Bachelor of Science in Gerontology

Minor in Gerontology

Bachelor of Science in Gerontology

The Bachelor of Science in Gerontology prepares students for admission to a graduate or professional school with an emphasis on 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 insure 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 School of Gerontology. These include the four introductory gerontology courses (GERO 210, 220, 230, 240).

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.

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 Gerontology 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 of gerontology instruction 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. Students interested in this program must make application to the department and be approved for admission to this specialized track. Upon acceptance, student progress will be closely monitored by a faculty advisor.

General Education Requirements (64 units)

Skill Levels

Composition (8 units) Expository Writing 101 and 102 and meet the composition skill level requirement.

Foreign Language (12 units) The student must pass the skill level examination in one language or complete PDP 101x, 250x and two 100x programming courses.

Areas of Study

All courses in the areas of study are to be chosen from the list of courses approved by the General Education Committee.

(1) The Natural World (12 units) Three courses are required: one Earth Science, one Physical Science and GERO 210.

(2) Representative Cultures (8 units) GERO 240 and one course from the approved list in Western Culture I, Western Culture II or Non-Western Cultures are required.

(3) Representative Approaches to the Study of the Individual, Culture and Society (24 units)

A. Empirical Approaches - 1 course from the approved list and GERO 220 and 230

B. Literature - 1 course from the approved list

C. The Arts - 1 course from the approved list

D. Ethical Approaches - 1 course from the approved list

Diversity Requirement

All students must pass one course from the list of courses approved to meet the standard diversity requirement. These courses carry the designation "m" for multiculturalism.

Major Requirements

The major requires 64 additional units.

Required Gerontology courses		Units
GERO 350	Administrative Problems in Aging	4
GERO 451	Policy and Program Development in Aging	4
GERO 481	Working with the Aged	4
GERO 491	Gerontology Practicum	4
GERO 492	Senior Seminar in Aging	4
Gerontology electives		12
		____
		32

Other requirements	Units
One approved statistics course	4
Electives in gerontology and related disciplines	28
	____
	32

Eight units of electives must be upper division and 20 units can be either upper or lower division electives.

The Gerontology Semester

The Gerontology Semester is an intensive integrated set of courses taken by undergraduate students during one semester. The purpose of the Gerontology Semester is to provide students with an overview of various services and programs for older persons, some basic principles for understanding and working with older adults, and knowledge about the processes involved in the development of policies and administration of programs for such persons.

The Gerontology Semester is required of all undergraduate students who have been admitted to the general Bachelor of Science in Gerontology Program. Such students should have completed the four lower division general education prerequisites (GERO 210, 220, 230, 240) prior to enrolling in the Gerontology Semester. Students elect the Gerontology Semester, generally in their senior year, by simultaneously enrolling in the following four courses typically offered in the fall semester: GERO 350 Administrative Problems in Aging (4); GERO 451 Policy and Program Development (4); GERO 481 Working with the Aged (4); and GERO 491 Gerontology Practicum.

Health Science Track in Gerontology

Requirements for Admission

The listed requirements for admission to the Health Science track in gerontology will not differ from existing requirements for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Gerontology. 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. Current USC students will not be able to "declare" gerontology as their major and enroll in the Health Science track without specific admission by the gerontology faculty.

Requirements for Completion of the Health Science Track

Students must complete 128 total units.

General Education Requirements		Units
Freshman Composition, Skill level		8
Introductory computer course		4
Non-Western Cultures		4
Western Culture		4
Literature		4
Arts		4
Ethical Approaches		4
GERO 240	Programs, Policies, and Politics Affecting the Elderly	4
Empirical Approaches		4
GERO 230	Sociology of Development and Aging, or
GERO 220	Psychology of Development Aging	4
		____
		44

Science and Mathematics		Units
BISC 110L-112L	Introduction to Biology I, II	8
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 414	Neurobiology of Aging	4
GERO 495	Practicum in Geriatric Care	4
		____
		12

Gerontology Upper Division Electives (12 units)

Electives may include seminars on ethical issues in health care, medical and neuro-affective disorders and other courses of interest to pre-professional students.

Elective Courses in Relation to the Major (24 units)

These may include courses from any department in the university. Electives are recommended by school faculty advisors based on the student's career plans. At least eight credits must be upper-division courses. Electives may include additional courses required for admission to specific professional programs.

Minor in Gerontology

The undergraduate minor program gives students in the university the option of combining their major with an emphasis in gerontology. The program provides students the opportunity to supplement their education with a basic understanding of the rapidly growing field of aging.

The minor, which is multidisciplinary in nature, allows 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. Upon completion of 24 units in gerontology the student will receive a minor from the School of Gerontology in addition to the bachelor's degree.

Course Requirements

Three of the four core gerontology courses which include: GERO 210 Biology of Development and Aging (4) (or GERO 310 Physiology of Aging (4)); GERO 220 Psychology of Development and Aging (4) (or GERO 230 Sociology of Development and Aging (4)); GERO 240 Programs, Policies and Politics Affecting the Elderly (4); and 12 units of upper division gerontology electives (12).

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