursement specialists,” Richmond said. “Without these experts, we hobble the competitiveness of our industry.”
Bay Area residents can enroll in two core courses: “Introduction to Medical Product Regulation,” an overview that examines how agencies and companies interrelate, and “Structure and Management of Clinical Trials,” which focuses on real-life clinical situations and challenges. The latter course includes a distance-learning module.
Classes are open to those who have not yet been admitted to a formal program; credit for all coursework will apply to the master’s or certificate programs if students decide to pursue a degree or certificate. Courses at the Mountain View location will be offered throughout the year.
Spring classes will cover regulation of drugs and medical devices, while the summer course will address quality assurance issues. The program’s online courses also will be available to Bay Area students, who will have the opportunity to create a hybrid education plan suited to their individual needs.
For more information, visit regulatory.usc.edu/SanFrancisco.htm
The Bay Area courses offered by the USC School of Pharmacy will examine aspects of regulatory and legal issues.