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 juniors who maintain a GPA of 3.5
in gerontology and a GPA of 3.3 in other USC course work. 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 |
| 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 437 | 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 |
|---|
| ITP 101x | Introduction to Information Technology | 4 |
| General Education | 24 |
| Writing
Requirement | 8 |
| Gerontology upper division electives | 12 |
Electives in
gerontology or related disciplines
(8 units upper division) | 24 |
| 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 437 | 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 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 2 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 4
units and 2 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 |
| | 116-188 |
| GERONTOLOGY HONORS COURSES | Units |
|---|
| GERO
497abc | Honors Seminar | 2, 2, 2-4 |
| GERO 593 | Research Methods | 4 |
| | 10-12 |
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 |
|---|
| ITP 101x
| Introduction to Information Technology | 4 |
| General Education | 24 |
| Writing
Requirement | 8 |
| 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 |
Bachelor of Arts in Health and
Humanity
The 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, cinematic arts, 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 |
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