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Online Pain Medicine and Pain Science Programs

Graduate Programs

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Master of Science in Pain Medicine

Our joint programs between two prestigious USC schools, Keck School of Medicine of USC and Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, are suitable for practicing health professionals from a wide variety of fields, including physicians, dentists, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists, pharmacists, and more. Our world renowned faculty are thrilled to provide a unique opportunity to practicing professionals to learn pain medicine. Our mission is to leverage our research and education to advance and share knowledge of pain medicine and treating pain.

Curriculum

  • Fall Semester: Total of 6 Units

    PAIN 701: Pharmacotherapeutics for Pain | 2 units
    This course provides an introduction into the complex area of treatment with opioids, as well as the many other pharmacological options. Students will discuss the fundamentals of the full spectrum of the pharmacological options for the treatment of pain.

    PAIN 702: Pain Classification and Diagnosis – Part 1 | 2 units
    This course provides an introductory examination of pain classification and diagnosis in a variety of organ systems. Our goal is to familiarize the student with a standardized approach to understanding painful conditions and how they can be classified and evaluated.

    PAIN 703: Psychological Aspects of the Pain Experience: Individual and Family| 2 units
    This course explore the psychological and social perspectives that influence chronic pain.

    Spring Semester: Total of 6 Units

    PAIN 704: Pain and Society: Epidemiology and Cultural issues| 1 units
    This course will explore the societal issues related to pain and pain management. These will include discussion of the role of culture, ethnicity, caregiving, social and psychological factors related to pain and treatment.

    PAIN 705: Pain Assessment:  History and Physical Examination| 1 units
    This course is designed to assist in evaluation of patients suffering from pain. Students will learn how to distinguish between types of pain that may be acute or chronic.

    PAIN 706: Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Pathology| 2 units
    This course is an anatomical survey of the human musculoskeletal system, focused on common pathologies that generate pain. By systematically focusing on each major joint of the body, the anatomical structures associated with pathologies will be described and explored.

    PAIN 707: Pain Neuroscience| 2 units
    This course will educate students about the process of nociceptive and neuropathic pain, focusing on anatomy of peripheral and central nociceptive nerves, molecular mechanisms that underlie primary sensory responses in nociception, the neural networks involved in nociceptive signal transduction, and neural mechanisms involved in hyperalgesia and allodynia.

  • Fall Semester: Total of 7 Units

    PAIN 708: Opioids | 1 unit
    This course explores opioid therapeutics including proper use, dosing, side effects and its management, use in special populations, and legal/ethical considerations for prescribers and dispensers.

    PAIN 709: Pain Classification and Diagnosis – Part 2 | 2 units
    During this course, the student will gain knowledge and ability to recognize as well as ability to recognize fine differences in various common pain conditions.

    PAIN 710: Advanced Pain Physiology and Neuroscience | 1 units
    This course discusses advanced neurophysiology of pain including immunology and epigenetics, neuropathic pain, inflammation, with a series of lectures and sessions to analyze clinical cases.

    PAIN 711: Research Methodology | 2 units
    The purpose of this course is to understand how to conduct a systematic review, research question, searching the literature, summarizing the evidence and interpreting the findings.

    PAIN 712a: Pain Medicine Capstone | 0.5 unit
    The capstone project includes a collaborative research project or a supervised internship | practicum incorporating a service learning approach.

    PAIN 713a: Case Studies | 0.5 unit
    This course has multiple elements including weekly online discussions of cases; learning need assignments; defense of an 18 cases or scenarios e-Portfolio.

    Spring Semester: Total of 6 Units

    PAIN 714: Public policy and Legal issues | 1 units
    This courses discus Public Policy and Legal Issues in Pain Medicine including the California Medical Board Guidelines for Pain Medication, CURES, and legislation related with the discipline.

    PAIN 715: History of Pain: Theory and Treatment | 1 unit
    In this course we will trace through history our collective understanding of pain by examining the people, theories, and technologies which have brought us to our modern understanding.

    PAIN 716: Neuropathic pain | 1 units
    This course will focus on pain caused by nervous system dysfunction with focus on assessment, physiology, diagnoses and treatment.

    PAIN 717: Psychological Aspects of Chronic Pain | 2 units
    Information and demonstration on specific psychological treatments to decrease pain levels and manage pain flares.

    PAIN 712b: Pain Medicine Capstone | 0.5 unit
    The capstone project includes a collaborative research project or a supervised internship | practicum incorporating a service learning approach.

    PAIN 713b: Case Studies | 0.5 unit
    This course has multiple elements including weekly online discussions of cases; learning need assignments; defense of an 18 cases or scenarios e-Portfolio.

  • Fall Semester: Total of 4 Units

    PAIN 718: Complementary Approaches | 2 units
    The purpose of this course is to educate on treatment options in pain management by providing framework for integrative models of care.

    PAIN 712c: Pain Medicine Capstone | 0.5 unit
    The capstone project includes a collaborative research project or a supervised internship | practicum incorporating a service learning approach.

    PAIN 713c: Case Studies | 0.5 unit
    This course has multiple elements including weekly online discussions of cases; learning need assignments; defense of an 18 cases or scenarios e-Portfolio.

    Elective Courses – 1 required only

    PAIN 719: Elective 1 Building a practice: Institutional or private | 1 units
    This course discusses aspects related with building and managing a Pain Practice. Considering this is an interdisciplinary program, specific discipline issues will be addressed.

    PAIN 722: Elective 1 Palliative Care in end of life | 1 units
    This course presents key concepts in palliative medicine and hospice care, ranging from management of common symptoms, to best practices in communication with patients and their families.

    Spring Semester: Total of 4 Units

    PAIN 720: Physical & Occupational Therapies | 1 units
    This course discusses different Physical and Occupational Therapy techniques for assessing and treating chronic pain.

    PAIN 712d: Pain Medicine Capstone | 0.5 unit
    The capstone project includes a collaborative research project or a supervised internship | practicum incorporating a service learning approach.

    PAIN 713d: Case Studies | 0.5 unit
    This course has multiple elements including weekly online discussions of cases; learning need assignments; defense of an 18 cases or scenarios e-Portfolio

    Elective Courses – 1 required only

    PAIN 721: Elective 2 Advanced Therapeutics | 2 units
    Patients who suffer from chronic pain often fail to respond to basic treatments. Therefore it is crucial for clinicians to be familiar with different treatment options

    PAIN 723: Elective 2 Orofacial Pain and Headache | 2 units
    The purpose of this course is to educate the student about the prevalence, differential diagnosis, prevention and management for neurogenic orofacial pain and headache disorders.

Certificate in Pain Medicine

For those who prefer to do a one-year certificate, we offer a program of seven courses, all of them included in the Master Program.

  • Students are able to enter the program during the Fall and Spring semesters.
  • Students continue to work in their practices while in the program.
  • Students typically work on the program on evenings or weekends.
  • The program is designed for both United States and international students.
  • The program includes seven courses (12 units).
  • A typical week involves 5-6 hours of video lectures and 5-6 hours of live, interactive video conferencing.
  • The Program does not provide a stipend.

For financial aid options, visit the USC Financial Aid website. Additional financial aid may be available through the program. See program information site for more information.

Have questions about our programs? Want to speak with our Admissions Team? Contact us!

  • PAIN 701: Pharmacotherapeutics for Pain | 2 units
    This course will provide an introduction into the complex area of treatment with opioids, as well as the many other pharmacological options.

    PAIN 702: Pain Classification and Diagnosis – Part 1 | 2 units
    This course provides an introduction of pain classification and diagnosis to familiarize the student with a standardized approach to painful conditions.

    PAIN 703: Psychological Aspects of the Pain Experience: Individual and Family | 2 Units
    This course explores the psychological and social perspectives that influence chronic pain, reinforcing the need to look beyond the initial physical diagnosis.

    PAIN 704: Pain and Society: Epidemiology and Cultural Issues | 1 unit
    This course explores the societal issues related to pain, including the role of culture, ethnicity, caregiving, and social and psychological factors related to pain and pain management.

    PAIN 705: Pain Assessment: History and Physical Examination | 1 units
    This course is designed to assist in evaluation of patients suffering from pain, distinguishing between types of pain that may be acute or chronic.

    PAIN 706: Musculoskeletal Anatomy and Pathology | 2 units
    This course is an anatomical survey of the human musculoskeletal system, focused on common pathologies that generate pain.

    PAIN 707: Pain Neuroscience | 2 units
    This course focuses on anatomy of peripheral and central nociceptors, molecular mechanisms that underlie primary responses, neural networks and neural mechanisms involved in hyperalgesia and allodynia

Certificate in Pain Science

The goal of the Pain Science 1-year certificate program is to give the non-clinicians didactic and evidence-based education in the field of pain medicine.

  • Students are able to enter the program during the Fall and Spring semesters.
  • Students continue to work while in the program.
  • Students typically work on the program on evenings or weekends.
  • The program is designed for both United States and international students.
  • The program includes eight courses (12 units).
  • A typical week involves 5-6 hours of video lectures and 5-6 hours of live, interactive video conferencing.

For financial aid options, visit the USC Financial Aid website. Additional financial aid may be available through the program. See program information site for more information.

Have questions about our programs? Want to speak with our Admissions Team? Contact us!

  • PAIN 702 : Pain Classification and Diagnosis – Part 1 | 2 units
    This course provides an introduction of pain classification and diagnosis to familiarize the student with a standardized approach to painful conditions.

    PAIN 703 : Psychological Aspects of the Pain Experience: Individual and Family | 2 Units
    This course explores the psychological and social perspectives that influence chronic pain, reinforcing the need to look beyond the initial physical diagnosis.

    PAIN 704 : Pain and Society: Epidemiology and Cultural Issues | 1 unit
    This course explores the societal issues related to pain, including the role of culture, ethnicity, caregiving, and social and psychological factors related to pain and pain management.

    PAIN 714 : Public policy and Legal issues | 1 units
    This courses discus Public Policy and Legal Issues in Pain Medicine including the California Medical Board Guidelines for Pain Medication, CURES, and legislation related with the discipline.

    PAIN 715 : History of Pain: Theory and Treatment | 1 unit
    In this course we will trace through history our collective understanding of pain by examining the people, theories, and technologies which have brought us to our modern understanding.

    PAIN 717 : Psychological Aspects of Chronic Pain | 2 units
    Information and demonstration on specific psychological treatments to decrease pain levels and manage pain flares.

    PAIN 718 : Complementary Approaches | 2 units
    The purpose of this course is to educate on treatment options in pain management by providing framework for integrative models of care.

    PAIN 720 : Physical & Occupational Therapies | 1 units
    This course discusses different Physical and Occupational Therapy techniques for assessing and treating chronic pain

Apply Now

For more information, please email painmed@usc.edu.