The School of Gerontology cooperates with four other professional schools at USC and Hebrew Union College in offering programs in which the student receives two master's degrees. These degrees provide the student with the knowledge and skills of gerontology as well as those of the other professional field. The dual degrees require more course work than the M.S. alone, but offer the graduate greater breadth of education and employment options.

Dual degrees currently available are the Master of Science in Gerontology and the Master of Business Administration (M.S./M.B.A.) with the Marshall School of Business, the Master of Science in Gerontology and the Doctor of Dental Surgery (M.S./D.D.S.) with the School of Dentistry, the Master of Science in Gerontology and the Juris Doctor (M.S./J.D.) with the Law School, the Master of Science in Gerontology and the Master of Public Administration (M.S./M.P.A.) and the Master of Science in Gerontology and the Master of Health Administration (M.S./M.H.A.) with the School of Public Administration, the Master of Science in Gerontology and the Master of Social Work (M.S./M.S.W.) with the School of Social Work, and the Master of Science in Gerontology and the Master of Planning (M.S./M.Pl.) with the School of Urban Planning and Development. The School of Gerontology in cooperation with Hebrew Union College offers the Master of Science in Gerontology and the Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service (M.S./M.A.). Students must apply to both schools simultaneously and, if accepted to both, participate in specially designed programs combining the courses of each school.

Admission to Dual Degree Programs

Applicants to any of the dual degree programs must submit two application forms to the Office of Admissions; one indicating gerontology as the major and one indicating the other degree as the major. Each of the schools must accept the student for admission. Acceptance into one school's degree program does not imply acceptance into the dual degree program.

Gerontology and Business Administration

The M.S./M.B.A. dual degree combines knowledge of the older population with the skills of business management. The program prepares graduates for a number of roles in both public and private sector organizations including the marketing of products or services to seniors, human resource development with older workers and retirement benefits.

Gerontology Requirements

The Master of Science in Gerontology requires 30 units of course and field work which covers the core content of the M.S. program.

Required coursesUnits
GERO 510Physiology of Development and Aging4
GERO 520Life Span Developmental Psychology4
GERO 530Life Span Developmental Sociology4
Gerontology elective2
GERO 540Social Policy and Aging4
GERO 570Corporate Policies and Aging4
GERO 591zField Practicum4
GERO 555Integrating Gerontology: An Interdisciplinary Approach4
Elective courses (choose one from the following)Units
GERO 444Pre-Retirement Planning2
GERO 513Stress, Health, and Aging2
GERO 545Prevention, Rehabilitation and Health2
GERO 592Multidisciplinary Research Seminar in Aging2
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Business Administration Requirements

The Master of Business Administration will require 48 units of credit. Required courses include: all first year courses required in the full-time M.B.A. program (31 units); GSBA 585 Business Field Project (3 units); MOR 548 Human Resource Management (3 units); one marketing elective chosen from among MKT 512 Marketing and Consumer Research, MKT 525 Consumer Behavior, MKT 560 Marketing Strategy and Policy, and MKT 569 Contemporary Marketing Problems (3 units); and additional GSBA electives (11 units).

Program Adaptation

The School of Gerontology will waive 12 units of skill related courses and 6 units of electives, plus GERO 593ab Research Methods (4 units), which are required in the regular M.S. program. The Marshall School of Business will waive 15 units of elective and elective track emphasis courses.

Gerontology and Dentistry

The M.S./D.D.S. dual degree program extends over five years and is offered cooperatively by the School of Dentistry and the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. The program addresses the challenges facing oral health care providers as the number of older persons needing dental care increases. With the evolution of care toward patients who live longer lives, graduating dentists will be better prepared to provide service to the aging population in community settings and health care facilities.

The student spends the first year taking required D.D.S. courses in the Dental School. Gerontology course work will be introduced in the second year and continues through the fifth year.

Gerontology Requirements

The Master of Science in Gerontology requires 38 units of course and field work taken in the School of Gerontology which covers the core content of the M.S. program.

Required coursesUnits
GERO 475Ethical Issues in Gerontology Health Care4
GERO 519Biological Processes and Aging4
GERO 520Life Span Developmental Psychology4
GERO 530Life Span Developmental Sociology4
GERO 555Integrating Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach4
GERO 540Social Policy and Aging4
GERO 591zField Practicum6
GERO 593Research Methods4

Elective Courses - choose one from the following list in consultation with the advisor:

GERO 513Stress, Health and Aging4
GERO 522Counseling the Elderly4
GERO 545Prevention, Rehabilitation and Health Promotion4
GERO 546Health Assessment and Client Management4
GERO 550Administration and System Management in Programs for Older Adults4
GERO 561Education for the Older Adult4

Dentistry Requirements

See Dentistry section for a listing of Dental School requirements for the D.D.S./M.S. dual degree program.

Program Adaptation

The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology will waive 14 units of credit: GERO 589 Professional Issues in Gerontology (4); GERO 510 Physiology of Development and Aging (4); GERO 591 Field Practicum (2) and GERO elective (4). These requirements will be replaced by INTP 651 (4), INTP 502 (4), GSPD 610 (1), GSPD 612 (1) and INTX 502e (1).

Gerontology and Public Administration

The M.S./M.P.A. dual degree offers the student interested in management of agencies and institutions the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the administrative and organizational processes and management skills necessary for the effective delivery of services to older persons.

In the M.S./M.P.A. dual degree, students spend their first year taking the required courses in the School of Gerontology. The research course (GERO 593) and the capstone course (GERO 555) are taken in the School of Gerontology. The student begins courses in the School of Public Administration during the second semester of the first year.

Gerontology RequirementsUnits
GERO 510Physiology of Development and Aging4
GERO 520Life Span Developmental Psychology4
GERO 530Life Span Developmental Sociology4
Gerontology skills related elective4
GERO 540Social Policy and Aging4
GERO 550Administration and System Management in Programs for Older Adults4
GERO 555Integrating Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach4
GERO 591zField Practicum8
GERO 593Research Methods4
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40
Public Administration RequirementsUnits
PUAD 500Public Administration and Society4
PUAD 512Public Sector Economics4
PUAD 514Public Financial Management and Budgeting4
PUAD 506Administrative Research and Analysis, or
PUAD 525Policy and Program Evaluation, or
PUAD 558Quantitative Analysis I4
PUAD 585Human Behavior in Public Organizations4
PUAD 595Public Organization and Management Theory4
PUAD 597Professional Practice of Public Administration4
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Program Adaptation

For the M.S. in Gerontology, 8 units of skill related courses and 4 units of electives are waived. For the Master of Public Administration, 12 units of gerontology courses are used as the substantive specialization.

Gerontology and Health Administration

The School of Gerontology provides the opportunity for students to specialize in health care administration (profit and non-profit) through the dual degree with the School of Public Administration's Health Administration Program. Students earn the M.S./M.H.A. and the certificate in Long Term Care Administration.

Gerontology RequirementsUnits
GERO 510Physiology of Development and Aging4
GERO 520Life Span Developmental Psychology4
GERO 530Life Span Developmental Sociology4
GERO 540Social Policy and Aging4
GERO 550Administration and System Management in Programs for Older Adults4
GERO 555Integrating Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach4
GERO 591zField Practicum8
GERO 593Research Methods4
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36
Public Administration RequirementsUnits
PUAD 509Management of Long-Term Care Organizations4
PUAD 512Public Sector Economics4
PUAD 530Problems and Issues in the Health Field4
PUAD 531aFinancial Management of Health Services4
PUAD 536Legal Issues in Health Care Delivery4
PUAD 537Economic Concepts Applied to Health4
PUAD 551*Financial Accounting in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors4
PUAD 558Quantitative Analysis I4
PUAD 585Human Behavior in Public Organizations4
PUAD 593Advanced Seminar in Health Services Administration4
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40

*Meets the accounting requirement for the M.H.A. portion of the M.H.A./M.S. dual degree program.

Any course substitutions are done by petition on an individual basis and should be part of a carefully developed course of study. The School of Public Administration should be consulted concerning this program of study.

Gerontology and Law

The M.S./J.D. dual degree combines the knowledge of the older population with understanding of the legal system. The program prepares graduates for a number of roles in both public and private sector organizations. Students are required to complete 110 units of course work, 74 from the Law School and 36 from the School of Gerontology. The first year is devoted to required law courses, and the second, third and fourth years combine gerontology and law courses.

Gerontology Requirements

The Master of Science in Gerontology will require 36 units of course and field work which covers the core content of the M.S. program.

Required coursesUnits
GERO 510Physiology of Development and Aging4
GERO 520Life Span Developmental Psychology4
GERO 530Life Span Developmental Sociology4
GERO 540Social Policy and Aging4
GERO 555Integrating Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach4
GERO 591zField Practicum8
GERO 593Research Methods4
Gerontology elective4
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36

The Davis School of Gerontology will waive 16 units of electives which are required in the regular M.S. program.

Law School Requirements

The Law School requires 74 units of credit.

Required Courses, First YearUnits
LAW 502Procedure I4
LAW 503Contracts4
LAW 504Criminal Law3
LAW 505Legal Profession3
LAW 507Property4
LAW 508Constitutional Law I4
LAW 509Torts I4
LAW 510Legal Research0
LAW 511abIntroduction to Lawyering Skills1, 1
LAW 512Law, Language and Ethics3

Elective Course Work The second and third years of law study are primarily elective with one requirement. Students must satisfy the upper division writing requirement, either by completing a major, faculty-supervised writing project such as a dissertation, or by taking a course with a substantial writing component.

The Law School will waive 14 units of electives which are required in the regular J.D. program.

Gerontology and Social Work

The M.S./M.S.W. dual degree offers the student interested in direct service or community organization the credentials most valued in clinical and therapeutic practice. The M.S., when taken in connection with the social work degree, focuses course and field work on the older person and prepares the student for social work with older persons and their families.

In the M.S./M.S.W. dual degree program, the student enrolls primarily in the first year program of the School of Social Work. During the summer session, courses are taken in the School of Gerontology. Second year courses are taken in both the School of Gerontology and the School of Social Work. Field work during the second year is taken in the School of Gerontology. The research project is undertaken through the School of Social Work, and the research course and capstone course of the School of Gerontology are waived.

Gerontology RequirementsUnits
GERO 510Physiology of Development and Aging4
GERO 520Life Span Developmental Psychology4
GERO 530Life Span Developmental Sociology4
GERO 540Social Policy and Aging4
GERO 591zField Practicum8
Gerontology electives8
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32
Social Work RequirementsUnits
SOWK 503Human Behavior and the Social Environment I3
SOWK 505Human Behavior and the Social Environment II3
SOWK 533Social Welfare I3
SOWK 543Social Work Practice I3
SOWK 545Social Work Practice II3
SOWK 562Social Work Research3
SOWK 586abField Practicum I3-3
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24

In the second half of the social work program, students may enroll in one of four concentrations: Mental Health; Health; Industry; or Community Organization, Planning and Administration (COPA). Required courses would be selected based on the chosen concentration as follows:

One course in the seriesUnits SOWK 605Human Development and Mental Health3 SOWK 606Human Development, Illness, and Disability3 SOWK 607Human Behavior in an Industrial Society3 SOWK 609*Human Behavior in Groups and Organizations3

*Community Organization Planning and Administration (COPA) students must take 609; other students have a choice of substituting 699 Special Topics in Social Work for 605, 606 or 607.

One course in the seriesUnits
SOWK 625Evaluation of Research: Mental Health3
SOWK 626Evaluation of Research: Mental Health in Mental Health Settings3
SOWK 627Evaluation of Research: The World of Work3
SOWK 629Evaluation of Research: Community Organization, Planning and Administration3
SOWK 695Research Project I, or
SOWK 697Research Project II3
One course in the seriesUnits
SOWK 635Social Policy: Mental Health3
SOWK 636Social Policy: Health Care3
SOWK 637Social Policy: The World of Work3
SOWK 639Social Policy for Macro Practitioners3
One course in the seriesUnits
SOWK 645Clinical Practice in Mental Health Settings3
SOWK 646Clinical Practice in Various Health Settings3
SOWK 647Social Work Practice in Work Settings3
SOWK 649aSeminar in Community Organization3
One course in the seriesUnits
SOWK 650Social Work Practice III3
SOWK 649bSeminar in Community Organization3
One course in the seriesUnits
SOWK 675Community Practice in Mental Health Settings3
SOWK 676Community and Administrative Practice in Health Settings3
SOWK 677Community Organization and Administration in Work Settings3
SOWK 679Social Planning and Administrative Processes3
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42

Series course selection is done only with an academic advisor's approval.

Program Adaptations

The School of Gerontology waives 12 units. The research project is undertaken through the School of Social Work, and GERO 593, the research course, and GERO 555 are waived as well as one elective. The School of Social Work waives 12 units.

Gerontology and Urban Planning

The M.S./M.Pl. dual degree is one of few in the nation which combines the knowledge of the older population with the skills needed to plan services for older people. The M.Pl. prepares the graduate for the responsibilities involved in development of public and private institutions and programs. The M.S. indicates a special focus on the older person and the skills to analyze and design programs for this growing population.

Requirements

Requirements for completion of the dual degree program are 66 units including 26 units in gerontology, 36 units in planning and a minimum of four units of thesis in planning, as follows:

GerontologyUnits
GERO 510Physiology of Development and Aging4
GERO 520Life Span Developmental Psychology4
GERO 530Life Span Developmental Sociology4
Gerontology elective4
GERO 540Social Policy and Aging4
GERO 591zField Practicum6
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26
Urban Planning and DevelopmentUnits
PLUS 501Planning Theory2
PLUS 502Statistics and Arguing from Data4
PLUS 505Comparative International Development2
PLUS 506The Social Context of Planning2
PLUS 507The Urban Economy2
PLUS 509Legal Environment of Planning2
PLUS 510Historical Analysis of Urban Form and Planning Practice2
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16

Laboratory/Workshops: PLUS 676L (4 or 8) to total eight units.

Electives: 8 units of electives taken within the School of Urban Planning and Development.

Thesis: A thesis is required on a subject interrelating gerontology and urban planning and development. Students must register in a minimum of four units of PLUS 594abz (2, 2, 0). Students must maintain continuous registration until completion of the thesis.

Gerontology and Jewish Communal Service

The M.S./M.A. dual degree provides the student the opportunity to combine training in gerontology with a perspective on human services in the Jewish community. It prepares students for the delivery, planning and administration of services to older people in primarily Jewish settings. Students must apply for admission to both USC and Hebrew Union College.

Gerontology RequirementsUnits
GERO 510Physiology of Development and Aging4
GERO 520Life Span Developmental Psychology4
GERO 530Life Span Developmental Sociology4
GERO 540Social Policy and Aging4
GERO 555Integrating Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach4
GERO 591zField Practicum8
GERO 593Research Methods4
Gerontology elective8
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40

For information about Jewish Communal Service requirements contact the Office of Admissions, Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion, 3077 University Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90007-3796.

Program Adaptations

The School of Gerontology waives 12 units of gerontology electives. Thesis units for the Jewish Communal Service degree are taken at Hebrew Union College.

 

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