Major(s): The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology houses two majors: the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging (B.S.) and the Bachelor of Science in Lifespan Health (B.S). Both majors are open to applying first-year and transfer students. To someone like me, these majors sound a bit similar but, in fact, they are quite different!
The Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Aging has an interdisciplinary curriculum that focuses on biological and social development across a human’s lifespan. For students who want to dive deeper into this major, they have two tracks to consider: the Social Science track or the Health Science track.
The Bachelor of Science in Lifespan Health has a curriculum that covers the biological and medical aspects of health, including disease prevention, detection, and treatment. This degree is for students who plan to pursue a graduate degree and/or a career in medicine, pharmacy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, or other related fields.
Overview: D id you know that every 7 seconds a person turns 50? I didn’t! These types of facts are the bread and butter of a gerontology student. Gerontology is the study of aging across the lifespan. It allows you to discover new ways of seeing the world and changing it.
Founded in 1975, the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology is the world’s first, largest, and most renowned school of gerontology. It offers the most comprehensive selection of gerontology degree programs found anywhere, a variety of outstanding research opportunities and a supportive academic environment. Students within the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology explores all aspects of human development and aging. Coursework and rich research opportunities in biology, psychology, sociology, policy, and aging services offer a unique, multidisciplinary curriculum. While here at USC, students have access to opportunities to transform the future of aging.
Notable Research: USC Leonard Davis conducts groundbreaking multidisciplinary research in medical and social sciences. They are home to more than a dozen institutes and centers, including the USC Longevity Institute and the Center for Global Aging.
The school holds numerous federal and private grants, which enables the faculty to offer a range of research assistantships. These opportunities allow students to work side-by-side with experts in the field and to play a role in transforming new innovations. . Undergraduate students also have the ability to conduct their own original research with available grants. For example, former USC Gerontology student Christina Sisliyan’s research on cells’ responses and how their stress responses differ between male and female flies earned a Young Investigator award from the Society for Redox Biology and Medicine (SfRBM) at the 2018 poster presentations. You can read Christina’s research highlight here and review other student research here.
Unique Academic Opportunity: USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology is a small and intimate school rooted in a world-class research university that is also located in a vibrant city, Gerontology students come from around the country and globe and are united in a desire to make the world better for people of all ages.
A unique academic opportunity, apart from research and world-class faculty, is the Progressive Degree Program (PDP). A PDP enables USC undergraduate students to apply undergraduate coursework toward the completion of a USC master’s degree. Pursuing a progressive degree can deepen a student’s education and further prepare them for future careers in as little as one additional year. The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology offers four types of PDPs that USC student can apply for: M.S. in Gerontology, M.A. in Aging Services Management, M.A. in Medical Gerontology, and M.A. in Senior Living Hospitality. For more information, visit the following website: Progressive Degree Program List | Undergraduate Education | USC
Want to Learn More? To explore the two gerontology majors more, you can view each =curriculum break down here: Undergraduate Program Curriculum — USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology Admissions.
To see the full list of institutes and centers that USC Leonard Davis offers, please review the following: Institutes & Centers — USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
Lastly, check out all the details surrounding our undergraduate programs at the following: Undergraduate Programs — USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology Admissions
Written by Dylan Goodwill, Senior Assistant Director
Edited by Jennifer Price, Assistant Director
