PDF version of this chapterGraduate Degrees
Master of Science in Gerontology
The Master of Science in Gerontology prepares graduates to assume professional leadership positions in the delivery of services to older people and their families, in the planning and evaluation of services, in administration of programs and in the instruction of older people and service providers.
All students take core courses in physiological, psychological, sociological and social policy aspects of aging, research methods and the capstone course.
In addition, a series of courses, selected from a list of skill requirements, is chosen to assist the student in developing specific professional practice skills. A field practicum assures that these skills can be applied in agencies and institutional settings.
The Master of Science in Gerontology requires 52 units of course work and field experience. This includes 32 units of required courses and 20 units of specialization courses. The course work includes instruction on the processes of aging and professional courses designed to develop the skills needed for practice. The field practicum includes two semesters of practical experience working in an organizational setting.
Continuous registration in the program is required. There is a five year completion time limit for the degree. Leaves of absence are available for limited times and are excluded from the total time limit. A maximum of two absences (one year each) is allowed.
Prerequisites for Admission
Students applying for admission to the Master of Science in Gerontology program must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. In selecting applicants for admission, the School of Gerontology considers both academic potential (as reflected in undergraduate study and scores on the Graduate Record Examinations) and professional potential (as reflected in experience, references and career goals). The school requests information from applicants to supplement that supplied by the USC Application for Graduate Admission. Such supplemental information usually includes a statement of interest in gerontology and letters of reference. Interviews may be required.An approved statistics course is required of all students entering the program.
Probation and Disqualification
Probation and Warning
Any graduate student whose cumulative or semester grade point average in the university falls below B (3.0) will be placed on academic probation. A graduate student whose semester average falls below B (3.0) but whose cumulative grade point average in the university is 3.0 (A = 4.0) or higher will be placed on academic warning.Disqualification
A graduate student on academic probation will be disqualified if his or her cumulative record accumulates more than 12 units of C work. A graduate student, whether on probation or not, will be subject to disqualification if the Student Affairs Committee of the Davis School at any time determines deficiency in academic achievement.Common Requirements
All candidates for the Master of Science degree must complete the following common requirements:| Required Courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GERO 510 | Physiology of Development and Aging | 4 |
| GERO 520 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| GERO 530 | Life Span Developmental Sociology | 4 |
| GERO 540 | Social Policy and Aging | 4 |
| GERO 591z | Field Practicum | 8 |
| GERO 593 | Research Methods | 4 |
| 28 | ||
Skill requirements: 12 units from the following | ||
| GERO 522 | Counseling Older Adults and Their Families | 4 |
| GERO 543 | Continuum of Care: A Systems Perspective | 4 |
| GERO 550 | Administration and System Management in Programs for Older Adults | 4 |
| GERO 551 | Applied Policy Skills in Aging | 4 |
| GERO 554 | Program Evaluation | 4 |
Electives | 8 | |
| Capstone Course | ||
| GERO 555 | Integrating Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach | 4 |
Common requirements for all programs include the 28 required units and GERO 555, totaling 32 units. In addition, each candidate must complete the 12 units of skills requirements and 8 units of electives.
Field Practicum
The field practicum provides the opportunity for the student to gain valuable experience and develop needed skills by working in a community agency or institution. It involves 480 hours of community involvement, generally over two semesters.Field placement assignments are made by the internship coordinator of the school in consultation with the student and in accordance with the resources available in the community. Every effort is made to secure placement which will reflect the student's capacity to assume the responsibilities of a professional in gerontology. Evaluations of the student's performance are sent to the school by the community agency; the student receives a grade of credit/no credit in GERO 591z Field Practicum.
Master of Science with Specialization in the Health Service Area and Long Term Care Certificate
In addition to the 32 units of common requirements for the M.S. in Gerontology, the following courses are required to earn the certificate.| Core courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| PPD 509 | Problems and Issues in the Health Field | 4 |
| PPD 510a | Financial Management of Health Services, or | |
| PPD 516x | Financial Accounting in the Public and Non-Profit Sectors | 4 |
| PPD 545 | Human Behavior in Public Organizations, or | |
| PPD 557 | Quantitative Analysis I | 4 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| 16 | ||
| one specialized course from the following: | ||
|---|---|---|
| GERO 550 | Administration and System Management in Programs for Older Adults | 4 |
| PPD 600 | Management of Managed Care Organizations | 4 |
| PPD 601 | Management of Long-Term Care Organizations | 4 |
Advanced Placement Master of Science in Gerontology
The Advanced Placement M.S. program allows the outstanding student who has completed a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology to waive several courses in order to complete the master's degree in 36 units rather than the 52 units for the regular program.| Required courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GERO 510 | Physiology of Development and Aging, or | |
| GERO 520 | Life Span Developmental Psychology, or | |
| GERO 530 | Life Span Developmental Sociology, or | |
| GERO 540 | Social Policy and Aging | 4 |
| GERO 555 | Integrating Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach | 4 |
| GERO 591z | Field Practicum | 8 |
| GERO 593 | Research Methods | 4 |
| Gerontology skill requirements | 12 | |
| Gerontology electives | 4 | |
| 36 | ||
Program Adaptation
Three of the following courses, GERO 510, GERO 520, GERO 530 and GERO 540, will be waived for students in the advanced placement track. Advanced placement students admitted to dual degree programs must meet curriculum requirements for the respective programs.Online Master of Arts in Gerontology
The online M.A. in Gerontology provides an opportunity for professionals who are currently working in an organization serving older adults and who cannot come to campus to acquire skills and formal training in gerontology. The online program requires 28 units of course work.The required courses are delivered via the Internet. The courses are offered in sequential order and are restricted by availability. Continuous registration in the program is required. Leaves of absence are available for limited times and are excluded from the total time limit. Entering students are required to begin their course of study by taking GERO 500.
In order to participate in the online courses, students will be required to have access to a multimedia computer with modem, printer and CD-ROM drive; an Internet provider with email and an Internet browser; and word processing software. Specific details regarding the computer requirements will be provided by the department.
Admission standards and prerequisites are the same as listed for the on-campus Master of Science in Gerontology with the exception that students in the online M.A. program must have a minimum of five years working in a human services, health care, business or similar setting with older adults. Students are not required to have taken an approved additional course.
Students will be given a $50 credit per semester, if necessary, toward fees for proctored exams at a test site in the student's area.
| required course (20 Units) | units | |
|---|---|---|
| GERO 500 | Perspectives on Aging: An Introduction | 4 |
| GERO 513 | Stress, Health, and Aging | 4 |
| GERO 520 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| GERO 530 | Life Span Developmental Sociology | 4 |
| GERO 540 | Social Policy and Aging | 4 |
| 20 | ||
Students must select two courses (for a total of 8 units) from the following courses:
| elective courses (8 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GERO 522 | Counseling Older Adults and Their Families | 4 |
| GERO 550 | Administration and System Management in Programs for Older Adults | 4 |
| GERO 560 | Complementary Medicine for Health and Longevity | 4 |
| GERO 570 | Corporate Policies and Aging | 4 |
| GERO 585 | The Aging Family | 4 |
| GERO 589 | Professional Issues in Gerontology | 4 |
| Total units required for degree | 28 | |
Graduate Level Certificate in Gerontology
The residential graduate certificate in gerontology program provides an opportunity for those who have completed a bachelor's degree in another profession or discipline and are employed in the field of aging to acquire a greater understanding of gerontology theory and research. The program consists of 16 units of gerontology content designed to familiarize the student with several areas of the field which relate to professional practice.In addition to three of the four required core course areas for the certificate program (GERO 510, GERO 520 or GERO 522, GERO 530 or GERO 585, GERO 540), each student will have the option to choose one elective course which meets his or her particular area of interest.
Certificate students do not take a field practicum. Students admitted to the non-degree certificate program are expected to enroll each semester until the program is completed.
Online Graduate Level Certificate in Gerontology
The online graduate certificate in gerontology program provides an opportunity for those with a bachelor's degree in another profession or discipline who are employed in the field of aging to acquire a greater understanding of gerontology theory and research. The program is designed to serve individuals who are unable to come to regularly scheduled classes or to the campus by delivering courses over the Internet. The program consists of 16 units of gerontology courses designed to familiarize the student with several areas of the field which relate to professional practice.Students complete the introductory Internet-based course, GERO 500, two of the four required core course areas (GERO 510 or GERO 513, GERO 520 or GERO 522, GERO 530 or GERO 585, and GERO 540), and one elective course in a particular area of interest.
The required courses are delivered via the Internet. The courses are offered in sequential order and are restricted by availability. Continuous registration in the non-degree program is required. Leaves of absence are available for limited times and are excluded from the total time limit. Entering students are required to begin their course of study by taking GERO 500.
In order to participate in the online courses, students will be required to have access to a multimedia computer with modem, printer and CD-ROM drive; an Internet provider with email and an Internet browser; and word processing software. The department will provide specific details regarding the computer requirements.
Online Master of Long Term Care Administration
The online Master of Long Term Care Administration provides an opportunity for professionals who are currently working in a long term care profession and who cannot come to campus to acquire skills and formal training in long term care administration. The online program requires 28 units of course work.The required courses are in sequential order and are restricted by availability. Continuous registration in the program is required. Leaves of absence are available for limited times and are excluded from the total time limit.
In order to participate in the online courses, students will be required to have access to a multimedia computer with modem, printer and CD-ROM drive; an Internet provider with email and an Internet browser; and word processing software. Specific details regarding the computer requirements will be provided by the department.
Admission standards are the same for the on-campus Master of Science in Gerontology with the exception that students in the online Master of Long Term Care Administration program are not required to have taken an approved statistics course and must have five years of relevant professional experience.
Students in every course will be authenticated. Possible methods for this process include producing letter verification of identity from an employer or predesignated faculty member from a college or university in close proximity to the student.
Transfer Credits
An admission credit evaluation is prepared for graduate students with previous graduate level course work. This review indicates which courses the university will approve but it is the relevant school (Gerontology, Business, or Policy, Planning, and Development) that determines if any of these courses are appropriate for this degree. A maximum of 4 units may be used toward the master's degree.Graduate transfer credit will not be granted for life experience, credit by examination, non-credit extension courses, correspondence courses or thesis supervision. Graduate transfer credit will not be granted for any course work taken elsewhere after the student has been admitted and enrolled at USC unless the student receives prior written approval from the department.
| Required Courses (24 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT 509 | Concepts of Financial and Management Accounting | 4 |
| GERO 500 | Perspectives on Aging: An Introduction | 4 |
| GERO 513 | Stress, Health, and Aging, or | |
| GERO 522 | Counseling Older Adults and Their Families | 4 |
| IOM 585 | Principles of Service Operations Management | 4 |
| PPD 601 | Management of Long-Term Care Organizations | 4 |
| PPD 649 | Concepts and Practices in Public Personnel Administration | 4 |
Students must select one course (for a total of 28 units) from the following courses. | ||
| Elective Course (4 units) | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GERO 520 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| GERO 530 | Life Span Developmental Sociology | 4 |
| GERO 540 | Social Policy and Aging | 4 |
| GERO 589 | Professional Issues in Gerontology | 4 |
Pharm.D.-Graduate Certificate in Gerontology
This integrated program in pharmacy and gerontology prepares students with an interest in geriatric pharmacy to assume leadership roles at academic, administrative or policy levels within the profession.The program involves the completion of 16 units of core courses in physiology, psychology, sociology and social policy aspects of aging offered by the School of Gerontology. In addition, students are required to complete 8 units of approved elective courses in gerontology or geriatric pharmacy to be credited toward the requirements for the Pharm.D. and the Graduate Certificate in Gerontology.
| Required courses in gerontology | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GERO 510 | Physiology of Development and Aging, or | |
| GERO 513 | Stress, Health, and Aging | 4 |
| GERO 520 | Life Span Developmental Psychology, or | |
| GERO 522 | Counseling Older Adults and Their Families | 4 |
| GERO 530 | Life Span Developmental Sociology, or | |
| GERO 585 | The Aging Family | 4 |
| GERO 540 | Social Policy and Aging | 4 |
| 16 | ||
| Eight units of electives in gerontology and geriatric pharmacy | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| GERO 554 | Program Evaluation | 4 |
| GERO 555 | Integrating Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach | 4 |
| PHRD 655 | Geriatric Pharmacy I | 3 |
| PHRD 656 | Geriatric Pharmacy II | 3 |
| PHRD 703 | Long Term Care Clerkship | 6 |
| PHRD 706 | Geriatrics Clerkship | 6 |
| PHRD 730 | Acute Care Geriatrics Clerkship | 6 |
| PHRD 731 | Advanced Geriatrics Clerkship | 6 |
| 8 | ||
It is expected that the program can be successfully completed by candidates taking electives in geriatric pharmacy or gerontology during the regular semester and completing one core course in gerontology during each summer in the four year Pharm.D. program.