Catalogue 2007-08

• The Schools
• USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Graduate Degrees
  • Courses of Instruction

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging

The Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging prepares students for admission to a graduate or professional school with an emphasis on adult development and aging, such as medicine, law, dentistry, social work, occupational/physical therapy, public administration, urban planning, business or social gerontology. It also prepares students for entry level jobs in services for the aging in senior centers, corporations, nursing homes, nutrition programs, volunteer programs, area agencies on aging or other human services organizations.

Students planning to pursue a B.S. are urged to notify the school of this intent as early as possible during their undergraduate study. This will help ensure that the student receives proper advisement and that the student is alerted to any special requirements or program modifications.

During the freshman and sophomore years, students enroll primarily in general education required courses as specified by the university and the Human Development and Aging gateway course (GERO 200).

During their junior and senior years, students enroll in required and elective courses in the School of Gerontology as well as other courses throughout the university. These courses are selected in consultation with an advisor and reflect the personal and professional interests of the students.

The honors program is available to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 in gerontology and a GPA of 3.3 in other USC course work and are juniors. The honors program includes mentored training in research and course work relevant to research methodology and statistics.

A grade point average of at least C (2.0) on all units attempted at USC is required for undergraduate degrees. The School of Gerontology requires a minimum 2.0 grade point average in upper division major courses.

A health science track within the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging program has been designed for students who wish to pursue a career in medicine or other health related fields. Students will be able to meet medical school entrance requirements, while the program will also provide appropriate breadth and rigor and fulfill general education requirements. In addition, students will participate in a supervised practicum experience in which they will become directly involved with aging clients in a health care setting.

General Education Requirements

The university's general education program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to be considered a generally well-educated person. This program requires six courses in different categories, plus writing and diversity requirements, which together comprise the USC Core. See here and here for more information.

Foreign Language or Programming Skills (12 Units)

Students in the health science track must complete ITP 101x. All others must satisfy the skill level requirement in one language or complete ITP 101x and additional ITP 100-level programming courses to total 12 units.

Degree Requirements

REQUIRED COURSES		UNITS
GERO 200	Gerontology: The Science of Adult Development	4
GERO 320	Psychology of Adult Development	4
GERO 330	Society and Adult Development	4
GERO 340	Policy, Values, and Power in an Aging Society	4
GERO 350	Administrative Problems in Aging	4
GERO 416	Health Issues in Adulthood	4
GERO 481	Case Management for Older Adults	4
GERO 491	Practicum	4
GERO 492	Senior Seminar	4
General Education		24
Writing Requirement		8
Foreign Language or Programming		12
Gerontology electives		12
One approved statistics course		4
Electives in gerontology or related disciplines (8 units upper division)		32
Total: 128

Recommended Electives		Units
ANTH 305	Childhood, Birth and Reproduction	4
HP 402	Maternal and Child Health	4
LING 405	Child Language Acquisition	4
PSYC 100	Introduction to Psychology	4
PSYC 336L	Developmental Psychology	4
PSYC 338	Adolescent Development	4
SOCI 303	Sociology of Human Development	4
SOCI 305	Sociology of Childhood	4
SOCI 369	The Family in a Changing Society	4
SOCI 385	Population, Society, and Aging	4

Health Science Track in Human Development and Aging

Requirements for Admission

The listed requirements for admission to the health science track in human development and aging will not differ from existing requirements for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging. However, because health professional schools are very competitive, USC students interested in this program will be expected to have achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average (A = 4.0) and will be carefully reviewed by faculty before being admitted. Students entering the program from high schools or transferring from community colleges will also be expected to meet the minimum admission standards as well as undergo a faculty review.

Degree Requirements

SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS		UNITS
BISC 120Lx	General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution	4
BISC 220L	General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology	4
CHEM 105abL	General Chemistry	4-4
CHEM 322abL	Organic Chemistry	4-4
MATH 125	Calculus I	4
PHYS 135abL	Physics for the Life Sciences	4-4
		36

GERONTOLOGY UPPER DIVISION CORE COURSES		UNITS
GERO 310	Physiology of Aging	4
GERO 320	Psychology of Adult Development, or
GERO 330	Society and Adult Development	4
GERO 340	Policy, Values, and Power in an Aging Society	4
GERO 414	Neurobiology of Aging	4
GERO 495	Practicum in Geriatric Care	4
		20

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS		UNITS
General Education		24
Writing Requirement		8
ITP 101x	Introduction to Information Technology	4
Gerontology upper division electives		12
Electives in gerontology or related disciplines (8 units upper division)		24
		72
Total: 128

Recommended Electives		Units
ANTH 305	Childhood, Birth and Reproduction	4
BISC 480	Developmental Biology	4
HP 402	Maternal and Child Health	4
LING 405	Child Language Acquisition	4
PSYC 100	Introduction to Psychology	4
PSYC 336L	Developmental Psychology	4
PSYC 338	Adolescent Development	4
SOCI 303	Sociology of Human Development	4
SOCI 305	Sociology of Childhood	4
SOCI 369	The Family in a Changing Society	4
SOCI 385	Population, Society, and Aging	4

Honors Program in Human Development and Aging

The Leonard Davis School offers an honors program to outstanding students already pursuing studies for the B.S. in Human Development and Aging degree. This program offers students an opportunity to participate in mentored undergraduate research, taking course work in research methods and statistics in aging, and experience in writing an honors thesis that summarizes the research project. Honors students are required to complete GERO 497abc for a total of 6-8 units, beginning in the fall or spring of the junior year. In the senior year, they must complete GERO 593 Research Methods with a minimum grade of B. GERO 593 is offered only in the fall semester. Completion of the program requires a minimum GPA of 3.5 in gerontology and 3.3 in other courses. The program leads to the designation on the transcript of Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging with Honors.

The student takes two units of GERO 497a in the fall or spring of the junior year as a mentored research course to begin the process of developing an honors thesis. This would be in lieu of elective units. In the fall of the senior year the student would complete GERO 593 for four units and two units of GERO 497b, both in lieu of elective units. Also during the fall semester, the research design and methods for the honors thesis are finalized and the research project begun. In the spring, the student would register for 2-4 units of GERO 497c in lieu of elective units. The goal for that semester is to complete the research and write the honors thesis.

Degree Requirements

REQUIRED COURSES		UNITS
GERO 200	Gerontology: The Science of Adult Development	4
GERO 320	Psychology of Adult Development	4
GERO 330	Society and Adult Development	4
GERO 340	Policy, Values, and Power in an Aging Society	4
GERO 350	Administrative Problems in Aging	4
GERO 416	Health Issues in Adulthood	4
GERO 481	Case Management for Older Adults	4
GERO 491	Practicum	4
GERO 492	Senior Seminar	4
General Education		24
Writing Requirement		8
Foreign Language or Programming		12
Gerontology electives		12
One approved statistics course		4
Electives in gerontology and related disciplines		20-22
		116-118
GERONTOLOGY HONORS COURSES UNITS GERO 497abc Honors Seminar 2, 2, 2-4 GERO 593 Research Methods 4 10-12 Total: 128 Requirements for Completion of the Health Science Honors Track SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS UNITS BISC 120Lx General Biology: Organismal Biology and Evolution 4 BISC 220L General Biology: Cell Biology and Physiology 4 CHEM 105abL General Chemistry 8 CHEM 322abL Organic Chemistry 8 MATH 125 Calculus I 4 PHYS 135abL Physics for the Life Sciences 8 36 GERONTOLOGY UPPER DIVISION CORE COURSES UNITS GERO 310 Physiology of Aging 4 GERO 320 Psychology of Adult Development, or GERO 330 Society and Adult Development 4 GERO 340 Policy, Values and Power in an Aging Society 4 GERO 414 Neurobiology of Aging 4 GERO 495 Practicum in Geriatric Care 4 20 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS UNITS General Education 24 Writing Requirement 8 ITP 101x Introduction to Information Technology 4 Gerontology upper division electives 8 Electives in gerontology and related disciplines 16-18 60-62 GERONTOLOGY HONORS COURSES UNITS GERO 497abc Honors Seminar 2, 2, 2-4 GERO 593 Research Methods 4 10-12 Total: 128 Bachelor of Arts in Health and Humanity The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology offers undergraduate classes through the Health and Humanity major in the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. Minors in Aging The undergraduate minor program gives students the option of combining their major with an emphasis in gerontology, the study of aging. The minors provide students with the opportunity to supplement their education with a life course perspective of aging processes. The minors, which are multidisciplinary in nature, allow the student to survey the sociological, political, psychological and biological aspects of aging; to gain an understanding of the current services available to older persons; and to examine the contemporary policy issues facing the field. Individuals, Societies and Aging This minor is a fit for students in business, engineering, communication, cinema-television, or arts and sciences interested in developing a broad knowledge of issues in aging. Based largely on disciplines in the behavioral and social sciences, students learn how aging will impact their lives, families and careers. Upon completion of 20 units and graduation, the minor is noted on the student's transcript. Science, Health and Aging The Science, Health and Aging minor is appropriate for students working toward careers in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, biological sciences, public health or other health related fields. Admission to the minor is only available to students who have completed 4 units of prerequisites (BISC 220L or BISC 221L) as part of their major requirements. Upon completion of 20 units and graduation, the minor is noted on the student's transcript. Course Requirements Individuals, Societies and Aging Required courses Units GERO 320 Psychology of Adult Development 4 GERO 330 Society and Adult Development 4 GERO 340 Policy, Values, and Power in an Aging Society 4 Select two from the following: GERO 380 Diversity in Aging 4 GERO 416 Health Issues in Adulthood 4 GERO 435 Women and Aging: Psychological, Social and Political Implications 4 GERO 437 Social and Psychological Aspects of Death and Dying 4 GERO 481 Case Management for Older Adults 4 GERO 491 Practicum 4 20 Science, Health and Aging Required courses Units GERO 310 Physiology of Aging 4 GERO 414 Neurobiology of Aging 4 GERO 416 Health Issues in Adulthood, or GERO 496 Introduction to Clinical Geriatrics 4 Select two from the following: GERO 415 Neuroaffective Disorders of Aging 4 GERO 421 Managed Care for an Aging Society 4 GERO 437 Social and Psychological Aspects of Death and Dying 4 GERO 475 Ethical Issues in Geriatric Health Care 4 GERO 495 Practicum in Geriatric Care 4 20 Send feedback to univpub@usc.edu Produced by the Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications