University of Southern California

A top ten ranked pharmacy school and the top private pharmacy school in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report, USC School of Pharmacy has sparked innovation and excellence for more than a century, creating forward-looking educational programs, establishing a national model of clinical pharmacy through its work serving at-risk communities, and helping pioneer the transition of the pharmacist’s role from a dispenser of medicines to a direct provider of patient care.
Founded in 1905, the School created the nation’s first Doctor of Pharmacy program, the first clinical pharmacy program, the first clinical clerkships, the first doctorates in pharmaceutical economics and regulatory science, and a number of dual-degree programs including the first PharmD/MBA.
Located in the heart of Los Angeles, the School’s setting offers unparalleled access to internship and shadowing opportunities. The school occupies state-of-the-art facilities on the USC Health Sciences campus adjacent to the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center (one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country), the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Doheny Eye Institute and Keck Medical Center of USC. For its clinical and experiential programs, the school utilizes many affiliated hospitals, health care clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health care agencies and pharmacies in the region.
The only private pharmacy school to own and operate its own pharmacies,USC School of Pharmacy is also the only pharmacy school that spans the entire spectrum of pharmaceutical development and clinical service — from drug discovery to regulatory approaches for safely moving drugs and medical devices to market, from the delivery of care in diverse settings to the evaluation of the impact of care on patient outcomes as well as healthcare costs.
The School boasts a robust, engaged network of alumni, as more than half of all practicing pharmacists in Southern California are graduates of USC. The school has an annual student body of approximately 740 full-time students in the professional program. The program emphasizes excellence in clinical practice, with patient care experiences beginning early and increasing both in scope and complexity as a student progresses through the program.
Mission statement:
To advance health through excellence in pharmacy education, research and practice.