New programs expand student academic choices
Four new interdisciplinary programs got off to a smooth start at USC College this fall. They include:
Ph.D. in Integrated and Evolutionary Biology
Students in the Integrated and Evolutionary Biology (IEB) Ph.D. program
will explore a broad set of questions about the life sciences, using
the lens of evolution. IEB students will study emerging areas at the
interface of genomics, evolution and physiology, in both humans and
other living things.
“Figuring out what genes do in an integrative sense is the challenge
for the future,” says program director Jill McNitt-Gray, associate
professor of kinesiology, biomedical engineering and biology. Students
will be trained by faculty from the College, engineering, gerontology,
medicine and the L.A. County Natural History Museum.
Ph.D. in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
Biological sciences is offering a new Ph.D. program in the
interdisciplinary fields of computational biology and bioinformatics.
The program seeks to train hybrid young scientists conversant in
molecular biology, genetics, math and computer science. Jobs in this
field currently far outnumber high-quality, trained applicants, says
program director Simon Tavaré, holder of the George and Louise Kawamoto
Chair, and professor of biology, mathematics and preventive medicine.
Ph.D. in Politics and International Relations
A new Ph.D. program offered jointly by the political science department
and the School of International Relations enables students to benefit
from the combined faculties’ expertise in theoretical and regional
issues. The program will make it easier to carry on existing research
and teaching in areas that bridge the two fields.
B.A. in Health and Humanity
Students considering going into medicine, nursing or other health
professions can pursue a B.A. in health and humanity at the College.
The new liberal arts major, offered by anthropology, blends basic
training in biology and chemistry with explorations of health-related
social sciences. For instance, students can complete a health-related
internship while studying bioethics, health or aging.
“Medical schools are looking for students with a broad background,” says Janelle Herrick of the Office of College Advising.
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