Undergraduate Degree, Page 2
The Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
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. The requirements for the Health Science track are distributed as follows:
General Education Requirements
| Required courses | 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 and Aging | 4 |
| | ____ |
| | 44
|
Science and Mathematics
| Required courses | Units |
| BISC 106L-107L | Principles of 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
| Required 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.
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Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
Joye Day
day@mizar.usc.edu