Academics

Soon, for the first time in human history, the aged will outnumber the young. The time is now to keep older persons youthful, productive and engaged to unprecedented ages.

Our program studies the human life span by exploring the biological, psychological, sociological, political, medical and business dimensions of adult life. The curriculum is aimed at equipping future professionals in the field of aging with the specific skills and knowledge necessary to respond effectively to the needs of an aging population. With a distinguished faculty representing various disciplines, the School is able to offer students a wide range of scientific and professional gerontology courses. Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Gerontology as well as a Graduate Level Certificate, can be obtained from the Davis School.

Undergraduates can choose from a variety of options spanning two majors and a variety of minors. The Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging currently has two tracks: the Social Science Track, leading to careers in community and social service organizations, and the Health Science Track, which is preparation for professional programs such as Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry.

The Bachelor of Science in Lifespan Health focuses on the intersection of biomedical aspects of health including disease prevention, detection and treatment through a world lens that spans communities, countries and cultures to provide students with a global perspective on aging.

A pioneer in distance learning education, all of the USC Davis School of Gerontology master’s programs and graduate certificate program are available in their entirety online. Just as those enrolled in our online Master of Arts in Gerontology and online Master of Arts in Long Term Care Administration programs benefit from the added convenience of attending classes on their own time, this new offering now provides on-site students the expediency of access to the web and more opportunities than ever before to develop close relationships with gerontology faculty, a longtime signature of the USC Davis School’s academic experience.