The student in the Advanced Placement M.S. program must complete the following:
| 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 591z | Field Practicum | 8 |
| GERO 593ab | Research Methods | 2-2 |
| Gerontology specialization courses | 8 | |
| Gerontology electives | 8 | |
| GERO 594abz* | Master's Thesis | 4 |
| ____ | ||
| 36 | ||
*GERO 594 may be replaced by passing a comprehensive examination and completing a four-unit elective course.
| Core courses | Units | |
| PUAD 530 | Problems and Issues in the Health Field | 4 |
| PUAD 558 | Quantitative Analysis I, or | |
| PUAD 585 | Human Behavior in Public Organizations | 4 |
| PUAD 531a | Financial Management of Health Services, or | |
| PUAD 551 | Financial Accounting in the Public and | |
| Non-Profit Sectors | 4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| ____ | ||
| 16 | ||
| One specialized course from the following | Units | |
| GERO 550 | Administration and System Management in | |
| Programs for Older Adults | 4 | |
| PUAD 508 | Management of HMOs and | |
| Ambulatory Care Services | 4 | |
| PUAD 509 | Management of Long-Term Care Organizations | 4 |
| PUAD 569 | Administration of Mental Health Services | 4 |
Students completing the Long Term Care Certificate will complete the comprehensive exam rather than the thesis.
In addition to the four required core courses for the certificate program (GERO 510, 520, 530 and 540), each student will have the option to choose elective courses which meet his or her particular area of interest.
Certificate students do not take a field practicum and do not complete a research project (thesis). Students admitted to the non-degree certificate program are expected to enroll each semester until the program is completed.
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 eight 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 | 4 |
| GERO 520 | Life Span Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| GERO 530 | Life Span Developmental Sociology | 4 |
| GERO 540 | Social Policy and Aging | 4 |
| ____ | ||
| 16 | ||
| Eight units of electives in gerontology and | ||
| geriatric pharmacy required | Units | |
| GERO 545 | Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Health Promotion | 2 |
| GERO 546 | Health Assessment and Client Management for | |
| the Elderly | 2 | |
| GERO 561 | Education for the Older Adult | 2-4 |
| PHAR 541 | Track II (Geriatric Pharmacy Practice) | 2 |
| PHAR 542 | Track III (Geriatric Pharmacy Practice) | 2 |
| PHAR 603 | Skilled Nursing Facility Clerkship | 6 |
| PHAR 606 | Geriatrics Clerkship | 4-6 |
| PHAR 631 | Acute Care Geriatrics Clerkship | 4-6 |
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.
Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995